Iowa Weatherization Program

1. Iowa Weatherization Program

2. Iowa Weatherization Program

3. Program Purpose • The Weatherization Program is a low-income energy-efficiency program. We strive to: • Make the homes of low-income clients more energy efficient. • Reduce clients’ fuel bills and increase their comfort.

4. Program Purpose • We also strive to: • Improve the health and safety of low-income homes by identifying and mitigating health and safety problems such as carbon monoxide, combustion appliance back-drafting and high indoor moisture levels.

5. Program Mission • The Weatherization Program’s mission is to enhance the well-being of low-income residents, particularly those persons who are most vulnerable such as the elderly, the handicapped, and children, through the installation of energy efficient and energy-related health and safety measures, thus benefiting clients through reduced energy bills, enhanced comfort, and the mitigation of energy-related health risks.

6. Program Overview • The Weatherization Program is a federal grant program authorized by Title IV of the Energy Conservation and Production Act. • It was created in 1976 in response to the oil crisis of the 1970’s. • Part of an overall national effort to conserve energy so the United States would be less dependent on foreign oil. • Program has emerged as the leading residential energy program in the country.

7. Program Overview • The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is responsible for administering the program. • Provides grants to the states for the administration of the program at the state level. • States must administer the program in accordance with DOE rules and regulations. • State plan must be approved by DOE annually.

8. Program Operation • The program year for the Weatherization Program is from April 1 through March 31. • There are 18 main Community Action Agencies operating the program in Iowa.

9. 16 8 9 6 11 10 18 5 2 1 3 20 17 12 4 15 14 13 • New Opportunities, Inc. • Hawkeye Area Community Action Program, Inc. • Community Action of Eastern Iowa • MATURA Action Corporation • Mid-Iowa Community Action, Inc. • Mid-Sioux Opportunity, Inc. • North Iowa Community Action Organization • Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation • Operation New View • Operation Threshold 12 Red Rock Area Community Action Program, Inc. 13 South Central Iowa Community Action Program, Inc. 14 Community Action of Southeast Iowa 15 Southern Iowa Economic Development Association 16 Upper Des Moines Opportunity, Inc. 17 West Central Development Corporation 18 Community Action Agency of Siouxland 20 Polk County Planning & Development

10. Program Funding • Three sources of funding for the program • DOE funds • HEAP funds • Utility funds • Interstate Power and Light (Alliant) • Black Hills Energy • MidAmerican Energy Company

11. DOE Funding • DOE funds are allocated to the state in the form of a grant from the Department of Energy

12. HEAP Funding • HEAP funds come from the state’s LIHEAP funds. • State legislation allows that up to 15% of the state’s annual LIHEAP allocation be given to the Weatherization Program.

13. Utility funding • The final source of funds is from the investor-owned utilities. • The state’s investor-owned utilities have been providing funds to the program since 1992.

14. Program Funding Limits • The Wx Program has a spending limit of $10,000 per dwelling, unless a waiver is granted by the State • Other Wx Program spending limits can be found in the Weatherization General Appendix under the tab “Cost Limits & Allowances”

15. Funding Levels

16. 2009 Funding Level DOE- ARRA: $ 80,834,411 DOE- Regular: $ 8,578,634 HEAP: $ 10,170,381 Utility: $ 4,851,740 Total: $104,435,166

17. Statistics & Demographics • Average • Homes weatherized per year: 1800+ • Homes weatherized since 1980: 124,797 • Household gross income in PY ‘08: $16,008 (Homes/Households served by the Weatherization Program)

18. Household Characteristics Elderly: 33% Disabled: 44% Renters: 12% Young child: 18% (<6 years of age) Statistics & Demographics

19. Statistics & Demographics Housing Type Single-family: 88% Mobile home: 8% Other*: 3% *(Multi-Units, Homeless and Domestic Abuse Shelters)

20. Program Benefits • Energy Savings Evaluation – SLICE Report • An evaluation conducted by an outside consultant on an annual basis. • Evaluation of homes weatherized in 2008 • Average savings of $388 per household per year in heating and electric. Over the course of 20 years, this would result in a savings of roughly $7760 per household.

21. Program Benefits

22. Program Benefits Savings to Investment Ratio (SIR) The saving to investment ratio is 1.8. That means that for every $1.00 spent on the homes, $1.80 is saved in energy costs. • These savings are fuel cost savings and do not include non-energy benefits.

23. Program Benefits Non-Energy Benefits Include: • Improved client health and safety and reduced environmental pollution of toxic air emissions • Retention of affordable housing for low-income persons and reduced homelessness • Reduced utility arrearages • Federal funding of the program brings millions of dollars into Iowa while reducing the flow of money out of Iowa for imported energy.

24. Program Eligibility • A household is eligible for assistance under the Iowa Weatherization Program if: • The household is receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Family Investment Program (FIP) Assistance, regardless of income or, • The household’s annual income is at or below 200% of the poverty level, as established by the Office of Management and Budget.

