Implementing Weatherization in Atlanta Homes: Managing Cost And Control
The most common weatherization actions taken by Atlanta residents or their landlords include installing energy-efficient lighting or energy-efficient appliances (52%), upgrading or maintaining roofing and gutters (43%), and installing “smart” programmable thermostats (42%). Installing solar panels (6%) was the least common action residents and their landlords took (Figure 10). Southwest Atlanta residents also noted that window and door upgrades (63%), heating and air systems improvements (60%), and insulation upgrades (56%), may be the most effective in protecting their homes (Figure 11).
Factors Enabling Weatherization
Better access to intergenerational wealth, supportive funding like facade grants, health and wellness grants, and down payment assistance programs could lead to more opportunities for home ownership among Southwest Atlanta residents and allow them to weatherize their homes. While facade and health and wellness grants provide supplemental resources that enable property owners and homeowners to subsidize weatherization-related expenses, downpayment assistance makes ownership possible.
“… Inheriting [property], we also inherited a lot of the issues that come along with being a property owner and having a somewhat older building, because energy efficiency wasn’t there... Being that they blessed us with that [property], we do have below average lease amount [for tenants].” – Property owner and business owner
“I mean, just having seen my grandparents purchase a home, and then my mom purchased a home, I was just like, “Yeah, I need to do this.” But as a single person when I moved here, I wasn’t again, you know, I wasn’t making enough money… I was like, “Oh, wow! I’m a household of two, and how am I gonna afford?” I just did, like, a super, super deep dive into all community resources. Like on top of [Focused Community Strategies homebuyer programs] ... Being able to purchase from them, I went to a f irst-time homebuyer program at United Way. It was like an [Individual Development Account] program ... I saved [money] and they matched it 3 to 1, I think... I was able to use that for payment. In general, I feel like I have, had always tell my son... I’m like, “Everything I do now, I feel like I do it so that you will have… the next generation will have less of a climb.” ... So I don’t feel like I have as much of a, as far [...] trajectory for generational wealth as I would like to be at this stage of the game, but my son has a very broader sense of what it means to build wealth and save and invest...” – Homeowner
Financial support allows Southwest Atlanta residents to build wealth that may be transferred intergenerationally while also allowing residents the ability to save for unexpected events. Organizations like Invest Atlanta, Focused Community Strategies (FCS), and churches fill gaps left by inadequate access to capital in underresourced neighborhoods, so that residents like those in Southwest Atlanta can become more food secure, obtain affordable housing, and become better integrated with other community members and local businesses.
“They just got some money. But it was only for seniors. But I was okay, because I got the Invest Atlanta [program]. But, yeah, they just got some money from, I think it might have been state money. I’m not sure. But they were doing some weatherization, some health and wellness repairs for seniors, for legacy residents...” – Homeowner
However, support from privately or locally funded organizations and intergenerational transmission of wealth is not the only way Southwest Atlanta residents can weatherize homes. Residents (including renters) find tangible support from one another by helping to make repairs, sharing resources (including information), and advocating for change and attention from civic leaders and property owners. More individualized approaches shared by residents included following energy efficiency guidelines recommended by utility providers and showcasing f lexibility when assessing the financial feasibility and necessity of specific weatherization techniques to remain within budgets. This meant choosing between insulation upgrades, window and door replacement, or fixing roofs.
“We have one, two leaks. And the guy came out, and he fixed it. He patched it. I know he didn’t strip the roof, but he patched it. And we haven’t had any problems with that. As far as the windows, they can be updated. They need to be updated. But they’re fine. I don’t bother the windows, the windows don’t bother me.” – Renter
Although decisions to weatherize can create positive outcomes like higher property values, property owners must contend with the implications of property tax increases, including concerns of displacement if residents are priced out of their own neighborhoods.
“He also was like, “That’s gonna bring your property value up. You know, fix your windows.” And that’s just a weird thing for me, because I’m like, I’m like viewing my property value every chance I get because I don’t want the county to get my money, because that’s what, that’s what they trying to do. They trying to put me out there. You lose my house and then when you don’t have a house because they just raised it up 5% over there. But it’s a gift and a curse, right? Because you do want your property value up. I know adding a roof to my house kind of helps, and making those type of repairs helps. But then, I’m back here on [day] to meet with [Atlanta Volunteer Lawyers Foundation] to appeal my property tax.” – Homeowner
