13 Reduction of home energy needs,2605(b)(16) - Assurance 16

13.1 Describe how you use LIHEAP funds to provide services that encourage and enable households to reduce their home energy needs and thereby the need for energy assistance? Up to two (2) percent of awarded funds are used to conduct educational activities to educate participants on how to identify energy waste, increase energy efficiency, and to understand and read their utility bills. These activities are conducted to assist clients in reducing their energy costs. For LIHEAP weatherization cases, DOEE’s energy efficiency staff explains the findings to the LIHEAP household members. 13.2 How do you ensure that you don't use more than 5% of your LIHEAP funds for these activities? A separate budget line item is established for the funds that are used for this purpose. The funds are assigned an index number and tracked and monitored on a monthly basis to assure compliance with funding guidelines. The LIHEAP weatherization work is accounted for separately. 13.3 Describe the impact of such activities on the number of households served in the previous federal Fiscal Year. At the end of each fiscal year an analysis is conducted to determine the estimated savings a single-family household would receive based on the energy conservation measures installed. The following year, the same household’s energy bills are reviewed to determine the actual costs to quantify the data previously estimated. Please see the actual savings for Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 and the estimated savings for Fiscal Year 2024. In FY22, 59 clients served, overall savings in BTUs and cost: 185,443,392 / $11,445; $193.98 per unit; overall gas savings in therms and cost: 16,932 / $23,785 ($403.14 Per Unit). In FY23, 81 clients served, overall estimated savings in BTUs and cost: 254,591,775 / $18,712.63; $218 per unit (estimate); overall gas savings in therms and cost: 20,250 / $28,445 ($351 Per Unit estimate). In FY24, 44 clients served, overall estimated savings in BTUs and cost: 266,570,025 / $10,897; $247.66 per unit (estimate); overall gas savings in therms and cost: 8,737 / $13,721; $311.84 per unit (estimate). 13.4 Describe the level of direct benefits provided to those households in the previous federal Fiscal Year. There are two specific levels of direct benefits provided by our program and they are energy savings and non-energy attributes. The main benefits are the reduction of energy cost, health and safety, and home improvements. There are many Weatherization measures that directly benefit the participants, and lead to several health benefits, including reduced thermal stress (from both heat and cold), reduced asthma medical costs, increased comfort, reduced stress from lower utility bills, remediation of toxic materials such as lead and mold, and better sleep. We also educate program participants receiving weatherization, lead remediation, or emergency mechanical systems. Staff members are designing a resource guide for participants to identify additional services that may not be available. 13.5 How many households received these services? We weatherized 44 homes in FY24 and have 37 that will be funded by another source, and there 60 on the wait list. If any of the above questions require further explanation or clarification that could not be made in the fields provided, attach a document with said explanation here.