News

Seahawks Superfan Mama Blue’s Home—Weatherized

The Seattle Office of Housing and Seattle City Light are making energy improvements to the home Mama Blue has lived in for over 50 years. The upgrades include a ductless heat pump to keep the house warm in the winter and air conditioning to keep it cool in summer. Mama Blue’s house is also getting insulated and other repairs will be made to improve air quality. All these services are FREE to Mama Blue and to other Seattle residents who qualify.

What exactly is weatherization?

Weatherization saves you money on energy bills. It keeps you warm in the winter and cooler in the summer. It helps keep the air in your home fresh and healthy. How? By improving your home’s insulation, heating systems, and air quality. Electrically heated homes may also be eligible for a cooling system.

The Seattle Office of Housing has been providing weatherization services to thousands of households for over 30 years. All weatherization projects are contracted and managed by the Office of Housing. Our services are FREE to eligible households.

How do I qualify?

To be eligible, applicants must be at or below program income limits. We serve Seattle residents as well as residents with electric heat who live within the Seattle City Light service area—generally Seattle, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Burien, Renton, Tukwila, SeaTac, Normandy Park, and some parts of unincorporated King County.

Visit the Seattle Office of Housing website to download an application. Program staff are available to help you complete the application and answer any questions.

What is the weatherization process like?

If you qualify for services, an experienced Office of Housing weatherization specialist will come to your home and do an audit—like a doctor’s check-up for your house. The audit process takes about three hours. Your whole home will be inspected, including attics and crawl spaces, to determine energy loss and recommend needed improvements.

The weatherization specialist works with our customers every step of the way. We manage the bidding process, work out the contract, and hire the contractor. Typically, it takes two to four days for the construction crew to make the weatherization improvements.

Do you or someone you know need your home weatherized?

To apply for home weatherization, call 206-684-0244 or e-mail healthyhome@seattle.gov. To learn more, visit our the City of Seattle’s Weatherization webpage. This shortcut is easy to remember: Seattle.gov/HealthyHome.

If you live outside of the Seattle City Light service area, you can find information on weatherization programs across Washington here.

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Contributor Robin Koskey directs communications for the Seattle Office of Housing. Read about other Seattle Office of Housing programs for low-income homeowners here.

This article originally appeared in the February 2019 issue of AgeWise King County.