19-02-2025
Charleston County votes on residential energy and weatherization audit project
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD) – The Charleston County finance committee approved the vote for a residential energy audit and weatherization project.
The funds come from the South Carolina Energy Office, which was initially approved of in July 2024. The meeting greenlit the distribution of the $75,000, when it becomes available, to the Sustainability Institute.
'The Sustainability Institute is going to be leading the weatherization and energy audit,' Molly Caggiano, resilience and sustainability manager of Charleston County, said. 'So, they're going to be conducting the audits in 20 homes across the county. These homes are all located in areas that have energy burdens or have disadvantages in ways.'
This project is expected to bring much-needed relief to the selected homeowners a part of the 'Well and Septic Program' with the county. As the Sustainability Institute plans to weatherize the homes, Charleston County will assist by identifying the 20 homeowners.
'They will start reaching out to them and running the audits in their homes, and determine anything from if they need new lighting, or new water pumps, or any energy efficiency. Their windows, installation – things like that,' said Caggiano.
Officials said eight of the homes will be fully-weatherized, and the other 12 will be partially-weatherized. According to the county, this may also include air sealing, insulation in the attic, a programmable thermostat, and more.
Also, this project is one moving part of the county's overall goals of improving climate resiliency.
'The county has a climate action plan and one of our big moves is affordable and resilient housing. This project is leading to reduce energy consumption, which also leads to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and improves quality of life for folks,' Caggiano said. 'So, we're reaching one of our strategic goals with this project.'
The project will begin when the federal funding freeze concludes, as officials estimated it will be complete by May 2026.
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