Weatherization Makes $ense

Everyone can benefit from the weatherization of your home or apartment. You save money and you reduce pollution.  In mid-February, PEA will premiere a new webpage at www.peaNC.org that will be dedicated exclusively to providing information on weatherization. This resource will include information on WHY homeowners should weatherize, WHAT projects will provide the biggest bang for the buck, HOW to fund weatherization projects, WHERE to get more information, and WHO to call for jobs that are too big to do-it-yourself.

PEA hopes that providing comprehensive information on weatherization to local residents will lead to a reduction in total green house gas emissions in our community. These green house gas reductions will be achieved through decreased electricity, gas, and fuel oil use required to heat and cool homes. Through its Weatherization resource, PEA will also spread the message that being “environmentally friendly” also makes good economic sense. Specific information on estimated savings will be provided for each project. Thus, consumers will learn that saving the environment and saving money can go hand-in-hand.

The PEA Weatherization Project will provide the following information:

•    Why Weatherize (information designed to inspire homeowners to weatherize, including energy and money savings facts as well as data supporting the positive environmental effects of energy efficiency);

•    What to Do (information and resources for conducting a home energy audit; information on weather-proofing basics; information on projects ranging from simple do-it-yourself weatherization tasks to complex jobs requiring an experienced contractor; information on estimated costs and estimated savings, both in dollars and emissions, for each project);

•    How to Pay for It (information about and links to an application for stimulus funding, rebates from utilities, and information on tax credits);

•    Where to Get More Information (comprehensive set of links to information and step-by-step instructions on a wide range of weatherization projects);

•    Who to Call for More Complex Jobs (links to help consumers locate vendors, suppliers, and service providers in our community for those jobs that are too big to do yourself).

PEA will premier this new community resource at the Home Builders Association of Winston-Salem Triad Home and Garden Show.  PEA is looking forward to participating in the Triad Home and Garden Show, where the information available through the Weatherization project will be displayed. PEA will also give away weatherization kits to randomly selected individuals who visit the PEA display during the show.