By Elizabeth Willis Map: Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA), Source: U.S. Census Bureau, U.S Department of Energy  Residential construction in the Southeastern United States has ebbed and flowed over the past three […]

Home insurance costs are rising across the Southeast, threatening housing affordability for homeowners and renters alike. With the frequency and severity of climate-related disasters increasing, insurers are passing higher costs onto policyholders. Between 2018 and 2022, home insurance premiums written by the top 10 insurers in the region surged from $9.4 billion to $14.3 billion. Florida and Louisiana have been hit particularly hard and have some of the highest premium increases and non-renewal rates in the country.  

This month’s map considers the implications of this unprecedented load growth in the South. We use data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) to review how Southern utilities currently generate power, as well as the expected energy and financial implications of new generation infrastructure that will be required to meet these needs. 

Tax season is fast approaching, and if you have invested in energy efficiency upgrades to your home over the past year you may be eligible for a federal tax credit that can offset some of your costs. The Energy Efficiency Home Improvement Credit, sometimes called the 25(c) credit, provides an annual tax credit of up to $3,200 for qualifying households that have invested in energy efficiency improvements since 2023. This includes up to $1,200 for efficient doors, windows, skylights, insulation, air sealing as well as for home energy audits. It also includes up to $2,000 per year for certain heat pumps, water heaters, or for stoves and/or boilers powered by biomass. Using data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), this Map of the Month explores the impact of these tax credits.