The Weatherization
Assistance Program (WAP) serves eligible
households in Cheshire and Sullivan counties and
is designed to help reduce heating and other
energy costs for income-eligible households,
thereby providing warmer and safer homes for
these families.
Eligibility Requirements
To apply for the Weatherization Assistance
Program, a family must first be eligible for the
Fuel Assistance Program. At that point,
eligibility is determined by gross household
income and vulnerability to heating costs.
Priority is given to the elderly, to the
handicapped, and to households with small
childern.
Income Guidelines 2009-2010
Family Size
Income Limit Monthly
Income Limit Annual
1
$1,780
$21,660
2
$2,395
$29,140
3
$3,010
$36,620
4
$3,625
$44,100
5
$4,240
$51,580
6
$4,854
$59,060
7
$5,469
$66,540
8
$6,084
$74,020
9
$6,699
$81,500
10
$7,313
$88,980
What to Expect
Once a family becomes involved in the program, an Energy
Home Assessment is performed by a New Hampshire
Weatherization Assistance Program (NH WAP) certified
energy auditor ( please note: if you are a renter, SCS
must first have landlord approval). The results of the
assessment will determine what energy improvements and
what health and safety measures are needed. Such
measures may include attic, wall, and floor insulation;
air sealing materials to stop air infiltration, such as
caulking, weather-stripping, door sweeps, and glass
replacement; installation of appropriate ventilation;
tuning and cleaning heating systems and appliances; and
lighting and hot water improvements. (Assistance for a
furnace replacement is based on the availability of
funds.)
The energy auditor will then write up a job performance
work order and assign the work to a trained
sub-contractor. (Please note that job priority is
dependent upon several factors and that these factors
will have an impact upon the time frames for which
various jobs are scheduled and completed.) After each
job is completed, it is inspected and is tested once
again by the energy auditor for final results.
Throughout this process, the energy auditor works
closely with the family, discussing what work will be
done on the home, what results hope to be achieved, and
how they can continue saving energy by including energy
conservation actions in their lifestyles.
Other Information
The Weatherization Assistance Program operates on
federal grants from the US Department of Energy (DOE)
and the US Department of Health and Human Services Low
Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The Weatherization Assistance Program aims for three
goals:
To reduce a family’s energy cost by 19-22%
To improve a family’s living conditions
To provide the family a warmer, safer, and more
comfortable home
At the present time, there is a waiting list of 1500
households in Cheshire and Sullivan counties. On the
average, the Weatherization Assistance Program is able
to complete about 75 to 100 homes per year.
