Efficiency Vermont outlines weatherization programs, funding gaps and contractor constraints

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Efficiency Vermont staff told the House Energy and Digital Infrastructure Committee on April 16 that state weatherization work reduces energy bills, improves indoor comfort and helps cut greenhouse-gas emissions — but that the program faces persistent funding and workforce constraints that limit how quickly homes can be upgraded.

Peter Wouk, managing director of Efficiency Vermont, and Juliana Bortz, program manager for weatherization, described the agency's Home Performance with ENERGY STAR rebates, a recently launched home-repair fund, financing options and partnerships with the state's Weatherization Assistance Programs (WAPs).

Wouk said the program began in 2009 with the creation of the Thermal Energy and Process Fuels Fund (TEPF) and that thermal funding has since come from a variety of sources, including RGGI proceeds and two tranches of ARPA dollars. "The weatherization doesn't happen through pure capitalist economics alone," Wouk said, explaining why incentives are necessary for many homeowners to proceed with projects.

Efficiency Vermont staff framed weatherization as two complementary measures: insulation and air sealing. "When I'm talking about weatherization work, we're talking about both insulation and air sealing. They are the dynamic duo of weatherization work," Bortz said, describing air sealing as stopping small leaks that can amount to the size of a football in total leakage. Staff said weatherization improves comfort, reduces fuel use and can lower…