National Evaluation

At this time the national evaluation of the Weatherization Assistance Program has been put on hold. We will keep you informed as we learn more.

The page contains key information on the planning, progress, and implementation of the National Evaluation of the Weatherization Assistance Program being conducted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Please check back frequently as this evaluation progresses. For additional information, please visit http://weatherization.ornl.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. When are evaluations anticipated to be completed?

Most of the major elements to be produced through the National Evaluation will be available in late 2009 and 2010. These include the impact assessment of energy savings, cost-benefit analysis, process assessment, and analysis of non-energy impacts.

2. How can my state participate and receive state data?

Each state and local agency will have some role in the national evaluation and a subset of approximately 320 local agencies, with at least one in each state, will be asked to provide detailed information and access to data to perform the billing and process analyses. The results of the evaluation will be provided nationally and by major climate zone but will not provide state-specific data.

3. Is this evaluation mandatory?

Yes, all elements of the Weatherization network will be required to participate in the evaluation to some degree. It is the only way to produce meaningful and accurate national results that are the key to supporting the program within the administration, on the Hill, and within DOE.

4. How will this evaluation impact the local level?

Most agencies will be asked to complete questionnaires that should take only a few hours of staff time. Those involved in the subsample will be asked to provide much more information regarding the homes they weatherized and how this work was performed.

5. Can my state evaluation be piggybacked with the national?

Some states have asked to piggyback on the national evaluation and have asked that the supplemental cost of doing so be provided to them. Any state that has an interest in costing out a piggy back that has not yet requested this from ORNL should do so no later than the end of May, 2007.

6. What data will be required at the state level? The local?

A vast array of data on household characteristics, both housing and demographic, weatherization measures applied, energy bills from before and after weatherization, client education, audit procedures, and crew training, to name just some, will be gathered as part of the evaluation. The purpose is to both assess program results and to understand the underlying causes of differing levels of performance.

Those interested in a fuller understanding of the scope and scale of the questions are advised to examine the appendices of the Preliminary National Evaluation Plan on the Oak Ridge web site: http://weatherization.ornl.gov.

7. What should I do to plan or prepare for this evaluation?

In the past state and local agencies have been asked to secure client waivers to enable access to billing records required for the evaluation. This process should continue in PY 2007 in case the target year for the evaluation needs to be pushed back. The evaluation contractor will be selected in May of 2007 and the evaluation itself should be underway by late in FY 2007, assuming OMB approval. States and local agencies will then be contacted and asked to complete surveys. Until then, sit back and relax!

Sample State Evaluations

Oregon

Economic Impact Study

Wisconsin

Low Income Benefit Cost- Final Report

Economic Development Impact Report

Year Two Final Report, Vol 1

Year Two, Vol 3 Report

Year Three, Vol 1 Report- Final Draft

Year Four Report, Vol 1- Final Draft

Content updated on 10/23/2007