Pennsylvania DCED Secretary Walker Tours Weatherized Dauphin County Home; Touts Job Creation and Training

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Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development

Oct 31, 2011, 03:00 ET

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary C. Alan Walker today toured a weatherized Dauphin County home where he highlighted the effectiveness of the state's Weatherization Assistance Program that has accounted for the hiring of more than 940 workers in less than three years.

"This is a great program that really has a positive effect in communities throughout Pennsylvania," Walker said. "Not only does the weatherization program help low-income Pennsylvanians reduce energy costs, it also supports hundreds of construction jobs. In less than two years, 43 agencies employing more than 1,500 workers have retrofitted more than 27,000 homes."

The Weatherization Assistance Program was designed to create jobs and reduce energy consumption and costs in low-income homes. Energy reduction comes from basic repair and construction measures like insulating the attic and sidewalls, caulking cracks in windows and in some cases, replacing windows and doors. It also educates energy consumers on the actions they can take to decrease energy consumption.

In anticipation of completing more than 32,000 homes in three years, six new training centers were opened throughout the state and the Penn College Weatherization Training Center doubled its size to account for demand. To date, more than 1,700 weatherization certifications have been issued to more than 1,200 trained individuals.

"As home-heating costs rise, many people on fixed incomes are feeling the squeeze," said Dauphin County Commissioner George P. Hartwick III, who oversees the county's Weatherization Program. "Our weatherization program not only has helped families reduce their energy bills, but also it has provided hundreds of job opportunities throughout the capital county."

For more information on Dauphin County Weatherization, visit www.DauphinCounty.org or call 1-800-950-7447.

For more information about the Weatherization Assistance Program or other economic development initiatives in Pennsylvania, call 1-866-466-3972 or visit newPA.com.

Media contact: Steven Kratz, 717-783-1132

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development