Reducing energy consumption in low-income homes. Evaluation of the weatherization program in Minnesota

Journal Article · Thu Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1981 · Eval. Rev.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1177/0193841X8100500505· OSTI ID:6206039

Hirst, E ^[1]; Talwar, R

---

1. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN

The 26 local Community Action Agencies in Minnesota administer a Federal program to audit and retrofit homes occupied by low-income households. This program seeks to improve the thermal performance of these homes and thereby reduce the economic hardship faced by these households because of high and rising fuel prices. A key question concerns the actual energy savings that can be attributed to the program. The work reported involves collection and analysis of fuel consumption records from low-income households throughout Minnesota. Data were obtained from 59 households that had received weatherization services and from 37 households that had not yet been weatherized. Comparisons of fuel consumption across the two groups from the 1976-1977 and 1977-1978 winters showed that the average saving due to weatherization was 13% of total household energy use. Based on fuel prices that prevailed in 1979, the cost of weatherization is likely to be repaid with lower fuel bills in 3 to 4 years.

• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-26
• OSTI ID: 6206039
• Journal Information: Eval. Rev.; (United States), Journal Name: Eval. Rev.; (United States) Vol. 5:5; ISSN EVRED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320101* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Residential Buildings-- (-1987)
ALKANES
BUILDINGS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
DATA
DATA ACQUISITION
DATA ANALYSIS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SOURCES
EVALUATED DATA
EVALUATION
FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
FEDERAL REGION V
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL CONSUMPTION
FUEL GAS
FUEL OILS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HUMAN POPULATIONS
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
LIQUID FUELS
LOW INCOME GROUPS
MINNESOTA
MINORITY GROUPS
NATURAL GAS
NORTH AMERICA
NUMERICAL DATA
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POPULATIONS
PROPANE
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
USA
WEATHERIZATION
WOOD