Governor Perdue proclaims Oct. 30 as Weatherization Day in Georgia

REX, Ga., Oct. 25, 2007 – The Georgia Environmental Facilities Authority’s (GEFA) Weatherization Assistance Program hosted a site demonstration today in Rex, Ga., on weatherization measures that homeowners can take to increase home energy efficiency and to lower their energy bills.

“The need for increased energy efficiency continues to rise as the state of Georgia grows and we require more energy,” said GEFA Executive Director Chris Clark. “Georgia’s Weatherization Assistance Program helps low-income families save money through energy efficiency and it demonstrates effective steps that all of us can take in our homes to conserve energy.”

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) works with low-income families to reduce energy costs by providing free home energy efficiency testing and solutions for individuals and families whose incomes do not exceed 150 percent of the federal poverty level (about $30,000 for a family of four).

Preference is given to the elderly, people with disabilities and families with children.

In Georgia last year, 2,467 homes were weatherized, serving 3,618 clients. Nationally, weatherization programs provide energy-efficiency services to nearly 100,000 homes on average every year.

Based on current energy prices, weatherizing a home reduces average annual energy costs per household by $358 in the first year alone.

Weatherization measures demonstrated today included the installation of wall and attic insulation, duct pressure testing, sealing of ductwork, appliance metering, blower door air infiltration testing, and a house of pressure demonstration, which demonstrates air flows throughout a house.

WAP was created by the federal government in 1976 to assist low-income families who lacked the resources to respond to volatile energy markets by helping those families invest in energy efficiency.

In this early phase, volunteers and job trainees installed low-cost conservation measures to reduce heating and cooling bills.

WAP, the nation’s largest residential energy efficiency program, has evolved into a sophisticated resource, which addresses whole-house energy efficiency and promotes community involvement.

For more information regarding Georgia’s Weatherization Assistance Program, please call (404) 584-1000 or visit http://www.gefa.org/Index.aspx?page=68.

Gov. Perdue proclaimed Tuesday, Oct. 30, 2007 as Weatherization Day in Georgia to encourage Georgia citizens to make their best effort to save energy by weatherizing their homes.

In addition to lowering energy costs, weatherization improves local air quality, lowers emissions of greenhouse gases and reduces risk of fire.

Weatherization lessens the nation’s dependence on foreign oil imports and plays an important role in the nation’s energy security.

Weatherization reduces national energy demand by the equivalent of 18 million barrels of oil each year. An average of 30.5 million BTUs of energy are saved each year in the U.S. due to weatherization programs, equating to a 23 percent reduction in primary heating fuel use.

Additional Energy Efficiency Resources:

Energy Efficiency Tips
http://www.gefa.org/Index.aspx?page=75

Energy and Energy Efficiency Resources for Homeowners, Builders & Educators
http://www.gefa.org/Index.aspx?page=192#a3

###

login to post comments