ENERGY EFFICIENCY Programs and Products 

GRANT PROGRAMS FOR HOMEOWNERS AND RENTERS

THE WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (WAP)

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is a comprehensive program that improves the energy efficiency, safety, and health of older homes by taking a whole-house approach and focusing on the well-being of occupants and workers. WAP supports about 35,000 home weatherization projects a year, and DOE estimates that the average household saves $372 or more annually. WAP is administered at the state and local levels and interested applicants should contact their state weatherization agency for information.

Unfortunate Fact: Low-income households typically spend 13.9 percent of their total annual income on energy costs, compared to 3 percent for all other households.

THE LOW-INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP)

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps keep families safe and healthy through initiatives that assist with energy costs. LIHEAP provides federally funded assistance to reduce the costs associated with home energy bills, energy crises, weatherization, and minor energy-related home repairs.

States, federally recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations can apply for direct LIHEAP awards to assist households. Consumers can use local offices or search tools to find local providers.

LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
Benefits• Financial aid for heating and cooling bills
• Emergency assistance (i.e., utility shutoff prevention)
• Weatherization services (in some states)
• Minor energy-related home repairs (in some states)
• Help paying for community solar subscriptions (in some states)
Eligibility• Varies by state
• Generally, household income cannot exceed 150% of federal poverty guidelines OR 60% of state median income
• Other factors like household size and benefits received may be considered
Visit Section 11. Support Material to access web resources for the LIHEAP Clearninghouse.

HOW TO APPLY

Go to State and Territory Contact Listing.

Note: The specific services offered and eligibility criteria can differ from state to state.