It’s always nice to get recognition for our work, especially when it shares our ideas with a broader audience.
The Energy Division Low-Income Weatherization Program’s Weatherization Plus Health efforts got a nice dose of coverage this month in a cover article in the March 2019 Healthy Indoors Magazine.
The article profiled the innovative partnership between our Pierce County Human Services local weatherization program and the Clean Air for Kids Asthma Program of Tacoma-Pierce County Public Health. Our collaborative model combines energy efficiency improvements with targeted indoor air quality upgrades and direct client education to help vulnerable low-income households struggling with asthma and COPD.
Initial results described in the article are very encouraging. Asthma patients in our client households experienced significant improvements in the management of their health, including reductions in the number of hospitalizations, a drop in their use of emergency rooms, and overall improved quality of life.
We’re looking forward to expanding these services and further refining our collaborative models in the next several years. Watch our webpage for more details, https://www.commerce.wa.gov/growing-the-economy/energy/weatherization-and-energy-efficiency/matchmaker/weatherization-plus-health-wxh/.
Contact: Tim Bernthal, tim.bernthal@commerce.wa.gov, (360) 259-6330