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The report identifies significant barriers to 'stacking' (combining) multiple financial incentives for US residential energy retrofits, including complex application processes, inconsistent performance standards, and funding gaps for health and safety repairs. It analyzes the interaction between Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) tax credits and rebates, noting that while clean energy retrofits can be more affordable than fossil fuel alternatives after incentives, low-income households often lack the 'tax appetite' to benefit from tax credits. RMI recommends that state program administrators prioritize funding for pre-electrification upgrades, consolidate application processes, and increase allocations for underserved communities and multi-family housing.

The document outlines strategies for US states to implement the Home Efficiency Rebates and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates programs. It emphasizes prioritizing low-income and disadvantaged communities, stacking various financial incentives to reduce upfront costs for whole-home retrofits, and developing complementary state policies such as workforce training and building envelope efficiency to scale residential decarbonization.

The Home Efficiency Rebate program, established by the Inflation Reduction Act, provides $4.3 billion to incentivize whole-home retrofits for single-family and multifamily dwellings. Funding is distributed to state energy offices (SEOs) via formula, with rebate amounts scaling based on energy savings and doubling for low-income households. The guide recommends that states avoid subsidizing new fossil fuel appliances, stack incentives, and prioritize low-income access by setting spending goals of 40% to 80% of program funds for these households. It also suggests providing upfront rebates and utilizing zero-interest loans for Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) properties to avoid tax complications.

The policy brief advocates for targeted, refundable tax credits to drive the transition to zero-carbon buildings and deep energy retrofits in the US. It proposes six specific tax credit mechanisms—including improvements to existing credits like 45L and 179D and the creation of new ones for lead safety and clean heating—to overcome cost barriers, support low-income housing, and scale domestic manufacturing of heat pumps.

The Distributed Energy for Social Housing (DESH) fund is a third-party ownership and rental model designed to overcome financial barriers for low-income Brazilian households accessing solar energy. By funding 100% of projects and eliminating upfront costs and interest rates for tenants, the instrument aims to provide energy at 10-20% below standard utility rates. A 5 MW pilot involving five 1 MW plants in state capitals is projected to require US$ 6 million in investment, serving 2,900 households and mitigating 105,000 tons of carbon emissions. The fund utilizes a dual-class structure with a first-loss tranche for concessional capital and a senior tranche for commercial investors, with a long-term goal of mobilizing US$ 1.1 billion to reach over 677,000 households within 12 years.

The Centre for Environmental Rights (CER) is calling on the South African Department of Environmental Affairs to formally publish the draft Strategy to Address Air Pollution in Dense Low-Income Settlements for public comment by 30 April 2015. The CER argues that residents in low-income settlements suffer disproportionate exposure to poor air quality from industrial sources and domestic fuel burning, leading to severe respiratory and cardio-vascular illnesses, particularly in children and the elderly. The document highlights that the strategy was a deliverable as far back as 2010 and is essential for local governments, such as the Nkangala District Municipality, to meet air quality compliance goals by 2020. The CER asserts that the state's failure to address these health risks violates constitutional rights to an environment not harmful to health and the progressive realisation of adequate housing.

The report identifies significant financial, institutional, and skill-based barriers that prevent the scale-up of energy-efficient low-income housing in South Africa, despite the availability of simple passive thermal improvements and solar water heaters. It argues that the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is an unsustainable model for these projects due to low carbon prices and dispersed savings. Instead, the author proposes 'Direct Support' mechanisms—including framework support for government institutions, project support for developers, and micro-finance/insurance models for homeowners—to provide upfront capital and capacity building. The paper also recommends establishing national energy performance standards and vocational training to bridge the gap between policy and implementation.

Fort Collins Utilities transitioned from the Home Efficiency Loan Program (HELP) to the more comprehensive Epic Homes program in 2018. Epic Homes provides low-interest loans up to $25,000 for energy efficiency retrofits, rooftop solar PV, and water conservation, with repayments integrated into monthly utility bills. The program leverages partnerships with entities like the Colorado Clean Energy Fund and Vectra Bank to secure long-term capital, specifically targeting low- and medium-income households and rental properties to improve health and equity.