HOME WEATHERIZATION CAN LOWER HEATING BILLS
Choosing Between Heat or Other Basic Needs Can Be a Tough Decision When It's So Cold Outside
Raleigh, NC -
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
The cooler temperatures have us all edging
up the thermostats but for those on a limited
income, that's a scary thought. As the
heaters are being turned on higher and
higher in homes across
North Carolina, families are starting to
think about the impact of higher energy
costs on their monthly budget - especially
after the holiday season. According
to recent data by the Energy
Information Administration, natural gas
prices fell nationally by 12% and fuel
oil by 8% in 2009, but in a new year with a
struggling economy, this savings won't help
because the income in many
families has been adversely affected by the
current economic situation.
The hardest-hit in times of hardship, are low-
income families. The lowest-income
households pay 17% or more of their
annual incomes for energy compared with
6% for other households. This could cause
more families to make the difficult choice
between heat and other basic necessities.
It's important to know that there is a federal
program that addresses these daily energy
concerns. The Department of Energy's
(DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program,
working with its state and local partners like
Resources for Seniors in Wake County,
helps to reduce the energy burden on
low-income families by installing cost-
effective, energy efficiency measures.
In Wake County, Resources for Seniors will
weatherize over 900 of homes by March
2012. To participate, homeowners must
have a maximum income of 200% of the
Federal Poverty Level ($21,660 for one
person and $7,480 for each additional
person) and can use up to $4,000 for energy
efficiency upgrades to their home. These
households save an average of $413
annually on their heating bills after the
weatherization work has been completed.
The dollar savings alone make a big
difference for the families. Weatherization
makes the home warmer in the winter,
cooler in the summer and safer to live in.
Resources for Seniors' weatherization work
makes a
daily impact on low-income families.
Weatherization
also benefits the community by preventing
the "export"
of energy dollars, employing trained
weatherization
crews and contractors, reducing power plant
emissions, and improving the local
environment.
Weatherization technicians use
computerized energy
audits and advanced diagnostic
technologies, such
as blower doors and duct blasters, to
determine the
most cost-effective measures for each
home. They
also assess related health and safety
conditions.
Dave Cottengim, President of Resources for
Seniors,
offered these comments about Home
Weatherization;
"Crew members and contractors are hard at
work in the homes of truly needy families in
Wake County making a real difference in
their lives. After our crews provide services,
these families experience an average energy
use reduction $413/year. Money is put
back in their pockets to buy groceries, visit a
doctor, buy medicine, or improve some
standard of living during a time when every
penny counts, especially when the
temperatures outside have been so bitterly
cold."
Serving as the nation's core program for
delivering
energy efficiency services to low-income
households,
the Weatherization Assistance Program
prioritizes the
elderly, persons with disabilities, and
households
with children. Households experience
energy
efficiency, financial, and health and safety
gains as a
result of weatherization measures. The
Weatherization Program serves every
county in the
nation through its network of state and local
agencies. For more information about the
Weatherization Assistance Program in
Wake County,
please call state (919) 713-1570 or visit the
local web
site at Wake County Weatherization
Program
Related Links:
Statistics:
- The hardest-hit in times of hardship, are
low-
income families. li>
- Natural gas prices fell nationally by 12%
and fuel oil by 8% in 2009.
- The lowest-income households pay 17%
or more
of their annual incomes for energy compared
with 6%
for other households.
- In Wake County, Resources for Seniors
will
weatherize over 900 of homes by March
2012.
- To participate, homeowners must have a
maximum income of 200% of the Federal
Poverty
Leve ($21,660 for one person and $7,480 for
each additional person), and can use up to
$6,500 for energy
efficiency
upgrades to their home.
- Weatherized homes save an average of
$413
annually on their heating bills after the
weatherization
work has been completed.
Quotes:
- Dave Cottengim, President of Resources
for
Seniors, offered these comments about
Home Weatherization - "Crew members
and contractors are hard at
work in the homes of truly needy families in
Wake County making a real difference in
their lives. After our crews provide services,
these families experience an average energy
use reduction $413/year. Money is put
back in their pockets to buy groceries, visit a
doctor, buy medicine, or improve some
standard of living during a time when every
penny counts, especially when the
temperatures outside have been so bitterly
cold."
About Wake County Weatherization Program
The Wake County Weatherization Program
delivers
energy efficiency services to low-income
households
and prioritizes service to the elderly, persons
with
disabilities, and households with children,
first.
Families and individuals eligible to receive
weatherization services are those with
incomes below
200% of the federal poverty level.
Weatherization
Assistance services are delivered to single-
family
homes, multi-family dwellings and mobile
homes.
Those receiving services do not have to own
their
home. Those renting property can also
apply. Services
provided include: addressing carbon
monoxide levels
and combustion safety, Sealing air leaks,
installing
insulation in attics, walls and floors, sealing
and
insulating ducts, installing a smart
thermostat,
installing energy efficient light bulbs, installing
low-
flow shower heads, and performing tune-ups
and
repairs to heating and cooling systems.
About Resources for Seniors
Resources for Seniors is a Wake County
based non-profit organization founded in
1973. Resources for Seniors serves senior
and disabled adults in Wake County, NC by
providing home and community based
services and information so that they can
maximize their choices for comfort, safety,
security and well-being. Services include
direct care, support services, care
management, consulting and information
outreach.
Resources for Seniors
Gerry Massey
Weatherization Assistance Program, ARRA Coordinator
phone:
919.713.1543
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Keywords:
Weatherization Assistance Program, lowering energy bills, Resources for Seniors, Wake County
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