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The Arizona Department of Housing (ADOH) manages the state’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), part of a nationwide effort that has helped over seven million income-eligible families reduce energy bills through improved energy efficiency. ADOH WAP helps low-income households cut heating, cooling, and water heating costs while improving residents’ health and safety. Funding for the ADOH WAP comes through the federal Department of Energy .
As temperatures rise and energy consumption is at an all-time high, one of the most rewarding parts of my role as the weatherization program manager for Arizona is ensuring low-income households have access to the energy efficiency assistance they need through the Arizona Weatherization Assistance Program. The program, which has been assisting qualified low-income households since 1976, offers crucial support by helping families save on energy costs while making their homes safer and more comfortable through weatherization energy efficiency upgrades.
However, to fully leverage the available federal and private funding and extend these benefits to more Arizona families, we need to recruit additional qualified weatherization contractors.
Installation of energy efficiencies through the ADOH WAP must follow the federally required standard work specifications, pass a quality control inspection, and meet quantified savings by way of savings to investment ratios. Weatherization training dollars are available to assist contractors with obtaining the appropriate certifications to participate in the ADOH WAP. Additionally, Arizona has a dedicated WAP training facility accredited by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council to provide contractor training and certification.
By expanding the contractor pool and utilizing federal resources already available for WAP Training, we can lower energy costs for more families and create safer, more sustainable homes across Arizona.
Health benefits of weatherizing a home
Recent evaluations of the Weatherization Assistance Program have highlighted significant health benefits. Studies show reduced emergency room visits and other health-related costs, leading to substantial savings beyond energy costs. One of the most notable impacts is on asthma, a chronic lung disease affecting millions in the U.S. Weatherization helps reduce asthma triggers like mold and dust, which disproportionately affect low-income households.
According to the CDC, 8% of U.S. adults and 9.3% of children have asthma, with higher rates of emergency visits in inner-city and minority communities. National studies found that weatherizing homes led to an 11.5% drop in emergency room visits and a 3.1% decrease in hospitalizations for asthma patients. High-cost asthma patients saw an 11.8% reduction in doctor visits. These findings underscore the broader health benefits of WAP, especially for vulnerable populations.
Increased funding, increased job growth
The AZ WAP is encouraging more individuals and contractors to seek weatherization-training programs to ensure increased and available WAP funding assists more eligible families with energy-efficient home upgrades.
We’re also educating the community about the potential of clean energy jobs and providing assistance within their own individual communities. This becomes two-fold, increased employment opportunities and increased funds directly spent within impoverished communities. Funds acquired and spent within communities tend to support small businesses and increase potential for additional job growth and community sustainability.
One key challenge in scaling this effort is addressing the growing need for skilled labor. Many job seekers are unaware of the career opportunities available in weatherization or face difficulties accessing local training and open job opportunities in this sector.
Expanding outreach and providing resources can empower more individuals to contribute to the nation’s secure energy future while enhancing their career prospects. This includes helping them tap into opportunities in essential services such as insulation and air sealing, HVAC, plumbing, electrical, roofing, home repairs, and much more.
Weatherization savings
The federal investment in the AZ WAP is exciting and will provide much-needed financial relief for many qualified families across Arizona, especially those in urgent need of assistance. According to a national evaluation, households can save an average of $372 or more annually through the program’s weatherization improvements and upgrades.
Weatherization improvements include, but are not limited to properly adding insulation to the home’s attic, walls, and floors; shading sun-exposed windows; implementing air leak control measures to reduce excessive infiltration/leakage of outside and conditioned air; and installing low-flow shower heads and other general energy and water efficiency measures. Improvements are based on a whole house energy assessment/audit conducted by a currently certified Building Performance Institute professional.
Building a better future
These energy efficiency programs intend to significantly impact your bank account and home comfort, and they’re the building blocks for creating a better, more sustainable environment for all of us to enjoy. However, we need more weatherization professionals ready to support the growing demand. An increase in clean energy funding and clean energy jobs? I’d say that’s a win-win for Arizona!
For more information, visit https://greenworkforceconnect.org and the Arizona Department of Housing weatherization website for direct links to our WAP provider/partner list throughout Arizona.
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