Assemblyman Kolb ASSEMBLYMAN
BRIAN
KOLB
house
Home Energy
        Saving Tips




Dear Neighbor,

The mercury may be dropping, but energy prices are on the rise. Not being able to adequately heat homes this winter poses very serious dangers to the well-being of cold-climate residents - that means the Finger Lakes and Central New York regions, and the entire Northeast portion of the United States.

snowman Low- and fixed-income families are at an especially high risk of not being able to afford their energy bills this winter. High gas prices are burdensome, but high heating bills can be deadly. In Albany, I have joined my colleagues in efforts to provide additional relief to our state’s most needy. Many people take a warm home for granted - I want warm homes for all.

This brochure contains valuable information about how to get help paying for heating costs and energy-efficiency upgrades as well as tips on how to lower energy consumption.

Sincerely,
signature
Brian Kolb



Energy Cost Cutting Proposals

With energy prices at record highs, any relief is welcome. The following proposals may help ease the burden of skyrocketing energy costs.

  • Provide a $200 rebate to Enhanced STAR program recipients for the 2005-06 school year as a way to help senior citizens pay their winter heat bills.

  • Charge the state sales tax on diesel and motor fuel on the first $2 of each gallon purchased, resulting in a maximum state sales tax of 8 cents per gallon.

  • Prohibit gas stations from increasing prices more than once during each calendar day to prevent price gouging at the pump.

  • Provide residents with tax exemptions for purchasing Energy Star-rated appliances and alternative energy systems.


***Click here for printablew view.***

YES! I support Assemblyman Kolb’s money saving proposals to cut personal energy costs.

Name:



Address:





Email:

Please send completed form to:
607 W. Washington Street, Suite 2
Geneva, NY 14456 • (315) 781-2030

Need Heating Assistance?
HEAP

The Home Energy Assistance Program is a federally funded project administered by each state to benefit its low-income residents. Benefit amounts are based on household income and residents’ ages. Homeowners with children under the age of 6 and adults who are over 60 are considered vulnerable populations and may receive higher benefits. The household gross monthly income and size limits for the 2004-05 program are listed to the right.

For information on applying, call toll-free (800) 342-3009 or contact your local social services office. Additional information is posted on the New York state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Web site at www.otda.state.ny.us/otda/heap/default.htm.


***Click here for printable view.***
HOUSEHOLD
SIZE
INCOME
LIMIT
1 $1,702
2 $2,226
3 $2,749
4 $3,273
5 $3,797
6 $4,320
7 $4,419
8 $4,517
9 $4,615
10 $4,742
11 $5,140
Each additional person: add $398

Energy Saving Tips
wood burning stove Household Heating

Heating fuel costs will be much higher than last winter, but an energy-efficient home will help reduce fuel usage while making the house more comfortable.

  • Set thermostats as low as is comfortable during the winter.
  • Clean or replace furnace filters monthly or as needed.
  • Make sure heat registers, heaters and radiators are not blocked by furniture, carpeting or drapes.
  • Keep drapes and shades on southern-exposed windows open during the day to allow sunlight to enter and warm the home.
  • Purchase a programmable thermostat and set it to turn down the heat at night and when no one is home. This is a relatively inexpensive cost-saving measure.
  • Do not leave kitchen and bath exhaust fans running for more than 20 minutes after cooking or bathing
  • Weatherize and insulate home.

Water Heating faucet

Because heating bills can put the squeeze on household budgets, why not try to cut other energy costs? The cost of heating water can add up, especially for larger families. Try some of these simple and inexpensive tips to minimize water-heating costs.

  • Install aerating, low-flow faucets and showerheads.
  • Lower the thermostat on hot water heaters to 120 degrees. This is generally a comfortable temperature for most uses.
  • Baths can use over twice the hot water of showers. Try to keep showers to 5 minutes.
  • Insulate hot water tanks. Be sure to follow manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • Repair leaky faucets as they waste many gallons of water in a short time.

Cold-climate Window Tips

Windows can help retain heat in your home but can also account for a quarter of a heating bill. Many homes have single-pane windows - not the best for our cold climate. Windows are an important part of keeping your energy costs down, so take some time to evaluate your home’s windows for efficiency.

  • Use heavy-duty, clear sheets of plastic on the inside of windows to reduce the amount of cold air entering your home
  • Install insulating window shades on drafty windows
  • Keep southern-exposed windows clean to let in the sun’s warming rays
  • Installing storm windows, or repairing and weatherizing your current storm windows, can make quite a difference in home heating bills.

Energy-efficient Appliances
energy guide

Household appliances such as refrigerators, clothes washers and dryers, air conditioners and dishwashers are responsible for about 20 percent of home energy consumption. Today’s appliances are much more energy-efficient. ENERGY STAR appliances are manufactured to exceed minimum federal standards and can greatly reduce energy consumption. When shopping for new appliances, look for the ENERGY STAR label. Also, know how to read the EnergyGuide label to compare different appliance brands and models.




snowflake Contact Assemblyman Kolb snowflake
607 W. Washington Street, Suite 2
Geneva, NY 14456
(315) 781-2030

720 Legislative Office Building
Albany, NY 12248
(518) 455-5772



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