THDA Home Modifications Weatherization Assistance Program
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The Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) offers multiple programs to assist Tennessee homeowners with home modifications to increase safety, livability, and visitability. This article is about the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).
THDA serves as the grantee agency for Tennessee's WAP. A network of local community agencies and governments provide weatherization services in Tennessee's 95 counties, based on availability of funding.
The WAP is designed to assist low-income households in reducing their fuel costs while contributing to national energy conservation through increased energy efficiency and client education. Households that include young children, elderly or disabled members are given priority for service. Weatherization helps reduce energy costs by increasing a dwelling's energy efficiency. Examples of common weatherization measures include air sealing, duct sealing, and adding insulation to attics, walls and floors. Site specific weatherization measures are determined after a detailed energy audit is conducted by a certified energy auditor.
The WAP program uses the TN Weatherization Field Guide. This Weatherization Field Guide outlines a set of best practices for the WAP. Weatherization experts collaborating with the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) developed the Standard Work Specifications (SWS) beginning in 2009. These new SWS standards reside online in NREL’s SWS Tool. The SWS presents required specifications and outcomes for weatherization measures when a weatherization agency selects a weatherization measure, based on its cost effectiveness. The technical content of this guide aligns with the SWS requirements as updated by October of 2017.
Improving home weatherization will make a home more livable and visitable. Improving home weatherization will reduce the cost of home ownership, which increases the opportunity for individuals to live in their homes longer. Aging-in-place concepts include improving home weatherization to make the home more livable and visitable.
Creating a home that is safer, more livable, and more visitable should involve Universal Design (UD). The principles of UD contribute to the safety, convenience, and function of products and home spaces by making products and spaces safer, easier to use and, more accessible. For additional information about UD please see Universal Design.
Careful planning is important to creating a home that is safer, more livable, and more visitable using UD. A home that is safer, more livable, and more visitable should include aging-in-place considerations.
Universal Design is a key part of aging-in-place home modifications. A Certified Aging in Place Specialist (CAPS) is trained in the application of UD for home modifications to help aging and disabled individuals remain in their homes longer. CAPS consultants and UD incorporate the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Fair Housing Act (FHA) into residential home design and modifications.
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