Frequently asked questions
This FAQ contains information related to the national Weatherization Assistance Program evaluation being managed by Oak Ridge National Laboratory. For additional information, please contact the state and local agency outreach coordinators at weatherization@ecw.org.
The evaluation team will estimate energy savings impacts and cost-effectiveness for Program Years 2007 and 2008. Non-energy benefits will be estimated and a process evaluation will be conducted for PY 2008. Occupant and weatherization staff surveys will be conducted for PY 2009. The evaluation team will also conduct special technical studies related to heating and cooling, indoor air quality, and refrigerators in PY 2009 and PY 2010.
The evaluation began in spring 2010 with program information surveys for states. Surveys of local agencies are now underway, including a subset of 400 agencies selected for more detailed data collection. Special technical studies will be conducted throughout the evaluation. Other data collection efforts will extend through 2010 and 2011. Final reports are due in 2012.
Results of the evaluation will help to ensure consistent and viable levels of federal funding for states and local agencies by determining what energy savings, cost savings and non-energy benefits result from program activities.
While evaluation results will be aggregated to the national level, there is also an opportunity for states to piggyback on the national evaluation to conduct analyses that will furnish state-level and agency-level energy savings estimates.
States can contract directly with APPRISE via a sole-source contract. Since APPRISE is under contract to ORNL to conduct the national evaluation, the cost to states will be limited to the incremental cost of the requested state-level analysis. Funding estimates will be provided to each state depending on their needs and funding process. If you are interested in obtaining state-level data, please email David Carroll, APPRISE. All states will be asked to respond to a questionnaire that addresses weatherization funding, reporting requirements, program operations, training and verification activities conducted in the state.
All weatherization agencies will be asked to respond to a questionnaire that addresses selection processes, number of weatherized units, quality control processes, client education, crew training, funding sources and expenditures. A subset of approximately 400 agencies will be selected to participate in a more intensive data collection effort.
All questionnaires will be made available online and states and agencies will be encouraged to submit information using the online format. Additional options will be made available to make it as easy as possible for states and local agencies to submit the requested data.
The final reports are due in 2012; some interim reports may be available sooner. All reports will be posted on the ORNL website. States will be notified when final reports are available. The purpose of the evaluation is to verify the cost-effective performance of the program, highlight best practices in reaching program objectives, and identify ways in which program performance can be improved.
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