The City of Knoxville is launching a Green Building Incentive Program on Wednesday that will help qualified home and building owners pay for energy saving improvements to their buildings.

The federally-funded program is designed to encourage homeowners and others to make energy-efficiency improvements by rebating a portion of the costs of energy efficiency renovations or installing solar technology.

The program is being administered by the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee (CAC) and has $243,000 available for rebates. All inquiries and applications should go to CAC.

"This is a program that provides additional incentives to Knoxville residents interested in making their homes or businesses more energy efficient. As a participant, you will receive a rebate to help cover costs of energy efficient upgrades which, in turn, should lower your monthly energy use and save money in the long term." said Jake Tisinger, the city's sustainability coordinator. "It's a one-time opportunity to make some very beneficial changes and we hope a lot of people will take advantage of it."

Funding for the Green Building Incentive Program comes from an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block (EECBG) Grant the city received as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as federal stimulus package.

The EECBG program supports the development of energy and conservation measures aimed at reducing fossil fuel emissions and improving energy efficiency in transportation and building.

Tisinger said participants in the Green Building Incentive Program - whose properties will have had an energy audit - will be eligible for partial reimbursement of the costs of specific upgrades made to their properties.

The amount of rebates will vary according to the scope of the work. The program can enhance existing TVA energy audit and energy improvement efforts, which also offer rebates for renovations that increase efficiency and reduce emissions.

The improvements can range from things as simple as new energy saving appliances to the installation of solar hot water heaters and other solar technologies. The available funds are being split between energy audit and appliance rebate incentives and solar technology rebate incentives.

CAC will begin accepting applications on Wednesday.

For more information about the city's Green Building Incentive Program - or to apply to participate in it - please go to CAC's website, www.CACHousing.org or call CAC Housing and Energy Services at 865-244-3080.

More information about the City of Knoxville's various sustainability efforts is available at www.knoxvilletn.gov/sustainability.