Carson City, NV -
October 29, 2014A new weatherization program offers
Nevada senior citizens an opportunity to reduce monthly energy costs through
energy efficiency measures at no cost to owner-occupied dwellings.
The Home Energy Retrofit Opportunities
for Seniors (H.E.R.O.S.) weatherization program, funded by the Governor’s
Office of Energy and administered by the Nevada Housing Division, provides
an energy assessment of a qualifying senior’s home and installation of
recommended weatherization measures. Efficiency measures can include
services such as installation of solar screens and insulation, HVAC
repairs, and emergency replacement of failed heating and cooling equipment, up
to a value of $6,000 per home.
“The
H.E.R.O.S. weatherization program offers Nevada’s low-income seniors a way
to save money, conserve energy, and live in healthier, safer homes. I encourage
all eligible Nevadans to take advantage of this free resource and I thank the
Office of Energy for instituting this important program to help serve our
senior population,” said Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval.
The program was conceived and funded
by GOE as a way to serve Nevada’s senior population. The Nevada Housing
Division administers the program, in conjunction with other weatherization
programs, utilizing a network of non-profit service provider agencies across
Nevada. Each agency retains local contractors with trained crews to perform the
work.
H.E.R.O.S. has four general
requirements. The senior must:
· Be
aged 60 and better,
· Be
an NV Energy electric customer,
· Have
an income at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines, and
· Own
and reside in the home.
“A major goal of the Office of Energy
is to promote energy conservation in Nevada,” GOE Director Paul Thomsen
explained. “The H.E.R.O.S. program does that by funding measures that will save
energy at the homes of low-income seniors.”
In addition to the energy and cost
benefits to having a more energy efficient home, the assessment tests can save
lives by identifying dangerous carbon monoxide levels. The program’s benefits
to seniors are many, diverse, and free.
“This is an amazing opportunity for
Nevada seniors to realize immediate monthly cost savings,” said CJ Manthe,
Housing Division Administrator. “Qualified homeowners can be assured that the
services provided by our nonprofit partners under the H.E.R.O.S. program do not
involve any out-of-pocket expenses, hidden costs or fees.”
Those interested in H.E.R.O.S. who
meet program qualifications should contact one of the following agencies
directly to schedule an energy audit:
· HELP
of Southern Nevada (serving City of Las Vegas and southern rural Clark
County)
at
(702) 369-4357.
· City
of Henderson Neighborhood Services (serving City of Henderson) at (702)
267-2000.
· Las
Vegas Clark County Urban League (serving City of North Las Vegas and
northern rural Clark County) at (702) 636-3949.
·
Community Services Agency (serving Washoe County) at (775) 786-6023.
· Nevada
Rural Housing Authority (serving Carson, Douglas, Lyon and Storey
Counties) at (775) 887-1795.
· Rural
Nevada Development Corporation (serving Churchill, Elko, Esmerelda,
Eureka, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Mineral, Nye, Pershing and White Pine
Counties) at (775) 289-8519.
About the Governor’s Office of Energy
The Governor’s Office of Energy
oversees energy programs required through statute and those that help to meet
the mission of the office, which is to ensure the wise development of Nevada’s
energy resources in harmony with local community economic needs and Nevada natural
resources. For more information about GOE, please visit www.energy.nv.gov.
About the Nevada Housing Division
The Nevada Housing Division was
created by the Nevada Legislature in 1975, when it was recognized that a
shortage of safe, decent, and sanitary housing existed throughout the State for
low- and moderate-income Nevadans. Their mission is to improve quality of life
by providing affordable housing opportunities. For more information about NHD,
please visit www.housing.nv.gov.
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