Incorporating Energy Star® Products into Low Income Weatherization Programs

Barbara Smith and Jim Mapp, Wisconsin Division of Energy

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Abstract

Wisconsin’s low-income weatherization program serves over 8,000 households per year, achieving significant energy savings. This achievement shows the potential to move existing homes toward the Zero Energy ideal in a cost effective manner without the need to start new programs. Wisconsin’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is continually searching for simple, robust standards to define appropriate energy conservation measures. The federal Energy Star® program has proven to be an effective tool for this purpose. Wisconsin’s program has established a requirement for Energy Star® for many equipment types, including furnaces, refrigerators, freezers, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), air conditioners, and ventilation fans. The program also requires Energy Star® for equipment installed primarily for health and safety reasons rather than energy savings, such as dehumidifiers, and windows. Weatherization agencies use formal competitive bidding to drive down costs of this equipment. Discussion will cover experiences with procurement and other issues with obtaining Energy Star® products. This paper will present data from Wisconsin’s weatherization program, illustrating how the program achieved cost-effective energy savings even while specifying premium efficiency products. The program has also helped to build a stronger market for Energy Star® products. Wisconsin’s weatherization program is an example of how to incorporate Energy Star® into ongoing housing or energy programs, especially those that focus on existing housing stock.