National Community Action Foundation Introducing A NEW Partnership for Sustainable Weatherization Investments

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1 National Community Action Foundation Introducing A NEW Partnership for Sustainable Weatherization Investments NCAF and the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA, whose members are the manufacturers and distributors of modern efficient woodstoves) have formed a partnership designed to leverage funding that may allow some Weatherizers to purchase efficient woodstoves and replace older woodstoves in homes eligible for Weatherization. Weatherizers are seldom able to purchase replacement woodstoves for their participants not only because of funding constraints but also because the expenditure would not meet the WAP savings-toinvestment ratio. Yet efficient stoves use far less wood and require less frequent stoking. This new opportunity arises because the Environmental Protection Agency has decided woodstove change-out initiatives are one of the tools that are effective in improving air quality. Wood-burning fireplaces and older stoves produce a disproportionate source of ash and other particulates and pollutants. Unfortunately, EPA's campaign promoting installation of efficient wood stoves ( is not accompanied by grant funding. However, funding may become available as a result of legal settlements arrived at between polluters who are defendants in Clean Air enforcement actions and the federal or state government that initiated the action. Such cases are often are resolved by settlements under which defendants agreed to a package of measures to remedy and reduce pollution. The federal government now accepts projects to change out old wood stoves as an appropriate strategy in a package of remedial activities. Therefore, a settlement could include funding to purchase wood stoves and cover installation costs, and that funding can be turned over to Weatherization grantees in the affected areas. Community Action Agencies have been involved in delivering a new woodstoves as result of three such settlements in the past two years. The HPBA and NCAF have recognized the mutual interests of Weatherizers and the wood stove industry in promoting more such initiatives. As a result, HPBA is communicating to the law firms and attorneys that represent defendants in environmental enforcement actions to let them know that such projects have been accepted as valid Supplemental Environmental Projects in a settlement package. Our joint letter is being circulated; it points out the capabilities of the Weatherization network in every state, the ease of implementing such initiatives using the Weatherization network and the goodwill benefit to the defendant, as well the improvement in air quality. In the letter, HPBA offers to provide the needed expertise on the appropriate equipment and technical skills required and to identify the certified installers in the areas involved, while NCAF offers to identify the Weatherizers serving the affected communities and link them to the other interested parties. The EPA woodstove web site will also post the letter and information about the concept. We are hopeful the Department of Energy will also publicize the capability and accountability of the WAP network and assist EPA and the Department of Justice in crafting appropriate settlements. NCAF hopes that is the first of many partnerships in projects that have the dual purpose of leveraging investment in equipment that both saves energy and mitigates pollution and carbon emissions.

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