Center for Energy Education urges Washington County to promote NC Energy Saver rebates for low‑income households

Shana Brown, administrative director at the Center for Energy Education, presented the North Carolina Energy Saver Program to the Washington County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 5, 2026, and urged local leaders to help increase awareness among eligible residents.

Brown summarized the two rebate tracks under Energy Saver: HOMES, which funds home efficiency upgrades such as insulation, air sealing and heating/cooling repairs or replacements, and HEARS, which supports purchase of energy‑efficient appliances and home electrification measures. She said the program opened for Washington County on Dec. 15, 2025, and emphasized outreach, noting many eligible residents are unaware the resources exist.

"What makes the Energy Saver Program especially important is that it does more than reduce energy bills," Brown said, adding that by lowering energy usage households can devote savings to necessities such as food and medication. Brown said C4EE helps residents navigate applications and wants to set up in public locations such as the library or community center so residents can bring required documents (12 months of utility bills and current income) and apply with staff assistance. She also noted the programs do not cover windows, flooring, or roofs and that C4EE is working with the state Department of Environmental Quality to recruit certified local contractors to perform work.