The Energy Savings Program provides eligible Alabama families with no-cost home energy improvements that help keep homes cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter, and more comfortable year-round.
Delivered through the Alabama Resiliency Fund, ESP brings together trusted partners to identify common energy issues and make practical improvements in homes where they are needed most.
Why the Energy Savings Program Matters
Across Alabama, many families live in older homes with drafty windows, thin or no insulation, and aging heating and cooling systems. These homes can be hard to heat and cool, leading to high energy bills and rooms that never feel quite right.
Lower‑income families can spend 10% or more of their income on home energy – three times the share of a typical household. At the same time, Alabama homes use about 30% more electricity than the U.S. average, and a large share of homes were built before modern efficiency standards.
ESP tackles these issues by:
- Reduce wasted energy through targeted home improvements
- Improve year-round comfort
- Help make monthly energy costs more manageable
- Provide improvements designed to deliver value over time
Typical upgrades can reduce household electricity use by about 20% – potentially saving families $500+ annually depending on their home and energy use.
Home Energy Upgrades You May Receive
Depending on what your home needs, ESP may provide:
- LED lighting upgrades
- Smart or programmable thermostats
- Faucet aerators and low‑flow showerheads to reduce hot water waste
- Caulking and weatherstripping around doors, windows, and other leaky spots
- Attic insulation to keep heated and cooled air where it belongs
- Air sealing to close gaps, cracks, and leaks
- Duct sealing to keep conditioned air moving where it should
- Heating and cooling (HVAC) tune‑ups or replacements where needed and eligible
All upgrades are installed by qualified contractors at no cost to you as a participating household.
Who the Program Is For
ESP is designed for:
- Eligible homeowners with limited incomes
- Residents in selected Alabama communities where ESP is active
- People living in homes that are older, drafty, or difficult to keep comfortable
In some communities, ESP may be coordinated with other ARF initiatives and local partnerships.
What Happens When We Come to Your Home
- Our team will arrive during the scheduled time window and show proper identification.
- We will walk through the home with you, ask questions, and explain what we see.
- Simple items like LED bulbs or faucet aerators may be installed right away, with your permission.
- For larger work such as insulation or HVAC upgrades, we will explain what is recommended and schedule a follow‑up visit with our contractors.
You will never be asked to pay for ESP upgrades. If anyone comes to your home claiming to be from ESP and asks for money, please call our hotline immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
In some ADEN communities, ESP is coordinated with broadband and digital access projects so that homes become both more efficient and more connected. Where available, our team will share information about these options.
Timing depends on your availability, contractor schedules, the number of homes in the area, and the type of work needed. Our team will keep you updated along the way and do our best to complete work as quickly as possible.
We will ask for your contact information, address, basic details about your home, and some limited income and household information to confirm eligibility and measure the program’s impact. Your information is kept private and is only used for program purposes.
Every home is different. ESP improvements are designed to reduce wasted energy and may lower energy costs, but actual savings depend on the home, weather, and household energy use.
No, the program is limited to homeowners at this time. We hope to expand our offerings to renters in the future.
No. ESP upgrades are provided at no cost to eligible participants. ESP is delivered through ARF’s Energy Affordability Initiative with funding and support from participating partners.
Yes, in many cases there are at least two visits: one for the assessment and direct install equipment, and another for any larger upgrades like insulation or HVAC work.
Some serious issues – such as roof leaks, major structural damage, or unsafe wiring – may need to be fixed before we can complete ESP work. In these cases, our team will point you toward other local resources when possible.
ESP serves traditional single‑family homes and manufactured homes, with the goal to serve other housing types as the program grows. Homes must be located in a current ESP community and meet basic health and safety requirements so that home energy improvement work can be done safely.
