City offers home energy efficiency upgrades
The City of Tucson is seeking 100 applications from homeowners for energy efficiency retrofits paid for by federal stimulus funds.
The retrofits are aimed at saving homeowners between 15 and 20 percent on energy bills, according to Gina Chorover, a city project manager.
The retrofit corrects energy inefficiencies in homes by substituting compact fluorescent light bulbs for incandescents, installing low-flow faucets and shower heads, adding solar screens on west-facing windows and improving overall home weatherization, according to a press release.
Chorover said she hopes that through the upgrades and education, the number of inefficient homes in Tucson and across the country will decrease.
"We get comments all the time from people about how happy people are to have people to come in and help them," Chorover said. "Part of it is the retrofit, but part of it is education."
The upgrades are being completed with a $100,000 federal grant to Tucson's Office of Community and Sustainable Development as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The work will be completed by non-profit organizations that have contracted with the city.
The city began the upgrades this winter, completing approximately 200 out of 300 upgrades funded.
The program is limited to middle and low income families. For more information on requirements and how to apply, visit the program's website.
