HOUSTON \u2013 Heat and humidity can be tough on a home \u2014 and on the energy bill.<\/p>\n
For some income-eligible households, a weatherization assistance program is helping make homes more energy efficient at no cost to the residents.<\/p>\n
That includes Antonia Coronado, whose home is being weatherized through CenterPoint Energy\u2019s Home Weatherization Assistance Program.<\/p>\n
With help from Laura Escamilla of the Tejano Center, who translated during the visit, Coronado is getting repairs designed to keep conditioned air inside her home.<\/p>\n
Contractors are sealing cracks around door frames, covering holes and addressing other areas where air can escape.<\/p>\n
For Coronado, the assistance is important because she says she otherwise would not have had the means to make the repairs herself.<\/p>\n
Why weatherization can be expensive<\/p>\n
While some energy-efficiency improvements can save homeowners money over time, the upfront cost can be a barrier.<\/p>\n
Freddy Salazar with Afford Your Electricity says insulating a 1,000-square-foot home with little or no insulation, for example, could cost between $1,200 and $1,700.<\/p>\n
Insulation is particularly important during a Houston summer.<\/p>\n
Salazar says an uninsulated attic can reach temperatures of 150 to 180 degrees, allowing that heat to transfer through the ceiling and into the home.<\/p>\n
He says it could take up to seven years to recover the initial cost of insulation through energy savings, while the insulation itself can last about 20 years.<\/p>\n
Simple ways to stop air from escaping<\/p>\n
There are also some inexpensive things homeowners and renters can check themselves.<\/p>\n
Salazar recommends checking around doors and windows for drafts.<\/p>\n
If you can feel cold air escaping around a door, adding weatherstripping can help seal the gap.<\/p>\n
For window units, he recommends using caulk to seal gaps along the bottom and metal tape to seal gaps at the top.<\/p>\n
Sealing those areas can help keep conditioned air inside and potentially reduce energy use.<\/p>\n
Who qualifies for weatherization assistance?<\/p>\n