Grants for Weatherization

• Reducing spending on energy bills is a crucial goal of weatherization grants.grant on a $50 bill image by Nikolay Okhitin from Fotolia.com
  
  Encouraging the growth of weatherization grant programs has a simple rationale behind it. When low- to moderate-income residents receive the funding to make their homes more energy-efficient, it becomes possible for them to save money on future energy bills and become more economically self-sufficient. That goal, in turn, is the common link between the various local, state and federal avenues designed for tapping into these funds.
  
  

Weatherization Assistance Program

• Operated by the U.S. Department of Energy, this program is targeted at low-income families who lack the resources to weatherize their homes properly. Since 1976, more than 6.4 million families have been helped by the program, which the department coordinates with more than 900 local agencies to form a national network. Averaging $6,500 per grant, these upgrades aren't expensive but can represent a major stumbling block, the department notes in its overview.
  
  

State Grant Programs

• Energy-related home repairs are a critical focus of grant programs.repair image by Mykola Velychko from Fotolia.com
  
  Set up as a block grant program, the Low-Income Heating Energy Assistance Program is the primary state government vehicle to help struggling homeowners. Funds go through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and may include support for items like insulation and energy-related home repairs. Households qualify if their income doesn't exceed 60 percent of their state's median income, or 150 percent of the federal poverty level--whichever is greater.
  
  

ARRA Weatherization Funding

• Approved in 2009, the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act, or federal stimulus program, made weatherization a key priority. An $8 billion package targeted state and federal funds to help homeowners add insulation, seal leaks and modernize heating and cooling systems. Applicants with incomes of up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level were eligible, amounting to $44,000 for a family of four. The Act also provided tax credits of up to $1,500 to help homeowners invest in energy efficiency upgrades.
  
  

Outcomes and Benefits

• Reducing energy dependence, promoting economic development in low-income neighborhoods and improving the environment are just three of the benefits associated with weatherization programs. The growth of these programs has jumpstarted the energy-efficient housing industry, leading to adoption of techniques that are considered second nature today. These factors help weatherization grants pay for themselves, which few other government programs can claim.