44 | May 2022
New Funding Available
to Improve Home Energy Efficiency By Diane MacEachern
W
hen I wanted to save money on my energy
bill and lower my carbon footprint, I didn't
put solar panels on my roof, I insulated my
attic.
I had already replaced most of my light bulbs with en-
ergy-efficient LEDs. My household appliances all met EN-
ERGY STAR's standards for efficiency, quality, and perfor-
mance. I was washing my clothes in cold water and taking
shorter hot showers.
Still, my house was using a lot of fuel to stay warm in the
winter and cool in the summer, so much so that my gas and
electricity bills were my second largest expense after food.
When my town offered a home weatherization pro-
gram, I jumped to take advantage of it. Weatherization
tightens up a house so that less energy is needed to keep
it at a comfortable temperature. It's the keystone to home
energy efficiency because it starts by reducing the total
amount of energy needed in the first place. If I could re-
duce my home's heating and cooling needs, I'd be on my
way to using less energy overall.
Once I signed up for the program, a team of experts ar-
rived to do an energy audit of my home top to bottom. Locally
based and professionally trained, the crew used computer-
ized energy assessments and advanced diagnostic equip-
ment like blower doors, manometers, and infrared cameras to
create a comprehensive analysis of my abode. The analysis
helped determine the most appropriate, efficient, and cost-ef-
fective measures I could take to use less energy.
The crew also checked indoor air quality, combustion
safety, and carbon monoxide and looked for mold infesta-
tions, all of which indicate energy waste.
When they finished, they said that the key to a warm-
er house in winter and a cooler house in summer was to
insulate. So that's what I did. I had another crew come in
and caulk spaces in the roof that were leaking air. They
then added several inches of cellulose fiber to the attic
ceiling and walls, as well as to the floor directly above the
room ceilings. Immediately, my house felt less drafty and
my energy bills dropped.
Now, President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is
going to make this same process available to over half
a million low-income households across the nation by in-
fusing the country's existing Weatherization Assistance
Program (WAP) with $3.5 billion. Previously, WAP provid-
ed weatherization services to about 35,000 low-income
households each year. The new infrastructure plan will
help 450,000 people weatherize their homes. In addition
to insulation, WAP may cover appliance replacement,
lighting, and home ventilation.
Energy efficiency is one of six proposals in Biden's law
to limit greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to cli-
mate change. Public support for his plan ranges from 59
