Frequently asked questions
This FAQ contains information related to the ARRA-period evaluation of the Weatherization Assistance Program. This research is being conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy. For additional information, please contact the case manager for your state.
The evaluation team will estimate energy savings impacts, cost-effectiveness, and non-energy benefits produced by the Weatherization Assistance Program during Program Year 2010. These ARRA-period results will be compared with results from the retrospective WAP evaluation, which focused on Program Year 2008. The evaluation team will also conduct special technical studies related to the persistence of weatherization energy savings over time, deferral practices, and air conditioning energy savings. We will also study homes that achieve significantly higher and lower energy savings than the national average, identifying factors that contribute to over- and underperformance on energy savings.
The evaluation will begin in mid-2012. We anticipate that the first data requests for state offices and subgrantees will be made in June. Data collection for state offices and nonsampled agencies will finish in late summer. Data collection for 450 sampled agencies will continue through late 2012. Special technical studies will begin in 2012 with some data collection continuing into 2013. Final reports for the ARRA-period evaluation are due at the end of 2013.
No, the ARRA-period evaluation encompasses all DOE-funded weatherization activities in Program Years 2009-2011. ARRA grants, formula WAP grants, SERC grants and WIPP grants are all within the scope of the evaluation.
Information produced by the evaluation will inform the future design and management of the Weatherization Assistance Program. At a national level, results will show the energy savings, cost savings and non-energy benefits resulting from weatherization program activities.
Please see Weatherization Program Notice 12-1, PY 2012 Weatherization Grant Guidance. Prior to the end of the ARRA performance period, the costs associated with all ARRA- related evaluation activities are to be paid for with existing ARRA grant funds. After the ARRA period of performance ends, evaluation-related costs can be charged to regular WAP appropriated funds. 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. Options for state-specific analyses include estimates of state-level energy savings and non-energy benefits, state-level process evaluation, agency-level energy savings estimates, and metering studies.
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 one survey 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 survey that addresses funding sources and expenditures, production totals, measure selection processes, quality control processes, client education and staff training. A subset of approximately 450 agencies were selected to participate in a more intensive data collection effort involving at least three additional data requests.
The sample was based on PY 2010 production, meaning that sampling likelihood increased with higher production. Agencies that received SERC grants were sampled with certainty. The remaining sample was stratified to ensure adequate representation of agencies with substantial amounts of large multifamily production in PY 2010.
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.
Results from the retrospective evaluation will be published in the second half of 2012. Results from the ARRA-period evaluation will be published in 2013. All reports will be available through the ORNL website. States will be notified with 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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