Pennsylvania Performs Survey of Household Satisfaction, Finds Weatherization is a Positive Experience for Clients

Due to a large influx of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Recovery Act) funds, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) decided to perform a survey measuring the Weatherization Assistance Program’s (WAP) impact of services on participants and their satisfaction with the result. This survey provides a basis for future evaluation and sheds light on areas of potential improvement as well as data critical to the successful expansion of the Pennsylvania Recovery Act WAP program.

DCED received 7,044 completed survey forms from households weatherized between July 1, 2010 and December 31, 2011. Significant findings include:

• Over 75% of participants were pleased with improvements to their homes, contact with local agencies, and the quality of work completed.
• Over the survey period, participant satisfaction either remained steady or increased.
• Employees got the highest marks, with the highest satisfaction levels in the areas of “friendly employees” and “installers of the energy efficient products.”

More than three-quarters of respondents strongly agreed that they had a good experience, that the local agency understood their needs, that the contact with the local agency was excellent, and that the improvements will make their homes more comfortable and more energy efficient.

Consumer education is a critical component of any weatherization program. Nearly all survey respondents (98%) indicated that they changed their behavior due to weatherization services. The actions taken most often include turning off lights and fans when not in the room, setting the thermostat lower at certain times of day, and doing fuller loads of laundry.

Handwritten comments show the impact and success of the program, with submissions like, “I was very pleased with the work that was done. They also took the time to fix things I did not know about. I couldn't ask for a better group of guys to do the work. They were friendly and very professional. Thank you so much.”

Performing surveys such as the one by DCED provides invaluable feedback to states and local agencies to ensure services are adequately and fully provided, and that participants are happy with the work done. We applaud the Pennsylvania DCED for their proactive approach to evaluating WAP performance and their excellent program.

You can read the full report here.

Legislative Update - WAP FY'13 and FY'14 funding

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) has been in the spotlight on Capitol Hill over the last month with prodigious legislative activity around funding for FY 2013 and FY 2014, including:

(1) March 22nd – The Reed-Collins Amendment on the Budget Resolution in the Senate adding $50M to the WAP budget for FY 2014 passed in the Senate;

(2) March 28th – Thirty four Senators signed onto a Reed-Collins letter urging the Secretary of Energy to use his discretion to increase WAP funding for the balance of FY 2013 from the Continuing Resolution Level of $68 million;

(3) April 24th – Representatives Richard Hanna (R-NY) and Paul Tonko (D-NY) crafted a similar letter in the House to the Secretary of Energy asking for an increase in the WAP FY 2013 allocation;

(4) April 24th – Representatives Hanna and Tonko additionally circulated a letter to the House Subcommittee on Energy and Water Appropriations asking for an increase in FY 2014 funding for WAP. The letter was signed by over 60 House Members; and

(5) April 26th – Senators Reed and Collins wrote a letter to the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee seeking $230M for WAP in FY 2014 — that letter is now finalized and signed by 40 Senators following our all-out effort the past few days.

To date there has been no decision on FY’13 funding from the Department of Energy though a decision is expected any day now.

President Obama releases Fy 2014 budget request

The Standard Work Specifications for Single-Family Home Energy Upgrades are now available…at your fingertips!

Legislative Update: WAP in the FY'13 Budget

Recap of the Orientation for New and Existing Weatherization State Directors & the 2013 NASCSP Mid-Winter Conference:

Orientation:  Monday & Tuesday

The Mid-Winter Orientation plays a critical role in the success of not only the State administrators of WAP but of the network as a whole. These two days provide comprehensive information that is unparalleled and the opportunity for members to network with colleagues and get answers to their most pressing questions.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) staff leads the WAP Orientation. Attendees heard how the program operates and their responsibilities as WAP State administrators. DOE staff began with an overview of the legislative and statutory elements of WAP, while providing updates on changes (and predictions/expectations of changes) that will occur in 2013. Network partners like Joel Eisenberg, from Oak Ridge National Laboratory, explained how WAP has the highest impact for users with a high-energy burden. In addition, this year Cynthia Simonson, of Simonson Management Services (SMS), kept things lively by rewarding trivia winners with Girl Scout cookies during their discussion of monitoring and state plans. Kelly Cutchin, also of SMS, reviewed how to write technical guides and manuals as well as health and safety guidance to ensure success for each and every home weatherized.

Orientation continued on Tuesday with presenters speaking about program management; regulatory items, such as the OMB Circulars; and monitoring. The highlight of the day was the demonstrations of WAP’s new initiatives and online resources. DOE even got in on the action and presented WAP Orientation with an open source online training program through the National Weatherization Training Platform. In addition, NASCSP’s Jenae Bjelland, Director of the Healthy Homes Initiative, gave attendees an overview of how the initiative ties in with the work they’re already doing and showcased the training and technical assistance online tools and resources via www.WxPlusHealth.org.

NASCSP Mid-Winter Conference:

Wednesday:
During the WAP committee meeting, Bob Scott, Director of Energy Services at NASCSP, gave out Weatherization Day awards to States who held events or got Governor’s Proclamations, recognizing the efforts of our members. WAP members also got a legislative update on pertinent issues like sequestration, fiscal year 2014 funding, and the political picture here in Washington DC. There was also time to collect questions and concerns to share with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and with the network. These questions are critical and will likely lead to some productive discussions during Thursday’s Federal Perspective sessions.

In addition to the committee meetings, Jenae Bjelland, Director of the Healthy Homes Initiative at NASCSP, held a general session about the Weatherization Plus Health initiative and shared the features available at the WxPlusHealth.org website and demoed the new Weatherization Plus Health Mobile App, which walks technicians through health and safety issues commonly seen in low-income homes. The app should be downloadable in the near future. Lynette Praster, from Pennsylvania, walked State directors through how they decided to start a Weatherization Plus Health approach in her State and the process through which they have integrated services across programs.

Thursday:
This year, the WAP track started off with a new format—regional roundtable discussions. Attendees discussed common issues and potential resources, as well as questions to ask our federal DOE partners later in the day. A session on work quality focused on new DOE initiatives in addition to veteran WAP Director Cal Steiner’s effort to move the workforce forward and ensure a superior product. The afternoon included a discussion with DOE staff. NASCSP members followed up on the questions generated from the morning’s roundtables and received an update on changes and innovations that are coming.

Friday:
The focus in the morning session was on looking at the WAP in a new funding era and pursuing leveraging partnerships. Federal partners from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) were on hand to discuss the give and take between WAP and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) while members discussed their strategies for dealing with a changing fiscal landscape and efforts to ensure WAP remains relevant. NASCSP Weatherization Plus Health Consultant, Lisa Kesecker, introduced the soon to be available Income Generation and Leveraging Manual, which will provide a guide to grantees in finding new funding sources, securing partnerships, and moving us forward. Stay tuned – we will let you know when the new manual is available.

EVENT SUMMARY: Strategy for Action to Advance Healthy Housing

WeatherizationPlusHealth.org

BPI’s New Building Science Principles Certificate of Knowledge Available

Looking back on Weatherization