Arkansas Weatherization Program

                                                                     The Weatherization Assistant Program was created under Title IV of the Energy Conservation and Production Act of 1976. During a period of staggering increases in energy prices following the 1973 oil crisis, the program was designed to save imported oil and cut heating bills for low and moderate income households, including senior citizens living on fixed incomes and Social Security, who were especially hard hit by rising energy bills. 

In Arkansas, it’s administered by the Department of Human Services’ Office of Community Services (OCS) and operated primarily by the private, nonprofit community action agencies. The agencies do the work themselves, or hire contractors to do it, and OCS’s weatherization staff monitors the work.

The mission of the program is to reduce the monthly energy burden on low-income households by improving the energy efficiency of the home. We are pleased to offer a variety of energy saving services to meet the needs of our clients.

What it does: Weatherization services are cost effective energy efficiency measures for existing residential and multifamily housing with low to moderate income residents. Under this definition, it includes a wide variety of energy efficiency measures that encompass the building envelope, its heating and cooling systems, it electrical system, and electricity consuming appliances.

It does computerized energy audits and uses advanced diagnostic technology to determine the energy-conservation needs of a house, providing, among other improvements, weather stripping of doors and window; caulking and sealing of cracks and holes; insulating of attics, walls and floors; installing of storm windows, energy saving light bulbs, and smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; repairing and retrofitting of furnaces, and replacing of energy wasting refrigerators and electric water heaters.

Who it is for:  The work is done free for those whose annual incomes meet the eligibility guidelines-now, those with incomes of up to 200 percent of the federal government definition of poverty are eligible, which means an individual with an income up to $21,600; a family of two with an income of $29,140; a family of three with an income of $36,620; and a family of four with an income $44,100 are eligible ($7,480 should be added for each additional person).

Applications are accepted via website, agency or local venues.  If accepted you will be notified by mail and later contacted by weatherization staff who will then set up a visit for your home energy audit. The energy auditor along with the client education specialist comes out to perform a audit of your home. The audit is used to determine cost effective measures and the best approach.  Afterwards a letter is sent of the results and a work order is then set in place.  Every home must be inspected before any work can be done. 

It’s a fact: weatherization works! 

For more information click here!