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HomeWise Energy Conservation Services
for 1- to 4-plexes
(note: program also serves 5+ unit buildings)

Overall Requirements

• Building must not have been weatherized within last 7 years
• Building must benefit from energy conservation measures as determined by energy audit and calculated savings to investment ratio.

Income Eligibility

• At least 50% of tenant households must meet income eligibility requirements. 
• Income eligibility based on heat source and number in household (see sheet).
• Simplified application process if households receive housing subsidy.

Typical Measures

• Attic, Wall and Crawl Space insulation (includes crawl space ground cover)
• Combustion appliance safety
• Ventilation & indoor air quality measures
• Air Sealing
• Energy conservation-related repairs
• Duct insulation
• Pipe wrap and water heater blanket
• Furnace repair, tune-up/replacement
• Window repair/replacement
• Refrigerator replacement

Average Costs

• Typical grant amount ranges from $2,000-4,000 per unit, depending on measures installed.  Maximum grant amount based on number of eligible units.
• Costs to owners are typically limited to a share of window, door and refrigerator replacement costs (calculated from projected energy savings compared with total cost).

Process

• Call HomeWise office re interest in conservation grant at 206-684-0244.
• Certify eligibility – OH can rely on SHA confirmation of income, without doing a separate verification for Section 8 households. Owner may need to circulate applications to tenants not receiving subsidy. 
• Energy Audit – HomeWise will schedule audit.  Owner or agent is expected to be present during the audit.  Auditors will need access to each unit.  Audit is 3-4 hours.
• HomeWise will then
• prepare scope of work;
• schedule a walk-through inspection with approved, qualified contractors;
• review bids and award contract for work to be done;
• monitor work progress;
• inspect completed work, and;
• authorize payment of grant funds.

Income Standards: 

• HomeWise intake staff will advise on income guidelines that apply to your building.  OH administers conservation funds from several sources, and income limits vary due to building size and type of heat in a building. 

Affordability Covenants

• Covenant of 3-10 years for single-family and multi-unit rentals.  Covenant allows rent increases to cover higher cost of operations, but do not allow unlimited market-based increases.