Weatherization

The Weatherization Assistance Program enables low-income familiesto permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. During the last 33 years, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program has provided energy efficiency services to more than 6.4 million low-income families.

Within this program, services are cost-effective energy efficiency measures for existing residential and multifamily housing with low-income residents. It includes a wide variety of energy efficiency measures that encompass the building envelope, its heating and cooling systems, its electrical system, attic insulation and electricity consuming appliances. In other words, the full range of energy efficiency measures in buildings that apply to all homes and apartment buildings is included in weatherization technologies.

This amazing program serves low-income families free of charge and limits the amount of work that can be done to a single home according to federal rules the amount of money that can be spent on any single residence. (The average expenditure is $6,500.) As a result, only the most cost-effective measures are included in the upgrade of a particular home.

Another distinguishing feature of this program is attention to all-around safety check. Many buildings receiving attention are old and in need of repair. Service providers check major energy systems to ensure occupant safety.

Weatherization today comprises a comprehensive series of energy efficiency measures that are based on sophisticated analyses of individual homes. These analyses take the whole-house approach, which maximizes energy and dollar savings. Because of this rigorous approach and analyses backing it up, this kind of service has become a leader in advancing home energy science and in helping spawn a new industry providing home energy efficiency services to the wider public.