Weatherization Programs and Insulation offers free energy efficiency upgrades to income-eligible homeowners. The service can include window and door repairs or replacement, insulation, air sealing, furnace tune ups and more.
The program is offered to homeowners and renters, with priority given to seniors, households with children or the disabled. To apply, find your local WAP agency on this map and review eligibility guidelines.
Insulation
A whole-home weatherization program can lower a household’s energy bills significantly. Home improvement projects such as insulating walls, attic spaces, and roofs and adding storm windows can dramatically reduce heating and cooling costs.
Insulation is material used to keep a building’s internal temperature stable, regardless of the outside weather. It is an effective, affordable, and simple way to cut energy costs. Insulation comes in a wide variety of materials from bulky fiber materials such as fiberglass, rock wool, and cellulose to rigid foam boards and sleek foils.
Using energy efficient measures can drastically lower your monthly utility bills, making it easier to afford basic living expenses like food and clothing. These energy conservation improvements are also good for the environment and increase your house’s value.
The federally funded Weatherization Assistance Program helps income-eligible households reduce energy bills through the use of comprehensive home insulation and air sealing techniques. Each energy-conservation measure must return a minimum of $1.00 in savings for every dollar spent on labor and materials, a requirement known as the Savings-to-Investment Ratio (SIR). The ADOH WAP provides funding to community action agencies, local governments, and non-profit organizations that provide these services.
Air Sealing
A large portion of a home’s energy loss comes from air leaks in the walls, attic, and crawlspaces. Adding insulation and air sealing helps reduce drafts, improves comfort, cuts heating and cooling costs, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions.
A weatherization agency can provide an energy assessment and a package of services that includes insulation, air sealing, and caulking/weatherstripping. The service may be free or low cost to qualifying families.
The Weatherization Assistance Program is administered by the states, territories, and indigenous tribes, which contract with a network of roughly 700 local organizations that consist of community action agencies, other nonprofit organizations, and government agencies. These organizations use in-house crews and private contractors to perform the services. The WAP network provides a wide range of residential energy-conservation services to help families save money on heating and cooling costs, improve health and safety, and increase homeownership opportunities. The programs also create a market for American manufacturing, using products and equipment from local sources. They also create jobs, particularly among low-income communities, and are important drivers of innovation in the home energy efficiency industry.
Windows
Many homes have drafty windows that let a lot of heat escape. Installing modern, high-performance storm windows can help reduce that energy loss and improve comfort.
The Weatherization program helps income-eligible households reduce energy use and costs in their homes by performing a variety of energy-saving measures, including air sealing (caulking and weather stripping), attic insulation, heating system repair or replacement, hot water tank and pipe insulation, and new refrigerators rated as Energy Star models. The program assists both single-family and multi-family structures, but is focused on helping primarily low income households.
ACCESS’s Weatherization Program offers free insulation, light bulbs and more to eligible households in Jackson County, as well as referrals to other agency programs and community resources. Call or visit a ACCESS location to learn more and see if you qualify!
Doors
When a home is properly weatherized it keeps warm air inside in winter and cool air outside in summer. It also reduces energy costs and increases comfort for the occupants. Signs that a home may need weatherization include uncomfortable indoor temperatures, excess moisture and drafty windows and doors.
An initial inspection, called an energy audit, of the building is done using a “blower door test.” The auditor will note where insulation is needed and measure existing insulation in walls, attic space, floor and foundation. In addition, the inspector will note heating system upgrades or replacements, hot water tank and pipe insulation, duct sealing and insulation and refrigerator replacement with energy efficient models.
The Single-Family Home Weatherization Program (WAP) provides free energy efficiency measures for income-eligible homeowners and renters. The Multi-Family Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) serves buildings that contain two or more units occupied by income-eligible households, with preference given to elderly persons and families with children. The program uses a statewide network of local service providers and their certified crews. All workers are trained in advanced energy efficiency measures and health and safety procedures.
Furnace
The furnace in a home is one of the oldest types of heating systems. Furnaces burn fossil fuels like natural gas, propane, oil or electricity to generate heat for the house. Today’s models are much more efficient and can heat the house even in cold temperatures. However, they must be maintained to maintain their efficiency. The best way to do this is to replace air filters regularly.
The federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) reduces the energy costs and improves the health, safety, and comfort of income-eligible families who own their dwellings. It is the nation’s largest residential whole-house energy efficiency program. The program is delivered by a network of local community action agencies, state and U.S. territories, and Indian tribal governments.
Residents can apply for weatherization by contacting their local WAP provider. The provider will do an energy audit and determine the most cost-effective energy conservation measures for the household. To qualify, households must provide proof of income and ownership of their home. The screening process and application can be lengthy. It’s common for applicants to experience delays in scheduling their energy audit.