Expansion of Community Action Partnership
Weatherization Program to Stimulate Economy
April 7, 2009 - In the coming months, you should see more crews weatherizing homes in the area. Washington's economic stimulus package is about to send Ohio $267 million that will be distributed to Weatherization Programs throughout the state, including Community Action Partnership of the Greater Dayton Area (CAP). Last year, CAP weatherized over 1,000 homes in Montgomery, Greene, Darke, Preble, Butler and Warren Counties.
Weatherization stimulates the economy in several ways:
- Agencies hire weatherization workers or contract with other businesses, thus creating jobs.
- Weatherization programs buy vehicles, insulation supplies, furnaces, water heaters and other equipment, keeping company employees that manufacture and sell the equipment working.
- A weatherized home will reduce utility costs by about 30 percent, saving the average homeowner $400 to $450 per year in energy costs. That gives more money to low-income families, and reduces the cost of heating subsidy programs to taxpayers.
- Weatherization reduces a home's energy needs and makes the fossil fuel combustion devices in the homes more efficient, which reduces electricity demand. That reduces the carbon dioxide emissions of our homes, most of which comes from heating and cooling.
“Community Action Partnership has already begun the process of hiring and training more workers,” said Leonard Florence, Director of Weatherization. “We recently hosted a training course in ‘Basic Weatherization Tactics’ where employees learned basic safety practices, blower door use, attic and sidewall insulation, and lead-safe weatherization techniques. The course included both classroom and on-site instruction. Though expanding the Weatherization Program is a big challenge for us, it's also an opportunity to extend the benefits for even more homes.”
