Summer the right time to seek weatherization

Homeowners may think of weatherization as a fall project that preps a house for winter. 

But weatherization also helps households save energy in the summer months by keeping cooler air inside the house and increasing the efficiency of air conditioning.

The Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) offered through Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP) provides no-cost weatherization assistance for eligible residents of Erie, Huron, Lorain, Ottawa, Sandusky, Seneca, and Wood counties. While residents must be income-eligible, the program can assist households at or below 200 percent federal poverty guidelines. A household of four could make more than $60,000 annually and still qualify for HWAP.

HWAP provides wall and attic insulation, energy-efficient furnaces and water heaters, wrapped ductwork, and other measures to reduce home energy loss and utility usage. 

“A lot of homes in our area still have insufficient insulation, or no insulation whatsoever,” GLCAP Housing & Energy Director Terry Jacobs said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re running an air conditioner or a heater—without proper insulation, your home will not be as efficient as it could be if it were weatherized.” 

That said, summer is an ideal time to start a weatherization project before winter.

“We do tend to see more calls when the weather starts turning cold again,” Jacobs said. “Enrolling in HWAP now can help residents avoid our busier season, and once we are able to weatherize the home, the benefits can be felt right away.”

For more information on GLCAP’s HWAP program, visit www.glcap.org/weatherization, or call 1-800-775-9767.