SJHP’s Above and Beyond Staff Training was Focus on National Weatherization Day
Each year October 30 is recognized as National Weatherization Day. Weatherization Day is an opportunity to highlight the impact of the National Weatherization Assistance Program which saves energy, improves the health and safety of homes, and supports jobs and small businesses.
“A typical American family spends $2,000 per year on their home energy bills. Much of that money, however, is wasted through leaky windows or ducts, old appliances, or inefficient heating and cooling systems,” noted St. Johns Housing Partnership (SJHP) Rehab and Community Projects Manager Susan Giddens.
SJHP’s understanding of energy efficiency has made their participation in green building programs a major success. Incorporating weatherization training into other aspects of SJHP’s housing mission, home repair programs, multi-family rehab, and building new housing, has transformed SJHP into one of the leaders in meeting Florida’s affordable housing challenge.
“We instill that training in every member of our rehab, repair or new construction team, whether they currently work in weatherization or could in the future,” Lazar said.
That knowledge builds quality performance across the board. Weatherizing a home helps save money by saving energy, and it can also improve the comfort of the home and mitigation of energy-related health and safety issues.
SJHP’s weatherization program stands out by performing additional improvements and repairs along with weatherization services as part of the home audit for qualifying low-income families and homeowners.
There are two full-time and six part-time staff trained to understand how a house works as a system and to offer solutions using building science, air sealing, insulation, moisture control, and ventilation.
Many times, minor repairs are needed to ensure maximum efficiency of the weatherization services SJHP provides to qualifying homeowners at no cost. Lazar has worked with low-income families for over 37 years in Florida’s hot humid climate.
“Anytime we can reduce substandard housing conditions and make a difference in someone’s utility bill is a victory for both our team and the homeowner,” he said.
