This past week, Community Action Partnership of Ramsey & Washington Counties’ Energy Conservation Program was featured in a KARE – 11 News story regarding the announcement of $76 million in home weatherization assistance that is on its way to Minnesota. Moreover, on the heels of that announcement, comes a proposed bill in the Minnesota legislature that would add another $60 million to support “pre-weatherization work” that won’t be covered by federal dollars from the US Department of Energy (DOE).
Weatherization (and pre-weatherization) is the practice of protecting a home’s interior from outside elements such as precipitation, wind, sunlight, humidity and excess moisture, and extreme hot and cold temperatures. Weatherization protocols and procedures may include: the performance of a complete energy audit of the home; the cleaning and tuning of the home’s heating and cooling systems; insulating attics and walls; sealing air leaks; air flow and duct work; furnace repair or replacement; the installation of programmable thermostats and HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) controls; simple rules for increasing energy efficiency; and remedies that address other health and safety issues that may be found in the home.
The federal Weatherization Assistance Program, which was established by the DOE nearly 50 years ago, was designed to “to increase the energy efficiency of dwellings owned or occupied by low-income persons, reduce their total residential energy expenditures, and improve their health and safety, especially low-income persons who are particularly vulnerable, such as the elderly, the disabled, and children.” And, during the past five decades, Community Action agencies such as ours have weatherized more than 8 million American homes, returning nearly $3 in benefits for every $1 invested in the program.
If you reside in either Ramsey or Washington counties, the process to access weatherization services through our Energy Conservation Program is by first applying to our Energy Assistance Program. To do so, please call 651-645-6470, email us at eap@caprw.org, or visit us online. You can also use our Energy Assistance webpage to see if you qualify for services, download an application, and find other helpful links including our Energy Conservation page.
For households in other Minnesota counties interested in energy assistance and weatherization services, please call the Minnesota Department of Commerce at 651-539-1500 or visit their website for an application and/or to find your local Community Action agency.
