(Revised 10/1/16 ML #3478)
Comprehensive Energy Conservation Program
The Comprehensive Energy Conservation Program will be conducted by Community Action Agencies' Weatherization Coordinators. The Program will provide households with the following services regardless of previous weatherization activities:
- An initial contact by the Weatherization Coordinator to explain program services and to motivate participation.
- A home energy conservation assessment to include evaluation of current energy consumption, home energy audit, life style effects on consumption, knowledge of conservation, etc.
- Development of an individual Conservation Action Plan based upon the results of the assessment.
- Group and individual education regarding energy conservation, life style changes to reduce consumption, and weatherization techniques.
- Specific services, as needed, will be provided by the Comprehensive Energy Conservation Program or, if the applicant prefers, arranged to be provided by a qualified private business of the applicant's choice. Such services may include:
- Chimney (up to $150/heating season) and/or furnace cleaning and tuning (up to $175/heating season or up to $250/heating season for fuel oil furnace);
- Minor furnace repair or replacement of inefficient and/or inoperable heating systems**;
- Minor home repair, insulation, and/or the complete range of Department of Energy (DOE)/LIHEAP Weatherization Assistance.**
** Note that if the services in b) and c) are needed, the Comprehensive Energy Conservation Program becomes the "vendor" providing a service the same as any other "vendor" would provide a service to a LIHEAP client. Therefore, the process of approving payment of such services when recommended by the Program requires that the applicant be found eligible for Emergency Assistance and the dollar maximums a county may approve without State Office clearance are also the same. If these dollar maximums are not sufficient to resolve the emergency, the county may recommend a higher level of assistance to the State Office, but the State Office must approve the expenditure.
However, if the needed services can be provided with funds from the DOE Weatherization Program or with weatherization funds transferred to Community Action from LIHEAP, the county office would not need to process an emergency application. The staff of the Comprehensive Energy Conservation Program will know whether DOE/LIHEAP Weatherization funds are available or whether an Emergency Assistance application will need to be processed.
- Coordination with all other community energy resources and all Community Action Agency services and programs administered under the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.
- Follow up evaluation of energy savings achieved and/or assessment of additional conservation activities needed.
