Frequently Asked Questions

 

Q1. What is considered by the Department of Energy as a multifamily unit?
Answer: The Department of Energy describes a multifamily unit as a building with five or more units.

Q2. What is the difference between KHRC’s Multifamily Program and a Single Family Program?
Answer: The Programs are identical. One is specifically targets multifamily developments, which is anything
more than four units. The Single Family Program targets anything four units or less.

Q3. If a complex has a mixture of buildings, some with more than 5 units and some with less, the multifamily
program will weatherize all buildings?
Answer: Yes, we will weatherize all buildings if there is a mixture of units in a building.

Q4. Would buildings with an open breezeway qualify as a multifamily building? (Example 6 units on both sides
with a roof spanning both)
Answer: Yes, if there is a roof connecting the units it would qualify as multifamily.

Q5. How much Funding was given to the Multifamily Program?
Answer: Available funding for Multifamily Program is $13,714,144 to weatherize approximately 1800 units.

Q6. When does funding have to be spent for these Weatherization Funds?
Answer: Funding has to be exhausted by March 31, 2012.

Q7. How much can weatherization spend per unit?
Answer: The average amount we can spend per unit is $ 6,500

Q8. Are there any restrictions for rental properties for weatherization?
Answer: All restrictions for rental properties have been removed. For example, in the past faulty furnaces
were not covered and left up to the owner to pay for. Any audit approved measure is now covered in full by
weatherization.

Q9. How many units must qualify by income for the complete building to be weatherized?
Answer: In order to weatherize a complete building, 66 percent of the occupants must qualify under the
income guidelines.

Q10. If we have a building with less than 66 percent of qualifying occupants can we weatherize the whole
building?
Answer: No, we would only be able to weatherize the qualifying units.

Q11. Does the whole building fill out an application or does each individual unit complete an application?
Answer: Each individual unit needs to complete an application, unless it is a vacant unit then that unit can be
reported as a vacant and the income verification can be waived.

Q12. Can buildings with brick exterior be insulated from the interior?
Answer: Yes, upon management approval.

Q13. Is there going to be priority given to certain properties?
Answer: Yes, we would prefer to start with properties that are 25 to 30 years old, in the beginning of this
program.

Q14. What is considered a high rise under the Multifamily Program?
Answer: A property having more than 24 units in a building would be considered a high rise and would need a
special audit.

Q15. What is the estimated start date for high rise buildings?
Answer: The estimated start date to begin weatherizing high rise buildings would be April 1, 2010.

Q16. What kinds of energy saving measures are allowable with weatherization?
Answer: Any energy saving measures that are done through weatherization has to gain energy audit approval.
Most commonly, those measures would be air filtration reduction, insulation of the attic, walls, replacement of
refrigerators and windows. Clean and tune HVAC and HVAC replacement with audit approval.

Q17. What would prevent a unit/ property from being weatherized?
Answer: Examples of such property would include a damaged or leaking roof, the existence of mold or the
existence of extreme cases of pealing and flaking of lead based paint. These type of issues must be taken care
of before any weatherization begins. Also, there might be health and safety issues that may be dangerous to
the weatherization worker or the occupant.

Q18. Will KHRC only inspect a percentage of units for weatherization?
Answer: KHRC will inspect every unit and will look for everything that needs to be done for energy efficiency
repairs and develop a scope of work.

Q19. Can a standardized contract for contractors be drafted for everyone to use?
Answer: KHRC is working with the legal department on developing this contract.

Q20. Is it possible to do rehabilitation or other repairs during weatherization?
Answer: Yes, but any additional work done during the weatherization process could be subject to Davis Bacon
requirements.

Q21. What is the timeframe that contractors must submit certified payroll documentation to property
management?
Answer: Per Davis Bacon contractors must submit weekly certified payroll documentation to property
management or KHRC.