The Weatherization PLUS Newsletter

Top Story

Administration Budget Request for 2013 WAP is $139 Million

The details of the President’s Budget and the reasoning behind the figures were released Monday. DOE predicts $135.7 million allocated to grantees will produce about 20,000 homes. The WAP funding requested is the lowest level since the mid 1990’s. (See the funding history.) The last pre-ARRA year, 2008, had $227.2 million, which produced about 92,000. However, the overall budget for all EERE programs is increased more than $500 million compared to this year. The growth is in research in advanced vehicle technology, building science, and a new program for manufacturing process efficiency. In other words, the Administration is firm about emphasizing science that will change the future of energy consumption and de-emphasizing what it calls "deployment", getting the well-established science into homes and businesses.

For more details on the goals and metrics related to DOE  efficiency, extensive descriptions are available here. (Or see the whole Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy sector justification HERE.)

2012 Allocations of Regular Funds Announced and Explained

Last week, DOE announced the distribution of the $65 million appropriated for state grants in PY 2012. Twenty-five of the 58 states/territories have no allocation because of the one-time formula DOE used to take extended ARRA and regular carry-over into account. The formula explanation, the program notice, and the state form letters are posted HERE.

Our Analysis: The formula calculates the percent of funding that would bring a state to (or close to) a level comparable to funding levels prior to the Recovery Act, with consideration of carry-over funding available to States and the funding level provided through FY2012 appropriations. Factors are generally, but not exactly, like those in DOE’s memos from January. There is a greater penalty for carryover of regular funds than for extended ARRA. This mirrors the Congressional concern that precipitated the deep cut. It also penalizes those who followed DOE’s order to “spend ARRA first” but did not also spend out "regular" funds.

There is neither an appeal process nor any reserved pool of funds to settle appeals. However, not all Members of Congress accept this as final. A Senate hearing where Secretary Chu testifies on Feb 16 may see some sharp exchanges. Watch the webcast live or archived.

Major opportunity for funding a leveraging staff and activities

Every state must revise its FY 2011 plan and 29 grantees must also write a 2012 plan. If the network does not have staff dedicated to building new partnerships and advocating for utility contributions to WAP, this is your opportunity to get a budget from the re-worked state plan. See our webinar on how and why.

Home Performance and Job Connections

Slowly but surely, the Workforce Guidelines for Home Energy Upgrades are evolving toward a final system that will offer a competitive advantage to Weatherization workers. Others who have attended quality training programs and demonstrated skilled workmanship will also benefit. WAP-affiliated training centers are already versed in much of the curriculum that will be the benchmark of quality training.

Analysts believe homeowners hesitate to invest in retrofits for lack of worker quality assurance. The creation of a credentialed workforce should take down that barrier [and open more wallets] so that demand grows and employment expands. Today, the home performance industry has no certificate or licensure that is universally recognized. Journeymen in the electrical trades, for instance, have a portable credential allowing them to work in different parts of the country and be recognized for their skill levels.

Using the Workforce Guidelines, each level of successful skill achievement is credentialed and provides a “stackable” advance in a career as laid out in the Job Task Analyses (JTA’s). The public has a “Good Housekeeping” seal of approval for contractors to rely on.

The Building Performance Institute (BPI) was selected by DOE to provide certification of the four worker classifications derived from the JTA’s. Training center accreditation will be established by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREQ). Only IREQ-accredited training centers will confer certifications based on the Workforce Guidelines JTA’s. In theory, workers will be drawn to these accredited centers for the value of their certificates.

[See the sidebar piece about Green Jobs Connection, a partnership with BPI, NCAF, and NASCSP.]

In This Issue:

» 2013 Budget Request
» 2012 Allocations Explained
» NCAF Enterprise Webinar
» Fee-for-Service Survey
» Green Jobs Connection

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Our Project Staff:

Meg Power
Project Manager

Fred Stratton
Project Coordinator

Eli Nesson
Information Manager

Christina Palazzolo
Project Intern

Disclaimer: "This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof."

The Weatherization PLUS Newsletter

Top Story

EOS Awarded New W.A.P. ARRA Grant for Leveraging and Performance Assistance

We’re Seeking New Team Members to Contribute to This Three-Year Project!