25. Program Eligibility • Weatherization services are provided to both homeowners and renters. • Before rental units are weatherized, landlords of the rental properties must sign a landlord agreement.

26. Program Eligibility • Iowa uses the same income level for determining eligibility for Iowa’s WAP and LIHEAP programs. • Clients who are determined to be eligible for LIHEAP are automatically eligible for Weatherization. • Clients who are determined to be in the income range of 151% to 200% are only eligible for Weatherization.

27. Eligibility & Client Priority • 80,000 Households eligible annually • 2,000 Homes actually weatherized annually • Necessary to select homes that will be weatherized on the basis of a priority system. • Clients with the highest priority points are served first.

28. Client Priority • Client priority based on an estimate of annual client bill savings for: • Heating • Water heating • Air conditioning measures • Additional priority is given if any household members are elderly, disabled, or young children.

29. Client Priority - Exceptions • Exceptions are allowed in emergency situations. • When a heating system quits working during cold weather. • If agencies need to assist a lower priority client in order to spend utility funds.

30. Client Notification • After selecting an eligible client, the local agency notifies the client that he or she is eligible for weatherization services. • If the client is the owner of the eligible dwelling, the client’s consent must be obtained prior to providing service. • If the client is a renter, the client’s landlord must provide written consent authorizing the dwelling to be weatherized. This written consent is done through the use of a Landlord Agreement.

31. Evaluation • Upon receiving consent from the client or landlord (if the dwelling is a rental unit), the local agency schedules a time to evaluate the client’s house. • Evaluation generally takes about 2-4 hours to conduct.

32. Evaluation • Determine whether the house is eligible for weatherization. • Some homes may need to be “walked away” from. • Roof leaks • House for sale • Dwelling poses health or safety hazard • Dwelling is beyond scope of program due to major structural deficiencies in the home • Etc.

33. Evaluation • Once it is determined a house is eligible for weatherization services, a health and safety inspection is conducted. The health and safety inspection includes the following:

34. Evaluation • Check for bare wiring • Check for friable asbestos which preclude weatherization work • Check for potential fire hazards • Evaluate the building structure to ensure a safe work environment • Test air leakage from the house to the outside • Test air leakage from the garage to the house (attached and tuck-under garages) • Check for gas line leaks

35. Evaluation • Test all combustion appliances in the home for carbon monoxide

36. Evaluation • Test all combustion appliances for spillage and drafting

37. Evaluation • Check condition of the furnace heat exchanger (These are cracks in the heat exchanger)

38. Evaluation • Check for mold, mildew and potential moisture problems

39. Evaluation • Health and safety problems mitigated by the program include: • Repair and replacement of unsafe furnaces and water heaters • Install/repair gas dryer vents • Repair gas leaks • Seal heating system ducts • Installation of ventilation fans • Installation of carbon monoxide alarms and smoke alarms

40. Evaluation • Workers employed by the agency perform some of the health and safety hazard mitigation work. • Private contractors usually perform furnace and water heater repairs/replacements.

41. Evaluation • Health and safety problems, not covered by program funds, must be mitigated by the client or landlord. • Problems must be taken care of before energy efficiency measures will be installed.

42. Energy Efficiency Measures • Determine which measures can be applied to the house. • A computerized site-specific energy audit is done on all homes to determine what measures will be completed. • Only measures resulting in a minimum 1.0 savings to investment ratio are called for by the audit. The audit used is the Department of Energy’s National Energy Audit or NEAT Audit.

43. Energy Efficiency Measures • Typical energy efficiency measures include: • Water heater wraps & water pipe insulation • Low-flow shower heads & faucet aerators • Heating system tuning and cleaning • Refrigerator and freezer replacement • Compact fluorescent light bulb installation

44. Energy Efficiency Measures • Attic, wall, and floor/crawlspace insulation

45. Energy Efficiency Measures • Infiltration reduction (air leakage sealing) by using a blower door

46. Top Ten Measures - 2009 Measure InstalledSavings • High-Efficiency Furnace Replacement $143 • Wall Insulation $104 • Open Blown Ceiling Insulation $65 • Unfinished Attic Insulation $76 • Lighting $36 • Infiltration Reduction $20 • Refrigerator Exchange $61 • Water Heater Replacement $26 • Water Heater Other Measures $09 • Foundation/Crawl Space Insulation $31

47. Repairs • Minor repair work may be done using program funds. An example is repairing a leaky roof.

48. Inspection • Local agencies must inspect all homes weatherized. • The inspectors may require the crews/contractors to return to a home to do additional work or to correct problems that are found. • State personnel inspects a minimum of 5% of homes weatherized by each local agency.

49. Weatherization Reporting System • Local agencies submit fiscal reports and program data to the state on a monthly basis using a computerized reporting system.

50. Terminology • ACH Air Changes Per Hour • ACH50 Air Changes Per Hour @ 50 Pascal • AFUE Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency • AGA American Gas Association • ANSI American National Standard Insitute • ASHRAE American Society Heating Refrigeration & Air Condition Engineers