HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 3/30/2021 - Memorandum From John Phelan Re: Epic Homes And Bloomberg Mayors Challenge Update
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Utilities
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222 Laporte Ave.
PO Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580
970.212.2900
V/TDD: 711
utilities@fcgov.com
fcgov.com/utilities
M E M O R A N D U M
DATE: March 16, 2021
TO: Mayor Troxell and Councilmembers
FROM:John Phelan, Senior Energy Services Manager
THROUGH: Darin Atteberry, City Manager
Kelly DiMartino, Deputy City Manager
Theresa Connor, Interim Utilities Executive Director
Lisa Rosintoski, Deputy Director, Utilities Customer Connections
RE: Epic Homes and Bloomberg Mayors Challenge Update
______________________________________________________________________________
Bottom Line
The purpose of this memo is to provide an update to Councilmembers about the progress and
outcomes to date for the Bloomberg Mayors Challenge-winning Epic Homes program.
Bloomberg Philanthropies and staff would like to gratefully recognize Mayor Troxell and
all Councilmembers for their crucial role in advancing the success of the program over the
last several years. Staff looks forward to continuing engagement with Council as the Epic
Homes program continues to scale to serve Fort Collins residents on an ongoing basis.
Key results to date (January 2019 through February 2021):
Over 1,100 homes upgraded and initial progress towards increased rental property
participation
Established indoor environmental quality (IEQ) study with Colorado State University
Re-established attractive on-bill loan program with low interest rates, up to 15-year terms
and an $8M capital stack with private and public sources
2020 Summary
COVID-19 introduced many challenges to the successful operation of Epic Homes. In-home
energy assessments, an important first step in the program, were paused in March, also shutting
down recruitment and enrollment in the CSU-led IEQ study. With new safety protocols, IEQ
study enrollment restarted in April, a virtual assessment option started in June and in-home
assessments resumed in October. Despite these challenges and the economic volatility caused by
COVID-19, the program continued to attract strong participation in assessments, loans, projects
and rebates in 2020.
Below is a summary of progress made on 2020 goals:
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2020 Goal Planned Actual
LMI rental homes upgraded 18 18
Rental homes upgraded 45 50
Overall homes upgraded 1,150 1,057
Households participating in IEQ study 80 16
Number and value of Epic Loans 98 / $1 million 56 / $871k
2021 Priorities
Looking ahead to the remainder of 2021, the final year of the Bloomberg Mayors Challenge
performance period, Epic Homes priorities include:
Deploy full-scale marketing tactics that were delayed by COVID-19 with a focus on
recruiting participation by rental property owners
Introduce a $100 radon mitigation incentive pilot in partnership with Healthy Homes
Planning for potential new third-party capital agreements
Track program participation by demographics to assist with program equity evaluation
Conduct social science research into the barriers and enablers to participation by rental
property owners, in collaboration with the CSU IEQ study team
impacts
Work on a cross-departmental team on a new proposal for the 2021 Bloomberg Global
Mayors Challenge.
Background Information
Fort Collins Epic Homes project was selected as one of eight cities to receive a one-million-
dollar prize through the 2018 Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge. The program was
selected for its innovative approach to tackling the split incentive dilemma and advancing
environmental and community well-being. Epic Homes is a comprehensive portfolio for single-
family home performance, for both owner-occupied and renter-occupied properties. The program
includes energy assessments and rebates, on-bill financing, an indoor environmental quality and
well-being study, and documentation of home improvements. More information about Epic
Homes is available at fcgov.com/epichomes.
Appreciation
Bloomberg Philanthropies and staff would like to gratefully recognize Mayor Troxell and all
Councilmembers for their crucial role in advancing the success of the program over the last
several years. Staff looks forward to continuing engagement with Council as the Epic Homes
program continues to scale to serve Fort Collins residents on an ongoing basis.
Cc: Travis Storin, Interim Chief Financial Officer
Blaine Dunn, Interim Accounting Director
Kim DeVoe, Energy Services Engineer
Carolyn Conant, Energy Services Project Manager