Obama cuts to home energy assistance to have devastating consequences

The Obama administration’s plan to introduce a major cut in funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will have a devastating impact on the lives of working families throughout the United States.

Obama has slashed funding for LIHEAP down to $3.3 billion in his proposed budget for the fiscal year 2011. This represents a 35 percent reduction in funds allocated to the program, which had been budgeted for $5.1 billion in the previous year. The cut comes at a time when demand for assistance is at a record high due to soaring levels of unemployment in the US.

A new survey of state energy officials released in February shows that demand for home energy assistance is set to reach record levels for the third year in a row. According to LIHEAP’s Winter Application Survey, 8.8 million households are expected to require energy assistance this year. This marks a 15 percent increase in demand from the previous year’s record of 7.7 million households in need.

Applications for assistance have been increasing at an alarming rate with at least 10 states reporting an increase of 25 percent or more. The situation in Mississippi, which has the highest poverty rate in the country, is especially dire, with a staggering 68 percent increase in applicants since last year. In that same time, Washington state has seen an increase of 42 percent; Michigan, 38 percent; Nevada, 34 percent; and New Jersey, 31 percent.

The Obama cuts to LIHEAP will cripple a program that has already been overwhelmed by demand and has proven inadequate in meeting the social need for energy assistance. A significant number of those who are eligible for LIHEAP assistance in the US do not receive it. In Michigan, where a series of deadly house fires have taken the lives of Detroit residents struggling to cope without utilities, 1.7 million households were eligible for assistance through LIHEAP in 2009, but only 640,000 received it.

Similar circumstances can be found in states throughout the nation. Among the worst cases can be found in Louisiana, where 635,874 households were eligible for LIHEAP assistance in 2009, but only 21,000 received aid; and in Washington state, where 900,000 households were eligible but only 104,400 received aid.

In some cases, LIHEAP agencies have been completely depleted of funds. In Idaho, the Community Action Partnership Association, which processes the state’s LIHEAP applications, was forced to close the program three weeks early because overwhelming demand for assistance had completely exhausted its funds.

Mary Chant, the executive chair for the Community Action Partnership Association, said in a statement, “This year was an incredibly difficult year for tens of thousands of Idaho families. We could have easily served twice as many as we did if more funding had been available.”

A further reduction in already inadequate assistance funds will only ensure a greater number of illnesses and deaths among the most vulnerable members of society—including the elderly, the disabled and children—who are exposed to extreme temperatures because their households are unable to afford utilities. Deadly house fires can also be expected to rise as those struggling without utilities attempt to stay warm with space heaters or provide light with candles.

Those who somehow manage to scrape by will do so at the expense of other basic needs. Choosing between paying for food, utilities, medication or other forms of health care has become a way of life for millions in the US.

The dangers presented to poor and working class households by the LIHEAP cuts are also not confined to the winter months. The program also provides assistance with cooling costs during the summer. Hundreds already die each year in sweltering homes without access to air conditioning during heat waves that bring temperatures above the 100 degree mark. These deaths can also be expected to increase.

Adding to the risk of death and illness in the spring and summer months, it is often the case that utility companies, prevented by state laws from disconnecting power to homes during the winter months, prepare mass shutoffs during the spring. Utility customers are then forced to pay off outstanding balances before the power is restored. Many simply cannot afford the burden and will go without power.

A prime example of this is currently under way in Iowa, where demand for LIHEAP assistance is up 12 percent from last year. On Thursday, it was reported that 89,536 residents in Iowa are facing imminent utility shutoffs. Under that state’s Winter Moratorium Law, utility companies are prevented from disconnecting heat and electricity from customers who have been unable to pay their bills between November and April. The moratorium will end on April 2, and thousands will now lose their power. Jerry McKim, the LIHEAP director in Iowa, has warned that April could see a record-setting 100,000 utility shutoffs in the state.

There are currently 221,344 residents in Iowa, or 7.4 percent of the population, who are overdue on their accounts. They owe a combined $35.76 million to utility companies. These circumstances are repeated across the country.

The lives of hundreds of thousands across the US will continue to be placed in danger by utility shutoffs this year. The cuts made to LIHEAP by the Obama administration will only prevent an ever-greater number of those who are vulnerable to shutoffs from defending themselves against the loss of some of the most elementary requirements of human life.

How to Lower Home Energy Bills

We are blessed with the discovery and proper utilization of energy around us. There are several sources of energy that makes our living easier. Energy lights up our home every night, keeps us warm during cold winter, allows us to be entertained, and makes our living pleasant no matter what time of the day. And with all the other uses of energy from the moment we check our clocks in the morning to keeping us warn as we rest during the night, all of us would agree that it would be so hard to live without it.

