Before weatherization, some tenants complained they were cold, others that they were too warm. The attic insulation not only made for more even heat in the building, it allowed Rose to lower the thermostat setting several degrees. 1996 was 10 percent colder than 1994, the year before insulation was installed. But fuel use actually went down a fraction when normalized for weather. Another benefit of weatherization is keeping tenants longer, says Rose.
Tenants remember the bad things all year long.
If they re cold in the wintertime, they re not happy and they re going to move. If you re paying for the heating, said Rose, you re going to save in the long run. You must apply for the credit before starting the project. Projects usually are approved within two weeks. If you prefer a cash payment and the rental property is served by Portland General Electric, Northwest Natural Gas or PacifiCorp, you can get about 28 percent of the eligible project cost upfront.