For the third consecutive year, America’s oil and natural gas industry and Rebuilding Together are working together to help increase energy efficiency in homes and help low-income homeowners save money by reducing their energy usage.

Rebuilding Together, the nation’s largest nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership, and the American Petroleum Institute, the primary trade association for the oil and natural gas industry, teamed up to create the Energy Efficient Homes Initiative in 2005. Through the Initiative, Rebuilding Together and API provide energy-efficient home repairs and modifications to low-income homeowners, lessening the burden of home utility costs.

Additionally, since 2005, the Initiative has:

• Expanded its reach, doubling the number of rebuilds conducted nationwide;
• Enabled homeowners and assisted living facilities across the nation to save thousands of dollars, thanks to a variety of energy-efficient techniques incorporated into their homes;
• Afforded homeowners the ability to save as much as 30 percent on monthly energy bills;
• Enhanced the quality of life of homeowners and helped educate volunteers on the value of energy efficiency; and
• Facilitated the incorporation of energy-efficient measures in the more than 9,000 homes revitalized each year by Rebuilding Together.

Here is what two EEHI homeowners had to say about their experience:

“When the electric bill came this month and showed that we used nearly half the electricity (15kWh) we used during March 2006 (25kWh) with the exact same average daily temperature, we knew we could not put off your thanks any longer. What a wonderful surprise to go from $143 in January and $152 in February to $86 in March 2007!”
Homeowner, Hartford, Connecticut, 2007

“My new ‘Energy Star’ furnace and central air conditioning, for which funding was provided by API, will save a tremendous amount on my heating and cooling expenses. Now my home is warm in every room and in every corner! It makes no difference if the wind is blowing, the snow is falling and the temperature is below freezing.”
Homeowner, Montana, 2006

Rebuilding Together is the nation's largest nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods by providing free home repair and modification services to those in need. With the help of everyday citizen volunteers, skilled trades people, the support of local business and major corporate partners, Rebuilding Together affiliates in America’s largest cities and smallest towns make life considerably better for thousands of low-income homeowners.  In addition to its core home repair work, Rebuilding Together rehabilitates community centers and conducts home modification and repair programs that focus on aging in place, energy efficiency, veteran’s housing, and disaster recovery and reconstruction. Rebuilding Together is currently celebrating 20 years as a national organization and the completion of over 100,000 homes thanks to the efforts of more than 200 affiliates nationwide.  For more information, visit www.RebuildingTogether.org.

The American Petroleum Institute is the primary trade association for the oil and natural gas industry in the United States. Representing one of the most technologically advanced industries in the world, API’s membership includes nearly 400 companies engaged in all aspects of the oil and natural gas industry, including the exploration, production, refining, transportation and marketing of crude oil, natural gas and related consumer products. For more information on the American Petroleum Institute, please visit its Web site at http://www.api.org.

You Can Get Involved

• Become a Sponsor: Rebuilding Together will use your contributions in your community or across the nation to incorporate energy efficiency improvements as they renovate and weatherize homes. Low-income homeowners will be able to save money and energy.
• Volunteer: Find the contact information for your local affiliate by searching for state or zip code at www.rebuildingtogether.org and using the “Find an Affiliate” option.
• Serve on an Affiliate Board of Directors: Help shape the program as it grows in your
  community by providing your talents on the board of directors.