Low-income weatherization: better way of meeting needs in view of limited funds

Technical Report · Thu Oct 31 04:00:00 EST 1985

OSTI ID:6306240

Federal grants for low-income weatherization programs totaled more than $2.5 billion between 1975 and 1985. States use the grants to weatherize low-income dwellings, thereby reducing residential fuel use. Currently, the main sources of federal funds are the Department of Energy's (DOE's) low-income weatherization program and the Department of Health and Human Services' Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. GAO estimates that if current policies, procedures, and funding are continued, most of the 17 selected states would not complete weatherization of all currently eligible dwellings until the 21st century. Even this is doubtful because of other factors such as potential increases in the number of eligible dwellings. GAO believes that the program's cost-effectiveness and ability to weatherize more low-income dwellings could be improved if spending per unit was limited to those measures most cost-effective in terms of energy savings per dollar cost of weatherization. DOE could increase program cost-effectiveness and weatherize more dwellings by requiring that weatherization measure be limited to expenditures those repayable through potential energy savings within a specified number of years.

• Research Organization: General Accounting Office, Washington, DC (USA). Resources, Community and Economic Development Div.
• OSTI ID: 6306240
• Report Number(s): GAO/RCED-86-19; ON: TI86900617
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320101* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Residential Buildings-- (-1987)
COST RECOVERY
FEDERAL EXPENDITURES
FINANCING
HOUSEHOLDS
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
OPTIMIZATION
US DOE
US ORGANIZATIONS
WEATHERIZATION