Why Weatherization?• Low-income families often choose between heat and other necessities

• 33.8 million households nationally eligible for Weatherization services

33.8million

5.6 million Eligible

Households

Clients Served

•Over 215,000 WV households (30%) eligible for Weatherization.

West Virginia’s Low-Income Energy Burden

• Middle income households spend app. 5% of their annual income on home energy

• For low-income West Virginians, home energy is a crippling financial burden– 56,000 West Virginia households with income below 50% of the Federal Poverty Level pay 51.5% of their annual income simply for their home energy bills

What is the Weatherization Assistance Program?

• U.S. Department of Energy provides core funding

• Follows DOE rules and regulations• WV DHHR also provides funding through

LIHEAP • Total Federal funding for the WV WAP has

averaged around $6 million the last few years

What is the Weatherization Assistance Program?

• WV GOEO has partnerships with States largest utilities to enhance program services to customers of those companies

• Electric partnerships with Allegheny Power and American Electric Power

• Gas partnership with Mountaineer Gas and Dominion Hope

• Total utility funding app. $750,000 for 2007

What is the Weatherization Assistance Program?

• WAP started in late 1970’s

• Provides energy efficiency measures installed by trained crews

• Has developed advanced diagnostic techniques and computerized energy audits to provide most cost effective measures

What is the Weatherization Assistance Program?

• In West Virginia –– DOE contracts with Governor’s Office of

Economic Opportunity to operate the program– GOEO contracts with 12 community action

agencies to operate the program on a local level in all 55 counties

– Will weatherize app. 1200 homes in 2007– Must be below 150% of Federal Poverty Level

to qualify– App. 3000 households on statewide waiting list

What is the Weatherization Assistance Program?

• Typical measures include:– Heating system diagnostic testing, repair, tune-

ups, and replacements– Duct sealing and insulation– Reducing air infiltration to acceptable levels– Attic insulation– Dense pack sidewall insulation– Other measures as identified, including electric

baseload measures

Weatherization Program Mission

To reduce the energy costs for low-income To reduce the energy costs for low-income families, particularly for the elderly, people families, particularly for the elderly, people with disabilities, and children, by improving with disabilities, and children, by improving the energy efficiency of their homes while the energy efficiency of their homes while

ensuring their health and safety.ensuring their health and safety.

Diagnostic Tools:Blower Door

• Blower door test identifies air leakage

• Panel with fan is placed in a doorway to de-pressurize home– Exaggerates leakage so it can

be measured

Diagnostic Tools:Blower Door

• Gauges indicate level of air leakage• Used with other devices to locate

leaks

Diagnostic Tools:Combustion Analyzer

• Tests heating system for efficiency and safety

• Analyzes composition of flue gases– Indicates inefficient

combustion, hazardous by-products (e.g., carbon monoxide)

A heating system technician tests the efficiency of the furnace using the Bacharach 300 Digital Combustion Analyzer.

Diagnostic Test:Carbon Monoxide

• Identifies CO from stoves & furnaces

• Important health and safety test

• Effective tool for client education

Diagnostic Tools:Pressure Pan and Manometer

• Leaky ducts can increase costs by 10-30%

• While blower door runs, pressure pan placed over air register

Energy Efficiency Measures:Insulation

• Potential areas for insulation include attic, ceilings, floors, and walls

Energy Efficiency Measures:Insulation

Blown insulation most effective

A technician installs insulation by dense packing cellulose into the sidewalls of a home to not only insulate but also air seal.

Energy Efficiency Measures:Heating System

• May need tune-up or basic repairs

• Can replace hazardous or inoperable furnaces– Due to funding limitations,

leveraged resources often used to replace heating systems

– Unvented space heaters pose large health and safety threat

Energy Efficiency Measure:Duct Sealing and Insulation

• Duct system may need sealing and/or balancing• Duct tape should NOT be used

– Apply mastic

• Ducts in unconditioned spaces should be insulated

What Results?• Average annual energy savings = $358* first-year

savings per household• Returns $1.53 in energy-related benefits for every

$1 invested in the program• Avoids 1 metric ton of carbon dioxide emissions for

every home weatherized• Creates 52 direct jobs for every $1 million of

funding• Diagnostic approach and program technology has

influenced residential energy efficiency in all housing stock and income brackets

* Calculated January 2007 based on 20-year EIA annual price projections discounted to present value.