Home Energy Efficiency can be a 
Did you know that you may be eligible for help with your home’s energy efficiency or energy bills from a local non-profit organization? Sound too good to be true? (I know, right??) But, read on! There’s a local program that could provide substantial benefits if you qualify. SNAP’s “mission” is to help make safe, affordable and energy efficient housing more accessible to all.
Here’s an amazing example:
A client of mine, a senior citizen on a fixed income, recently bought a cute home for her and her “fur babies.” It was a bit dated and needed some work, but in today’s competitive real estate market, she could afford it, so she decided to make it work. As she was working to prioritize what home repairs she could afford, she received a couple of email “newsletters” from Avista (our local power company.) At first, she ignored them because she thought they were “junk mail.” But one day, she decided to read the email. Avista was encouraging people to fill out a questionnaire to see if they qualified for a “home weatherization evaluation.” She figured she had nothing to lose by filling out the form, so she did.
A very short time later, she received a call asking to schedule a time for a SNAP representative to review her home’s energy efficiency. A SNAP representative arrived a few days later and performed a detailed review of her home, attic to basement, including testing to determine if her home’s walls were insulated. The SNAP representative even brought some free home supplies, including foam gaskets to install around electrical outlets to block cold air coming through electrical outlets.
Here’s where the story starts to sound like a “fairytale.” Very soon after the SNAP home visit, my client was informed that SNAP was offering to make all the following repairs FREE OF CHARGE!
- Replace her 23-year old furnace with a new energy efficient furnace
- Install new insulation in all above-ground exterior walls and in the attic
- Install new insulated front and back doors (because the original doors had gaps that let in cold air)
- Install a new energy efficient fan in the bathroom to vent moist air to the outdoors
All tallied, these upgrades would have cost upwards of $10,000, which my client could not afford. And, once the work is completed, my client will save money every month on her energy bills. Plus, more efficient energy use is good for the environment, and good for the Earth! So, it’s a WIN, WIN, WIN!
The “moral of the story” is, if you need help with your energy bills or your home’s energy efficiency, look into whether SNAP can help you reach those goals. SNAP also has programs to help people in need to find affordable housing, as well as home financing assistance. You may qualify for assistance. You never know until you ask!
Check out SNAP’s website and see if SNAP might be able to help you or someone you know.
www.SNAP.org/menu/
Also, if you happen to be someone who doesn’t need SNAP’s assistance, but believes in their mission, SNAP gladly accepts donations! You can help make our community a better place, one home at a time!