Hendrix Heating Shares Warm Generosity with Community

Thanks to long-time CSC Weatherization program partner Hendrix Heating, winter will be much warmer for a few local low-income households.

Hendrix Heating owners Carla & Roger Kaminga contacted CSC Housing Finance Specialist Kathy Stroud to ask for the names of some low-income households that were on the waiting list for furnace replacements. After identifying and getting permission from clients that were living with no heat source, Hendrix Heating then contacted the families and gave them the gift of heat - new furnaces or heat pumps.

"Over the years we've been serving CSC clients, we've seen so many folks that are in such need, and due to circumstances beyond anyone's control, they've had to wait a long time just to get a consistent source of heat in their home. Roger and I truly believe that God has placed us in the position we're in and it's our responsibility to try to manage what He's given us in a way that honors Him and blesses others whenever possible." said Carla.

"We found ourselves in the position to be able do a little extra this year and were glad that CSC was able to give us a list of people that needed help. It is such a blessing to be able to share with someone that we're going to come out and help them get heat in their home (maybe for the first time in
months) for FREE! All of the people we were able to help were so sweet. After the initial shock, there were tears, thank you cards, prayers, baked goods, and promises to "pay it forward". In the end smiles all around both on their end and ours. Good stuff!" said Carla.

CSC is so thankful to have such kind, generous partners like Hendrix Heating. Thank you for your amazing generosity!

Upcoming Weatherization Training Classes

CSC's Weatherization Training Center is hosting a number of training classes in the following months. All of the following classes are held at the CSC Weatherization Training Center, 240 SW Washington, Corvallis, OR 97333 unless otherwise specified. For more information, e-mail Dennis Feeney at dfeeney@communityservices.us or call 541-753-0509.

July 28th – Lead Repair, Renovation and Painting Refresher - $200     
This EPA accredited refresher class is being taught by Glenn Hayden who has many years of construction and lead abatement experience.  This is for previously certified Lead RRP Technicians.
Class is scheduled from 8:00 to 12:30.
Register at: https://www.regonline.com/CSCWxLeadRRP_Refresher_July_2014

August 11th – Lead Repair, Renovation and Painting - $225
This EPA accredited class is being taught by Glenn Hayden who has many years of construction and lead abatement experience. Class is scheduled from 8:00am to 5:00pm.
Register at: https://www.regonline.com/CSCWxLeadRRP_Aug_2014

August 13th – CSC YouthBuild & Corvallis Canyons Project Trip
Corvallis Canyons Project will be taking 8 adventure-seeking YouthBuild Students on a canyoneering trip in the cascades.  For more information or to support adventure for underserved youth please visit their website: https://www.facebook.com/corvalliscanyonsproject                                

August 18th - CPR & First Aid Class – Sold Out
Join Todd Washington from CPR Works for a very engaging and informative First Aid & CPR Class.  Class starts at 9:00am and goes to 2:00pm. This class is full - e-mail dfeeney@communityservices.us if you are interested in having another class scheduled.
   
August 19th & 20th - Essentials for Healthy Home Practitioners - Free
John Davies of the Building Performance Center and Dennis Feeney will lead this NCHH class on a holistic approach to identifying the root causes of health problems in a home and linking them to the seven principles of healthy housing: keep it dry; keep it clean; keep it pest free; keep it ventilated; keep it safe and maintained. This class is for CSC employees or members of affiliate organizations. 8-BPI CEU’s. Space is limited, email dfeeney@communityservices.us or call 541-753-0509 to RSVP.

September 3rd – Combustion Safety and Evaluation 101 - $175 
Dennis Feeney will be leading this class on a House-as-a-System approach to evaluating and diagnosing heating system problems.  Topics include: heating system identification, sequence of operations, basics of sizing, distribution and combustion safety testing.
Register at: https://www.regonline.com/CSCWxCombustionSafety_Sept_2014

Energy Program Brings Decades of Savings to Linn County

Did you know that some Linn County residents save an average of $437 per year on energy for homes weatherized under Community Services Consortium’s (CSC) Weatherization Assistance Program? Started in 1979, Weatherization Services in Linn County continue today with the Community Services Consortium, the Mid-Willamette Valley’s Community Action Agency.

“The demand for weatherization services has not changed, crews continue to work to keep up and the applications keep coming in,” says Steve Jole, CSC Weatherization Supervisor.

But changes in technology over the years have improved services. Today, like taking a modern car into the shop, Weatherization crews use testing equipment to get a complete picture of a home’s energy performance before beginning work, identifying areas of the greatest savings and priority concerns such as safety and health. When compared to test results after the work is complete, weatherization crews know the impact of the measures installed.
While there are a number of utility programs that encourage most Oregonians to save energy, CSC offers energy-saving tools to those who need it most. Many homeowners and renters begin by enrolling in CSC's Energy Assistance Program and Energy Education Programs to learn about how to use their homes most efficiently, while at the same time getting into the Weatherization Assistance Program for energy-efficiency work. The partnership among these programs makes for a straightforward, one-stop shop for those seeking improvement of their living conditions and reducing their utility bills.

