The President's Corner

Recently, I was speaking to a young couple in Parma. They moved into their first home with their newborn last fall. Both work steady jobs, but are finding it difficult to save for retirement or for their child’s college fund. In the midst of our conversation, they asked me advice on how to save money. I provided several suggestions, including the one I am going to share in this column.

No doubt, one of the biggest expenses of homeownership is keeping the home warm during the cool months and cool during the warmer ones. If only we could bottle that warm and cool air!  This is why my wife and I had a home energy audit completed by Columbia Gas of Ohio a few years back. As a result of the projects we completed following the audit, our little brick bungalow is among the most energy efficient homes in Parma – saving us hundreds of dollars annually.

A home energy audit involves a phone call to Columbia Gas in which they will schedule a visit to your home by a Home Energy Auditor. This highly qualified individual will go through your home like a fine-toothed comb – visually and infrared inspecting, testing gas appliances, performing assessments of insulation levels, air leaks, furnace efficiency and safety, etc. When they have completed the audit, you will be provided with a list of suggested improvements you can make to improve the energy efficiency of your home (adding insulation, air sealing, high energy furnace, etc.), as well as information about generous rebates on these projects. They will also provide you with a list of pre-qualified contractors approved by Columbia Gas. Finally, Columbia follows up after the work is completed to ensure that it has been done properly and that your home is, in fact, more energy efficient.

The cost of the home energy audit is $50, but it is money well-spent. In fact, just for taking part, if you do not have them, you receive a free programmable thermostat and energy efficient shower head, both of which can save you a small fortune each year. For instance, my wife and I program our thermostat to 60 degrees when we are sleeping and when we are at work and 66 when we get up to get ready and for when we get home. As an added bonus for taking part in the program, we receive a monthly Home Energy Report which rates our home against efficient similar homes –defined as the most efficient 20% of similar homes – and similar homes – defined as approximately 100 nearby homes similar to ours. According to our most recent statement, our home was rated highest at “Great.” In fact, in December we used 80 CCFs of natural gas, while efficient similar homes used 113 CCFs and similar homes used 145 CCFs. That is about 45% less gas than many of our neighbors!  For more information about the program visit https://www.columbiagasohio.com and click on the “ways to save” tab. To schedule an audit simply call 1-877-644-6674.

Of course, there are also programs out there for folks who are struggling to pay their monthly gas bill. The Ohio Development Services Agency offers several programs to income eligible Ohioans to assist in paying their utility bills and to improve the energy efficiency of their homes, including the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Winter Crisis Program (WCP), Summer Crisis Program (SCP), Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus) and the Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP). HEAP provides a one-time annual benefit to your primary heating source account (gas or electric bill), while WCP is also a one-time annual benefit that can help with disconnections and other emergency issues. More information on all of the programs, as well as an application, can be obtained 24-hours a day by calling 216-518-4014.

As always, I hope you find this column informative and helpful. If you have ideas for future columns, I would love to entertain them. Feel free to e-mail me at councilmanbrennan@sbcglobal.net or call me at 440-884-0489. Best wishes for a February full of warmth and love – Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sean Brennan

Parma City Council President Sean Brennan

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Volume 7, Issue 2, Posted 2:05 PM, 02.02.2015