@article {165,
	title = {Saving Lives through Energy Efficiency: Valuing the Health- and Safety-Related Benefits of Weatherization in Low-Income Homes},
	year = {2017},
	publisher = {2017 International Energy Program Evaluation Conference},
	address = { Baltimore, MD},
	abstract = {{\textquotedblleft}Non-energy benefits{\textquotedblright} (NEBs) {\textendash} such as improved comfort, health, safety, and productivity {\textendash} are an important, yet often difficult to measure, component of determining and recognizing the full, {\textquotedblleft}real{\textquotedblright} value of the country{\textquoteright}s energy efficiency (EE) programs. A comprehensive, integrative study was conducted to reexamine and quantify the health and safety-related NEBs of the single-family lowincome (LI) weatherization program in Massachusetts (MA), which include reduced asthma, thermal stress, home fire, and carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning; reduced losses in work income; reduced use of short-term predatory loans; and increased home productivity. This study employed the methodology developed in a 2015 U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) study of its Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP).
Applying the occupant survey data and methodology of the well-designed and large-scope national WAP study, which had passed review by a national expert panel, along with a robust set of secondary medical and wage data resulted in a much improved quantification of these NEBs. Although not all the occupant survey findings are statistically significant, supplemental evidence from the literature and previous study sufficiently supports their application. The study produced NEB values that are substantially higher and considered more robust than their previous 
 counterparts, which is due primarily to the study{\textquoteright}s ability to better detect, quantify, and monetize improvements in health status
and mortality from weatherization. In particular, the value of the avoided lives lost from exposure to dangerously cold or hot temperatures and unsafe heating equipment, while subject to considerable uncertainty, is substantial. The total value of the health-related NEBs is $769 per weatherized home annually and $172 without including the avoided death benefit.
},
	keywords = {Energy efficiency},
	url = {http://www.nmrgroupinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Gregs-paper.pdf},
	author = {Christopher Chan and Greg Clendenning and Beth Hawkins and Erin Rose and Bruce Tonn}
}
