Weatherization Services

Making a house weatherproof is about more than just keeping the occupants warm and dry. Weatherization does that, of course, but it also cuts way down on the energy consumed by a home, which in turn has a salutary effect on a household's utility bills and the environment. The services associated with this energy-saving home improvement are of two types: one is basic installation of materials, and the other is performance testing of a home before and after the materials have been installed. Both types of service are vital to making a weatherized home a reality.

Low-income households, seniors, and families with disabilities can often access weatherization services. Eligibility for these programs is based on federal or state income guidelines that consider both the size and the annual income of the household. Wealth is a key predictor of energy efficiency, and many homes with poor energy performance are occupied by low-income families. These families also struggle with the high energy bills that follow poor energy performance. Weatherization assistance combines service to a vulnerable energy-bill-paying market with the delivery of vital energy performance improvements to the homes of people most likely to need them.

The services offered through the weatherization program enhance the energy efficiency of homes, primarily through air sealing and insulation. The five primary program elements are air sealing, attic insulation, wall insulation, heating system inspection and repair, and window treatment. All of the program elements are intended to eliminate pathways through which air can travel into or out of a house. Specific treatments vary according to the particular needs of the house, as determined through visual inspection and testing.

Through weatherization services, homeowners can usually cut their annual energy bills by 10% to 30%. The actual savings, of course, depend on how well the house was built and how well it has held up over time. But even in average circumstances, making a house more energy-efficient will give the owner a chance to recoup—but not always—that cost within a couple of years. And that's even before we start considering the "billed" savings, as in "how much are we actually saving every month because our place is more energy-efficient now?"

The average single-family residence takes between 4 and 8 hours for a weatherization assessment and implementation to be completed. This happens in stages; the first is an energy audit. This is a comprehensive study of the home to identify where energy is leaking out and where it could be utilized more effectively. Next, the weatherization team will perform a set of specified installations and make repairs where needed. These two primary steps take varying amounts of time depending on the size, shape, and condition of the house.

The bulk of weatherization work done with low-income households is funded by government sources. These services are mostly provided at no cost to the customer and are funded by a mix of federal, state, and local dollars. Some utility companies also contribute to this funding. If you don’t qualify for the barely available free service, many agencies offer low-cost options that can also fit into the "weatherization" budget.

The weatherization process leads to a decrease in the total amount of energy consumed. It does this by making sure that the energy used to heat or cool a living space goes that much farther—essentially, making it work smarter, not harder. When it comes right down to it, that's what conservation means. It's not about living in the dark and being cold. It's about living in well-lit, comfortable spaces where the air is clean and the energy that powers the place is well used and well managed.

The majority of houses gain from a full examination of their weatherization every 5 to 10 years. Yet some parts of the home may need more frequent oversight, such as the weather stripping or caulking. Homeowners should do a visual inspection of the house every year to pick up anything that looks like it might be going awry. You should also consider performing more intensive diagnostic testing if you've gone through any major life changes, remodeled a part of your house, or if you've been through a serious weather event.

Numerous weatherization programs permit tenants to seek services, granted that the property owner's approval has been obtained. Some landlords may even be enticed to join the ranks of those with energy-efficient properties due to the availability of incentive programs and assessments that promise to deliver a return on investment in short order. Renters and their friends who might be interested in helping them weatherize a home are best served by calling up local programs to find out if they can apply. And if so, under what conditions?

Specialized instruments allow weatherization technicians to assess how much air is escaping from a house. They do this to determine how much work will be needed to bring the energy lost by air leakage down to an acceptable level. Some of these instruments are high-tech and somewhat mysterious. The blower door test is an air pressure test that gives a precise measurement of air leakage that can be understood in terms of how much energy might be saved if the house were sealed better. That's the kind of information that going somewhat beyond the building code can yield.