Be Wise, Weatherize!
As cold weather approaches, most families across the country turn up their thermostats to combat dropping temperatures. For low-income families, however, cranking up the heat is not always an option. These families pay 16.3% or more of their annual incomes for energy compared with only 3.5% for other non low-income families. Unable to pay big balances or hefty reconnection fees, some families are considering how they will survive this winter without heat.
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) can help. This program provides permanent solutions to reduce the energy burden on low-income families by installing cost-effective, energy-efficient materials and services.
Weatherization technicians use computerized energy audits and advanced diagnostic technologies such as blower doors to determine the most cost-effective measures for each home. They also assess related health and safety conditions.
Since the inception of the program in 1976, more than 8.1 million homes have been weatherized across the nation.
More than 150 homes have been weatherized by CAC in the past year. “This program has helped families in Southwest Georgia conserve energy and reduce their costs for heat, cooling, and electricity,” said CEO Randy Weldon. “The money saved by reducing their energy bills can now be used by these families to help pay for food, medicine, clothing, transportation and other essentials in their daily lives.”
Each year, October is designated as National Energy Awareness Month and October 30 is recognized as Weatherization Day. The Department of Energy uses the onset of winter to promote energy conservation, renewable energy, and new technology use in the energy industry. With the high costs of fuel oil and natural gas, a successful conservation program like the WAP is extremely important to everyone.
Join us in celebrating Energy Awareness Month and recognizing October 30 as Weatherization Day!
Interesting Benefits of Weatherization
- For every $1 invested, weatherization returns $4.50 to the household and society
- $372 in annual utility bill savings year after year for low-income families at current energy prices
- Reduces a home’s average natural gas consumption by 18% and average electricity consumption by 7%
- The average household’s out of pocket medical expenses decrease by $514 per year after weatherization
- Total health and household related benefits for each weatherized unit are $14,148
- Weatherization decreases national energy consumption by the equivalent of 24.1 million barrels of oil annually
- Reduces residential and power plant emissions of carbon dioxide by 2.65 metric tons per year per home
- Over the life of the measures, saves 53 metric tons of CO2 emissions per house