We can say that we have sufficient energy supply for a lifetime but that does not mean that we are not going to conserve it. After all, technology has its price. And that price is something we have to pay with cash.

And if coping with electric bill is your problem every time you see your bills, here are the ways on how to lower them:

· Provide good roof coating

A good roof coating deflects heat. And so, insuring that the roof receives a good coating would mean insuring you that your house would maintain good temperature on the inside.

· Keep your attic well ventilated.

Your attic is one of the more important parts of your house when it comes to the cooling system. The attic is your first and probably the most effective part of your house the keeps the whole house cool. But, in order for your attic to do its main purpose, make sure that it is well insulated.

Provide vents where the heat can come out during summer. Your attic door must also be sealed to ensure that the air from our house does not go through it and vice versa. The attic door can be sealed with weather strippers.

· Securing all the leaks.

Leaks contribute to high cost of home energy. Why? It is because air from your house can easily come out from these leaks. And the air from the outside can easily enter the house. Both increase the workload of your heating and cooling system.

You have to remember that air moves according to air pressure and temperature. Since the temperature of inside your house is most of the time different from the temperature outside, air moves freely from these leaks. Making sure that the leaks are sealed would mean less work on your heating and cooling system and lower electric bills.

Leaks would come from fireplaces, ducts, doors, ceilings, floors, walls, windows, plumbing penetrations, electrical outlets, fans, and vents.

· Reducing the thermostat

One degree centigrade is equivalent to 5% electric bill savings. Therefore, keeping your thermostat low will save you a lot of money. A total saving would also come from switching your thermostat further low when you are not home or if you are sleeping. The ideal temperature during winter is not higher than 68 degrees Fahrenheit.

· Limiting the use of water heater

The second largest electric consumer next to your heating and cooling system is your water heater.

When you wash you clothes, you don’t need to heat the water up. Just use the water from the faucet. This will save you by as much as 90% in washing machine energy consumption.

· Use energy efficient material around your home.

There are commercially available materials that would significantly contribute to the reduction of the cost of home energy. One of these is energy efficient windows that deflect the outside temperature (whether during winter or summer) from entering your home.

· Use your appliance efficiently

It is pretty basic for all of us to turn off televisions, air conditioning, stereos and other electronic gadgets when not using them. However, most still disregard this. The reality is; we can save a lot if we only learn how to turn them off if not in use. Also, small things such as iPod chargers, cellphone chargers, digital clocks, lights and other things that seem to consume small electric current that remain plugged day in and day out contribute to your electric bill. Making sure you unplug them would certainly lower down your monthly electric consumption.

You have the details. All you have to do is to make sure you follow them all.

Product

There are some products that are here to make your home more clean, efficient energy use, environmentally friendly and make you more comfortable being at home.

Items here have passed through a series of tests that make it more secure, convenient and energy efficient.

1. Guide an effective way to clean house.

2. Free electric energy.

3. Green DIY energy.

4. Free Power Energy.

5. Home Renewable Energi.

6. Run Your Car With Water.

All the products above is very useful if you want a house in an efficient and energy saving.


All you can do yourself without the participation of other people, really cheap.

You can compare prices and benefits of these products are comparable in search engines like Google, Yahoo, MSN, Alexa and other search engines.

Take advantage of all that is natural for energy efficiency in your home and start enjoying it for all costs related to energy consumption will by itself decrease after you use the product.

Start enjoying the environmentally friendly energy starts from your home, for the future of a better world.

 

Making Your Mobile Home Energy Efficient

If you were living on a mobile home temporarily or permanently, you surely would want to cut down your electric consumption just like others who would like to cut down theirs.

Here are several ways in making your mobile home energy efficient :

·    Improving the roof paintjob

In the hot and humid months of June, July, August, and September, mobile homes tend to heat up. This is because mobile homes are not built with much ventilation. On regular homes, large attics the separate the outside from the inside keep houses cool. Vents on these attics further contribute to reduction of heat penetration to the house. The space separating the roof of a mobile home and the ceiling is not enough to keep the inside cool. As a result, air conditioning system works harder during hot summer days. Thus, consuming more energy. To lessen the heat penetration to the home, cool roof coating can be done.

Do this when it is not raining since cool roof coating is water-based.

Repainting the roof of your mobile home to deflect the heat that can potentially penetrate to the inside.

