The Iowa Utilities Board is looking for more groups to take up projects to weatherize the homes of low-income and elderly Iowans. Board spokesman Chuck Seel says they started the project at the end of 2005. He says as an added inducement they’re using money from “voluntary penalty settlements” for matching grants for groups to buy the caulking and other material the groups need for projects.
Seel says the money should help the groups do a lot of good. Seel says one of the state’s utilities is also making some money available, so the group could possibly get matching grants from both. Caulking some tiny holes in a house might not seem like much — but Seel says it’s important.
Seel says of all the things you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your home, sealing up around windows and doors and other areas is the simplest. Seel says it cost an estimated 50 dollars to weatherize a home and there’s an immediate impact by stopping cold air from coming in. Seel says your group can get information on the grants by calling the Iowa Utilities Board.
You can call 1-877-565-4451 or go to the website at www.state.ia.us/iub for information. Seel says they have a coordinator for this project and kits to tell you how to do it. The deadline for submitting a grant application is November 1st.