Thomas And Antheil Join Renovate America In Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., July 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Renovate America, the largest provider of residential Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing in the U.S., has hired Florida-based executives John Charles Thomas and Mike Antheil to lead the expansion of the company's HERO PACE Program into the state, working with the Florida Development Finance Corporation.

Renovate America partners with local governments to provide its version of PACE, the HERO Program (Home Energy Renovation Opportunity), to homeowners to finance a wide variety of product installations to conserve energy and make homes wind resistant. These installations include energy-efficient products like heating, air conditioning, ventilation and cooling systems, energy saving window and roofing project, renewable energy products like solar, and home wind hardening upgrades. HERO is unique in that it provides 100 percent financing for up to 20 years with fixed interest rates designed to make payments affordable. Homeowners make payments along with their property taxes, and in the event the property is sold, the remaining balance may be able to transfer to the new owner.

John Charles Thomas will serve as Renovate America's Vice President, Market Development, for Florida and be responsible for the market development and external affairs, helping to make the company's industry-leading HERO Program and other financing products available throughout the state. Thomas previously served as Senior Director of Membership and Public Affairs for the Florida League of Cities, leading the League's external and internal communications. His prior roles include Senior Vice President of Public Private Partnership, a government and corporate affairs consulting firm, and as the Government Relations Director for the University of South Florida. Thomas served in the administration of Florida Governor Lawton Chiles as the Director of Cabinet Affairs and Senior Legislative Director. 

"I look forward to helping to increase the financing options for Floridians who need to make energy efficiency, renewable energy or wind-hardening upgrades to their homes," said Thomas. "HERO has a proven model for not only reaching more homeowners than traditional financing options, but also producing environmental and economic benefits for local communities."

Mike Antheil has also joined Renovate America as Florida Director of Market Development. A Florida native, Antheil is a renewable energy policy and finance expert. He most recently served as Executive Director of both the Florida Solar Energy Industries Association (FlaSEIA) and the Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy (FARE).

"PACE gives homeowners a powerful new tool for improving the efficiency of their homes and adding renewable energy upgrades like solar," said Antheil. "The innovative program can help homeowners save energy, reduce their utility bills, and prepare for catastrophic weather."

The HERO Program will be offered to homeowners later this year in Florida communities that have adopted resolutions allowing PACE financing. To encourage your local government to offer HERO, please visit https://www.heroprogram.com/get-hero.

Since 2011, the HERO Program has financed more than $1.5 billion in home improvements which will save more than $2 billion on energy bills, conserve 10 billion kWh of electricity – enough to take one million Americans off the grid for a year – reduce emissions by more than 2.7 million tons, and save more than 4.6 billion gallons of water. It has already created 13,300 jobs across California and had a local economic impact of more than $2.7 billion.

About Renovate America

Renovate America partners with state and local governments to offer HERO, a property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing program, to communities. HERO is the leading PACE program in the U.S. and has financed more than $1.5 billion of improvements, representing the vast majority of residential PACE projects nationwide. This unique public-private partnership offers consumers access to financing for more than 60 types of products that reduce energy and water consumption, without the need for government funding. The HERO Program has received a number of recognitions including a Climate Leadership Certificate for Innovative Partnerships by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, inclusion in the 2016 White House Water Summit, the Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Award in California, and the Urban Land Institute Best of the Best.

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SOURCE Renovate America