Weatherization

General Information

You don’t have to be an expert to know older homes need updates to stay safe, comfortable, and affordable. That’s where our Weatherization team comes in. We work with utility companies and local and state agencies to assess homes across Southeast Idaho and make energy-saving upgrades for eligible Idahoans. When you weatherize your home, you:

• Cut down on energy bills – Weatherization makes your home more energy-efficient, so you spend less on heating and cooling.
• Stay more comfortable year-round – Things like insulation and sealing air leaks help keep your home cozy in the winter and cool in the summer.
• Address issues that could impact your health – This is especially important if you’re older or have a disability.
• Take care of safety issues – We help spot and fix hazards, like carbon monoxide leaks and use of unsafe heating equipment.

Using a “whole-home” approach, we conduct energy audits to pinpoint causes of energy loss and safety risks. Weatherization upgrades can include:

• Air Sealing, Quality, and Ventilation
• Insulating Walls, Floors, and Ceilings
• Heating/Cooling System Repair and Replacement
• Installing Programmable Thermostats
• Water Heater Repair and Replacements
• Energy-Efficient Lighting
• Door and Window Replacement and Repair
• Moisture, Mold, and Lead Control

Program Guidelines

Our Weatherization Assistance Program is available to anyone who income-qualifies, including both renters and homeowners, year-round. If you’re eligible for Energy Assistance (LIHEAP), you also qualify for weatherization assistance.

Our Weatherization Assistance Program is federally funded, so we follow their guidelines when deciding which weatherization improvements take priority. Insulation and infiltration measures take priority, as the greatest

Weatherization services are based on eligibility for the services. Income limits apply in most cases.

A program auditor performs an energy audit before any work begins. Depending on the problem the participant describes, the auditor may measure multiple parts of the home, check the home for air leakage or infiltration, and check the home’s heating system, insulation levels, and water heater. Where each home is allotted a set amount of repairs, the auditor follows Federal guidelines to determine what repairs will be done.

Once the repairs are finished, the auditor provides energy conservation education for the homeowner or renter to ensure not only that the repairs performed are maintained, but also that best practices designed to make homes more energy efficient are outlined.

Income Guidelines for Weatherization Assistance

Because our Weatherization Assistance Program is federally funded and each home has a limited number of allowable repairs, we follow their guidelines when deciding which improvements to tackle first. Insulation and sealing air leaks come first since they save the most energy for the cost. Next up are heating system upgrades, and other measures follow after that. Door and window replacements are usually last, because they’re expensive.

Energy Audits

The first step in having your home weatherized is having our auditor come to your home and perform an energy audit. Energy audits are scheduled with preference for those who need it most, including:

• Seniors
• Disabled Individuals
• Families with Young Children
• Households with High Energy Burdens

An energy audit has a few different steps. First, the auditor will talk with you about your home and any issues you’ve noticed. Then, they’ll take measurements of your walls, attic, basement or crawl space, and check your doors and windows. They’ll also look at the insulation levels in your walls, attic, and crawl spaces, and evaluate your heating, cooling, and water heating systems. Finally, they’ll check your home for air leaks that could be wasting energy and making your home less comfortable. Our auditor will need access to all the aforementioned spaces and to all the rooms in your home; therefore, you will need to clear access to them. If you have animals, please make sure they’re put away before your energy audit.

Jobs

After your energy audit, our team will put together a list of possible improvements for your home. The upgrades we’re able to complete depend on a savings-to-investment ratio (SIR) — or how much energy (and money) each improvement can save compared to its cost. Projects with a lower SIR are less likely to be done. Projects are also dependent on available funding. If certain improvements can’t be completed, we’ll document them and send you a summary by mail once the work is finished.

Most projects take about four months (around 120 days) to complete, though that can vary depending on the type of repairs and how quickly we can coordinate with you and our crew.

After the job is completed, our auditor will go over some energy-saving tips to help you maintain your repairs and keep your home running efficiently.