SOUL® Program

(Save On Utilities Long-Term)

Building a More Affordable Energy Future by Lowering Household Electricity Bills Through Energy Efficiency.

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A compelling graphic for the Save On Utilities Long Term program, featuring a program participant standing proudly by her new HVAC unit, symbolizing improved home energy efficiency and comfort. In the background, a skilled worker is shown repairing flooring at another participant’s household, highlighting the program’s comprehensive home improvement and utility savings services. The image uses bright, welcoming colors to emphasize positive impact, community support, and sustainable energy solutions.

About Groundswell’s SOUL® (Save On Utilities Long-Term) Program

Groundswell’s SOUL® (Save On Utilities Long-Term) program delivers energy efficiency upgrades and essential home repairs—where enabling repairs are a critical part of the upgrade process—to make homes safer, more affordable, and more resilient. Since 2020, SOUL® has focused on meeting households where they are, grounded in a simple truth: people pay bills, not rates. Even as energy costs rise, lowering household bills starts with improving the home itself. For many families, high energy costs are rooted in the housing crisis—more than half of enrolled homes require repairs before efficiency improvements can be realized, and many need major structural work. SOUL® weaves together public, private, and philanthropic funding to meet real needs at the kitchen table, reducing the complexity that often blocks access to support. The result is meaningful, long-term impact—especially in rural and small-town communities where low- and moderate-income households can spend up to 20% of their income on energy.

SOUL® Background

Since 2020, Groundswell has served residents in LaGrange, across West Georgia, and East Alabama through the SOUL® program, delivering home repairs and energy efficiency upgrades that improve safety, affordability, and resilience. This work reflects a core reality: many households cannot benefit from energy efficiency without first addressing underlying housing conditions. By aligning multiple funding sources, Groundswell delivers solutions that reduce household energy bills and strengthen
long-term resilience.

Quick Facts

164 homes completed to date with the SOUL® program
$1.5+ million total investment to date
53% of homes require repairs before energy efficiency improvements can be realized
27% of homes require major repairs (e.g., roof replacement)
$20,000 average investment per household (repairs + energy efficiency)
34% average improvement in energy efficiency