One Millionth Home Weatherized

Today the National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP) and the Community Action Partnership celebrated the one-millionth home weatherized nationwide since April 2009. Partnering with state and local agencies, celebrations took place today in Twin Falls, Idaho and Schnecksville, Pennsylvania. Since 1976, the federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) has made the homes of low-income families safer, healthier, and more energy efficient with 7.4 million households served.

This morning, South Central Community Action Partnership (SSCAP) in Twin Falls, Idaho, representing the Western States, hosted a demonstration of the state-of-the-art diagnostic testing and energy efficiency measures commonly utilized by WAP professionals at a 1930’s era home. Ken Robinette, Executive Director of SSCAP; Greg Lanting, Mayor of Twin Falls; Rep. Stephen Hartgen, Idaho House of Representatives; Shawn Barigar, CEO of the Twin Falls Chamber of Commerce; Leon Mills, Twin Falls County Commissioner; Bob Scott, Energy Services Director at NASCSP; and other stakeholders, including representatives from Idaho State government, Idaho Power, and GreenFiber Insulation were present. At this event, SSCAP WAP technicians made repairs to a water heater that was causing carbon monoxide problems due to poor draft. They also demonstrated proper insulation techniques by removing and replacing siding.

This afternoon, the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley (CACLV), representing the Eastern half of the United States, will hold a site demonstration showcasing WAP’s advanced building science techniques. The home to be showcased at the event was built in 1905 and lacks insulation, a health and cost burden for the low-income family of four currently living there. Crews will add insulation to the home along with weather-stripping, caulking, and door sweeps. They will also replace the old, energy-sapping refrigerator with funds leveraged from other programs. CACLV Executive Director Alan Jennings, Congressman Charlie Dent (R-PA), the Partnership’s Director Don Mathis, and NASCSP staff member Alice Gaston will be attending the event.

Nationally, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) granted $5 billion to the WAP network. This investment improved the homes and lives of over 760,000 low-income families, exceeding its initial goal by over 100,000 homes. This is just a fraction of the 38.6 million households that are eligible for WAP services in the United States.

Weatherization works—both for the low-income households served and as a sound government investment. The program provides significant energy savings for its recipients, makes America’s housing stock more energy efficient, improves the indoor air quality while reducing health and safety risks, provides jobs, reduces carbon emissions, and lessens America’s dependence on foreign oil.

For more information about the Weatherization Assistance Program, visit www.waptac.org or www.eere.doe.gov.

This blog originally appeared on HomeEnergy.org.