Project Report
Home Weatherization Assistance Program:
Field Site Investigation
Prepared for: Ohio Department of Development, Office of Energy
Prepared by: Proctor Engineering Group
Contributor: Tom Downey
Introduction
In 1997, Proctor Engineering Group (PEG) conducted a field site
investigation of participant houses for the 1994/95 program year Ohio
Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP). The study included site
visits to 57 participant houses serviced by fourteen weatherization
agencies. This report summarizes the results of the study.
Background
The Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), Office of Energy Efficiency
(OEE), has oversight responsibility for the HWAP. In August 1995 the OEE
issued an RFP for evaluation services. The goal of the evaluation was to
gain the knowledge necessary to guide the OEE in making improvements to
the program. The OEE selected PEG to provide an impact evaluation of the
1994/95 HWAP. A comprehensive impact evaluation was designed. The
evaluation included extensive data collection and conditioning, a
pre/post billing analysis, and a field site investigation.
Allowable Program Measures
The 1994/95 Ohio HWAP included basic weatherization measures and
diagnostic procedures. The diagnostic procedures were used in assessing
building shell leakage and heating system performance and safety. The
allowable measures included:
- attic, sidewall, floor and perimeter insulation
- blower door guided air sealing
- heating system efficiency modifications (including system
replacements, vent dampers, retention head burners, etc.)
- combustion system safety repairs
- general heat waste building repairs
- duct sealing and insulation
- water heater insulation and low flow shower heads
Goals
The primary goals of the site visits were:
- assess the quality of the diagnostics performed by agency personnel
for houses treated in 1994/95 program year in terms of potential missed
opportunities for energy savings;
- evaluate health/safety measures which were/were not installed;
- evaluate the installation quality of the measures;
- determine whether there are any characteristics of the buildings,
occupants or work performed which can help identify houses that had
either higher or lower energy savings than the norm;
- enhance the process evaluation by providing in-field in-person
feedback from the clients;
- provide case-studies for use in training staff from the delivery
agencies.
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