Weatherization: Frequently Asked Questions

Thank you for your interest in participating in the Weatherization Assistance Program. This FAQ will help you in your research about the process.  

Click on any link below to be directed to the answer to your question:

What is Weatherization?

Simply put, Weatherization is the process of making your building as energy efficient as possible and ensuring that all the air you want inside the building stays in the building and all the air you want outside of your building stays outside.

How do we qualify?

In order to qualify, at least 50% of the households in the building must have a household income below 60% of State Median Income.  As long as 50% of the building qualifies, the entire building qualifies.  However, all households must submit income documentation regardless of whether or not they think they will qualify. 

What income information do we need to submit?

We need income documentation from all adults in the household 18 and over.  If you are employed, we need 1 month’s worth of current paystubs. If you receive Public Assistance, SSI, or SSA, we need your award letter or official monthly budget worksheet. If you are unemployed or self-employed, we need a notarized affidavit. Other documentation may be acceptable in certain cases. Contact Sheila Somashekhar at 212-479-3372 or somashekhar[at]uhab.org for further details.

Who will see my income information?

This information will only be seen by UHAB and auditors from New York State Homes and Community Renewal (NYSHCR) and Department of Energy (DOE).  This information will only be used for the purpose of qualifying your building for Weatherization.

Is there any other information we need to submit?

We will need your Con Ed account #.  This is to allow us to check your energy usage before and after Weatherization work has been done to show that the work is effective.

Does the building need to provide any information?

In addition to application forms, the building needs to provide Con Ed information, fuel usage information, a rent roll, a copy of the latest tax bill, a list of code violations, proof of ownership, an asbestos report, and a lead-free report.

How do we get started?

UHAB will come to your building to explain the program and begin the intake process.  To schedule a date for UHAB to come out contact our Outreach Coordinator, Sheila Somashekhar, 212-479-3372, Somashekhar@uhab.org.

What is the cost to the building?

We require an owner contribution of $50/unit.

How much work do we get done?

This will depend on the needs of each building.  UHAB will work with the board and shareholders to determine how much work gets done.

How do you determine what work is to be done?

Once your building qualifies, an energy audit will be performed by our partner, Community Environmental Center (CEC).  Their report will determine what work is necessary.

How is the work prioritized?

First priority is Health and Safety measures.  After that, the work is determined by the Savings to Investment Ratio (SIR).  This is a formula that determines the cost of a measure in comparison to how much it will cost.  We can only perform measures that have an SIR of 1.0 or higher.

Will we get new windows?

Window replacement is a potential measure, but they are not guaranteed.  Windows often have a low SIR, so they are not always a top priority.

Who does the work?

For most measures, UHAB already has sub-contractors in place to perform the work.  For any boiler replacements, the job will be bid out to our list of certified Clean Boiler contractors.

Who will supervise the work?

UHAB’s construction managers will be on site throughout construction to ensure the work is done according to specifications.

How long does the whole process take?

A lot depends on how quickly the intake process goes.  Once the building has qualified we will schedule the audit which will occur about two weeks after qualification.  It then will take two to three weeks to receive the audit.  In the coming weeks we’ll coordinate with our contractors to start the work.  The actual construction can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to two or three months.