Efficiency through weatherization was on display at a Weatherization Day event Oct. 29 in Mansfield.

Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP) in partnership with Columbia Gas of Ohio and Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission (CAC) hosted the event at a Mansfield household that received weatherization services with the help of the Columbia Gas WarmChoice program.  

Attendees included representatives from Columbia Gas, Ohio Department of Development, National Association for State Community Service Programs, Applied Energy Products, the Ohio Association of Community Action Agencies, and the City of Mansfield.

The project was one of many Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) projects throughout Ohio funded with the support of the WarmChoice program, which helps income-eligible Columbia Gas utility customers connect with organizations to receive no-cost weatherization services. 

GLCAP provides the WarmChoice service in 25 of 57 counties in Columbia Gas of Ohio’s WarmChoice region. Within its own 25-county WarmChoice area, GLCAP contracts with eight other organizations to weatherize homes, including Ohio Heartland CAC, which provided weatherization services for the Mansfield residence showcased at Weatherization Day. In addition to Richland County, Ohio Heartland CAC weatherizes homes in Crawford, Marion, and Morrow counties. In total, the WarmChoice program served 1,300 households in Ohio in 2024.

“Partnering with Columbia Gas helps all weatherization providers expand outreach, lower costs per unit, and better serve customers who want to reduce energy usage in their homes,” GLCAP Housing & Energy Director Terry Jacobs said. 

At the event, Ohio Heartland CAC staff discussed and demonstrated insulation methods, furnace inspection, infrared testing and other aspects of weatherization. HWAP, a program funded through the U.S. Department of Energy since 1976, is provided to help reduce home energy usage and help residents spend less on utilities. The program is free to income-eligible residents through various service providers throughout the state of Ohio, assisting eligible households at or below 200% federal poverty guidelines (e.g. $64,300 for a household of 4). 

Weatherization services typically include:
•    Exterior wall, attic, and crawlspace insulation
•    Repair or replacement of heating/cooling system
•    Repair or replacement of water heaters
•    Installing duct wrap
•    Heating/combustion appliance safety testing
•    Installing low-flow showerheads

More information on WarmChoice is available at www.columbiagasohio.com or www.glcap.org/warmchoice.