Evaluation of EnergyWise Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program in Mississippi

Sierra Club
Project Completed July 2021

On behalf of the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and the Sierra Club, Synapse conducted an in-depth evaluation of Mississippi’s EnergyWise low-income energy efficiency pilot program. The EnergyWise program is a grant-funded program in Mississippi administered by the Gulf Coast Community Foundation. EnergyWise has been operating since 2015 and has helped about 700 low-income households improve their building energy use and reduce annual energy bills.

As part of this evaluation, Synapse conducted an energy savings impact evaluation of the program and assessed costs and benefits of the program, including non-energy benefits and bill savings. Synapse also conducted a survey of program participants and program implementers and identified various non-energy benefits experienced by program participants, including improved comfort and safety, improved ability to pay for food and other necessities, and reduced illness. We documented our findings in a report to support the continuation or expansion of the EnergyWise program. Further, Synapse reviewed Mississippi Power Company (MPC)’s low-income program called SELECT and identified specific aspects of the program that could be incorporated into MPC’s SELECT program.