Save yourself some utility money - WALB.com, Albany News, Weather, Sports

Save yourself some utility money

  • More WALB News10 HeadlinesMore News Headlines

  • Thursday, June 20 2013 12:09 AM EDT2013-06-20 04:09:02 GMT
    The Albany Water Gas and light commission is preparing customers for a change that starts soon for those who pay with debit or credit cards.   WG&L leaders say the utility is paying $20,000 dollars a month
    The Albany Water Gas and light commission is preparing customers for a change that starts soon for those who pay with debit or credit cards.

  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:41 PM EDT2013-06-20 03:41:18 GMT
    An Albany man who was born when Woodrow Wilson was president celebrated his birthday today. Century Pines Assisted Living Center threw a party for resident Charles Walker who turned 101 today. Walker was
    An Albany man who was born when Woodrow Wilson was president celebrated his birthday today.

  • Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:34 PM EDT2013-06-20 03:34:54 GMT
    For years, the area right across the street from the RiverQuarium has been rundown, but that's changing. A couple of businesses are thriving there. The new art park is open, and a sidewalk improvement
    For years, the area right across the street from the RiverQuarium has been rundown, but that's changing.
    •   

January 13, 2006

Albany -- Cold weather will return this weekend, but lowering your utility bill may not be as hard as you think. You may be able to weatherizing your home free.

A foot of prevention may be worth a yard of cure. Especially when it can turn an older drafty home into an airtight fortress for free. "They were not livable, you could actually feel the cold air coming through the windows," said Homeowner Letisha Williams.

Williams' landlord suggested she call the city of Albany's Weatherization Assistance program. Within a week of filling out the forms and qualifying crews were out to test her home. "They close the doors and they put a blower in one of the doors, and it sucks the air out of the house. By doing that it shows where you have air penetration," said John Thompson of Thompson Construction.

It shows where air may be leaking around windows, doors, around the chimney, and even cracks around your sink and pipes. "In this house here a lot of the air was coming in around the windows and doors and around the attic access because of low insulation that's up there," said Thompson.

The simple fixes add up. "It was like $177, I think my highest was like $235, but the last bill I got was like $177.84," said Williams.

"My understanding of our average has been cutting anywhere from forty to sixty dollars off the utility bills," said Thompson.

"With these new windows it's going lower than that and that's great, that's really great." said Williams.

Program officials say they also give applicants practical tips. "I put my thermostat at 68 and I leave it there," says Weatherization Coordinator Geraldine Fletcher. "If I'm cold I get a sweater, a pair of socks."

Recipients say not only will it save them money on their bills it adds to their home. "It's a home, but anytime that a home is upgraded, that's, that's great," said Letisha Williams.

The Weatherization Assistance Program is designed to help low-income, elderly, or disabled people in Albany or Dougherty County who have a hard time paying their utility bills.

Feedback: news@walb.com?subject=Weatherization