Heat leaks through walls, gaps, and uninsulated ceilings all winter in an ordinary home, and in thousands of low-income houses across Washington State, that leak was quietly costing families money every month. Then something changed. During the period from July 2009 through June 2010, local agencies weatherized 7,474 low-income houses in the state by sealing leaks, insulating, and repairing faulty equipment that was slowly eating into their pocket each month. In an evaluation report compiled by the Washington State University Extension Energy Program for the Washington State Department of Commerce, it was found out that this resulted in savings of approximately $189 per year in energy bills for the household.
A program that has quietly run since 1977