We at EOS are happy to announce that we have been awarded a grant from the Department of Energy to deliver the Recovery Act Weatherization Leveraged Partnerships and Performance Assistance Project. The funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) resources will allow EOS to deliver two related projects providing services to the nationwide Weatherization network.

Through the first component – The Weatherization Leveraged Partnerships Project – we will provide the network with training and resources for forming partnerships that tap (or “leverage”) funding from non-federal sources to coordinate with federal funds. This work will expand our decade-long record of building the field of leveraging W.A.P. with non-federal partnerships. Our past work is collected at the Leveraging Resources site at weatherizationplus.org. The second component will be The Local Weatherization ARRA Performance Assistance Project; our team will assist local agencies in finding expertise to support their rapid ARRA-funded expansion of services; we will help share the stories of struggle and success across the W.A.P. network.

EOS is recruiting two full-time staff professionals and a summer intern (please see and share the job descriptions). The Project will also work closely with many state Weatherization Associations by funding specific research and communications activities related to its goals.

See our job openings (and please spread the word!)
Read our full announcement

DOE Announces $29 Million in Recovery Act Awards for Weatherization Training Centers

The Department of Energy announced on June 4 that 34 projects in 27 states have been awarded $29 million in ARRA-funded grants to develop and expand weatherization training centers. This funding will more than triple the number of DOE-funded weatherization training centers nationally, as 26 new centers, many in established W.A.P. organizations, will be established in addition to eight existing centers that will be expanded.

DOE announced: "Using innovative approaches to weatherization training and standardized training curricula, these projects will help prepare weatherization workers, supervisors, and inspectors to maintain a high degree of quality in weatherization projects."

Read the full DOE announcement

In This Issue:

» EOS Awarded ARRA Grant to Help
» Opportunity: SERC Grants for Local W.A.P. Innovation
» DOE: New Funding for Training Centers

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Our Project Staff:
Meg Power – Project Manager
Eli Nesson – Information Manager

Disclaimer: "This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof."

The Weatherization PLUS Newsletter

News

ARRA Weatherization Delivered on the Promise of Jobs (Again). What’s next for the Workforce?

Once again, W.A.P. reported the seventh-largest number of jobs among all ARRA-funded programs; 14,451 FTE jobs were filled in the 2nd quarter of 2011. This probably means more than 20,000 individuals were at work. W.A.P. created more jobs than any other Department of Energy program. However, there had been a few hundred more W.A.P. jobs in the 1st quarter.

Ups and Downs: Many big grantees were still growing. New York added 229 FTEs, Texas added 193 followed by Puerto Rico with 153, and California and Massachusetts with over 90 apiece.

Yet, the end of the ARRA period is very close for other states. Minnesota lost 502 WAP jobs followed by Ohio (231), Illinois (195), Maine (170), and Wisconsin (103). Smaller programs like Idaho, Nevada and Hawaii programs are shedding workers but their W.A.P. workforce is small. Several of these states still have carry-over from 2010 regular funding or leveraged resources; those jobs will not be counted.

Why isn’t the public aware of our success/asking for more Weatherization program resources and jobs? As ARRA funding winds down, few states have a robust homebuilding industry market to employ W.A.P.’s skilled workers. Publicizing the layoffs and closeout with on-camera ceremonies to thank the workers, recommend them and their new skills to the industry and public might help end cynicism about ARRA and get them new work. Letting workers and contractors tell about working for W.A.P. -even better.

Send your ideas about public messaging and creating new job openings and we will publish them in a new online resource section. For ideas about generating new private demand for efficiency services see our Fee-for-Service issue paper. For how-to’s on attracting more utility funding consider the resources from our Utility Partnerships page, and let us know what else would help you.

Federal Financing for Affordable Multifamily Housing Green Retrofits

Many Weatherizers have a new interest in multifamily Weatherization. A variety of federal financial options and loan programs are currently available to not-for-profits, whether your organization is providing weatherization services for green retrofits, constructing new affordable housing, exploring rural renewable energy development, and/or owns affordable multifamily properties. Two EOS papers list some of the resources, familiar and new.

One is an overview of federal funding financing from USDA, HUD and Fannie Mae; the other is a more detailed review of Fannie Mae’s "Green Refinance Plus" initiative.

‘Fess Up! Which One of You Readers Completed ARRA Home #500,000?

