At Celebration in Crownhill Acres, Congressman Castro Touts $1 Million Grant for Energy-Efficient Home Improvements

SAN ANTONIO — On Thursday, Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20) joined CPS Energy in the Crownhill Acres neighborhood to celebrate a $1 million grant he secured to grow the Casa Verde Weatherization Program and help approximately 500 low-income homeowners qualify for no-cost, energy-saving home improvements. The celebration was held at the home of a Casa Verde beneficiary who has owned her home for nearly four decades.

“CPS Energy’s Casa Verde program is a wonderful initiative that helps San Antonio homeowners save money on their utility bills by funding energy-efficient home repairs,” said Congressman Joaquin Castro. “Earlier this year, my office was proud to get a million dollars to help hundreds of low-income families qualify for the program. This week’s celebration was a great opportunity to recognize the impact Casa Verde has made and will continue to make in the months and years to come.”

“I want to thank Congressman Castro for the $1 million aimed at supporting more weatherization projects in San Antonio,” said CPS Energy President and CEO, Rudy D. Garza. “Meeting with a customer who benefited from Casa Verde and hearing about the energy savings she has seen is representative of the community benefit that this funding provides.”

To download full-sized images from Thursday’s visit, click here.

Although many San Antonio residents qualify for the Casa Verde program, approximately 47% of applications are not qualified because the homes need additional repairs (plumbing, electrical, foundation, active roof leaks) beyond the scope of the current program. In many cases, these additional repairs can be done for under $1,000.

In March 2024, to help address this challenge, Congressman Castro secured $1,000,000 in funding for Casa Verde through Fiscal Year 2024 federal appropriations as part of a package of more than $10 million in earmarks for San Antonio community projects. The funding will provide home repairs for approximately 500 homes to make them eligible for Casa Verde weatherization.

By participating in Casa Verde, participants receive:  

• An average of $4,500 in free home weatherization improvements, saving approximately $450 a year in energy costs.  
• Energy assessment of their home to determine what improvements will have the greatest impact on energy savings.  
• Energy-saving measures may include attic insulation, wall insulation, solar screens, air-sealing measures, replacement of incandescent light bulbs with LEDs, and duct sealing in addition to some health and safety measures. 

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