Renee Mounce said, "Oh it's a wonderful program, absolutely, absolutely, homeowners with today's economics can't afford stuff like this."
And the long term savings are significant ...
Program Director Mike Polinko said, "It can have a huge impact on their energy bill. A typical household saves $418 a year in their energy costs after we've been out to their homes."
The Merced County Community Action Agency was recently awarded more than three million dollars in federal stimulus funds to expand the weatherization program ... and some of that money has been used to hire more workers."
That includes Armando Valenzuela who lost his construction job when the industry took a downturn. Valenzuela said, "It's a big difference, I have my wife and kids at home, and I'm worried about taking care of them, and supporting my family so it was a big relief when I got back to work."
Valenzuela says most of his fellow crew members were in the same situation. He calls them "refugees from construction" and says they're all thankful for this opportunity.
"It's a really good program, and everybody who works here is happy to be working," said Valenzuela.
The Merced County crew is planning to weatherize 900 homes across Merced and Madera Counties over the next two years.
To find out if you qualify for the program and for information on how to apply, call (209) 723-1225.
