Weatherization Assistance Program Seventh Highest Recovery Act Job Creator

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The federal low-income Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) ranks seventh out of approximately 200 federal programs funded by American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) in jobs created or retained, with 14,090 for the third quarter beginning July 1 and ending September 30, 2011. WAP has consistently ranked in the top 10 in job creation and retention since the first quarter of 2010. Beginning in 1976, the U.S. Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) has made homes of low-income families more energy efficient, safer, and healthier nationwide, with 6.7 million homes served as of 2010.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) granted $5 billion to the network. This investment has been a resounding success and has improved the homes and lives of over 534,208 low-income families through August 2011. This is just a fraction of the 38.6 million households that are eligible for Weatherization services in the United States.

WAP is heavily invested in training the emerging clean energy workforce and is a key gateway for the expansion of the residential energy efficiency market. The advanced diagnostics and technology employed by the program are truly state-of-the art and enable measurable energy savings averaging 35% of pre-consumption, providing much-needed relief for the extreme energy burden of the program's recipients.

Weatherization works, both for the households served and as a sound government investment. The program provides significant energy savings for its recipients, makes America's housing stock more energy efficient, improves the indoor air quality while reducing health and safety risks, provides jobs, reduces carbon emissions, and lessens America's dependence on foreign oil.

To participate, homeowners or renters must have a maximum income of 200% of the Federal Poverty Level, and agencies can use up to $6,500 for energy efficiency upgrades to their homes.

The Weatherization Assistance Program is operated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Native American tribes, and U.S. Territories. Funds are used to improve the energy efficiency of low-income homes using the most advanced technologies and testing while prioritizing service to families with children, the elderly, and the disabled.

For more information about the Weatherization Assistance Program, visit http://www.waptac.org or http://www.eere.doe.gov.

Contact:

Rebecca Stewart
National Association for State Community Services Programs
[email protected] 
202.624.7887

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SOURCE National Association for State Community Services Programs