The Sustainability Institute

WEATHERIZATIONS

The weatherization process for retrofitting selected homes consists of several stages that ensure resources are applied in a prioritized manner to have the greatest overall impact on reducing energy bills. As a first step after a home is selected, a certified Home Energy Rater performs an energy audit to determine where a building is leaking and what practices and investments will best achieve maximum effect in sealing the building’s envelope. Each building receives a score based on the Home Energy Rating System (HERS). The score is then interpreted by a certified professional and serves as a guide to direct ECC members in their weatherization priorities, allowing the team to develop a scope of work. Because funding is limited, it is important that resources are applied in a manner that will achieve maximum return on investment. Work is then performed by ECC members, often consisting of the installation of insulation, weather stripping, caulking and various other techniques used to “tighten” the building envelope. After the work is performed, another HERS test is performed to ensure efforts have been successful and have achieved a satisfactory result. It is not uncommon for these weatherizations to result in a 20-30% energy savings monthly.

Save Energy, Save Money

The overall goal of weatherizing a home is to reduce the necessary energy used to heat or cool a home. By reducing the amount of energy needed to heat or cool, residents pay less in utility expenses. This impact can be even greater in low and moderate income households where utilities can constitute as much as 30% or more of monthly income. By reducing these expenses, more expendable income is available for other necessities. For instance, a household with monthly utility expenses of $300 can save around $1080 a year in utility expenses by achieving a 30% reduction in energy costs.