States Receive Record Weatherization Funding

By Lindsey Miller in News on Sep 28, 2009 9:20PM

Illinois received $97 million in stimulus funding this year to weatherize low-income homes - with $145 million more to come. So, if you could feel the wind howling through your apartment this morning, despite the windows and doors being closed, you may be eligible. With $5 billion going out to states nationwide, the federal government is spending about as much as it’s spent total on weatherization since the 1970s, according to the Chicago Tribune. With the money, Illinois will be able to weatherize approximately 22,000 homes, compared to only 7,800 last year. In Chicago, the increased funding will benefit nearly 9,000 homes - brick makes Chicago buildings some of the least energy efficient in the country.

According to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, weatherization involves “sealing cracks with weatherstrip and caulk, insulating attics and walls, repairing windows and doors, and replacing windows” and making sure heating systems are in working order. These fixes help use energy more efficiently, but also help keep homeowners warmer and save them money.

Eligible households earn no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which would work out to be $21,600 for one person, $29,140 for two, and $44,100 for four. To apply in Cook County, contact the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County or view the Illinois DCEO site for more details. And, if you’re not eligible, the U.S. Department of Energy has some energy-saving tips.