Escambia County (Ala.) will get a share of $192,264 awarded by Gov. Kay Ivey to Community Action Agency (CAA) of South Alabama to assist low-income and elderly residents with improvements to their homes to lower energy costs and improve home safety. CAA serves Baldwin, Clarke, Conecuh, Escambia, Marengo, Monroe and Wilcox counties.
Ivey awarded a total of 14 grants totaling $2.9 million to support Alabama’s Weatherization Assistance Program which provides funds to keep homes warmer in the winter and cooler in summer and makes them more energy efficient. The grants target the elderly, people with disabilities and low-income families with children.
“Alabamians on limited incomes, especially during these difficult times, can often struggle to buy medicine and groceries when having to pay high heating and cooling bills,” Gov. Ivey said. “These grants offer tremendous relief by providing weatherization measures that make vast differences in sealing homes against the elements and reducing energy costs.”
Qualified homes are assessed to determine the most cost-effective energy efficient measures. Common improvements including installing insulation in attics, walls and floors; sealing air leaks around doors and windows; repairs and tune-ups to air-conditioning and heating units and replacing light bulbs with more energy efficient bulbs.
The improvements also reduce the risk of fires and other home hazards.
Grants are available in all 67 Alabama counties and work is managed through community action agencies and regional planning commissions.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Energy.
“ADECA joins with Gov. Ivey and these partner agencies to make the Weatherization Assistance Program the success it has been and will continue to be,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “The improvements make a lasting impact in reducing home energy costs for those in need.”
Residents who need assistance can contact the Community Action Agency of South Alabama at 251-626-2646 to see if they qualify.
ADECA administers a wide range of programs that support law enforcement, victim programs, economic development, water resource management, energy conservation and recreation.
