Independent Newsmedia
By Dora Vasquez | Phoenix
Now more than ever, retirees on fixed incomes need and deserve safe, efficient homes; they’re a lifeline.
Programs like WAP — the Weatherization Assistance Program — give families and seniors like me the security and peace of mind we deserve, helping us lower costs, protect our health and stay resilient through extreme weather.
On National Weatherization Day, Oct. 30, we should reflect on how important funding for this program is, especially now.
WAP has a strong track record: since its inception, it has helped millions of households increase insulation, seal air leaks, upgrade heating/cooling systems and address health‐and‐safety issues such as mold or unsafe combustion appliances, thereby lowering energy bills and improving comfort.
These savings are significant for retirees and vulnerable households. But the benefits go beyond dollars: the program helps families withstand temperature extremes, stay safe in weather emergencies and avoid displacement or crisis. Only recently, communities in Arizona experienced major flooding and water rescues in the wake of heavy rain.
That’s why it’s deeply troubling that the U.S. Department of Energy recently announced it would terminate nearly $8 billion in federal clean energy funding, with plans to cut billions more. Reducing support now would undermine the infrastructure upgrades that enable safe, efficient homes, and that is especially inappropriate given the increasing frequency and severity of extreme weather events.
In well-insulated, weather-hardened homes, families are better protected from outages, high bills and storm damage. However, as extreme weather becomes more frequent and retirees and low-income families struggle with rising utility costs and aging homes, the need for the WAP has never been greater.
As we prepare to observe National Weatherization Day, I call on Arizona’s congressional leaders and the DOE to restore and expand its funding so that every Arizonan can have the safety and stability they deserve.
Editor’s note: Retiree Dora Vasquez is executive director of Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
Keywords
Weatherization Assistance Program,
National Weatherization Day,
Department of Energy