Help My House Getting Rave Reviews

The Help My House pilot project in South Carolina provided no-upfront-cost energy efficiency upgrades—including heat pumps and insulation—to electrical cooperative members. The program reduced average electricity use by 34%, saving participants an average of $288 annually during loan repayment and projected savings of over $1,100 annually thereafter, with over 90% of participants reporting satisfaction.

• The Help My House pilot project, involving the Central Electric Power Cooperative and The Electric Cooperatives of South Carolina, provided energy efficiency upgrades to electrical cooperative members with no upfront cost. These upgrades included sealing air leaks, installing high efficiency heat pumps to replace electric furnaces and AC units, repairing duct work, adding insulation, and patching holes under houses.
• Participants in the Help My House program experienced significant reductions in electricity costs and improved home comfort. One participant, Andrea Jones, saw monthly electric bills drop from $500-$700 to a maximum of $277, while retirees Teri and John Norsworthy also saw a drastic reduction from bills that previously reached $500 per month.
• Evaluation by EESI and its partners showed that participating houses reduced electricity use by an average of 34 percent. This resulted in average annual savings of $288 after loan payments, with projected annual savings exceeding $1,100 once loans are repaid. Approximately 90% or more of participants reported being somewhat or very satisfied with their co-op, their electric bills, and post-upgrade comfort.

APA

Hays, A. (2013). Help My House Getting Rave Reviews. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/help-my-house-getting-rave-reviews

Chicago

Hays, Allison. Help My House Getting Rave Reviews. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2013. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/help-my-house-getting-rave-reviews.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hays |first1=Allison |title=Help My House Getting Rave Reviews |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=21 August 2013 |url=https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/help-my-house-getting-rave-reviews |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hays2013help, author = {Hays, Allison}, title = {{Help My House Getting Rave Reviews}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2013}, month = aug, url = {https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/help-my-house-getting-rave-reviews}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }