WAGES offers 'weatherization'
By News-Argus Staff
Published in News on October 25, 2005 1:45 PM
Wayne Action Group for Economic Solvency, Inc. provides weatherization services for Wayne, Greene and Lenoir counties.
The federal Weatherization Assistance Program is managed by the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Economic Opportunity. It is designed to help residents who meet federal low-income guidelines to lower their energy usage and costs. Its role is to provide home weatherization and client education.
Weatherizing a home involves conducting an energy assessment to identify the most cost-effective energy improvements that need to be performed on the dwelling, and then making the improvements at no cost to the household.
The three major improvements performed in home weatherization are reducing excessive air infiltration, reducing heat loss through attics, walls and floors, and tuning or otherwise making the heating and air systems more efficient.
The program is not a remodeling, maintenance or rehabilitation program. The amount that can be spent on each dwelling is limited. Incidental repairs are made only to facilitate the installation and preservation of weatherization materials, not to improve the value of the home.
As a rule, windows and doors are not installed. On rare occasions, a primary window may be installed, but only when necessary to reduce significant air leakage.
Those applying for weatherization are not guaranteed they will be eligible or will be selected. Other programs may be better suited for remodeling or quick repair purposes. Residents should contact other housing or human service agencies that may be able to provide such home rehabilitation needs.
Contact WAGES Weatherization Program at 734-1178, ext. 229 to learn more about he program and application requirements.