In 1976, in response to the national energy crisis, the U.S. Department of Energy initiated the Weatherization Assistance Program. The program helps low-income households, particularly those with the elderly and disabled residents, reduce energy consumption. This lessens the impact of utility costs on limited household budgets and helps stimulate self-sufficiency.
The Utah Division of Housing and Community Development administers the Weatherization Assistance Program statewide through eight government and non-profit agencies. Benefits are provided in the form of non-cash grants to eligible households to make energy-efficiency improvements to those homes. Participating households average nearly 33 percent in savings, or approximately $285 per year, after the completion of weatherization improvements.