In September 2020, a series of wildfires burned more than 1 million acres across Oregon, destroying more than 4,000 homes and devastating communities including the city of Talent.

Five years later, the communities of Talent and Phoenix are showing recovery can mean much more than rebuilding. With the help of many organizations including Energy Trust, the cities are lowering costs for families and are better prepared for future disasters.

With support from Energy Trust, Todd Hoener rebuilt his Talent home. Energy-saving features have significantly lowered monthly bills.

Todd Hoener is one of the thousands of Oregonians who lost their homes in the Labor Day fires. “When I walked through the ashes the next morning, I wanted out, to tell you the truth,” said Hoener, who has owned his property in Talent since 2002.

For families like Hoener’s, Energy Trust created a new program offering larger cash incentives, making it easier to include energy-saving features and appliances in their new homes. Today, more than 240 homes in Southern Oregon are exceeding the current energy code and feature efficient lighting, rooftop solar, and more—including improved insulation, sealing, windows and doors, which not only save energy, but protect indoor air quality from smoke and other pollutants.

Energy Trust also conducted first-of-its-kind research to identify building features that could both save energy and make homes more resilient to wildfire. This research highlighted the importance of features like unvented attics and triple-pane windows, which have been integrated into home rebuilds, including Hoener’s.

“Even as energy costs keep rising, we’re able to keep things steady thanks to the efficiency measures and the solar panels we installed on the roof,” said Hoener, who now pays around $25 in energy costs each month—a quarter of the average Jackson County resident’s bill.

Energy Trust has helped more than 250 families across Oregon rebuild from wildfires with new homes that save energy, lower costs, and are better protected from wildfire smoke.

Nearly a third of Talent was hit by the fires. One of the groups most impacted were those living in manufactured home communities, including Talent Community Cooperative (formerly called Talent Mobile Estates). Energy Trust has helped in the replacement of nearly 80 homes for residents in the Cooperative.

New manufactured homes can be life-changing for families. A majority of manufactured homes in Oregon were built before energy standards were in place, meaning they’re incredibly inefficient, leaving families in drafty homes with high energy bills. Along with helping replace manufactured homes in Talent, Energy Trust’s Manufactured Home Replacement Program, in coordination with Oregon Housing and Community Services, has helped more than 100 families across Oregon.

“I’ve been present when families have seen their new home for the first time, which is a great experience,” said Scott Leonard, a program manager at Energy Trust. “They’re excited, they see a brand-new house, it’s beautiful on the inside, it’s energy-efficient, and they have a home that can be in their family for generations.”

Having this many homes now using a fraction of the energy they used just years before eases demand on the local energy system—making the entire community stronger and more resilient during times of stress, whether it’s a heat wave or wildfire.

Learn more about Energy Trust’s support for wildfire victims.