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Wilson Visits Moriarty Agencies ; Weatherization Program Pushed

Posted on: Thursday, 19 January 2006, 18:00 CST

By BETH HAHN Mountain View Telegraph

Congresswoman Heather Wilson, R-N.M., took Tuesday to "catch up" with some of her constituents in Moriarty.

"I think it's good to get out of the office and find out what's going on in my district," Wilson told volunteers at the Bethel Community Storehouse, her first stop on a day of visiting several locations in Moriarty.

Wilson stepped into the bright building at N.M. 41 and Center Street about 9:30 on a blustery morning to talk to volunteers and storehouse director Linda Smith about a Department of Energy program that weatherizes lowincome senior citizens' homes at no cost.

But to Wilson's surprise, Smith already knew about the program and had even helped a few of Bethel's volunteers apply for the free assistance.

Smith and Wilson agreed that weatherizing a home can help save money on heating bills during the winter. It is especially important now, Smith said, because of energy prices.

"Heating has been the No. 1 thing," said Smith. "Every client that comes in has something to say about it."

To qualify for the DOE weatherization program, a senior citizen must meet federal guidelines for being considered low-income. The applicant also must own the property -- no rentals or leases are accepted.

Smith said for the few people she knows who have had the weatherization done, it has been a "tremendous" help.

Once a person applies for the weatherization assistance, someone from the DOE will evaluate the home. The DOE then sends a crew to weatherize the home. According to the DOE Web site, the average cost of weatherizing a home is about $2,700.

All weatherization is done free of charge. While the federal government subsidizes the program, many states also have their own programs and contractors to do the weatherization work.

The DOE Web site states that weatherization repairs and upgrades can pay for themselves in a few years.

Generally, weatherization seals cracks under doors or windows that allow cold air into a home.

Wilson said weatherizing a home is one of the best ways to save money on heating bills.

For more information on the DOE weatherization program, contact the Bethel Community Storehouse at 832-6642, the DOE at (505)

345-4949 or visit the DOE's weatherization Web site at www.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/.

Source: Albuquerque Journal

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