Sometime in the past month, some local Weatherization agency inspected and passed a home that was made the ARRA production total one half million homes. Consider the data:

• DOE reports show 484,442 home completed by June 30. (Which is about 110% of the planned target for 6/30)
• Production was running between 24,900 and 27,000 from April through June. Sometime in July, the additional 15,558 homes needed to reach 500,000 were signed off and reported to DOE. Was it your agency’s?

Production is under budget and, at the current pace, many more homes will be weatherized than the 601,000 promised – will yours be the 602,000th? Ideas about claiming the credit due are always welcome. Meanwhile, keep on weatherizing those homes every second of the working day! And congratulations!

Opportunities

Interested in learning more about Sustainable Communities and how your Agency might participate?

If so, check out this webinar TODAY or download it afterwards.

What: Sustainable Communities Grant Program: Making Equity in Housing, Transportation, and Jobs the Heart of Your Region’s Application – Join PolicyLink, HUD, and leading regional planners to discuss best equity practices to drive planning and investments in housing, energy, health, environment, and infrastructure needs.

When: Wednesday August 17, 2:00-3:00 pm EDT

Webinar Registration

Clean Energy Technologies for Communities Webinar

What: A series of Smart Planning Webinars are being sponsored by the Foundation for Future. Presented by: Smart Planning for a Green Future

Brief: Energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies offer communities a host of benefits. Gain a close-up look at the technology options, including those available now or near term and others to plan for in the future.

When: August 18, 2011 2:00 – 4:00 PM EDT

Webinar Registration

In This Issue:

» ARRA-WAP Delivers Again
» Federal Financing for Affordable Multifamily Green Retrofits
» 500,000th ARRA Home
» Webinars: Sustainable Communities Grant Program and Clean Energy Technologies for Communities

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Our Project Staff:

Meg Power
Project Manager

Fred Stratton
Project Coordinator

Nathan Warren
Project Coordinator

Eli Nesson
Information Manager

Christina Palazzolo
Project Intern

Disclaimer: "This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof."

The Weatherization PLUS Newsletter

New EOS Resource

Promising Practices in Multifamily Weatherization

EOS has been looking for and analyzing programs that are having success in greatly expanding their Multifamily W.A.P. work. Our new paper summarizes promising practices in managing multifamily weatherization through creative partnerships and innovative management practices at two agencies that have succeeded in dramatic expansions. We are working on presenting more examples, and these will be added to the "Promising Practices" collection as they are completed. These multifamily practices offer solutions to the challenges to weatherizing multifamily homes: identifying candidate buildings, engaging owners, closing the deal, fast-tracking permits, ramping up human and technical resources, and handling contract issues.

Read the summary of solutions for multifamily weatherization here: Managing Multifamily Weatherization: Good Practices

Read the individual agencies’ case studies here:
Community and Economic Development Agency (CEDA) of Cook County, IL
Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD)

News

Weatherization Funding for FY 2012: Congressional Debate Begins

On either Monday afternoon 7/11 or the next day, the House of Representatives will begin debate on the FY 2012 Energy and Water Bill that contains DOE funding, including Weatherization. It provides $33 million for W.A.P. and permits the Secretary of DOE to allocate all funds to states that used up their ARRA and regular funds loosely based on the formula. By contrast, the President asked for $230 million for the regular program and more for "Innovation Grants"; this year’s regular funding is about $174 million. At least one amendment to restore funding has been filed. Public policy aficionados/as may enjoy keeping an eye on C-Span live streamed video of the House in their non-work time; (short, five-minute) speeches about the merits of clean energy and efficiency will be flying fast and, maybe, furiously. Army Corps of Engineer project funding is included in the same Bill.

Department of Energy Policies May, Together, Make Big Changes

As previously announced, DOE issued guidance (WPN 11-6 and WPN 11-6a) on how states should take a more unified approach to health and safety (H&S) measures. WPN 11-6 noted that H&S issues were "being inconsistently addressed across the weatherization network," and that there are two fundamental questions that should be answered in all state H&S plans:

1. What must we do, within reasonable costs, to get the home to a point where we can go forward with weatherizing, where the weatherization work will be lasting and effective?
2. What must we do to ensure that the weatherization work we conducted does not create a health or safety problem for the occupant?

