energy$avers Grants

Under the expanded Bungalow energy$avers Program, homeowners can apply for grants to cover most of their energy efficiency needs.

Dramatic results from three successful Green Bungalow Blocks demonstrate that owners who take basic energy conservation steps can save as much as $2,000 per year on their heating/cooling and lighting bills.

Grant Guidelines

1. Apply for the certification of your Historic Chicago Bungalow. Only owners that have certified their bungalow with the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association are eligible for the incentives. An application for certification (with photos of front and rear of house) must be returned to the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association, 1 N. LaSalle, 12^th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602. You will receive a response within approximately 3-4 weeks. If certified, you will also receive the HCBA Design Guidelines. Read these thoroughly and carefully, as all exterior improvements must conform to these guidelines.

2. Fill out an energy$avers Grant application. Applications are available here or by contacting the HCBA at (312)642-9900. Be sure to submit ALL required information (noted on application form) when applying for the grant. Failure to include all of the requested information will result in a delay of grant approval. Upon receiving your energy$avers Grant application, the HCBA will have a weatherization contractor contact you to schedule a free energy assessment of your home. This assessment will help determine the most cost effective weatherization improvements for your home.

The one-time energy$avers Grant can provide up to $6,000 for energy efficiency improvements. To be eligible for grant funds, ALL of your EXTERIOR rehabilitation plans must conform to the Historic Chicago Bungalow DESIGN GUIDELINES. Your entire project must receive design approval from the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association BEFORE WORK BEGINS. Materials & labor qualify for funding.

The energy$avers Grant emphasizes weatherizing the home to reduce energy costs. Insulating and air-sealing your home can reduce your annual energy usage by 30%. To stress the importance of weatherizing your home, the HCBA requires that your bungalow be properly insulated and air-sealed before you can access funding for other eligible projects (see below). Your contractor’s energy assessment will provide a list of weatherization recommendations for your home.

Eligible Energy Efficient Projects:

Eligible energy$avers projects will receive a 75% reimbursement grant up to $6,000.

**Exceptions: Low income residents (below 80% of area median income) will receive an 85% reimbursement grant up to $6,000. Very low income residents (below 50% of area median income) will receive a 100% reimbursement grant up to $6,000. (Income/Household Size chart provided below).

3. HCBA will receive a completed energy assessment/work proposal from your assigned contractor, and review your project for grant funding. You will receive notification of project approval, in writing, within approximately 15-20 business days. Begin rehabilitation work AFTER receipt of project approval letter.

4. ENERGY GRANT REIMBURSAL PROCESS: Upon completion of your approved rehabilitation project submit to the Historic Chicago Bungalow Association:

• A copy of your HCBA project approval letter
• An itemized copy of your contractor’s project proposal
• A detailed copy of your paid in full receipts and payment documentation (such as copies of cancelled checks, copies of bank statements or credit card statements)
• 2-3 photographs of your improvement/completed work (with name and address on back of each photo)
• 1 current photograph of the front of your home—taken within the last 30 days (with date taken, name and address on back of photo)

*Failure to include all of the requested information will result in a delay of grant funding. Please note that if doing a piece meal rehab project all information MUST be submitted together. The applicant is eligible for one grant submittal only. Faxed information will not be accepted.

Mail to:

Historic Chicago Bungalow Association

One North LaSalle, 12^th Floor

Chicago, IL 60602

5. After the receipts and support material are reviewed, if eligible, the grant funds are sent directly to you. Please allow 90-120 days for grant processing.

IMPORTANT NOTES—

Insulation and air-sealing are required in order to access energy$avers funds. You must fill out our Utility Bill Release form - a simple form that will help us better serve everyone! Thank you.

Rehabilitation work executed before the home is certified as a Historic Chicago Bungalow is not eligible for grant funds. Work executed without design approval from the HCBA is not eligible for the energy$avers Grant.

Certified Bungalow Owners who have applied for and received funding from the HCBA prior to this grant incentive are still eligible to receive partial funding--contact us at (312)642-9900 for more information. Please note that this grant is not retroactive and cannot be applied to work completed before May 1, 2008.

All street-facing exterior improvements completed after certification must meet the HCBA Design Guidelines, regardless of whether those projects are grant funded, in order for the homeowner to remain eligible for HCBA financial incentives.