With the hottest months of July and August coming up, electric bills are beginning to skyrocket. If you’re not inclined to keep your thermostat at 78 degrees all summer, weatherization could be something worth looking into.
“Weatherization is an effort to make your home more energy-efficient. Cutting down your electric bill, making it more safe and livable,” Outreach and Development Specialist with Concho Valley Community Action Agency’s Sidney Timmer said. “If you feel air around your doors or windows, maybe some weather stripping. If you find that you are just blowing that AC or heater and it feels like it’s not really doing much check your electric bill. If it seems a lot higher than what it should be, then it’s definitely worth checking into.”
The CVCAA’s Weatherization Assistance Program can help income eligible families or individuals with necessary repairs.
“It’s a free program that we have. You’ll apply for it, once you’re approved, we’ll come out and do a two-to-three hour inspection. They’ll see what you need and determine the best way to make your house more energy-efficient. From there they get their sub-contractors to come out and do the work.”
Timmer said the difference for some families is enormous.
“A lot of people don’t realize energy bills are a much larger burden on low-income families because about 13.9 percent of their income is going straight towards that electric bill whereas usually it’s just 3 percent for other families. Between Winter Storm Uri and our power going out with the cold weather and then the water shortages we’ve had, we’ve kind of realized that energy and water shouldn’t be a luxury. It’s something that people need to have a safe environment to live in.”
For more information on CVCAA’s Weatherization Assistance Program, visit their website.
