Living in an old house in Buffalo has its ups and downs. For example, the heating bill is especially up in winter, which really gets you down. But there are plenty of little things you can do to “weatherize” your home in order to cut back on heating costs.
This winter, the WNY Apollo Alliance will kick-off their third annual Home Energy Conservation Kit (HECK) program. As recent as last Saturday, Apollo volunteers visited homes in the Fruit Belt and made homes more efficient by caulking, weatherstripping, adding energy efficient light bulbs, and by insulating pipes. They also showed and discussed ways of lowering heating bills by reducing the temperature on water heaters and applying for eligibility in the Weatherization Assistance Program which provides various energy efficient products to low income people for free.
If you live in the 14211 or 14204 zip code and have a moderate or low income, call Sharon Benz at 716.839.8524 to apply for service. They will be able to serve 50 homes.
Also, you can call Veronica Moore at 716.852.4191 extension 105 to volunteer and learn useful weatherizing techniques to be used in your own home.
Did you know that Buffalo’s heating costs are 30% over the national average? Rents and home prices are low, but with the added costs, they become less affordable than they seem. Also, Buffalo homes contribute a large bulk of the greenhouse gas emissions in the area.