Efficiency First

WAP technicians weatherize a rural New Mexico home.

DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) has an excellent history of leveraging additional money to help weatherize homes for low income families. Historically, for every $1 invested by DOE, the program leverages $1.54 in other federal, state, utility and private resources.

A survey of state weatherization managers shows that, in 2008¹, DOE WAP funding was $227 million, but the WAP network collectively expended more than $1 billion weatherizing low income homes that year.

In 2007¹, DOE contributed $204 million in WAP funding, while the state and local WAP network ultimately spent a total of $779 million to weatherize low income homes.

Who provided the extra money?

In 2007¹, the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) provided $256 million, while WAP state and local networks kicked in another $319 million.

Economics Opportunity Studies, a research organization supporting community action agencies, found that “for several years before 2008, the WAP network delivered about three times the weatherization/energy efficiency services that are funded by DOE.”

Of the non-federal funds, about 80 percent came from utility partnerships, state appropriations or designated fees, private donations of materials, equipment and personnel and matching payments by landlords of weatherized rental units.

¹ The reported funding estimates are based on a compilation of state fiscal year data, program year reporting and federal government fiscal year information. The report is an objective attempt to ascertain just how large the Weatherization Assistance Program is when all the various partnerships and funding mechanisms are considered.