KBIA Local
(2009-08-13)
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COLUMBIA, MISSOURI
(KBIA) -
A local organization has received federal grant money that will triple the amount of work they can do. KBIA's Maureen McCollum reports.
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Central Missouri Community Action, among many things, helps weatherize homes for low-income families. Executive Director Darin Preis says they send energy auditors to families who qualify for their program.
Long story short, we seal off the home and blow air into it and see where air comes out. So, where air comes out are the places that we can have some impact.
Preis says they then repair windows, put in installation, seal and caulk holes all which make the home more energy efficient. He says this makes a difference in the summer and winter, and after weatherization, the average family saves $30-$80 per month on utility bills.
Last year, CMCA weatherized about 120 homes in eight counties through mid-Missouri, including Audrain, Boone, Callaway, and Cole. Now, after receiving more than $3 million in federal stimulus funding and an increase in annual funding from Missouri's Department of Natural Resources, Preis says they will weatherize about 500 homes. He says with the stimulus money, they'll be able to train and educate more people about energy conservation
There's a lot of things that we don't really think about that we hope to provide information to help people think a little bit more deeply about their behaviors and how they manage energy in their homes. Ultimately, we're trying to serve people with very low incomes and we want the money they do make to go even further.
Central Missouri Community Action's performance will be evaluated in a year by the DNR, and if they hit their benchmarks, they could receive more money.
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