OHC Weatherization Program creating more jobs and greener homes through stimulus plan

Ken Swartz is checking a vent's air temperature.

When the winter wind whistles in through leaky windows and doors; and when there's not enough insulation in the walls and attic spaces to keep your living area from feeling like a furnace on a summer day, it's just like throwing money out a gigantic opening in your home to the outside. But since the mid-1960s a northwest Arkansas community action agency based in Rogers has been doing something to help. And that's especially important in these economically challenging days.

The Office of Human Concern Weatherization Program has been assisting eligible residents in Benton, Washington, Madison and Carroll Counties in bringing their energy bills down from the stratosphere by filling the gaps around windows and doors, and insulating those spaces. "It's amazing how much air infiltration there is in many area homes," said OHC executive director Al West. "The energy audit we perform on every house we work on reveals how much leakage there can be in lots of little places, places you would not normally think of, such as around light switches and wall plugs. These are often not obvious because you can't see the gaps that allow hot, summer air in."

Through federal grant funds, geared especially to help qualified clients -- often the elderly and those with little extra disposable income -- make their homes not only more comfortable but also more energy conserving, thereby saving hard-to-come-by utility dollars.

"Typically, we send a team to a job to caulk and seal, apply weather stripping, maybe add storm windows, replace exterior doors, and/or add insulation," West says. "Previously we could only spend $3,000 on each project, including labor. And often we could work on only the most pressing and obvious needs." However, the national economic stimulus package recently signed into law by the president includes not only a jobs component but also adds to the national weatherization program, helping homes become even more green and energy efficient.

West says that the OHC has received additional money for the next two budget years to accomplish much more for eligible residents. "For example, the total of $3,000 per client has been increased to $6,500. This will allow us to do a more thorough job, weatherizing each home to a much higher degree - pardon the pun." That means that the OHC may be able to do more extensive work, like wall insulation, adding a roof or replacing a severely out of date and inefficient heating system, if called for.

Not only has the dollar amount of each job more than doubled, but the eligibility requirements have changed. "The income guidelines have revised to the point where we are able to provide services to working families, who we could not serve before," West said. "For example; a working family of four making a household income of up to $44,100 can now receive weatherization benefits, whereas before we couldn't assist them." And, the program is available not only to home owners but to renters as well, with certain guidelines.

West says, "We are trying not only to stress the economic benefits of saving money by taking advantage of this opportunity, but that fact that it is also serving two other purposes. One, it gives the resident a chance to 'go green' at no cost to themselves while making a contribution to the environment. And second, by taking advantage of this program is a way to help put local residents to work."

This work can only be done by local people, West points out. "It can't be outsourced. So, taking part in this free program allows the participant to not only feel good about being environmentally friendly, but also by helping stimulate the economic rebound. That's a win-win situation in my book," West added.

For information on eligibility for the Weatherization Program, contact the Office of Human Concern in Rogers at (479) 636-7301 and ask for the Weatherization office. Or go by their office at 506 E. Spruce. "This is an opportunity a lot of folks should not pass up; current funds are only available for a short period of time" West said.