Bill Overview
Title: Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act of 2022
Description: This bill expands the Department of Energy's Weatherization Assistance Program, including by establishing a Weatherization Readiness Fund. If the dwellings of low-income households have significant defects or hazards that prevent the installation of weatherization (e.g., energy efficiency) measures under the program, then states may use the fund for repairing such defects and hazards.
Sponsors: Sen. Reed, Jack [D-RI]
Target Audience
Population: Low-income individuals and families living in dwellings needing weatherization repairs
Estimated Size: 20000000
- The bill targets low-income households, specifically those with homes that require energy efficiency improvements.
- Weatherization programs typically aim to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs for low-income families.
- Given the focus on low-income households, this will predominantly impact individuals and families who struggle to afford energy costs.
- The program has a national scope as it mentions states can use the fund, indicating it is applicable throughout the United States.
Reasoning
- The policy primarily targets low-income individuals and families, which is estimated to encompass up to 20 million households in the US.
- Many of these households live in homes with poor insulation, old heating systems, and other inefficiencies that lead to higher energy costs.
- The Weatherization Readiness Fund allows for necessary repairs that would enable these homes to benefit from weatherization, which otherwise would be excluded due to underlying defects.
- Considering the budget, the program might only afford to assist a fraction of the total target population each year, suggesting the impact will be concentrated among the most eligible and urgent cases.
Simulated Interviews
Retired (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
Age: 68 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could really help with my energy bills, especially during the winter.
- It would be nice to have proper insulation so I don't have to choose between heating and other essentials.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 2 |
Factory Worker (Detroit, Michigan)
Age: 42 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Weatherization could mean saving quite a bit on electricity.
- If my house isn't eligible because it needs repairs first, any support to fix those issues would be great.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Hospital Nurse (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We're on a tight budget, and our utility bills are a nightmare.
- The house needs weatherization, but there are so many other issues that need fixing first.
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 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Unemployed due to disability (Little Rock, Arkansas)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This support could really ease my financial burden.
- I'd appreciate it if the fund can help fix the issues that stop me from getting my home weatherized.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 2 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Freelance Graphic Designer (San Diego, California)
Age: 35 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- My current residence doesn't qualify because it's relatively new and energy efficient.
- I think it's a good initiative for those who really need it, but it won't apply to me.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Cashier (Huntsville, Alabama)
Age: 47 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- We have a lot of repairs that prevent weatherization, so this fund could be our only option.
- Our landlord is not willing to fix the house, so we're stuck paying high bills.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Student (New York, New York)
Age: 23 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 0.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This doesn't apply to me directly since my energy bills are covered by my tuition.
- It's a beneficial program for low-income families though.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Part-time Teacher (Miami, Florida)
Age: 65 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope that any repairs needed for my house can be covered to help reduce energy costs.
- Retirement budgeting is difficult, so anything that helps stretch my income is worth it.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 3 |
Chef (Minneapolis, Minnesota)
Age: 52 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I worry a lot about winter heating costs.
- If the program can provide funds for repairs and efficiency improvements, that'd be a game-changer.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 2 |
Stay-at-home Parent (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our home really lacks proper insulation and the heating bills are high.
- Any help that allows us to manage these costs is welcome.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $800000000 (Low: $700000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 2: $800000000 (Low: $700000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 3: $820000000 (Low: $720000000, High: $1020000000)
Year 5: $850000000 (Low: $750000000, High: $1050000000)
Year 10: $900000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 100: $9000000000 (Low: $8000000000, High: $11000000000)
Key Considerations
- Substantial upfront federal investment is necessary to ensure program success and significant reach among eligible households.
- Coordination between federal, state, and local governments is crucial to avoid administrative bottlenecks.
- Monitoring and evaluation mechanisms must be put in place to measure efficiency and effectiveness of fund usage.