Poor weatherization and inefficient equipment cause many of these resident to pay large utility bill, some of whom can't afford to. In its efforts to increase the stock of affordable housing, the City must improve the standards of energy efficiency within rehabilitated and new homes. Although the problem of low income families to meet their utility costs is rooted in their state of poverty, the condition of weatherization is a contributing factor in their hardships. The combination of poorly weatherized homes, inefficient equipment, and poverty is causing a large number of residents to rely on the energy assistance grants described earlier. Revise current standard for rehabilitated and newly constructed buildings.
Current standards are ten years old and lag behind newer technologies and standards.
Resources Division of Energy of the Department of Natural Resources sponsors the Urban League Weatherization program. In addition Energy Care also serves the weatherization needs of the residents. However, there are a greater number of requests than current funding allows. Sustained assistance is vital until energy efficiency problems areresolved.