Weatherization Assistance Program

Home Weatherization is a process aimed at reducing energy costs, improving energy efficiency, and ensuring health and safety in the home. An energy audit will be conducted to diagnose the current shortcomings of the home’s performance and determine the measures necessary to improve energy efficiency. Weatherization takes a “whole house” approach that analyzes all the building systems- building envelope, mechanical systems, appliances, and lighting.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded grants to the NJ Department of Community Affairs (DCA) to be used for weatherization services for low-income residents. DCA then contracts local agencies to conduct audits and use the information collected to implement the necessary energy efficient measures.  St. Joseph’s Carpenter Society is currently contracted by DCA to administer weatherization services across Burlington County.

The Weatherization Assistance Program is currently serving New Jersey residents who make below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Residents must provide proof of income and energy consumption. Households who previously received weatherization services in the past 15 years are ineligible. Households who receive benefits from Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Aid to Families with Children are automatically eligible.

If a household qualifies under the income guidelines, weatherization services will be provided at no charge to the residents. Thanks to the DOE grants, the Weatherization Assistance Program is fully state funded.

Once you submit an application with all the required documentation, you will either be approved, denied, or deferred. Deferrals occur when there are non-weatherization issues in the home that will prevent the measures from being implemented. This does not make the house ineligible, but the outstanding issues must be addressed before weatherization can take place. If you are approved, we will reach out to schedule a home energy audit.

A home energy audit is a comprehensive assessment of a house’s performance. During an energy audit, the auditor performs visual inspections of the house as well as diagnostic tests to determine where improvements can be made. The auditor then documents all the results in an energy audit report which will show the current situation of the home, recommendations to improve comfort and reduce energy usage, and a financial breakdown of estimated costs and savings after the home is weatherized.

The data collected by the audit will determine which measures will be the most effective on a given home. Measures could be anything from something as simple as using caulk to seal areas of air infiltration, all the way to replacing the heating and cooling system in a home. The auditor will inform the resident of the measures recommended.