How to Apply for Weatherization Assistance

A few weeks ago, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that it was investing $8 billion into weatherization and state energy grants—$5 billion of which is going directly to the Weatherization Assistance Program.

And why is that interesting? Well, the Weatherization Assistance Program provides low-income families with free-of-charge, energy efficient upgrades to their homes. A more efficient home means that you pay less every month on your energy bills—and while that's the kind of upgrade anyone can benefit from, this program helps those who need those extra dollars the most.

You can read more about what the program does on the Weatherization Assistance Program's "What are Weatherization Services?" page.And if you're curious about how to apply, then check out their page about how you apply for weatherization.

The funds announced earlier this month allow for people who make up to 200% of the federal poverty level to apply for weatherization—which is about $44,000 for a family of four in the lower 48 states, $55,140 per year in Alaska, and $50,720 per year in Hawaii. Specific regulations vary by state, which your local agency should be able to explain.

The new funding allows for an average investment of up to $6,500 in improvements per home. The Weatherization Assistance Program estimates that, on average, the value of weatherizing your home is 2.2 times greater than the cost of the weatherization process itself. And those improvements can last a very long time—and some, like insulation, will benefit you (and your energy bill!) for the life of the home.

Elizabeth Spencer is a communicator at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, which assists EERE in providing technical content for many of its Web sites.

Source: Energy Savers Blog