Many Virginians at or below the poverty level are struggling with utility bills and looking for any possible way to cut costs.
As Virginia Public Radio's Tommie McNeil report, one way to save could be the free Weatherization Assistance Program administered by the state's Department of Housing and Community Development.
Weatherization can cut energy bills by up to 35-percent, and the program seeks to assist low-income residents in this way. Deputy Housing Director Chris Thompson says the program is not limited to a specific region.
“We have state-wide coverage, and we will assess their eligibility – and we also have priority that have elderly persons or persons with children as well.”
Department PR Director Amanda Pearson says once a household qualifies, a trained technician within the statewide network will come and conduct an energy audit.
“They really look for ways to improve the energy efficiency of homes. So, insulation, looking at duct work, windows – that sort of thing to see how they can keep the air in and keep the costs down for heating and cooling.”
The program will pay for any remodeling and contract work. Pearson and Thompson say the good news is that this program works in conjunction with other energy-saving programs, such as the one Dominion Virginia Power offers its customers. So far, the program has cut energy costs for more than 42,500 Virginia homes