Get Financial Assistance with Home Heating Bills, Weatherization

By LaTINA EMERSON, Special to The Coweta Shopper

As cooler temperatures arrive, we’ll need to turn up the heat in our homes to stay warm and weatherize our houses against cold weather.

Especially with the rising cost of living, some families and individuals might have difficulty affording their heating bills and home repair expenses. Learn about these federal programs that are helping those in need:

LIHEAP

The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federal program that helps low-income households pay the energy bills for heating or cooling their homes.

This year, the LIHEAP application process will open for senior citizens (age 65 and older) and the medically homebound on Dec. 2 at 10 a.m. All other eligible households can make an appointment to begin the application process starting on Jan. 2, 2025 at 10 a.m. To apply, those interested in receiving assistance should visit www.cafi-ga.org to schedule an appointment or call  706-702-3040. When selecting an appointment slot, applicants must choose their county of residence since each county has a budget allocated by the state based on population. If all appointment slots are full, keep checking the application portal for availability.

Then, applicants will complete their application through the Community Action for Improvement (CAFI) agency that assists their county of residence. CAFI has a five-county service area, which includes Coweta, Carroll, Heard, Meriwether and Troup counties.

Applicants will need to bring the following documents to their appointment:

• Proof of income for all household members for the past 30 days.

• Social Security cards for each person in the household.

• Most recent gas and electric bill for the household.

• Valid, U.S. issued photo ID.

To be eligible for assistance, applicants must 1) have a total gross income at or below 60 percent of the State Median Income Guidelines for Georgia, 2) be responsible for paying the cost of energy for the primary home heating source and 3) be a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted immigrant.

If applicants are approved to receive LIHEAP assistance, they will be informed of the amount that will be applied to their energy bill. The household energy supplier must be a registered vendor for the LIHEAP program with the Department of Human Services. All payments are applied directly to the energy account through the household energy supplier. Applicants should continue to pay their bill to avoid service interruption or additional fees while their application is being processed.

For more information, visit https://www.cafi-ga.org/liheap-faq/.

Home Weatherization

LIHEAP’s Home Weatherization Program helps low-income households reduce their home energy bills by making these homes more energy efficient. The program provides direct household repairs and energy efficient upgrades that increase the energy efficiency of homes.

Those interested in the program can pick up an application at the Community Action for Improvement office in Newnan at 53 Savannah St. or visit www.cafi-ga.org and select “Click Here for Home Weatherization Application.”

Energy-efficient services offered by the program include: air and duct sealing; wall, floor and attic insulation; heating, ventilation and air conditioning system improvements; energy efficiency improvements in lighting; hot water tank and pipe insulation; water conservation devices; caulking of windows and/or doors; weather stripping; thresholds; energy conservation kit; window panes; testing all gas burning appliances for carbon monoxide; checking heating and cooling units for service or repair; and water heater wrap.

Applications for the program are accepted on arolling basis, and applicants must meet eligibility requirements. For more information, contact Community Action for Improvement at   706-884-2651.

Protect Your Home Against Weather and Elements

Weatherizing your home, or protecting your home against cold weather, can decrease household energy use and save money on utility bills. The U.S. Department of Energy offers a checklist for whole-house weatherization:

Mechanical

• Clean, tune, repair or replace heating and/or cooling systems.

• Install duct and heating pipe insulation.

• Install programmable thermostats and secondary user access (SUAC) controls.

• Repair/replace water heaters.

• Install water heater tank insulation.

• Insulate water heating pipes.

• Install solar water heating systems.

• Install waste heat recovery devices.

Building Shell

• Install wall, floor, ceiling, attic and/or foundation insulation.

• Complete blower door testing.

• Perform air sealing.

• Repair/replace primary windows/doors.

• Install storm windows/doors.

• Install window film/solar screens/window louvers and awnings.

• Repair minor roof and wall leaks prior to attic or wall insulation.

Health and Safety

• Complete combustion appliance safety testing.

• Repair/replace vent systems to ensure combustion gas draft is safely outside.

• Install mechanical ventilation to ensure adequate indoor air quality.

• Assess fire hazards. Install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms when needed.

• Evaluate mold/moisture hazards.

• Perform incidental safety repairs when needed.

Electric Baseload

• Install motor controls.

• Install efficient light sources.

• Replace refrigerators and freezers with energy efficient models.