NORWICH — With a hint of winter’s cold weather rearing its head over this past weekend, many Chenango County homeowners are preparing their homes for the inevitable frigid intrusion that is winter in upstate NY.
Each year, the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) uses that stiff reminder as leverage to recognize Oct. 30 as National Weatherization Day across the U.S. The day is reserved for recognizing the program’s efforts and demonstrating the value of the energy saving services that benefit low-income households that participate in this program.
Opportunities for Chenango Inc. (OFC) Weatherization Department decided that a good way to recognize Weatherization Day locally for 2014 would be to feature the weatherization work of a recently completed project. The department invited local government and code officials to participate in a tour of a recipient’s home.
The gathering was held at the home of Joseph and Debra Sherman, City of Norwich residents who benefitted from the WAP program. The presentation of their home was a finished product model of energy efficient affordable housing.
A mulch-program, multi-agency approach was initiated by the WAP in an effort to address the substantial needs of the century-old home to meet modern energy efficiency standards.
An initial comprehensive energy audit revealed that the Shermans’ home had no insulation in the exterior walls or attic, essentially leaching heat from all angles. The audit also found that significant air leaks were further making the home uncomfortable and taxing the operating efficiency of the 23-year-old oil burner furnace.
Working in concert with the Chenango HOME repair program, EMPOWER NY, WAP and their managing entity Opportunities for Chenango worked through piles of paperwork to get the proper funding streams lined up to make the project happen, essentially keeping the Sherman's in their home.
Susan Bard, Weatherization Operations Manager with OFC said, “We really need to get the word out about Weatherization and all the good it does for the communities of Chenango County.”
According to Bard, there were a number of other factors added to the abnormally high energy costs of the Shermans’ home. “The windows were badly deteriorated and could not be repaired so they had to be replaced,” said Bard. “A large amount of air sealing work needed to be performed to reduce cold air infiltration and heat loss. The refrigerator was over 20 years old and very inefficient. It was not surprising that their heat and electric bills were so high.”
“WAP was able to replace the inefficient refrigerator and furnace, purchased the windows, tape and mastic sealed the duct work, installed exhaust fans, and performed air sealing work throughout the home,” said Bard.
“We have not had the furnace come on yet this year and it is still 69 degrees in here,” said Joe Sherman. “Even when it gets down to 40 or lower at night and in the summer, it is a lot cooler,” he added.
“Our Agency only gets to do it once in awhile, so we really want to make it count,” said Bard.
“We have been telling all of our friends about work that was done and showing folks that come to the house,” said Debra Sherman.
For more information on WAP or energy audit services, contact Opportunities for Chenango at 336-2101.