Many Lane County residents are concerned about what climate change may bring in the coming years. Already, we are experiencing warmer summers and unpredictable winters. Many people wonder how they can prepare for climate fluctuations or what they can do to help mitigate continued global temperature rise.
Getting your home weatherized addresses both these issues. First, weatherization helps your home stay at a safe and healthy temperature in both hot and cold weather. Comprehensive weatherization services assess your home’s existing structure and generally will recommend:
- Adding insulation to walls, attics, and ducts;
- Sealing cracks that allow heat in and out;
- Repairing or replacing windows and doors with more efficient models;
- Insulating or replacing hot water heaters;
- Possibly replacing aging, inefficient heating and cooling systems.
These measures will greatly improve your home’s ability to remain at a comfortable temperature and help you reduce your utility bills. When houses get fully weatherized, the Department of Energy estimates an annual household savings of $283.
Secondly, weatherization can reduce the release of climate-warming gasses into the environment. While Oregon is fortunate to have a great deal of clean electricity generated by hydropower, the regional energy grid includes power from coal and natural gas. These fuels contribute to climate change when combusted to make electricity.
Reductions in energy usage reduce these emissions. It is estimated that, on average, a home heated with electricity that gets weatherized will reduce its energy usage by 7-8%.
Additional benefits of home weatherization are improved health and safety. Weatherization addresses home ventilation which can decrease mold and moisture problems. It also ensures homes have working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and tests for lead-based paint. Other home repairs may also be included when they improve the health and safety of the residents, like roofing or appliance replacement.
Low-income households pay a greater percent of their income towards their utility bills than higher-income households. This can be up to 16% of their total annual income (1)! The Lane County Human Services Division’s low-income weatherization program helps households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level with upgrades to their housing to reduce energy expenses, increase the health and safety of their home, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Federal and local funding comes to Lane County through Oregon Housing and Community Services, and the program is operated by Homes for Good Housing Agency.
This program helps dozens of low-income households each year, emphasizing improving the housing of seniors and disabled persons. Both homeowners and renters can benefit from this program. Manufactured housing is also an eligible and important housing stock to address because weatherization can help extend the life of this affordable housing option. To learn more about Lane County’s Weatherization program for low-income residents, visit https://www.homesforgood.org/programs/weatherization or call 541-682-3755.
About the author
Stephanie Talbott serves as a Human Services Supervisor working with the Utility Assistance and Eviction Prevention Teams within the Lane County Human Services Division. Before working for Lane County, she spent most of her career in nonprofit management, looking for ways to strengthen our community. She is proud to be a third-generation Oregonian and enjoys gardening, camping and kayaking.
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