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Introduction to Weatherization Plus Health: A Local WAP Agency Perspective

Introduction to Weatherization Plus Health: A Local WAP Agency Perspective. Updated May 2013. Healthy Homes. “The connection between health and the dwelling of the population is one of the most important that exists.” Florence Nightingale 1800’s. Why Weatherization?.

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Introduction to Weatherization Plus Health: A Local WAP Agency Perspective

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  1. Introduction to Weatherization Plus Health:A Local WAP Agency Perspective Updated May 2013

  2. Healthy Homes “The connection between health and the dwelling of the population is one of the most important that exists.” Florence Nightingale 1800’s

  3. Why Weatherization? 2011 Home Energy Affordability Gap – North Carolina Data www.homeenergyaffordabilitygap.com # of Households Poverty Level Energy Burden 67,616 < 50% FPL 64.3% 40,214 50 – 74% 25.9% 48,068 75 – 99% 18.6% • North Carolina energy bills exceed affordability for households below 185% of the federal poverty level by an average of $1,650 per year (24th in the country). • The percentage of the energy affordability gap covered by Federal Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) is 20.2% (42nd highest in the country).

  4. Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP): House As A System Building Envelope House as a System Mechanical Systems Occupants

  5. US Department of Energy (DOE)WAP Local CAA Weatherization Programs currently utilize: • Trained and certified energy auditors • Trained and certified technicians • Sophisticated diagnostic testing protocols, such as: • Blower door testing for house air tightness • Ambient air carbon monoxide testing • Heating system combustion analysis • Gas leak detection • Trained energy (and health) educators • Certified post-work inspectors to certify quality assurance

  6. Health & Safety in DOE WAP • WAP Health & Safety (H&S) Measures are Often Effective: • Lead • Required to work lead safe • Asthma Triggers • Address source of moisture problems • Add/Repair Ventilation • Exclude pests during air sealing • Injury Prevention • Can address some electrical issues • Add smoke detectors • Carbon Monoxide (CO) • Usually can address health and safety issues related to heating systems • Add CO detectors

  7. Health & Safety in WAP DOE WAP cannot resolve all health and safety issues due to its mandate as an energy efficiency program. When there are unresolved health and safety issues: • The agency has to defer work until problems are resolved by client or other sources of funding are used to remediate • The agency tries but household does not get full advantage of WAP energy efficiency • Household does not receive WAP services or its health and safety problems resolved and health related issues can worsen

  8. Introducing Weatherization Plus Health The National Association for State Community Services Programs (NASCSP) is administering Weatherization Plus Health, a voluntary initiative, sponsored by the US Department of Energy (DOE), to enable the comprehensive, strategic coordination of resources for energy efficiency, health, and safety in low-income homes Outcome: enhanced collaboration among public agencies and private organizations, leading to safer and more energy efficient homes in communities, fewer weatherization deferrals, lower home energy costs, and healthier families

  9. Weatherization Plus Health Is… An opportunity for Community Action Agency WAP providers and community partners to access complementary funds and services A means to reduce WAP deferrals A holistic approach to better serve our clients An opportunity to position CAAs & WAP for participating in upcoming local community Affordable Care Act components

  10. Why? Why Weatherization Plus Health? • Better, enhanced services to recipients • Funding is tight  Programs must go above and beyond  WxPlusHealth enters the picture • WAP deferrals create burdensome administrative loads. WxPlusHealth can help • Puts creativity of WAP, Healthy Homes, and CAAs on full display, reinforcing their value in their local communities • With strategic coordination we can: • Develop strong working relationships with community partners for future projects • Increase skillsets of WAP & HH workforce • Increase the economic stability of clients

  11. Eight Principles of a Healthy Homeas defined by Federal Healthy Homes Working Group • Keep it dry • Keep it pest free • Keep it safe • Keep it maintained • Keep it clean • Keep it ventilated • Keep it contaminant free • Thermally controlled (Energy Efficient)* • *added Feb 2013 by HHWG

  12. www.WxPlusHealth.orgA Great Resource for Community Collaboration

  13. From Weatherization to Health: Scope & Assessment

  14. Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: Opportunity for community collaboration Funds for Projects & Programs • Hospital Community Benefits. Needs assessment, projects that meet local needs. • Prevention & Public Health Fund. Federal grants for projects that address upstream influences on health, including healthy and safe housing as part of community environments.

  15. NASCSP Contactsfor additional information Jenae Bjelland Director of Healthy Homes (202) 624-5850 bjelland@nascsp.org Raymond Thomas Project Manager (202) 624-5996 rthomas@nascsp.org Lisa Kesecker Wx Plus Health Consultant (304) 288-4982 lkesecker@nascsp.org Ryan Ward Research Analyst (202) 624-5994 rward@nascsp.org www.WxPlusHealth.org

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