Washington State Low-Income Weatherization Plan 2008   NEW!

Washington State Low-Income Weatherization Program Evaluation Report for 2006     NEW!

Policies and Procedures for Managing the Low-Income Weatherization Program   

Specifications for the Low-Income Weatherization Program

Background

Affordable housing is defined as a home that takes no more than 30 percent of the household’s income for rent or mortgage and utilities. Many low-income families in Washington pay more than 25 percent of their income for home energy costs alone.
An estimated 150,000 of Washington’s low-income families live in energy inefficient housing. One way to make low-income housing more affordable is to weatherize the homes.

Services

Weatherization is the application of energy efficiency measures to a home. These include ceiling, wall and floor insulation; closing heat-escaping gaps by caulking, weather stripping, or broken window replacement; and heating system improvements. The measures are applied according to established technical specifications, cost-effectiveness tests, and relevant building codes.

The Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development contracts with a statewide network of 26 local agencies to do the weaterization work and provide home energy conservation education.  There are 3 federal weatherization fund sources: 

• Department of Health and Human Services - Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program
• Department of Energy - Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program 
• Bonneville Power Administration

And one state fund source: Energy Matchmakers which requires a dollar-for-dollar match.

Benefits

Energy cost savings and a more comfortable living environment are the major benefits for the low-income family. But everyone benefits from weatherization because it:

• Improves the local and state economy by creating jobs and supporting business through the purchase of weatherization materials. Every weatherization dollar spent adds three dollars to the local economy, and every one million dollars spent on weatherization creates or sustains an estimated 77 jobs.
• Reduces the need for homelessness support services by making energy, a major cost of housing, more affordable.
• Lowers future costs of energy by conserving energy, thereby reducing the need to create new energy generation sources.
• Preserves homes affordable to low-income families.

Results

Over 85,000 low-income occupied homes in Washington have received weatherization services with resulting energy savings, on average, between 20 and 30 percent. Weatherization is also used in combination with other housing rehabilitation programs.

For more information:

Contact Julie Palakovich at (360) 725-2948, or Loralei Walker at (360) 725-2955 or e-mail Weatherization

Helpful links

• Do you need your home weatherized?
• Local Weatherization and Repair Agencies
• Income guidelines for the weatherization program
• Weatherization programs & staff
• Energy Matchmakers Program
• Technical Development Committee
• Technical Representatives Service Areas (Monitoring Assignments)
• Training for Weatherization Agencies 
• Weatherization Work Group
• Energy Saving Tips
• Weatherization websites
• Weatherization Documents
• Home Health and Safety Information and Checklists