The Weatherization Assistance Program is designed to reduce energy use in homes through the installation of energy-saving measures approved by the Department of Energy and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Additional measures are approved if they are necessary for the safe and effective installation of the energy-saving measures.
An applicant may ask for non-emergency weatherization assistance on the HSEA-1. The CAO must make a referral through e-CIS to the local weatherization agency. If income-eligible, the applicant will receive a system-generated notice referring them to the agency, and their name will be placed on a list in DocuShare.
In accordance with DOE program regulations, 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines is the determinant for income eligibility for all services provided under the Weatherization Assistance Program.
A dwelling unit shall be eligible for Weatherization assistance if a family unit occupies the unit as their primary residence.
Weatherization Agencies may weatherize a building containing rental dwelling units wherein occupants meet the income eligibility requirements and where:
Written permission of the owner or authorized agent is obtained; and
Not less than 66 percent (50 percent for duplexes and four-unit buildings) of the dwelling units in a multi-family building are eligible dwelling units, or will become eligible dwelling units within 180 days under a Federal, State or local government program for rehabilitating the building; and
An agreement is signed by both the owner/agent and tenant and witnessed by the Weatherization Agency to insure that for a reasonable period of time (not less than 18 months), the tenant(s) will not be subject to rent increases or eviction unless it can be demonstrated that it is related to matters other than the weatherization work performed; and
No undue or excessive enhancement shall occur to the value of the dwelling units.
Weatherization services include the following:
Energy audit of the home.
This is a review of the energy efficiency of the home that includes the following:
Looking at the household’s past energy usage.
Evaluation of the heating system.
Inspection of appliances.
Determination of air leakage (guided by blower door testing).
Evaluation and implementation of the measures to determine the highest savings- to- investment ratio possible for the home.
After the audit is conducted, some of the weatherization measures that may be conducted are:
Blower- door guided air sealing of the building shell.
Sealing of the heating system supply and return ducts.
Installation of insulation in walls, ceilings, attics and foundations.
Cleaning, repair, tuning or replacement of heating systems.
Repair, replacement or insulation of broken water heaters.
Electric-baseload measures to reduce electric usage within the home, including the following:
Installation of motor controls such as variable speed drives.
Conversion of incandescent lighting to fluorescent or LEDs.
Replacement of refrigerators.
Education on the proper use and maintenance of the installed weatherization measures and ways to reduce daily energy waste is always conducted.
Repair or replacement of primary windows and doors if warranted.
Re-weatherization of a dwelling unit is not allowable except:
If the unit has been damaged by fire, flood, or act of God and repair of the damage to weatherization materials is not paid for by insurance; or
Dwelling units weatherized may not receive further weatherization assistance until the date that is 15 years after the date such previous weatherization was completed. Each dwelling unit must receive a new energy audit, which takes into account any previous energy conservation improvements.
Updated August 20, 2024, replacing October 20, 2021