National Program Reaches Major Recovery Act Milestone: 600,000 Homes Weatherized Three Months ahead of Schedule

Staff-Updated

Washington, DC — U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that Colorado has weatherized nearly 12,300 homes under the Recovery Act as of  the end of October of this year.

The state is one of the country’s weatherization leaders and has now weatherized more than 100 percent of their total targeted homes – performing energy efficient upgrades such as insulation, air-sealing, and more efficient heating and cooling systems.

DOE also announced that states and territories across the nation have reached the goal of weatherizing more than 600,000 low-income homes– including more than 125,000 multi-family homes like apartment buildings – more than three months ahead of schedule. The Department reached this major milestone as part of its efforts to save energy and reduce home utility bills for families, while creating jobs in communities throughout the country. 

“Today the Department of Energy marks a major milestone: we have weatherized more than 600,000 low-income homes and put thousands of people to work through the Recovery Act,” said Secretary Chu.

“In Colorado and across America, DOE’s successful Weatherization Assistance Program has increased the demand for energy-saving products and services, created thousands of skilled jobs, and helped families to reduce energy waste and save money.”

Under the Recovery Act, Colorado was allocated $80 million for the weatherization program. It has now weatherized nearly12,300 homes since the start of the Recovery Act. On average, the program reduces energy consumption for low-income families by up to 35 percent, saving them more than $400 on their heating and cooling bills in the first year alone.  Nationwide, the weatherization of 600,000 homes is estimated to save more than $320 million in energy costs in just the first year.

Through the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, states and territories supported by the Department’s Weatherization Assistance Program set the aggressive goal to reduce energy waste in approximately 600,000 low-income homes. The program is helping families save money on their energy bills and creating thousands of jobs locally – putting carpenters, electricians, and others back to work. While the original target date for completing 600,000 weatherization upgrades was the end of March, 2012, the Department announced today that it had met that objective more than three months ahead of schedule.