·    Providing better roof insulation

Many people, even a mobile home contractor would suggest that you couldn’t do anything to improve the insulation of your mobile home. To tell you honestly, they are totally wrong. You can access the roof cavity from the edge of the roof that is connected with the wall or from the directly through the rooftop. Doing so will save you as much as 15% of your total cooling system consumption.

You can do this on your own or find someone who knows how to do this.

·    Maintaining a good air conditioning

Air conditioning occupies the biggest chunk of your electric bill. This is why you need to make sure that you get the most out of it. To so this, check your air conditioning system regularly. You can start with the air duct. Make sure that the air duct is sealed. Any small leak would let the outside air to enter, thus making the air conditioning to work harder.

Your mobile home’s air duct is usually located underneath. You may want to skirt your mobile home to the ground of few inches from the ground to protect the duct during winter and summer. Skirting would also provide additional protection from your pets to destroy the duct.

·    Air sealing your mobile home

The best way to keep the air outside from entering is to seal every spaces of your mobile home. Windows, doors, and other openings can be sealed by weather stripping, a rubber sealant that keeps that interior airtight.

Doing this will let the air from coming out of the mobile home.

·    The mobile home location

Sitting your mobile home under the shade would let you save from air conditioning. Since shades draw away heat even before it reaches the roof of your mobile home, your air conditioning will not be forced to cool the interior.

·    Ensuring the water heater

The water heater takes 14% of your total energy consumption. This is the second largest energy consumer next to the air conditioning system. If your water heater is located outside the compartment, it surely takes additional energy load since the heat is lost because of the outside air. You cannot cover it of course for safety purposes. Instead, you can use insulation jacket. This will keep the heat inside the tank.

The thermostat dictates the energy consumption of the water heater. If you have less water demand, 120 degrees Fahrenheit is sufficient enough. For larger water consumption, 140 degrees Fahrenheit is usually required.

·    Windows

Proper selection of shutters, shades, and drapes is important to keep the heat inside or away from the mobile home. But, you have to use them properly. Close them during the night to keep the cool air from the outside away and open it during the day if you are not using air conditioning. Use thick shutters, shades, or drapes during winder to keep to cool air from coming in. 

Consider all these to make sure you maximize the use of power in your home. In turn, you will save money on electric bills. 

Clients

Items referred to in this blog is addressed to individuals in the list below :

1. Having concern for the environment.

2. Having a concern for improving the level of oxygen in the air.

3. Having a desire to stop global warming.

4. Having a desire to prevent climate change.

5. Having a desire to save more energy efficient manner.

6. Have to use alternative energy to substitute fossil  energy.

7. Having the desire to make the future better world .

If you are one of the individuals who are above you can start buying and using renewable alternative products that can replace fossil energy is not renewable.

More information about renewable energy products that can be found on the site google, yahoo, MSN, Alexa and other search engines.

Home Energy Rating System Certificate Training

Things You’ll Learn in a Home Energy Rating System Training Certificate

As a homeowner, you have to exercise an extreme sense of responsibility. Not only should you be responsible in keeping your home a healthy place to live in but it must be something that will exude an utmost environment-friendly surrounding too. When it comes to the home energy system, you must likewise be responsible in handling it too. Not because you’ve got a decent income means that you can consume as much home energy as you intend to just for the reason that you’ve got sufficient funds to pay for it. This thinking is definitely wrong! You should exercise that need to conduct some home energy rating. How will you do this? Home energy rating system training certificate are held by the concerned agencies. If you like, you can enroll.

What will you learn from the home energy rating training certificate?

Students in the home energy rating training certificate are taught about the house acting like that of a system. You will therefore be acquainted with the principles on how to readily evaluate the performance of the home energy system and likewise be able to hone some worthy improvements in it. You will also become aware of how you can make use of some powerful diagnostic devices and software that will help you conduct the thorough home energy analysis. Finally, you will be kept abreast with the most recent incentive programs and energy finances that will aid you in expanding any business you’ve got to tender.

Who are mostly attending the energy rating training certificate courses?

Any person who moves around and who gets involved in the building industry must be aware of how the energy system in his place works. In this manner, he will be given ample insights as to how he may extend his marketed business. The energy rating training certificate aims at educating business-minded personas. The most targeted groups of individuals include the insulation contractors, home inspectors, builders, HVAC contractors, utility representatives, energy engineers, and remodelers. These people are gauged towards the careers concerning energy rating so they must be equipped with sufficient knowledge on the matter. But if you are a simple homeowner who wants to know about the ropes of this trade, you may as well give yourself the opportunity to earn the knowledge regarding this stuff. But then if you do not understand any of these terms, you can just hire somebody who is an expert to conduct the home energy rating for you.

