Collins, Reed Lead Effort to Help More American Households Save Energy and Money

The Senators spearheaded the effort to include $3.5 billion for WAP in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law

Washington, DC – In an effort to make more homes energy efficient and help residents save on their utility bills, U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) introduced the Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act.  This bipartisan bill seeks to improve public health and lower household energy costs by bolstering the federal Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), which covers home weatherization, window replacement, sealing air leaks, ventilation improvements, and other key energy-saving measures. 

“The Weatherization Assistance Program is a proven, cost-effective way to permanently reduce energy usage and cut low-income Americans’ energy bills for the long-term,” said Senator Collins.  “Energy efficiency projects also protect the environment, increase energy independence, and create jobs.  Our commonsense bill will help build on the significant investments we have secured for the Weatherization Assistance Program so that more Americans will be able to make improvements that will allow them to affordably heat their homes.”

“This bipartisan, cost-effective bill is about saving families and taxpayers money, cutting air pollution, and generating good-paying clean-energy jobs.  Our proposal would save families in need real money on their energy bills while also benefitting the U.S. economy, environment, and public health.  It would help reduce demand on energy grids nationwide which helps keep utility rates lower.  By expanding the program to include critical home repairs, we can alleviate economic hardship, address healthy housing disparities, and improve energy efficiency for those households who need it most,” said Senator Reed.

The Weatherization Assistance Program Improvements Act would serve more low-income households that are currently unable to receive weatherization services because their homes are in need of significant repairs.  The bill would authorize a Weatherization Readiness Fund, providing $65 million a year for five years to help those in need repair structural issues and prepare homes for weatherization assistance, increasing the number of homes the program is able to serve.  It also seeks to raise the amount of funding allowed to be spent on each home to keep up with current labor and material costs, and will raise the cap on the amount of funding allowed to be spent on renewable energy upgrades in each home.  These provisions are essential updates to a program that has helped so many families over the past few decades.

For every dollar invested by WAP, $4.50 is generated in combined energy savings and non-energy benefits such as job creation, according to the U.S Department of Energy.  In addition to saving families money, energy efficient homes also help cut down on our carbon footprint, reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. 

Since 1976, the Weatherization Assistance Program has helped more than seven million low-income families reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient.  The U.S Department of Energy estimates that these upgrades help each household save $283 in energy bills annually. 

Weatherization is key to lowering the energy burden among low-income households, which spend an average of nearly 14 percent of their annual income on energy costs, compared to 3 percent for higher income households.  This burden often compels families with limited financial resources to cut back on essentials like medicine, groceries, and child care.

The Weatherization Assistance Program also helps boost our economy.  The program supports over 8,500 jobs for energy experts and contractors, while increasing our national economic output by $1.2 billion.

###