Washington’s low-income weatherisation programme upgraded 7,474 households between July 2009 and June 2010, with the homes expected to receive about $1.4 million in direct energy savings. According to a report by the Washington Policy Centre, the average weatherised household was estimated to save roughly $189 a year through lower energy costs. The programme also reported wider economic benefits, including around 180 jobs created or retained during the period. However, the 2011 report examined the programme’s costs alongside its claimed benefits, noting that an average project cost $6,070 and that energy savings alone did not exceed programme costs under the scenarios assessed. The report therefore highlighted a gap between the programme’s broader social and economic objectives and the measurable financial returns from household energy savings. It also noted that benefits such as improved home conditions and reduced energy use were difficult to capture fully in a simple cost-benefit calculation.
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