Benefits for Local Governments
Municipalities can reap multiple benefits, both short and long term, by offering a HERO program to finance renewable energy, energy efficiency, and water efficiency building improvements on homes and commercial properties.
Implementing a HERO program in your city or county increases demand for clean energy products and technologies and stimulates direct and indirect job growth. Programs that have implemented PACE in their communities have seen job growth. Your program could add manufacturing jobs and will add jobs for distribution and contracting. Implementing your local program demonstrates a commitment to fostering a clean-tech and green-tech economy. The HERO program promotes and finances replacement products and improvements that increase the value of properties. Studies have found that energy efficient properties on average sell for 10% more money and sell more quickly than similar properties that consume more energy. The U.S. spends more money importing energy ($300 billion) than our trade deficit with China ($240 billion). By becoming more efficient, individually and collectively, we reduce our dependence on foreign energy supplies. A German home consumes half as much energy as a typical U.S. home while a home in Sweden uses a quarter of the energy of a U.S. home. We can stop wasting energy. Products are available. When property owners participate in the HERO program, they significantly reduce emissions by reducing fossil fuel energy consumption. California's landmark environmental mandate requires the state of California to reduce greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. The HERO program puts your city on the path to significant GHG reduction and AB 32 compliance, without incurring additional costs. Grow sales, payroll, and property tax revenues. Your customized HERO program encourages homeowners and commercial property owners to make energy and water improvements, which increases sales and payroll tax revenue to the municipality. Additionally, when HERO program participants sell their homes at higher prices, the city realizes additional property tax revenues. Allow more people in your community to benefit from the tax breaks and rebates offered for installing renewable energy and energy efficiency upgrades. The move to a clean energy economy requires leadership. The technology is available, the laws are in place. What is needed now is implementation. Implement the HERO program. You Are the Solution.Interested in Getting Started? Click here to learn how.
To read about the Benefits to Program Owners, click here.