Worcester Community Action Council has contracts with the Department of Energy (DOE) and the major local utility companies to install energy conservation measures in low-income homes throughout Central and Southern Worcester County. Each home receives an in-depth inspection by a certified energy auditor to assess conservation needs and the safety and efficiency of the primary heating system. Areas needing improvement are rectified if the home and the occupant meet the criteria of one or more programs outlined below. All work is subject to the availability of funding. For more information about these energy saving programs please email us at or call 508.754.1176 x 157

WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (WAP) 

Tenants and Homeowners are eligible for this program!  The Weatherization Assistance Program provides households with the opportunity to permanently reduce their energy bills.  We install insulation, weather-stripping and more, making your home warmer in the Winter and cooler in the Summer.  Full scale home energy conservation services are provided using the most advanced technologies and testing protocols available.

Homes are selected on a priority basis and all work is subject to quality control inspections both during installation and after the work is completed.  There is NO COST for this service for LIHEAP Eligible Households, for those eligible for discounted utility bills and some other programs.  Funding is supplied by the Department of Energy, National Grid and Eversource.

HEATING SYSTEM REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT 

The federally funded Heating Emergency Assistance Retrofit Task Weatherization Assistance Program (HEARTWAP) provides resources for emergency repairs, maintenance and replacement of heating systems to LIHEAP and discount rate eligible homeowners. Note: This program is only for homeowners. If you are a tenant, your landlord is responsible for your heating system.

APPLIANCE MANAGEMENT PROGRAM (AMP)

Instant savings are available for eligible tenants and home owners of 1 to 4 family units!  LIHEAP clients and households paying the R2 rate with National Grid are eligible.

If your refrigerator,  freezer, washing machine, dehumidifier or air condition is an energy guzzler, National Grid Electric may replace it for FREE!  (Please note, this is NOT an emergency replacement program – due to supply chain issues, at this time replacement can take upwards of six months.)

Funded by National Grid, WCAC’s AMP helps tenants and homeowners to save energy and money by replacing light bulbs and inefficient appliances with NEW, efficient ones.

See the savings on your bill right away with the following upgrades:

  • Light bulbs – incandescent bulbs will be replaced with long lasting LED bulbs
  • Refrigerator or freezer  – must be replacing an inefficient model
  • Washing Machines – must be replacing a working top loader with an agitator AND meet other criteria.
  • Dehumidifier – must be replacing an inefficient model
  • Air Conditioners (Window) – must be replacing an inefficient model

Clients who have received AMP services recently may not be eligible immediately. Some restrictions apply.


CITIES/TOWNS SERVED BY WCAC’S ENERGY SAVING PROGRAMS: Worcester, Auburn, Brookfield, Boylston, Charlton, Charlton City, Charlton Depot, Douglas, Dudley, East Brookfield, Holden, Jefferson, Leicester, Cherry Valley, Rochdale, Millbury, North Brookfield, Oakham, Oxford, North Oxford, Paxton, Rutland, Southbridge, Spencer, Sturbridge, Fiskdale, Sutton, Manchaug, Warren, West Warren, Webster, West Boylston, West Brookfield.

If your community is not listed, please click this link to contact an alternate agency for help.