The 2019 National Home Performance Coalition (HPC) Conference and Trade Show was held in Chicago this past week. The conference was an exciting and informational experience for attendees, focusing on weatherization and networking opportunities. Washington state was represented by Department of Commerce employees Donn Falconer, Britt Pomush, Laura Viik and Vince Schueler from the Washington State University Energy Program. Washington’s Weatherization Network had representatives from the Community Action Council of Whitman County, Metropolitan Development Council, Opportunity Council, Chelan Douglas Community Action, Yakima Valley Farmworker Clinic and the Building Performance Center.
Both Britt and Vince presented at the conference. Britt was on a panel discussing Washington State’s Plus Health Program and its preliminary results, she also presented “Helping the Helper: Trauma Exposure in the Field, ”discussing compassion fatigue and weatherization workers. Vince presented on a panel titled “Energy and Health Program Integration-What’s Working”, evaluating delivery systems, costs and health results of the Weatherization Plus Health program.