September 2005 Housing News

Weatherization Applications: If you are elderly, low-income, disabled, and your house has no foundation problems, no leaky roof or plumbing problems, has good electrical wiring, then you may qualify to receive free weatherization services. Services might include insulation, weather-stripping and caulking, a new gas water heater, space heater, a window air-conditioning unit, or replacement of your central HVAC system. For more information, please call Weatherization at 1-800-749-2010 or 210-363-5245.
Energy Topic of the Month: The Furnace - Heating is one of our biggest energy expenses. To save money on your heating costs here are some tips:

    1. Turn your thermostat down 5 degrees. Each degree saves about 2% on your heating bill; that's about $50 on a $500 heating bill.

    2. Have your furnace tuned-up by a professional. An oil-burning furnace should be checked once a year, a gas-burning furnace every 2-3 years. The savings by doing this can add up to 10% on your heating costs.

    3. Check the filter each month if you have a warm-air furnace or a heat-pump. Clean and replace the filters as needed.

    4. Check water levels if you have hot water or steam heat. A furnace dealer can tell you how to add more water and give you tips to make your system operate better.

    5. Clear the area around your furnace. This lessens the chance of fire and actually improves airflow. This is very important!

    6. Remove clutter. Make sure heat can get into the room. Keep furniture and drapes from blocking radiators, heating registers, and return vents.

    7. Forget about using the stove to heat your home. It is expensive and very dangerous.

Here are some precautions when purchasing and using space heaters. Fires and carbon monoxide poisonings result each year from their use.

    1. Use a space heater that has been tested as having the latest safety standards.

    2. Place space heaters in an open area. They should be placed on a level, hard, non-flammable surface so air can circulate around them. Keep them at least 3 feet away from flammable materials.

    3. Turn off the space heater when you leave the room or go to sleep. Do not place a space heater near anyone sleeping.

    4. Avoid using un-vented gas space heaters. If you do use one, always keep the doors open to the rest of the house. This will help keep dangerous pollutants from building up.

Reference: The 2005 Energy Savers Calendar - www.projectenergysavers.org - a program of the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association or NEADA.
Wednesday, September 21, 2005 at 8:30 a.m. - The Housing Advisory Committee will be holding a Public Hearing to receive comments or input regarding the 2006 Annual Public Housing Authority (PHA) Plan for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program. Click here to view the plan. For more information, please call the Section 8 Program at 1-800-749-2010 or 210-362-5284.
September 25-28 - The 2005 National Weatherization Training Conference will be held in New Orleans, Louisiana. The annual conference is sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Energy. The Weatherization Program has been helping thousands of low-income, elderly, and disabled residents throughout the country since 1976. The WAP remains a dynamic, vibrant program that makes a tremendous difference in a person's life, particularly in reduction of utility consumption and an increase in savings. Every year, WAP experts, professionals, technicians and others assemble to stay up-to-date on the latest state-of-the-art in weatherization. Topics this year will include: Air Conditioning Strategies, Energy Star Products, Electrical Safety, Hydronic/Boiler Heating Systems, Electric Utility Consumption Analysis: Why it Matters and How to do it, Lead Safe Weatherization, Mobile Home Clinic on Attics, Strategic Air Sealing with Dense Pack, Doing Ducts Right, Dwelling Ventilation Strategies, Weatherization for Multi-Family Buildings, Efficient Energy Audit Assessments, Electric Baseload, High-Efficiency Furnaces, Managing Contractors, Alternative to Unvented Space Heaters, etc. For more information about the conference, please go to www.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/conference or call toll free 800-608-7141. Email address: weatherization2005@doeevents.com.
September 8-9 - The U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development is sponsoring a Green Building Conference for training in Denton, Texas. The conference/workshop will provide information to Public Housing Authorities on how to use its Public Housing Capital Funds towards energy performance, including the purchase of energy-efficient appliances that are Energy Star products. For more information, please contact Ruben Villanueva at HUD at 210-475-6800.
Helpful Numbers: The Weatherization Assistance Program frequently gets phone calls from people needing home repairs. Because we are not a home repair program, we cannot help these people directly. However, there are a few agencies in Bexar County and in Guadalupe and other rural counties that may be able to assist with home repairs via loan programs or actual on-site repairs. These include the following: