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Difficult Times by R.E. Darby

Difficult times require us to take advantage of every resource and strategy available out there. We need to track down any free services and learn how to trim our costs and bring our utility bill down as much as possible. Free home weatherization. This is a good place to start, the Community Action Commission does a good job with this.
CAC’s Energy Services provides energy conservation education, home weatherization, and appliance replacement services to help reduce energy costs, and utility payment assistance to low-income qualified households.

Weatherization- This free service for eligible families lowers utility bills by replacing older gas and electric appliances with more energy-efficient models, installing weather stripping, water heater blankets, and low-flow faucets, and other minor household repairs. Residents can either be homeowners or renters (with landlord approval). Services also improve home health, safety and comfort by identifying carbon monoxide and other safety hazards. Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)- This program provides once-a-year utility bill payments to income eligible households.

Used Oil Recycling Education / Carbon Monoxide Testing- In conjunction with both the Weatherization and Home Energy Assistance Program, households receive in-home educational information on how to protect our environment by reducing the illegal dumping of used oil products. Fifteen-quart used oil containers/ transporters and containment mats are available free of charge in CAC’s Energy Services offices in Goleta and Lompoc. Carbon Monoxide Testing is also done for Weatherization clients to insure that gas appliances are in safe working order. Carbon Monoxide Detectors are installed free of charge to qualified residences.

Used Oil Recycling Locations For more information about any of these programs call Energy Services: North County- (805) 736-2399 South County- (800) 655-0617 or (805) 964-8857

What Else?

More and more people are becoming aware of their use of resources, especially energy resources. This awareness is mostly the result of environmental considerations, but cost is also an important issue. When you sit down and crunch the numbers after a short time of energy saving measures it is very surprising how much money you will save. And it's little things that make a big difference, like turning the lights off when we leave a room and switching our old light bulbs for new energy saving ones. Weatherizing our homes, for example; plugging up the gaps under doors and around windows. Turning off the water when not directly using it. Here in America we have some behavior modification to endure. That is, we are so accustomed to our conveniences in all things, that it will be somewhat painful changing our habits.
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