Office of Energy
The mission of the Division of Environmental Quality's Office of Energy (also known as the Arkansas Energy Office (AEO)) is to promote energy efficiency, clean technology and sustainable strategies that encourage economic development, energy security and the environmental well-being for all citizens of Arkansas.
The Office of Energy offers help for businesses, communities, and residents through home energy scores, energy performance contracting, partnerships to reduce petroleum consumption for transportation, energy technology loans, low-income energy assistance, weatherization assistance, and other strategies.
LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP)
LIHEAP is a block grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF). It is designed to lower the energy burden for low-income individuals, who pay a high proportion of household income for home energy costs, by paying benefits for home energy bills. LIHEAP assists households with heating costs during the winter season and cooling costs during the summer season.
LIHEAP in Arkansas is operated by a network of fifteen (15) Community Action Agencies (CAAs), which serves all seventy-five (75) counties. CAAs receive other funding as well and operate multiple programs that assist low-income households.
Additional funds for LIHEAP in the amount of $8,209,119 were allocated to Arkansas on May 8, 2020, from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by the U.S. Congress and signed into law on March 27, 2020. The Arkansas Department of Energy and Environment plans to allocate these funds to the CAAs to operate a Supplemental Crisis program designed to assist more households who have experienced reduced income due to the coronavirus pandemic.
To see an Arkansas map showing which CAA serves each county, click here.
To see a list of how to contact the CAA in each county, click here.
To see a chart showing maximum allowable income to be eligible for LIHEAP benefits, click here.
AEO Core Programs
Energy Codes
Arkansas has statewide building codes that use resources efficiently to save Arkansans energy and money. Residential homes and commercial buildings are required to be constructed to the standards set forth in the 2014 Arkansas Energy Code, which is based on the IECC-2009 and ASHRAE 90.1-2007. State government buildings are required to be ten percent better than the ASHRAE 90.1-2007 Performance Rating Method.
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) utilizes seven service providers to weatherize homes throughout all of Arkansas's 75 counties. Our service providers are made up of Community Action Agencies (CAAs) and other nonprofits. They are charged with installing energy efficient upgrades in qualifying low-income homes. In addition to the WAP funds, the Arkansas Weatherization Program is funded by participating utilities for the installation of energy conservation measures on their qualifying utility customers' homes. These funds work in conjunction with WAP funds.
Arkansas Energy Performance Contracting
Energy Performance Contracting is a financing mechanism used to pay for energy efficiency improvements all at once that are then paid back through annual energy savings. The AEO provides technical assistance to state agencies and public institutions of higher learning, helping them navigate the process and ensuring that Pre-Qualified Energy Service Companies (see a list below) maintain the highest levels of quality. Furthermore, the AEO actively provides education and outreach on the components of Energy Performance Contracting, maintains contract documents, and sets industry standards for Energy Service Companies.
Arkansas Home Energy Score
The Arkansas Home Energy Score is a unique opportunity for residential homeowners across Arkansas to access a low-cost, highly accurate energy label for the first time. The Arkansas Energy Office is partnering with the statewide home performance industry, home inspectors, and utility program implementers to build a network of qualified statewide assessors.
Energy Efficiency Arkansas
Energy Efficiency Arkansas, a partnership between the Arkansas Energy Office and Arkansas's investor-owned electric and gas utilities and electric cooperatives, exists to help make your business or home more energy efficient.
Arkansas Energy Technology Loan (AETL) Program
The Arkansas Energy Technology Loan (AETL) Program finances energy related cost reduction retrofits and green energy implementation for Arkansas companies. The AETL program encourages Arkansas companies to make investments in clean technology and improve energy efficiency of their processes and facilities. This enables the companies to operate with a higher degree of energy efficiency to promote job creation and retention, particularly in industries that are at risk because of high energy demands. Low interest rate loans are provided to assist those companies in financing their energy cost reduction efforts.
Residential Energy Efficiency Loan Loss Reserve Program
The Residential Energy Efficiency Loan Loss Reserve Program will provide funds to participants providing residential on-bill repayment or on-bill financing programs to their customers for energy efficiency improvements such as insulation, duct sealing and HVAC replacement.
Arkansas Clean Cities
Clean Cities is a voluntary organization made up of local and state government agencies, private companies, and nonprofit organization. Through our public-private partnerships, we help enhance energy security, promote energy independence, and advance environmental quality in the state of Arkansas.