The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) helps low-income households by improving their homes’ energy efficiency and protecting their health and safety. WAP strives to lessen the significant energy burden that these families experience by delivering weatherization upgrades and advancements saving each household $283 on average per year.
Weatherization Assistance Program(WAP); Source- MINT
What Does Weatherization Mean?
When a home is weatherized, often referred to as weatherproofing as well as winterizing, it is protected from outside factors like humidity, cold air in the winter, and humid, hot air in the summer. This barrier prevents energy waste while maintaining year-round comfort in dwellings. Weatherization is important in both the winter and the summer. Wintertime cold is avoided because of insulated spaces that stop heat from escaping. Weatherization lowers the risk of mold in the home by maintaining appropriate temperatures and managing humidity levels in the summer. Increased convenience, lower energy costs, better air quality, protection from damage, and possible home value growth are just a few of the total advantages of weatherization.
Why Is Weatherization Assistance Program(WAP) Important For Americans
Several factors make weatherization crucial in the United States of America, but there are two main ones. One is to make sure that your residence is protected from any extreme weather conditions that are frequent in your region, such as extremely cold temperatures, extremely hot temperatures, tornadoes, or flooding. The cost of energy is another. Having a house that loses heat through improperly installed windows or other spaces will result in you paying far more for warming than you ever needed to.
Benefits From WAP
According to estimates, energy costs account for about 13.9% of low-income households’ annual income. Through affordable building shell upgrades including insulation, air securing, HVAC systems, illumination, and appliances, WAP takes on this obstacle. The program aims to build more energy-efficient homes, saving consumers money and energy over time. Weatherization has advantages for communities as well as for particular homes. It boosts local economies, lessens negative environmental effects, and revitalizes neighborhoods. Weatherization is projected to produce $2.78 in non-energy benefits for every $1 invested in the program. With a typical cost of $14,148 in wellness and family benefits per unit, families who receive weatherization services experience fewer days off from work and lower out-of-pocket medical costs.
Eligibility For WAP
The applicant’s household income must be sufficient to satisfy the US Department of Energy’s (DOE) guidelines for the WAP in each US state. Households eligible for weatherization assistance must earn 200 percent or less of the federal poverty level, as determined by the US Department of Health and Human Services. This implies that a household of four cannot earn over 55,000 dollars and receive weatherization assistance, whereas one individual living alone are unable to make higher than 27,180 dollars. Numerous groups are frequently given preference, including people over 60, households with a disabled family member, high-energy consumers, and sporadic households with young children.
