The first of the programs, Whole Home Dallas, is designed to facilitate access to resources that could help homeowners lower monthly utility bills, protect health, and increase the comfort and safety of their home. The program’s online resource hub consolidates resources and offers tips on weatherization, energy efficiency, and renewable energy financial assistance and rebates.
The second program, Green Job Skills, is aimed at empowering local contractors and increasing their skill sets to fulfill high-demand weatherization green jobs in the Dallas area. The pilot program offers free, self-paced online training courses focused on specific weatherization job tasks.
The city has budgeted $150,000 for the two programs, said Carlos Evans, director of the Dallas Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability. While that budget may seem low, he stressed the programs are focused on education about existing resources and empowering local residents and contractors rather than funding individual renovations.
District 9 City Council Member Paula Blackmon said low-income residents, who experience the effects of climate change at a more intense rate than high-income residents, are often less equipped to rebound from the effects of severe weather. She added lower-income households typically have higher energy demands and the Whole Home Dallas program will aim to create more energy equity opportunities for Dallas residents of all income levels.
“It is a great opportunity for our citizens to really work and focus on their homes, and make them more resilient as we experience these occurrences more frequently,” Blackmon said.
The Whole Home Dallas program offers resources for all income levels, Blackmon said. Programs are split into three categories: income-based assistance, rebates and discounts, and tax credits. Some of those resources include caulking, weather stripping, assessing exterior conditions, and repairing and replacing doors. The resource hub will also connect residents to service providers in the area that can assist with the upgrades.
District 11 City Council Member Jaynie Schultz said the new programs will not only help improve already existing homes but ensure new homes are built with weather resiliency in mind.
Schultz said the Green Job Skills program will assess if there is a need for greater assistance, how many people are interested in participating, and what kind of partnerships are necessary or needed. She added the programs will hopefully help further the city’s goal of becoming a center for the green jobs industry.
“The term ‘green jobs’ is not a cliche,” Schultz said. “This program is a pilot to what we hope will become a gateway for people to become trained for positions that will help us stay the city that we all treasure.”
