Make your home more comfortable with the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
A well-insulated and sealed home is one of the best ways to make sure where you live is safe, healthy, and energy efficient. The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is an income-qualified program which administers free home energy upgrades to make homes more comfortable and energy efficient, lowering energy costs in the process.
Common weatherization projects include:
- Installing or replacing insulation,
- sealing air leaks,
- improving air ventilation,
- replacing or repairing inefficient, broken, and/or old appliances and equipment,
- improving indoor air quality,
- assessing the safety of appliances in the home
Implementing these weatherization projects can make your home more comfortable, protect your home from outside elements, and reduce your energy use. Homes built before 1980 are especially good candidates for weatherization, as these homes were built before modern building codes were widely implemented in Minnesota.
Applying and qualifying for Weatherization Assistance
Click here to apply
| Household Size | 1 Month Max | Annual Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $2,983 | $35,799 |
| 2 | $3,901 | $46,814 |
| 3 | $4,819 | $57,829 |
| 4 | $5,737 | $68,845 |
| 5 | $6,655 | $79,860 |
| 6 | $7,572 | $90,875 |
Minnesotans can apply for weatherization assistance through a combined application with the state Energy Assistance Program (which helps homeowners and renters pay for their energy bills). If you qualify for Energy Assistance, you will likely qualify for WAP. See income guidelines for Energy Assistance to the right, and apply here.
Households making 200 percent or less of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines are eligible for Weatherization Assistance. In addition to signing up for Energy Assistance, you could qualify for WAP based on other program parameters. Households that have received Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) within the last 12 months are also eligible. For more information on qualifying for Weatherization Assistance, click here.
Priority is given to households with elderly or disabled members, households with children under age 19, high energy burden, and households determined to be high energy consumers.
Similar to Energy Assistance, WAP is usually administered through a Community Action Provider (CAP) or Tribal nation. However, the organization that administers WAP may differ from the organization that processes Energy Assistance applications. Check out the map below to see which organization you’ll work with to access Weatherization Assistance, or contact the MN Dept. Of Commerce Energy Information Center at 1-800-657-3710 or energy.info@state.mn.us.
Wait times for assistance vary by agency. Contact your agency directly with questions.
What to expect
The process of upgrading your home via WAP will vary depending on the organization administering the program. Here’s what to expect:
- Contact Weatherization Assistance Organization: Once you qualify for Energy Assistance, you’ll need to proactively reach out to the organization administering Weatherization Assistance to move forward with the program. It’s rare that the organization will reach out to you directly to begin the process of weatherizing your home.
- On-site energy audit: Once you qualify for Weatherization Assistance, you’ll schedule an initial energy audit with organization staff. This site visit can last anywhere from two to five hours. You’ll need to be home during this audit to ensure your auditor has sufficient access to assess your home.
- Some homes may be deferred from receiving weatherization services due to conditions or situations when a dwelling unit containing an eligible household cannot or should not be immediately weatherized.
- Examples could include structural issues, mold, asbestos, knob and tube wiring, or other health and safety concerns. This does not mean that weatherization assistance will never be available, but that work must be postponed until the problems can be resolved or alternative resources are found. Some Weatherization funding is available to help with these pre-weatherization needs.
- Review your audit report: Your energy auditor will take the findings from your energy audit and based on diagnostic tests generate a report to identify all cost-effective weatherization measures. According to the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the average investment is about $8,250 per home.
- Completing the work: All work will be completed by licensed and warranted contractors or crews. The weatherization provider will coordinate between you and the contractor to schedule the recommended energy upgrades. As with most home projects, these can take some time to complete – often months.
- You will have final say on what projects you’d like completed in your home. However, WAP may only proceed with certain projects if they are conducted alongside others. For example, you may not be eligible for a home heating system upgrade if you do not perform insulation upgrades first.
- Final Inspection: Once the work has been completed, WAP staff will assess and inspect the work to make sure it is up to the standards and quality of the Weatherization Assistance Program.
Items provided under Weatherization Assistance
WAP offers a wide variety of energy-saving services, including but are not limited to:
- Energy audits
- Assessments for mold, asbestos/vermiculite, and other building shell safety concerns
- Insulation
- Air leakage reduction
- Furnace and water heater repair or replacement
- What repairs and replacements you are eligible for will be dependent both on the organization administering WAP and the types of systems you already have in your home.
- Possible solar installation
- Depending on your provider, the initial energy assessment of your home, and your home’s design, you may be eligible for small-scale installation of solar on your roof. Work with your provider directly to identify if this is a possibility.
Additionally, many of the WAP providers administer income-qualified utility energy conservation programs required by the Energy Conservation and Optimization Act (ECO). These utility sponsored programs can further complement and supplement weatherization program offerings.
Benefits of Weatherization
WAP is intended to support lower-income households in making important improvements, but weatherization has benefits for any home, such as:
- Reduced energy consumption and energy bills: The whole-home approach taken in an initial Weatherization energy audit looks to identify projects that will holistically reduce your home energy use. Weatherization projects can result in up to 30 percent lower energy bills due to reductions in home energy use.
- Increased home comfort: Better insulation and air sealing means your home will be more comfortable in the hotter and colder months. Conditioned air won’t be able to escape as easily, and the flow of conditioned air will better reach all areas of your home.
- Addressing health and safety concerns: Physical changes to the home due to weatherization have been shown to reduce or prevent asthma attacks, bronchitis, allergies, and COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease). Identifying unsafe or leaky gas appliances will also greatly increase your home health.
Renters and Weatherization
The Weatherization program is also available to renters, as long as the rental property owner gives permission for the audit and recommended improvements. The renter submits the application and income requirements are based on the renter’s income. If the renter property is also owner occupied, then the owner’s income would also be used to determine eligibility.