On
this blog, we’ve talked quite a bit about the weatherization services that we
at Neighborhood Housing Services of South Buffalo offer. Not only does having
your home weatherized lead to a lower energy cost for you, it also creates a
greener and healthier environment in your home.
Starting
May 1st, the organization will open up its Weatherization Assistance
Program for pre-applications and will provide a $50 gift certificate to 25
block clubs and/or community centers that sign up for our program. This program
is available throughout the City of Buffalo. If more than 25 block
clubs/community centers participate, a drawing will be held on Saturday, June 1st
at the NHSSB office to select 25 organizations to receive the gift
certificates. One authorized agent of each block club can contact the NHSSB
office at 823-3630, and/or the Weatherization office 837-0071 to reserve your
packet on the pre-application process. Packets can also be obtained by visiting
our offices at 1937 South Park Avenue or 135 Manhattan.
Not
part of a block club? No problem! You can still apply for weatherization
services, though you won’t receive the $50 gift card. Eligible applicants of
the weatherization program will receive a free energy audit, insulation,
weather-stripping, caulking, electrical savings measures such as energy
efficient bulbs, replacement of an aged refrigerators and, if your health
warrants, a free air conditioner. Weatherization can save you money during the
summer and winter months.
The
Weatherization Assistance Program also provides assistance for low income
tenants! Landlords can participate in the Weatherization Assistance Program.
A small percentage of the work performed is subsidized by the landlord.
Landlords pay a onetime fee for the energy audit that will indicate where
energy leakage is occurring, check your heating systems, chimney air venting
for fumes produced by the heating and hot water tanks, electrical usage on
refrigerators, attic and wall insulation levels, and many more factors relating
to high energy usage. That audit fee is then credited towards the overall work
performed and the 30% subsidized cost.
As an example, if you are a landlord with a double home renting to
two low income families, your audit expenses will be $ 400. Once the audit is
performed, and inputted into a technical software program to address the areas
in need of weatherization a cost estimate is provided to the landlord. This
estimate will provide estimates on the costs to achieve energy savings through
weatherizing the units. If the cost is projected at $5,000 for the entire
building, then the landlord would provide $1,500 (30%) of the estimated costs
minus the $400 audit fee. This brings the investment by the landlord to
$1,100 for both units and the outer shell. This one time investment by
the landlord will provide years of lower cost utilities borne by the low income
tenant and stabilize your rental portfolio. The cost in the example of $1,100
is the rent for one month of both units.
NHS of South Buffalo has provided
weatherization assistance to more than 5,100 Buffalo families since 1999. They
employ professional, experienced weatherization crews and provide highly rated
support for clients. We are now coordinating services with NYSERDA’s EmPower
program. No need to call two
organizations/businesses, we can now
provide both! Most of the homes in Buffalo are poorly insulated, and sealing
them up can save homeowners hundreds of dollars on their utilities. The
programs offered by NHS of South Buffalo are for both homeowners and tenants.
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