I. Title of the Best Practice

II. Overview of the Best Practice

This program, begun at the federal level in 1977, increases energy efficiency and reduces energy costs for low-income Americans, especially households with elderly residents, people with disabilities, and families with children, while ensuring their health and safety. To accomplish this goal, the Department of Energy works in partnership with state and local weatherization programs throughout the United States. Local weatherization services are provided by professionally trained crews, using computerized energy audits, providing weatherization services to single-family, multi-family, and mobile homes. Upon completion, clients are educated on the proper use and maintenance of the installed weatherization measures. Weatherization programs operate in all 50 states. By implementing energy-saving measures in low income homes, the program works to address the disproportionate energy burden faced by low income households. Consequently, the weatherization program helps low income households gain financial independence.

A. General Description
This program's base funding comes from annual federal appropriations, provided to the states as grants. The states, in turn, award grants to local agencies, usually community action agencies or other non-profit or government organizations to perform actual weatherization services. States vary as to whether their energy, social, or economic development offices handle the program and have significant latitude in how they run the program, as long as it is within the parameters of the enabling legislation and federal regulations. States must, however, report in some detail about the cost-effectiveness of their program expenditures.

The initial program began with a "check list" of measures focusing on relatively simple infiltration reduction and equipment-tuning measures based on what was known at that time about thermal performance in buildings. Early rules also set requirements for the mix of materials and labor used per home. The early program also predominantly focused on heating energy use.

Over the years, the program has generated enormous amounts of information about how well different measures work in different homes. The program itself has benefitted from this knowledge, incorporating more cooling energy approaches, modifying typical measures used, and incorporating increasingly sophisticated diagnostic techniques. This year, the program is finalizing its transition from the "check list" approach to a sophisticated whole-house audit approach.

B. Special Characteristics of the Best Practice
The annual federal appropriation for this program ensures on-going expertise. With the basic program and crews in place, states generally increase expenditures on weatherizations through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and have, in the past, increased funding through petroleum violation escrow and demand side management funds when available.

Energy-using equipment that operates inefficiently also could be operating unsafely. The program allows weatherization crews to make health and safety improvements to the equipment or homes.

The program targets savings potentials that are difficult to achieve. Because lower income families often have difficulty obtaining financing for home improvements, even the most cost-effective energy savings can go unrealized in these homes without the benefit of a program such as this.

C. Reasons for Inclusion as a Best Practice
Energy savings per home have grown by more than 80% over the life of this program. For example, the average energy savings for natural gas space heating increased from 18.3% in 1989 to 33.5% in 1996. CO2 emissions are reduced by nearly one ton in every weatherized house. In 1998 alone, 63,000 homes were weatherized, saving a total of 2MTBU.

Contributes broadly to the building sciences. In many respects, the stock of weatherized homes is one of the most valuable "living laboratories" in the building sciences, providing detailed information on the actual performance of energy efficiency measures, often under less than ideal circumstances.

Savings are well-documented. Local weatherization programs are required to verify all installed measures and periodic reviews check on whether expected energy savings are being achieved.

Provides additional affordability and quality of life for low income families. The Low Income Weatherization Assistance Program is based on cost-effective energy savings. Often undertaken in conjunction with other housing rehabilitation programs, the program helps revitalize low income neighborhoods and communities.

Operates with federal funding at the local level based on the long-term cooperative relationships developed over the course of the program. The state focus has allowed programs to target energy needs in their locality. Northeastern states, for example, have the opportunity to focus on measures to reduce their heavy oil-heating loads. Similarly, southern states have focused on cooling loads.

III. Categorizing the Best Practice

1. Classification(s) (Indicate main classification(s) only.)
( ) Regulatory Approach (Policy approaches-- regulations, incentives, etc.)
( ) Practical Action (Action undertaken independently by a social actor)
( X ) Social Network Mechanism (Cooperative structure)

2. Social Actor(s) Involved (Indicate main social actor(s) only.)
( ) Citizens
( X ) Central government
( X ) State government
( X ) Local government
( X ) Not-for-profits (category added)
( ) Business

3. Sector(s) (Indicate main sector(s) only.)
( X ) Energy
( X ) Household
( ) Transportation
( ) Industrial Enterprises
( ) Other (Non-Industrial) Businesses
( ) Agriculture/ Land Use/ Forestry
( ) Other (Please specify.)

4. Target Greenhouse Gas(es)
( ) CO2
( ) CH4
( ) N2O
( ) HFC
( ) PFC
( ) SF6
( X ) Other No greenhouse gases are specifically targeted as the program focuses on energy efficiency improvements. Savings in greenhouse gases are, however, a significant by-product of the program.

IV. List of References

http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/weatherization_assistance/

V. Please indicate a person to contact for more information about this Best Practice.

Contact Person:	Gail McKinley
Title:	Director, Office of Building Technology Assistance
Organization:	U.S. Department of Energy
Email:	Gail.McKinley@ee.doe.gov
Tel:	202-586-8036
Fax:	202-586-1233
Address:	1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585 USA