Weatherization Assistance Program
Bulk Refrigerator Procurement Programs
Overview
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (Weatherization) reduces energy costs for low-income households by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes. DOE works in partnership with state and local agencies to implement the Program. DOE Regional Offices award grants to state agencies, which then contract with local agencies who install energy conservation measures in eligible low-income homes. Weatherization programs operate in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and among Native American tribes.
The Weatherization Assistance Program has traditionally installed measures that reduce energy used for space heating and cooling. However, the program has recently been expanded to included refrigerator replacement. Several local agencies are currently bulk-purchasing refrigerators from ENERGY STAR partners.
In an effort to provide bulk procurement options to the entire Weatherization network, DOE is contacting ENERGY STAR manufacturer and retailer partners to identify interest in and ability to offer bulk procurement options. Upon identifying and qualifying the options, procurement programs and contact information for manufacturers and/or retailers will be available on the Weatherization Assistance Program web site, www.waptac.org. Local agencies will thereby be able to more easily identify and contact a manufacturer or retailer to establish contracts for ENERGY STAR refrigerator replacement programs.
Many manufacturers/retailers have existing business units that can provide such services. Typically, these are in Contract Sales, Government Sales, Institutional Sales, and other volume business-to-business departments.
The Ideal Bulk Purchasing Program
Most weatherization agencies are looking for turn-key options. They are looking for someone who will deliver the new unit directly to the customer, remove the old unit, and de-manufacture and dispose of the old unit in an environmentally sound manner. In the best options, orders are received by the manufacturer/retailer directly from the local agencies and each local agency is billed separately.
Most refrigerator replacement programs operating in conjunction with Weatherization limit the models they purchase to a handful of typical sizes (e.g., 15 ft3, 18 ft3, 21 ft3) and offer one color option, usually white. This is to simplify the processing and inventory requirements.