New, free, green service offered to area residents to save on utility bills

Green Hills Community Action Agency Energy Services Department has begun offering Energy usage assessments for residents in the following counties: Daviess, Caldwell, Grundy, Harrison, Linn, Livingston, Mercer, Putnam, and Sullivan.

Five area citizens will be conducting the audits including: Raymond Tennill and Peter Williams from Putnam County, Kelsey Shiflett from Linn County, Alecia Plummer from Caldwell County, and Mary Sims from Harrison County; Terri Henderson, Energy Services Director for Green Hills Community Action Agency is serving as the project manager.

Citizens falling below 200% of poverty guidelines qualify for the free Energy Usage Assessment which is a $500 value. For example, a single person earning less than $21,660 annually, a two person family with an income below $29,140 annually, a family of three, earning $36,620 or less annually, or a family of four, earning $44,100 or less annually would all qualify. In order for members of the public to determine if they qualify or not, interested persons are asked to call 660-359-3907, ext. 113

The Energy Usage Assessments generally take about two hours. After gathering the data of kilowatt consumption, the team will compile the data, give the client specific information about what appliances are consuming the most energy, and make suggestions for cutting utility bills and living green. Electrical usage history will be tracked for the next 12 months for each person getting the assessment.

So far, over 200 area households are signed up for the Energy Usage Assessments but other are still sought for the free service. All assessments must be completed before September 2010. The service is offered during the day or during the evenings to accommodate working persons.

This project/program is funded in whole/or part with federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds received from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided by the Missouri Department of Social Services, Family Support Division. The funds received from the Family Support Division are all federally funded.