Oregon Public Broadcasting

16,000 Washington Families Take Advantage Of Weatherization Assistance

010512TB_Chu.wav :11 cut 1/5/12 Tom Banse/CFGov't

Sixteen thousand low income families in Washington state have taken advantage of a federally-funded program offering free home weatherization. That figure covers the past three years when the subsidy program got a big boost from the federal economic stimulus bill.

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu says insulation, caulking and weather stripping upgrades make a real difference during hard times.

"Weatherization services can lower energy bills," Chu says. "On average, families save more than $400 on their heating and cooling bills alone during the first year after a home is weatherized."

Chu said Thursday the weatherization program has exceeded the economic stimulus bill's goal for Washington state by thousands of homes after getting off to a slow start.

The Energy Department is now trying to figure out how to capture anticipated energy savings to make weatherization programs more self-supporting in the future.

On the Web:

Weatherization Assistance Program

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/wip/wap.html

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