Alternative Fuels

Energy Conservation for Low Income Households

With skyrocketing heating fuel costs, families will be coping with the high costs to heat their homes this winter. A proactive educational approach by the UGA Cooperative Extension agent in Oglethorpe County, collaborating with the Oglethorpe County Community Services Director, has helped 307 low income families be better prepared to face energy conservation in the 2005-2006 winter heating season. UGA Extension provided the educational materials with useful tips to make smart savings and conserve energy. Counseling low-income families, the Community Services director reached 523 individuals from 307 families who received energy assistance January through April 2005. Simple educational tips prepared by UGA Extension were used in these one-on-one sessions. Many of these families will use this information to cut energy costs. If every family followed energy conservation measures as outlined, a total potential savings for 307 families would be more than $125,000 this year. (2006)

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