Learn to Reduce Utility Expenses Through ‘Weatherization’ Demonstration

The St. Johns Housing Partnership will demonstrate how to help lower utility bills and improve air quality at home during a weatherization demonstration today.

The demonstration will be at the Home Depot in St. Augustine on U.S. 1 from 10:30 a.m. to around 5 p.m. A weatherization specialist with the housing partnership will educate people about weatherization and about how to get a home weatherized for free as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Weatherization includes fixing leaks in appliances — such as a gas stove — and improving insulation. Making the house less leaky also improves air quality.

“It’s making the home a lot more comfortable,” said Bill Lazar, director of the housing partnership, about weatherization. “It’s reducing the utility bill.”

On average, utility bills are reduced by 15 to 20 percent after weatherization. And in a few cases utility bills have gone down by 50 percent.

The free weatherization program has helped hundreds of homes get weatherized and has created jobs in the county, Lazar said. But money for the program will run out by February, so people who are interested should check to see if they qualify as soon as possible.

If you can’t make it out to the demonstration but want to learn more about the program, go to the housing partnership’s website at www.sjhp.org or call the office at 824-0902.