Weatherization DC
What is Weatherization?
Weatherization is the process in which a building, most often a residential home but can also include places of business, is conditioned against the elements to provide a more cost efficient home thus reducing household and business energy bills. Generally, the process involve re-insulating the home, sealing of drafts with either calking or insulation, and, in more extreme cases, the replacement of windows and doors. While many can afford the initial costs on their own, there is help available for those who are not able to do so.
To begin with, the home receives what is known as an energy audit. A professional team will come in with various pieces of equipment and measure the flow of air through the home to determine the amount of work that will be needed to weatherize the residence.
Most often the culprit is small, such as an unsealed duct or leaning window frame, but on many occasions, there are instances were molding is weak, and doors and windows are too old or damaged to adequately sustain the energy efficiency of the premises. These sorts of repairs can increase the expense of the improvements.
The average costs of weatherization can range from as low as two hundred dollars to two thousand, the overall costs relying on the work that needs to be done. However, while the dollar amount may seem high at the initial pay out, the pay off fairs much better in the long run. Saving an average nearly five hundred dollars a year, though many times more if the alterations are excessive, over time the investment is well worth the benefits financially. A safe measurement is about $2.51 saved for every $1 dollar spent. As weatherization works for all seasons, it is also a year round fix.
More Contractors Going Green
More contractors are going green with the initiative of helping customers save money and the planet. This includes HVAC, home improvement, weatherization and solar companies to name a few.
Finding the Right Local Weatherization Contractor in DC
Once the audit has been done, the task turns to finding the correct weatherization team in DC. Almost any contractor will do weatherization, but finding one that works specifically in the department of weatherization is a key to ensuring it is done right the first time. The internet has been of great use in finding the things people need, and this case is no exception. When searching online, however, be specific. Generally going local is a confident decision as one can have a place to physically look at should they have their suspicions about the internet. Not all sites will have customer comments, though they can lend to the authenticity of the professionals.
The phone book was a common reference and remains one still. While what is being sought does not always jump out at the seeker, often times it can point someone in the right direction. Calling and asking questions about the expertise of the contractors is a responsible choice when considering them for the job.
Another resource is word of mouth to find a contractor / installer in the region. The fact is that word of mouth carries more weight than any other communication tool. If a friend is willing to vouch for a professional team, chances are they are a safe bet in where to look for the team that is wanted and will do a competent job on the weatherization.
Government Programs for Assistance
The factor of cost can never be overlooked in anything, and not everyone has the money to complete the process, but fortunately there is help for this. There are several programs, both federal as well as state to assist someone with the costs of weatherization.
The Weatherization Assistance Program is a federally funded program that assists with costs to families who qualify financially for their assistance, most often the elderly. Begun in 1976, it is a technical service that has its own team, including the contractors to perform the modifications necessary. The program works on a budget of what is necessary to equip the home with what it needs to improve on energy efficiency.
There are also state funded programs that assist with this cost. One such service in Washington DC is the Low-Income Weatherization Program, an offshoot of the Energy Assistance Program of the Department of Health and Human Services. This program is similar to the federally funded one but prioritizes the greater necessities more as the budget is smaller and specific for each home. The basic fundamentals remain the same, however, which is to cut the costs of energy in the household. Another would be the District Department of the Environment, using an income grid to determine who qualifies for the assistance. Again, they provide the same services as the other mentioned weatherization providers.
While today's economy does not lend itself to spending, and the cost is often weighed against absolute necessity, the majority of a household income will go to maintaining the family with clothes and food, and trying to meet the fiscal responsibilities of monthly bills. It is a daunting task. However, there are avenues such as those listed above that can take some of the stress off the bottom line of the energy bill and put it back into the family budget.
Maryland Solar Incentives are also offered to help with green initiatives.