The clear change in policy is a new cost allocation basis that should expand flexibility in applying H&S remedies. Previously, H&S expenditure limits were expressed as a percentage of the average cost per unit. In PY 2011 and beyond, this percentage will be a share of the program overall budget, thereby removing per-dwelling cap. Of course H&S measures can only be considered where energy efficiency measures are implemented.

Grantees are encouraged to create a separate H&S budget associated with a comprehensive list of measures. A Guidance Table to assist states was too late for most planning. Recognizing the difficulty, DOE is allowing states to implement the new H&S plans, but requiring that the written plan be submitted starting in PY 2012.

Still to come:

• A final, universal monitoring checklist for federal monitoring of states
• A completely new proposed regulation for public review and comment
• The launch of the federally-contracted home inspectors – their work begins in a test state in a matter of weeks.

New EOS Resources

The EOS Financing Tools Series

Do you want to learn more about the concepts DOE leaders are discussing as leveraged financing options for post-ARRA Weatherization? As more multifamily building owners become partners with their local weatherizers, it is possible that financing tools that work for building and renovating affordable housing projects can be adapted to the scale of W.A.P. projects. DOE is considering allowing agencies to use W.A.P. funds for a local revolving loan fund. EOS is collecting and "translating" some of these concepts for the Weatherization community to use in planning for the future.

Check out our new Financing Tools Series, starting with the Glossary of Energy Efficiency Financing Tools and following its links to longer explanations of tools including: Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Bonds, "Subordinated" Capital, Revolving Loan Funds, and Loan Loss Reserve Funds.

Heard a different unfamiliar financial term circulating in your W.A.P. networks? Send us an email, and get an explanation. (If we don’t know it, we’ll learn!)

News

FHA + Fannie Mae: A New ‘Green’ Multifamily Loan Initiative

With a goal in mind of adding greener investments to conventional mortgage financing and supporting green building retrofits, a joint FHA + Fannie Mae program, Green Refinance Plus, was announced by HUD this past month. Specifically, owners of affordable multifamily rental properties that are at least 10 years-old – who are looking to refinance and extend the usable life of their properties – should be taking a close look at the program. Green Refinance Plus is intended to facilitate the refinancing process for LIHTC properties and other affordable projects. As a part of the underwriting, Fannie Mae will adopt a Green Physical Needs Assessment (Green PNA) for these loans. For more details, see our website posted document on Green Refinance Plus.

Healthy Homes Conference Recap

As part of our mission to find new resources and partners to expand W.A.P., EOS Leveraging Project Coordinator, Nathan Warren attended the 2011 National Healthy Homes Conference in Denver, CO. While he is sad to report no massive and untapped funding source was revealed, there is no question that the connection between investments in healthy indoor environments and investments in energy efficiency are being examined in depth by many experts with different skills and concerns.

In a session titled, "Lessons Learned from Integrating Healthy Homes into Energy Conservation Programs", Jill Breysee from the National Center for Healthy Housing (NCHH) stated that, "It is just plain difficult to coordinate Wx work with remediation work… when you are dealing with kids who have chronic asthma." Ms. Breysee was adamant that teamwork and flexibility in programs (and staff) are critical. Presently, NCHH is in the middle of a study researching the impact of home energy work on residential health highlighting this topic. In another session, "Affordable Can Be Healthy Too", Jane Massey from the Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity stressed that community outreach and partnerships are a must; healthy homes = healthy neighborhoods and communities. It was apparent in attended sessions that developing strategies and partnerships to better integrate environmental health mitigation practices into Wx and home repair programs is still a rarely resolved challenge.

For a successful model on a modest scale, see the presentation by The Opportunity Council. The work of NASCSP’s collaborative healthy homes project, Weatherization Plus Health: A National Effort for Local Healthy Homes, is clearly going to be groundbreaking when it culminates with resources delivering info on healthy homes infrastructure, T&TA, and best practices for referral systems between healthy homes and Wx services to better coordinate partnerships and leverage resources.

Lstiburek Talks Risks of Energy Efficiency

Controversial Dr. Joseph Lstiburek sparked an audience at the National Building Museum as a part of a DOE sponsored event "Building in the 21st Century: The Risks Associated with Energy Conservation and Home Weatherization".