What are mostly to be learned from the energy rating training certificate course?

Generally, the students of the course will reap the knowledge about how the entire house works as one unified system; get to know the working principles of the moisture transfer, air, and heat; the process of using the most recent state-of-the-art diagnostic devices such as that of the duct blaster and the blower door; the manner of producing a thorough home energy analysis by the use of the necessary software; how you will be able to expand your business if you have by simply making use of the home energy rating system; how you will be able to gain promotion, compliance, and financial incentives from the utility-sponsored degree programs, and finally, on the knowledge of how you will be able to certify an energy star home.

What are usually included in the entire course?

The paraphernalia involved in the home rating training certificate are the copies of the residential energy, home energy rating manual, training overheads, set of Southface factsheets, resources on financing energy efficiency resources, samples of completed rating, discounts on the purchases of the vital equipment from the sponsored vendors, and lastly, the certificate of completion. 

What will you get out of this home energy training certificate classes?

By means of undergoing this course, you are already on your step towards becoming one certified Home Energy Rater. In truth, the energy rater is the one who creates the energy rating reports that will aid the homeowners and homebuyers to qualify for all of the financing incentives by means of the lineup of government and private loan programs.

If you are interested to attend these home rating training certificate courses, you must secure your application. The classes will definitely allot you with worthy insights and knowledge.

Solar Home Energy: What is it for ?

Solar energy—this term basically does not cause a stirring in the mind as the explanation that comes at hand is indeed too simple. 

Everyone knows what is meant by solar energy, and that is, the energy that comes from the sun. 

In its most basic sense, solar energy and other solar home equipment are nonetheless environment-friendly and not risky at all. 

But then you need not become one fine environmentalist first before you will be able to come across with whatever advantageous benefit solar home energy has.

Why is the solar home energy said to be environment-friendly? What are its general benefits ? 

Practically speaking, when solar home energy is used, the electrical bills tremendously go down as compared to the other type of home energy available for all people. 

Why would you pay for such expensive bills when all you need to do is to employ solar home energy ?

Another major advantage of the solar home energy is the absence of the very complicated and dangerous wiring. 

Solar energy lights in the garden path or any other solar energy-powered items used in your home are ready to be installed less the wiring to be dealt with. 

In reality, these solar light bulbs are equipped with darkness sensors so they need not be turned on to give off light and they need not be turned off as well when they are no longer needed.

As a sort of simple explanation, the solar light bulbs will simply have to be purchased, taken out of the boxes, installed, and then presto! You just have to situate them where you want them to be and never worry about them ever again.

A List of the Benefits of Solar home Energy

Why is the solar home energy equally beneficial ? 
Why is it more recommended for use ? 

Here are some of its benefits which are truly worth the attention to be graced by anyone:

Solar home energy is environmentally friendly. 
As mentioned a while ago, solar home energy will not harm the environmental features. 

It is specifically clean and renewable as well. More so, it does not cause pollution just like what the rest of the traditional electrical forms do.

Solar home energy systems need the least maintenance. 
They are not fuel-powered so no need to buy the refills.

Solar home energy makes you save a lot of money. 
The energy that is derived from the sun can be accessed for free as you make use of solar lights, solar panels, and the likes. The federal government most of the time gives out financial incentives. 
You don’t get affected by the rise of the fuel rates since you are using solar home energy.

Making use of the solar home energy makes you entirely independent from the foreign and centralized energy sources. 
Power outages will not likely affect you in any manner.

Most of the solar energy items are very easy to install thus lessening the complicated work of the wiring systems.

Some Common Disadvantages of the Solar Home Energy

Of course the disadvantages will not be taken aside. 
Here are some of the most common disadvantages of the solar home energy:

The employment of a solar home energy can be expensive at first. But as time passes by, it becomes light to the pocket.

The strength of the solar home energy will relatively depend on the location of your home in relation with its facing to the sun. Also, the area of your home is another point to consider. 
You will need large areas to install the solar panels.

The Various Solar Energy Items

There are lots of solar energy devices that you may opt to buy. Included are the solar flashlights, solar heaters, car ventilators, solar video cameras, solar radios, solar pool purifier, solar mosquito inhibitor, solar lighting, and solar fountain pumps.

What You Must Do

Back in the earlier years, solar energy powered devices were very costly that very few homeowners made use of the solar home energy. But these days, small volumes of solar energy devices are put up for sale therefore making it affordable for all. 

If you don’t have enough money to fund these items you can always start small.