Published: October 13, 2008 11:06 pm            

It's time to batten down the hatches

Home weatherization help available

Ulysses — Benny Bowens says he isn’t dreading winter this year nearly as badly as he used to.

That’s because, thanks to the efforts of the Northeast Kentucky Community Action Agency, the Lawrence County resident now has a dwelling that’s warm and energy-efficient.

Bowens’ two-bedroom trailer on Ky. 581 is one of more than 100 residences in the FIVCO area that received energy makeovers last fiscal year through Northeast’s weatherization program.

In June, workers from Northeast installed a new electric furnace in Bowens’ mobile home. They also hung two new doors and installed two new windows, a low-flow shower head and fluorescent light bulbs, and insulated the top of the trailer and painted the roof.

The disabled former construction worker said there was no way he could have paid for the upgrades himself. The work likely would have cost Bowens more than $3,000 had he hired someone to do it, said Kim Tackett, Northeast’s weatherization director.

Bowens said he had previously been using a kerosene space heater as his primary heat source. Inspectors from Northeast determined that he “didn’t have a safe heating system,” Tackett said.

Not only was the heater dangerous, it didn’t get the job done, Bowens said.

“It stayed pretty chilly,” he said.

Bowens said he was extremely pleased with the quality of the repairs to his home, and with the professionalism exhibited by those who made them.

“You couldn’t ask for any better people,” he said. “They did a great job. I’m really proud of them.”

To emphasize the importance of programs such as Northeast’s, and of home weatherization in general, particularly with ever-increasing energy costs, Gov. Steve Beshear has proclaimed Oct. 30 as Weatherization Day in Kentucky.

The observance also serves as a reminder for government and local community action agencies of the need to focus on finding ways to help low-income and elderly residents stay warm during the coming winter months.

During fiscal year 2007-2008, which ran from July 1 to June 30, Northeast weatherized 109 homes in Boyd, Carter, Greenup, Lawrence and Elliott counties, Tackett said.

Services performed included insulating ceilings and/or walls, replacing or repairing windows and doors, caulking, duct work repair, installing water heater insulation blankets and, in cases such as Bowens’, replacing entire heating systems, Tackett said.

To qualify for the program, applicants must meet income guidelines, which essentially state that the person can have household income of no more than 150 percent of the federal poverty level. That figure varies according to the number of people in the home. For example, a family of three can make up to $26,400 and still be eligible, Tackett said.

There is other criteria that must be met in addition to income — for example, the needed repairs must fall within Northeast’s budgetary guidelines.

“Just because you’re income-eligible doesn’t mean you’re eligible,” Tackett said. “But, it does mean that your home will be evaluated and inspected so we can determine if we can help you.”

Homes with elderly and handicapped residents and families with children under 6 receive top priority, Tackett said. Also, some qualifying homes that are served by Kentucky Power can qualify for additional work, she said.

More information about the weatherization program can be obtained from any Northeast office, or by calling the central office at (800) 817-4443.

KENNETH HART can be reached at khart@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2654.

        

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