ABSTRACT
The need for energy savings has never been greater. One area where such savings can come is in the energy auditing and retrofitting of homes and other buildings. Much of the early effort of energy auditing and retrofitting was to help the poor. In 1991, the program began tracking the cost-effectiveness of the installed retrofit measures. In addition, measures to reduce energy use in the home were expanded to include heating and cooling systems. Furthermore, the program no longer had to rely on volunteer labor alone as it was now allowed to pay for the labor involved in retrofitting homes. The mission of the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) as established by the US Congress is to help reduce the energy costs of low-income families, especially for the elderly, children, and people with disabilities. Some states have found ways to leverage funds from other federal programs, sometimes even going through utility companies to further expand the reach of the WAP.
