In 1999 the DNR introduced the Home Energy Rebate Option (HERO) Program in which Louisiana
residents would receive up to a $2,000 rebate for making their home more energy efficient. To date the
program has saved over 8.7 trillion BTUs of energy for Louisiana residents. Since 2007 the program has
been restricted to retrofits of existing homes. With funds from ARRA, the HERO program is expanded to
encompass new home construction, existing home retrofits, and commercial property retrofits.

The expanded HERO Program makes $15.2 million available to encourage energy efficiency in homes
and commercial properties. The program is designed to support homeowners and businesses seeking to
save money on energy and/or reduce their environmental impact through cash incentives for energy
efficiency improvements. The program includes three components: New Homes, Existing Homes, and
Existing Commercial Buildings.

The HERO-New Homes Program encourages the building of energy efficient new homes. Achieving a
Home Energy Rating System (HERS) score of 70 qualifies the new home for a $2,000 incentive. The
Hero Program will provide a $3,000 rebate for homes that achieve a 50% energy savings for heating and
cooling over the 2004 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC 2004) including supplements to
that code, where at least 1/5 of the energy savings must come from building envelope improvements.

The HERO-Existing Homes Program encourages energy efficiency by providing a cash incentive to
Louisiana residents who improve the energy efficiency of their existing home by a minimum of 30%. The
incentive is based solely on energy savings expressed in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The incentive will be two
cents ($0.02) per kWh savings comparing the pre-improvement home and post-improvement home over
15 years as determined by a HERS rating. The maximum potential rebate is $3,000.

The HERO-Commercial Buildings Retrofit Program is designed to encourage business owners to retrofit
their existing commercial properties. The program requires a 10% reduction in annual kWh usage and
EmPower Louisiana HERO–Commercial Buildings Retrofit Program Guidelines awards an incentive of
one cent ($0.01) per kWh savings comparing the pre-improvement property and
the improved property. The maximum potential rebate is $5,000.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009
LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
EmPower Louisiana
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