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Weatherized Homes
FOX 24’s Linh Bui tells us about one Middle Georgia organization that is saving energy one house at a time
Linh Bui
Story Created:
Jul 2, 2009 at 4:36 PM CDT
Story Updated:
Jul 2, 2009 at 11:07 PM CDT
Gladys Dawson has lived in her Sylvia Avenue home in Centerville for almost 40 years, but she says it's too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter.
"In the wintertime, my heating bill is so high,” she says. “And in the summertime, my light bill is so high.”
So she contacted the Middle Georgia Community Action Agency to weatherize her home and make it more energy efficient.
"When they came out, I was surprised at what they found...where I was losing air and heat,” Dawson says.
The Agency set up a blower door test, where a fan sucks air out of the house so they can find holes where air comes in. Then they use environmentally friendly materials to cover up the cracks. They also install energy-efficient light bulbs and put green installation in the attic.
Weatherization Inspector Jim Evans with the Middle Georgia Community Action Agency says, "It'll be cooler and with a lot less effort to make it cool, particularly this time of year. And of course, when the light bill comes in, there will be about a 15 percent difference on it."
And through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the agency's budget will increase from $10 million to $130 million, which means they'll weatherize even more homes… an estimated 32 houses a month.
Jennette Gayer is an advocate with Environment Georgia and says, "We're going to be seeing lots more examples like this all across the state... people saving money, saving energy, creating jobs and at the same time saving our environment."
Dawson says her house already feels cooler, but the proof will arrive in the mailbox later this month.
"I'm looking for my next bill to see if it's gone down any and I'm sure it has,” Dawson says.
Low income families and individuals are eligible for the weatherization program. So if you’d like to apply, you can reach the Middle Georgia Community Action Agency at (478) 922-4464.
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