Renew America Success Stories

Block-by-Block Weatherization Program

The Block-by-Block Weatherization Program (BBB), administered by the City of Portland Energy Office, provides free basic weatherization and energy-use education to needy, low-income households in Portland neighborhoods. BBB targets households not already served by other low-income weatherization programs.

Many low-income individuals and families in the Portland area -- those who can least afford high heating bills -- live in older homes with little or no insulation and inefficient heating systems. In Portland, there are as many as 60,000 low-income residents living in 20,000 such homes. While local utilities and local, state and federal agencies have established programs to serve this population, limited funds have historically restricted the scope of these programs. State and federal programs combined, for example, are only able to serve about 400 of these homes annually with free weatherization. Utility incentive programs pay only 25% of weatherization costs and reach only a handful of low-income residents. BBB was created to bridge this gap between need and available resources for affordable, energy-efficient homes.

Each year, about 120 homes are weatherized through the BBB program.

Recruitment for the BBB program is performed in one of two ways. Representatives from a local nonprofit organization canvass neighborhoods, recruiting households for participation by going door-to-door. Door-to-door recruitment has had the added benefit of encouraging residents to become involved in neighborhood community groups and local projects that help improve the urban environment.

Recruitment also occurs at the city's energy fairs held each fall. Fair attendees who meet the program's income requirements receive a visit from the weatherization crew that installs ceiling and wall installation and seals all air leaks. To keep program costs low, a complete overhaul is not performed at each location; only the most critical areas are attended to. "We're skimming the top of the cream off energy savings," says David Tooze, BBB program manager. "Our approach is to save the most energy for the least investment." After weatherization, not only are energy costs and consumption reduced, but the improvements help raise the value of the homes.

In addition to providing insulation, BBB gives each participant a weatherization kit that includes low-flow fixtures, weather stripping, and storm window kits. Finally, the program  provides participants an in-home education in energy-efficient practices, such as lowering water heater and refrigerator thermostats, changing furnace filters, and drying clothes in the sun. One of the program's main objectives is to motivate residents to develop their own energy action plans.

The Energy Office has worked hard to involve minority firms in the program, and approximately one-third of the weatherization contractor work has been provided by minority-owned businesses.

Program Highlights

• To participate, a family's income cannot exceed 200% of the poverty level.
• The average household participating in the program consists of four people and has a gross monthly income of $1,250.
• Contractors or nonprofit crews install attic, wall or crawl space insulation, and install blower door directed air infiltration measures.
• The average cost of weatherization is $694.
• Seventy-two percent of BBB households reduce energy usage by 15% after participation in the program, which saves as much as $100 per year.
• A free weatherization kit, worth more than $100, is provided to each participating household. The kit contains a low-flow showerhead and other water-saving devices, a wall thermometer, rope caulk, door weatherstripping, a door sweep and five plastic storm window kits.
• Sixty percent of participants own their homes.
• Neighborhood associations assist with marketing through door-to-door recruitment to maximize participation.
• Administrative costs constitute about 8% of the total program budget.
• The program is financed through five funding sources, including existing utility and state rebates and the City's general fund.

Vital Statistics

Program Management/Partnerships: The Block-by-Block Weatherization Program is managed by the City of Portland Energy Office. The Energy Office contracts with the Community Energy Project, a local nonprofit organization, for marketing and education and with the Multnomah County Community Action Agency for delivery of audits, inspections and weatherization. The Energy Office has developed financial partnerships with the State Home Oil Weatherization Program, the Northwest Natural Gas Company, the Portland General Electric Company and the Pacific Power & Light Company.

Budget: Total annual cost is $190,000.

Community Served: Every year the program serves about 120 low-income households in Portland.

Measures of Success:

The program has resulted in annual energy savings of 215 billion BTU's (British thermal units).

The program saves $14,000 dollars a year, resulting in a return on the initial investment in the program in about 14 1/2 years.

Six hundred citizens attended three housing and energy fairs in 1992, resulting in energy efforts in three hundred homes.

A 1988 University of Oregon Bureau of Governmental Research study found that between 1987 and 1988, the program, totaling $330,000, supported 14 jobs and $1.35 million in economic activity.