The South Central Community Action Program is offering weatherization services to qualifying households in Monroe, Owen, Morgan and Brown counties.
Services include analysis of houses for energy leakage and inefficiencies, furnace inspection, and the repair or possible replacement of existing heating systems.
“In the past six months, we’ve done over 60 homes. On average, we weatherize about 120 homes per year,” said Frank Peacock, SCCAP weatherization program coordinator.
In order to receive assistance, households cannot make more than 200% of the federal poverty level, which is based on annual gross household income.
Those rates are as follows:
- For a one-person household: $22,340.
- For a two-person household: $30,260.
- For a three-person household: $38,180.
- For a four-person household: $46,100.
- For a five-person household: $54,020.
The program is funded by performance-based grants given to SCCAP by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
The U.S. Department of Energy funds projects like this because it estimates the weatherization of homes will “save 53 metric tons of (carbon dioxide) emissions per household” as well as saving low-income households more than $2.1 billion nationally.
Peacock said the organization employs private contractors that mostly “clean and tune” existing heating systems, but he gave a scenario where more might be done.
“If a client were to have a heat pump that was not working or the cost to repair it would be 50% or so toward installing a new heat pump, we would look at that,” he said.
The amount of money saved at each household varies based on the condition of the home, but Peacock said, “on average, we shoot for 15% energy savings per home.”
“A home circa 1900 is going to be pretty leaky and possibly uninsulated, so we can really do those folks a lot of good. Mobile homes are a whole different animal. You can’t get as much out of those,” he explained.
On average, SCCAP’s weatherization saves home owners and renters 15% to 20% on their energy bills.
Those who qualify for weatherization are asked to visit the SCCAP office at 1500 W. 15th St., Bloomington, to apply in person. Applications can also be done through a combination of phone and mail, though doing so is not preferable. The service is available to homeowners and renters.
Originally published in Ellettsville Journal, 2013. Republished here for archival and portfolio purposes.