Biden: States on Track for Weatherizing Homes

[Turborama]

Source: AP via NYT

Vice President Joe Biden says states are on track to weatherize 600,000 homes by March 2012 after a huge increase in activity in the last six months. By March 2010 -- a year after the economic stimulus pumped new money into the decades-old federal Weatherization Assistance Program -- just 30,250 homes had been retrofitted. But according to a White House official, Biden will announce Thursday that the total has jumped to 200,000 and that at the current pace, the administration will meet its goal of 600,000 homes in three years.

Biden is marking the milestone in Manchester at a home where energy-saving improvements are being made by Southern New Hampshire Services. The improvements are expected to save the homeowners more than $600 annually on their utility bills.

Under the weatherization program, states distribute federal money to local nonprofits that hire contractors for projects ranging from installing weather-tight windows and doors to spreading insulation in homes.

The $5 billion weatherization program is part of about $90 billion in stimulus funds targeted for clean energy and energy-efficiency projects. According to the White House, it has put more than 13,000 people to work installing insulation, upgrading appliances and improving heating and cooling system -- or about 15 percent of the 87,000 jobs the Obama administration predicts.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/08/26/business/AP-US-Biden-Weatherization.html?hp

[TEXASYANKEE]

1. North Texas

My house was weatherized (for free) last month. It took a team of 3 people almost 2 hours to do the entire project, and I was very impressed.

[Yupster]

3. How did you get your name on the list

I'd love to get a free make-over too.

[TEXASYANKEE]

5. I was home at the right time.

They had an appointment with someone in my neighborhood and it was cancelled at the last minute. So they knocked on my door and I just happened to be home. Just blind luck.

[snooper2]

4. how did you pull that one off? are there minimum income requirements?

???

[NickB79]

2. I see this is for low-income households. Anyone know the cut-off point?

I'm 95% sure I make too much, but updated windows, doors and insulation would be nice on our house.