Lstiburek highlighted four priorities that should be addressed for whole house retrofits: 1) combustion safety, 2) indoor contaminants, 3) comfort, and 4) energy. Lstiburek stressed that these should be addressed by adopting a plan that: brings combustion appliances up to code, controls pressure in the house, incorporates controlled ventilation, eliminates significant holes in the envelope, and installs proper insulation. A take-away from the presentation, when performing whole-house analysis and post-WAP testing: energy auditors and agencies performing Wx services should keep these easy, yet paramount, fixes in mind when providing services to clients. Science (blower-door and computer generated simulations) should not be used to oversell services when common sense solutions are available.

Dr. Lstiburek is a principal of Building Science Corporation and an ASHRAE Fellow. He has over 25 years of experience in design, construction, and building science research.

Welcome Our New Weatherization Intern

The newest member of the EOS team is Christina Palazzolo, our Weatherization Partnership Project Summer Intern. She will be working on updating all our information bout 2010-2012 utility low-income weatherization programs. Christina hails from the land of cheese and beer, otherwise known as the great state of Wisconsin. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 2007 with a B.A. in History and Political Science, she joined AmeriCorps–St. Louis. During this time she served as a literacy tutor for first graders in St. Louis, Missouri. In May 2010, she graduated from Indiana University with an MPA with concentrations in Policy Analysis and Sustainable Development. In June of 2011, she moved to D.C. for an internship with EOS. So far, she has enjoyed her time in D.C. (minus the humidity). Go Badgers!

In This Issue:

» Multifamily Promising Practices
» FY 2012 Congressional Debate
» Health & Safety
» Financing Tools Series
» Green Refinance Plus
» Healthy Homes Conf.
» Wx Risks

OSHA Green Job Hazards DOL’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration’s website has a page about avoiding hazards of Green Jobs, including Weatherization.

Follow us on Twitter
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Our Project Staff:

Meg Power
Project Manager

Fred Stratton
Project Coordinator

Nathan Warren
Project Coordinator

Eli Nesson
Information Manager

Christina Palazzolo
Project Intern

Disclaimer: "This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof."

The Weatherization PLUS Newsletter

Top Story

Must-Watch for Weatherizers: Obama Administration Thanks YOU!

DOE Assistant Secretary Cathy Zoi has posted an online video on the White House blog praising the Weatherization network for our successful ramp-up of  ARRA W.A.P. We urge all of you who receive this newsletter to be sure all of your W.A.P. colleagues – staff and contractors – pause for a short moment and see this well-deserved, high-level praise. Congratulations on earning this recognition!

To see Assistant Secretary Zoi’s video and blog click here.

Check out the Department of Energy’s new Twitter and Facebook accounts, as well as their new blog!

News

First of Many Congressional Decisions about FY 2011 W.A.P. Funding Boosts the Program Base

On July 15, the House Appropriations Energy and Water Subcommittee reported its Bill containing PY 2011 funding for W.A.P. and other DOE efficiency programs to the full Appropriations Committee. It contains more funding for the "regular" program than was appropriated this year and more than the President requested in his Budget.

Current FY 2010 funding is $210 million (of which $180 million was allocated by formula to the regular state-local program). The Administration’s FY 2011 request was $300 million. The House Energy and Water FY 2011 Appropriations Bill contains $340 million for W.A.P., a $130 million increase–or a 62% increase. Another Subcommittee reported the Labor-HHS-Education FY 2011 Bill, and LIHEAP is in it at $5.1 billion, the same as the current year. Many Weatherizers can expect similar levels of LIHEAP-WAP funding as at present.

The W.A.P. figure is unlikely to be the final number. In fact, we may be close to the April 1, 2011 PY start date before the Appropriations process concludes. Hill-watchers expect the two parties and the two chambers will be unable to agree on spending levels, so that the government will operate under short-term (until either November or February 2011) "Continuing Resolution" until a new Congress sets final numbers. As any newspaper reader knows, many Members of Congress and candidates are determined to cut spending on domestic "discretionary" programs like W.A.P. Almost two dozen states have spent nearly all their "regular" 2009 W.A.P. funds.

In This Issue:

» Administration Thanks W.A.P.
» Congressional Decision on FY 2011 W.A.P. – First of Many
» Opportunity: GM Vehicle Discount

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Our Project Staff:
Meg Power – Project Manager
Eli Nesson – Information Manager
Lini Fu – W.A.P. Policy Intern
Jacob Knight – W.A.P. Policy Intern

Disclaimer: "This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof."