The 1970s was a pivotal decade in American history. With the end of the post-war prosperity, advances in the rights of women and minorities and other social values ​​coincided with major economic turmoil. As far as energy is concerned, this is also a turbulent period, as repeated crises have kept prices high, putting tremendous pressure on the economy and American households. In response, the federal government launched a historic national effort to promote energy efficiency and conservation.  

To reduce the disproportionate energy burden of low-income households, Congress established the Weatherproof Assistance Program (WAP) in 1976. The Office of Efficiency and Renewable Energy of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has managed the program since 1993. WAP is the oldest unit in the United States—House Energy Efficiency Program. Its unique mission is to reduce the energy costs of low-income households.    

Legislators immediately recognized the value of WAP as a tool to promote energy conservation and help low-income households manage energy bills. Within a few years of its establishment, WAP’s budget has increased eightfold. The plan now has an annual budget of more than US$300 million and provides weatherproof services to approximately 35,000 low-income households each year. 

Since its inception, WAP has served more than 7 million households in every county and state, the District of Columbia, and five regions in the United States. Low-income households eligible for WAP spend an average of 13.9% of their annual income on energy costs, while the expenditure of middle- and high-income households is close to 3%. This huge energy burden often forces low-income families to reduce their essentials, such as healthcare, medicine, groceries, and childcare, to pay their energy bills. By making cost-effective improvements to various building elements, such as insulation and air sealing, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning systems, lighting, and appliances, climatization can help alleviate this burden. Each year, WAP services only help low-income families save an average of US$283 in energy costs. 

The full benefits of weathering go far beyond energy saving. Facts have proved that weatherization can transform the family into a healthier environment, thereby reducing the number of days absent from school and work, and reducing the out-of-pocket medical expenses by an average of US$514.10. On average, the total health and family-related benefits received by each WAP service unit is US$14,148. The plan also supports approximately 8,500 high-paying jobs, further benefiting the communities served by WAP.  

WAP is also very cost-effective. For every $1 of federal investment, the plan will generate $1.72 in energy-related benefits and $2.78 in non-energy benefits. The return on these investments is transformative for the community and is closely related to several key priorities of the Department of Energy: achieving net zero carbon emissions across the economy by 2050, addressing historical energy and environmental inequities, and expanding Clean energy workforce. By reducing energy consumption, WAP reduces carbon emissions from buildings and electricity production, and reduces the strain on the grid as we transition to cleaner sources of electricity. 

The story of a family highlights the tangible benefits of a family’s weatherproofing and occasionally saving lives. The Jones family in Waynesboro, Georgia is struggling to pay for heating and cooling. The Georgia Weathering Program funded and arranged energy audits of Jones's home to help reduce their energy use. The auditor found a serious gas leak and a bare electric wire in the attic of the house, which was burning insulation and producing smoke. Just before the fire broke out, the auditor evacuated the family. After the repairs, the WAP completed its weathering, and the Jones family’s energy costs were reduced by an average of US$120 per month. You can watch the Jones family tell their story here. 

WAP services also provide a wider range of benefits: The Colorado Office of Energy recently announced the renovation of mobile homes through its weathering program. For these home renovations, a WAP service provider in northwestern Colorado replaced the old propane furnace with a cold-climate air source heat pump, converted the propane water heater to an electric heat pump water heater, and updated the propane series to a high-efficiency, electric-induction cooker. This transition to all-electric homes will significantly reduce energy use, improve health and safety, and improve the overall quality of life of occupants.  

WAP has great potential to extend its services to more families and communities. Although the program benefits tens of thousands of households each year, only about 2% of the 39 million eligible low-income households have access to weather protection services at the current budget level. This highlights the need for historic investment in WAP to help reduce energy costs for low-income households, reduce energy requirements and carbon emissions, and create thousands of high-paying jobs-all of which will boost our economy and Facilitate our transition to clean energy. Energy future.  

The Biden-Harris administration laid the foundation for the historic expansion of the plan. For example, the President’s U.S. Jobs Plan includes an investment of $2030 billion to "produce, protect, and renovate more than 2 million affordable and sustainable living places." The President also supports the passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Employment Act, which will inject $3.5 billion into WAP to help more than 700,000 low-income families tide over the difficulties, as well as invest more in the plan’s "Rebuild Better bill".  

In the next few years, WAP will play a key role in achieving the unprecedented decarbonization goals of the Biden administration, even if it continues to fulfill its long-term mission under the law, which is to "improve the energy efficiency of homes owned or lived by low-income people." Income groups, reduce their total residential energy expenditure, and improve their health and safety, especially low-income groups, especially vulnerable groups such as the elderly, the disabled and children. "  

Without our outstanding employees in the Department of Energy, our state and local partners, and thousands of energy efficiency professionals, the success of WAP would be impossible. We are extremely proud of the success of WAP in the past 45 years, and look forward to the bright future of this plan and the bright future it can bring to American families. 

Forrestal Building 1000 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20585

Forrestal Building 1000 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20585