Renew America Success Stories

Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program

Description

The goal of the Center for Energy and Environment's (CEE) Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program is to install weatherization improvements in homes owned by individuals who have higher-than-average utility bills and lower-than-average incomes.  Started in 1994 as a partnership between Minnegasco (a local utility) and CEE, the project has weatherized nearly 700 homes at low or no cost to the owners, saving the resident low-income families nearly $200,000 in the process.

In order to participate in the program, homeowners must complete a survey about their annual income and energy use.  This information is then cross-referenced in the utility's database to identify those residents with relatively high utility bills.  This process enables CEE to identify highly motivated customers (about 35% of all customers return the survey) for whom improvements are likely to yield some of the highest returns.

Next an energy auditor visits the participant's home and seeks to identify the largest energy leaks.  Using state-of-the-art diagnostic tools such as blower doors and infrared cameras, a skilled auditor can quickly identify and prioritize measures that will yield significant savings.

Private contractors then perform all necessary improvements, with Minnegasco paying all costs up to $1,500. The home improvement contractors are vested in the success of the program and therefore provide a high level of service in order to continue serving in the program.

Once the weatherization is complete, an energy educator from CEE conducts a final inspection of the work and summarizes for the customer energy use practices that will help keep utility bills low.  The client signs an action plan, committing to engage in at least three actions to cut energy use, which may include turning the thermostat down at night, closing windows in cold weather, opening shades on sunny winter days and wearing layered clothing.

In cases where homes require extensive rehabilitation prior to weatherization, CEE helps homeowners identify low-income rehabilitation organizations such as Habitat for Humanity.  Once the rehabilitation is complete, participation in the weatherization program can begin.

Program Highlights

• All weatherization work -- up to $1,500 -- is paid for by Minnegasco.  Average weatherization costs per home are $1,321 with an average payback time of 5 - 8 years.
• Income eligibility for participation is 185% of poverty level, or $18,556 for a two-person household.  Qualified customers with higher-than-average energy use are identified through the utility's database.
• Program operating costs are 10% of the construction and audit costs.
• A "Get Ready for Winter Kit" is sent every year to all past participants, as part of the program's ongoing educational effort.
• The estimated life of the weatherization measures is 15 - 20 years.
• CEE is committed to a fast-track improvement process.  Typically total elapsed time between the completion of the initial survey and final inspection of the weatherization work is about thirty days.

Vital Statistics

Program Management/Partnerships: The Low-Income Weatherization Assistance Program is a project of the Center for Energy and Environment (CEE) in partnership with Minnegasco and several local nonprofit agencies.

Budget: Approximately $600,000 annually.

Community Served: Low-income homeowners in Minneapolis.

Measures of Success:

Since its implementation in March 1995, the program has weatherized 691 homes in Hennepin County, Minnesota. The program's two-year weatherization goal is 870 homes.

Participating low-income homeowners have reduced their heating gas use by 23%, and total energy use 30%.  These figures are well above the State of Minnesota's 18% savings goal for low-income weatherization programs.

Participants are paying $200 to $400 a year less in energy bills.  During the program's first year and a half, an estimated $200,000 was saved by the program's 691 participating homes.

The program has reduced homeowner energy consumption by nearly 300,000 therms (30 billion BTU's) since its inception.

Success stories designed by Mark W. Nowak

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