Audit Scrutinizes DOC Program to Weatherize Low-Income Homes

A performance audit was released yesterday by State Auditor Brian Sonntag that evaluated the State Department of Commerce ( DOC) home-weatherization program. The goal of the audit was to evaluate the DOC’s process for making sure funds were spent appropriately at the local level.

The DOC run program received a major funding increase in 2009 through the federal economic stimulus act. The results of the audit were good and bad. 

The Good

• The projects - meant to reduce energy use in needy families' homes through new insulation, furnaces, energy-efficient windows etc. - ramped up in 2010, with contractors weatherizing more than 8,049 Washington housing units. The average in 2005-2008 had been about 3,300.
• Local agencies like Pierce County Community Services and the Metropolitan Development Council of Tacoma contract for the improvements, with oversight from the DOC.
• There were 329 housing units weatherized through the Tacoma nonprofit last year, more than triple any of the previous five years. Another 742 homes were weatherized by Pierce County.

The Bad

• The DOC did plenty of inspections but officials didn't consistently follow up to make sure agencies fixed problems.
• A September re-check that involved 47 homes where local agencies said problems were corrected, and found incomplete or shoddy work in nine of them.
• During one inspection a local agency was allowed to pick the project that state officials would inspect. The DOC said this instance was an anomaly because the employee of the agency refused to cooperate with DOC officials. The agency later fired the employee.

If you would like to see the entire audit please click here to download the PDF. 

Calling All Stalled Projects

The AIA continues to promote policies that help turn our economy back around and get communities back to work building again. As part of this effort, the AIA must show the public, media and government the dire business climate our profession is facing in nearly every community in the country.

AIA National and the AIA|WA want to hear your real life experiences so we can tell this story. If you have projects that are being held up due to a lack of financing, or tied up because of regulatory burdens, we want to hear about them. Please email us and share your experience. 

Be sure to include:

Your name, firm name and contact information
The project type and name
City and state of the project
How large the project is, in terms of square feet and cost per square foot
How many jobs your firm or your contractors could hire if it moves forward, if known
An electronic picture of the project or design (jpeg or other similar format, please)

And answer the following questions:

Why has the project stalled?
Were any jobs lost due to the hold up?
Would an increase in the energy efficient tax deduction help this project move forward?
Would increased access to financing through the Small Business Administration or other programs help move the project forward?

AIA National President Clark Manus, FAIA, message to architects

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