by Brooklyn Eagle (edit@brooklyneagle.net), published online 03-04-2008

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For Brooklyn homeowners and renters who are skimping on heating, help may be just a phone call away.

Based on household income levels, residents may be eligible for New York State’s no-charge Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). The program assigns contractors to make homes weathertight and energy efficient while also reducing carbon emissions to the environment.

“Although we have been experiencing a surge of applicants for WAP, we think there are many more in Brooklyn who are not aware of its existence and would qualify for the program,” said Richard Cherry, president of the Long Island City-based Community Environmental Center (CEC), a not-for-profit energy-efficiency contractor that has been weatherizing apartments and homes in the metropolitan region for 13 years.

“We want to reach out to the low-income [individuals and] families who now can’t afford the renovations that will add to their comfort while reducing their utility bills this year and for years to come. The sharp increases in fuel prices has reached a crisis point for many households,” he said.

Said Congressman Ed Towns (D-Brooklyn), “The Weatherization Assistance Program is an outstanding example of what can be accomplished when New York State, New York City and the federal government cooperate to benefit citizens by improving the air they breathe, reducing energy consumption and helping the environment.”

Towns is a member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.

In Brooklyn, Beth Schultz of Midwood watched a CEC work crew overhaul her home last fall. The end result is a home that “breathes” easier — and allows her to breathe easier — as well as being warmer and more economical to heat. CEC took on the assignment last fall, completing the job in about four days, “just as they said they would,” according to Schultz.

After a thorough inspection (energy audit) to prioritize needs, the boiler was cleaned, leaks in pipes and ducts were sealed, smoke and air quality monitors were installed, cracks in the walls were repaired, new CFL lighting fixtures were added and insulation installed in her drafty front bedroom.

Income Eligibility

Income eligibility is determined according to a sliding scale representing total household income, which is limited to 60 percent of the state’s median income. For a single person, this is $21,177; for a family of four, $40,714. WAP recipients typically enjoy more than 20 percent savings on their utility bills, according to Olga Souto, who, along with Carol Wiggins, administers WAP.

For an application for weatherization assistance, Brooklyn residents should contact Souto or Wiggins at (718) 784-1444.