Senator Warner announced Friday that the U.S. Department of Energy is releasing more than $37 million from the economic recovery package to expand weatherization assistance programs in Virginia.

The announcement was made during Senator Warner's Virginia Summit on Energy Opportunities at Hampton University.

The funds -- about 40 percent of Virginia's expected allotment of $94 million in weatherization funding -- will help to weatherize more than 8,600 homes, cutting energy costs for low-income families that need it, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and creating green jobs.

Senator Warner said in a release:

"Today’s investments will save money for working families, reduce pollution and strengthen local economies. This also will help move Virginia and the nation toward a cleaner energy future.”

Weatherization projects allow low-income families to save money by making their homes more energy efficient, which results in average savings of 32 percent for heating bills and savings of hundreds of dollars per year on overall energy bills. 

The Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program will be available to families making up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level – or about $44,000 a year for a family of four. States will spend an average of $6,500 to weatherize each home.

In Virginia, the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) administers the Weatherization Assistance Program in all of Virginia’s localities.

In selecting local weatherization agencies, the state gives preference to any community action agency or other public or nonprofit organization which has experience successfully administering the program. Local agencies will prioritize service to elderly and disabled residents, families with children, high energy consuming households, and homes with an energy related crisis.  Within those priorities local agencies are responsible for scheduling eligible clients to receive energy audits and weatherization services.