Bill Overview
Title: Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act of 2022
Description: This bill updates provisions related to weatherization assistance provided by the Department of Energy, including by increasing certain assistance amounts and establishing a weatherization readiness program to provide grants to make dwelling units occupied by low-income persons ready to receive weatherization measures.
Sponsors: Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
Target Audience
Population: low-income individuals living in inadequate housing worldwide
Estimated Size: 1000000
- The bill targets low-income individuals by providing weatherization assistance to improve their dwelling conditions.
- Low-income individuals who live in areas with harsh weather conditions are likely to benefit directly from the bill.
- Weatherization assistance focuses on improving energy efficiency, which can lower energy costs for low-income households.
- The bill would primarily affect people residing in older or inadequately insulated homes who would benefit from weatherization improvements.
Reasoning
- The Weatherization Enhancement and Readiness Act of 2022 is designed to assist low-income households by improving energy efficiency and reducing energy costs through weatherization enhancements, especially targeting older homes in harsher climate areas.
- Given the budget constraints, the policy will likely affect a limited number of households relative to the total low-income population in the U.S.
- The estimated capacity to serve approximately 35,000 homes annually suggests that only a small portion of the eligible population can be assisted each year, which means individual impact assessments will be important to understand the variations in wellbeing outcomes.
- We assume a composite make-up of different demographics, locations, and existing conditions to understand variable impacts, including those who may not experience significant changes despite eligibility due to delayed implementation or insufficient funding reach.
Simulated Interviews
Retail Worker (Detroit, MI)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I have been struggling with high energy bills, especially during the winter.
- This program sounds like it could really help cut down costs for my family.
- I'm worried about whether we'll qualify, and if so, how soon we might see improvements.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Retired (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 66 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Reducing my summer cooling bills would help me budget better.
- I think the assistance is overdue, but necessary, especially with increasing heat.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
Freelancer (Baltimore, MD)
Age: 30 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think increased energy efficiency is important.
- I'm skeptical about timely access to the program given rental status.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
School Teacher (Buffalo, NY)
Age: 52 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Weatherization could preserve our home better, reduce energy bills.
- Programs like this are crucial for managing older homes efficiently.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Construction Worker (Houston, TX)
Age: 36 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We end up spending a lot on cooling during summer.
- Any help would be appreciated to manage these unexpected high expenses.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Farm Worker (Rural Kansas)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Even small improvements in efficiency could make a big difference financially.
- These kinds of programs help farming communities stay afloat.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 3 |
College Student (New York, NY)
Age: 22 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not sure if students are prioritized, but energy efficiency always appealed to me.
- Cutting down on heating bills could help us as students significantly.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Artist (Seattle, WA)
Age: 58 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- There are definitely improvements that could help with the indoor climate.
- I'm excited about what these updates might bring to our coastal homes.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Retired Veteran (Bismarck, ND)
Age: 75 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I've been cutting back on necessities to cover my heating bills.
- This policy could really ease the burden, especially as I age further.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Unemployed due to disability (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Any type of assistance would be a lifesaver.
- Hoping these plans go through sooner rather than later.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $250000000 (Low: $200000000, High: $300000000)
Year 2: $260000000 (Low: $210000000, High: $310000000)
Year 3: $270000000 (Low: $220000000, High: $320000000)
Year 5: $290000000 (Low: $240000000, High: $340000000)
Year 10: $320000000 (Low: $270000000, High: $370000000)
Year 100: $420000000 (Low: $370000000, High: $470000000)
Key Considerations
- The upfront costs of weatherization might be substantial, but long-term savings and benefits could justify the expenses.
- Readiness grants can lead to increased demand for weatherization services, impacting the workforce in construction and energy sectors.
- The policy primarily benefits low-income households but requires collaboration with state and local agencies for implementation.