While watching their utility bills drop, homeowners also see comfortable temperatures in the winter, and may see their appliances work properly again or in some cases, replaced. For one resident, this meant having ice cream instead of goo - a big bonus. In some cases it’s much more urgent, such as in the case of having no heat at all. Energy-efficient measures and improvements can range from insulation, weather stripping, installation of mechanical ventilation and carbon monoxide detectors, to the replacement of inefficient refrigerators.
The Weatherization Assistance Program has also taken part in renewable energy efforts in the 1980’s and again in 2010 to install solar greenhouses with more than 250 kilowatts of combined solar panels, including sites for FISH of Albany, Albany Helping Hands and Shangri La homes for the Disabled.

While renewable energy is important, energy conservation must come first. Says a US Department of Energy consultant, "We can’t have our renewable energy dessert without having our conservation vegetables first."

The CSC Weatherization program also offers experience to crew members who take jobs in the fields of renewable and energy conservation sector.

The program also embarks on large projects in partnership with area shelters, multifamily housing facilities and more. In 2013, the Weatherization Program is offering Willamette Neighborhood Housing Services of Corvallis assistance for measures on each of the 51 units being rehabbed at the Lancaster Bridge apartments near Conifer Boulevard in Corvallis. The assistance provides support for measures to be included that meet the program's health and safety guidelines.

Measures include under-floor installation tightly fastened to the joists meeting the subfloor, low energy using bathroom exhaust fans, and the installation of efficient windows that exceed building code. Other pending projects include the replacement of an outdated boiler furnace and controls with a new state-of-the-art, high-efficiency boiler and modern controls for the Corvallis-based social service agency, Community Outreach Inc.

All together over these 33 years, nationwide, 6.4 million families have been served in the Weatherization Program, and the need continues as strongly today as before. These projects are run in addition to services provided to individuals throughout Linn County and CSC's larger service area.

Applications for Weatherization services are available at CSC. Completed applications are reviewed to determine if a family or individual qualifies for the program. CSC welcomes income requirements inquiries by phone, and they can also be found online at communityservices.us/housing/weatherization-income-guidelines/. If you are interested in receiving Weatherization services, please call CSC at 541-758-2627.

CSC Saves Low-Income Residents Money While Supporting the Local Economy

Thanks to Community Services Consortium (CSC), both low-income residents and local businesses are benefitting from green technology installations in Corvallis, Albany, and Newport. The design and installation of 282 kilowatts of solar photovoltaic (PV) arrays were made possible through CSC’s Sustainable Energy Resources for Consumers Program (SERC).



Solar PV panels at Community Outreach, Inc. in Corvallis

Between July 2011 and March 2012, solar PV panels were installed in 10 single-family residences and three multi-family buildings. The multi-family buildings include Samaritan Village, an 82-unit senior living facility located in Corvallis; Pelican Place, a 12-unit building housing domestic abuse victims and the homeless in Newport; and Albany Helping Hands, a homeless shelter in Albany.

The solar PV systems are grid-connected, non-battery systems, which is the least expensive option to install. The system is connected to the electric provider, so any excess energy can be sold back to the provider in the form of credits or sent to Oregon HEAT, a local energy assistance program.

All labor for the projects was sourced in Oregon. Five separate Oregon solar companies were employed, and twice that many in electrical and mechanical subcontractors.



Workers install solar PV panels at Albany Helping Hands

All solar modules, inverters, and balance of systems were either made in America or Oregon. Some Oregon manufacturers used include SolarWorld and Sharp for solar modules, and Advanced Energy for inverters. More than $1 million was spent on labor and materials for the projects, which has provided a great boost for Oregon businesses. 

The SERC program, an extension of the CSC’s Weatherization Department, provides renewable energy measures to reduce electricity expenses to agencies serving people who are at 200% or below the poverty threshold.

CSC’s Weatherization Assistance Program accompanies SERC by providing energy audits and applied energy saving measures to improve local energy savings. Energy conservation and efficiency measures ensure that the solar electric renewable energy measure yields maximum energy savings.

The US Department of Energy funds the SERC program. They, along with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, provided $90 million nationwide ($7 million to Oregon) for SERC projects. CSC was one of just five agencies to receive funds from Oregon Housing and Community Services based on our outstanding record of service.

CSC Helps Partner Agency With Solar Array

Community Services Consortium (CSC) is helping its partner agency, Community Outreach (COI) get a portion of its electricity from the sun. The design and installation of a solar photovoltaic electric system on COI’s rooftop was possible through CSC’s Sustainable Resources for Consumers Program (SERC).

The SERC program, an extension of the CSC’s Weatherization Department, provides renewable energy measures to reduce electricity expenses to agencies serving people who are at 200% or below the poverty threshold.

“We estimate that the solar array will supply over 25% of community Outreach’s annual electricity needs,” said Benjamin Baggett, CSC’s SERC Program Manager.

The US Department of Energy funds the Sustainable Resources for Consumers (SERC) program. They, along with the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided $90 million nationwide for SERC projects. Based on an outstanding record of service, CSC was one of just five agencies to receive funds from Oregon Housing and Community Services who awarded the $7 million received by the state to provide SERC services. Advanced Energy Systems designed and installed the system.

Pelican Place connected with solar energy

Solar panels were installed at Pelican Place, the apartment complex in Newport which provides twelve units of permanent supportive housing to families and individuals who were formerly homeless. The 25 kilowatt solar system, installed by Paul Solonika & Sons, will provide energy to run the building's two laundry rooms.

Community Services Consortium's Weatherization Program was one of Eight Oregon weatherization programs selected to receive funding for piloting the installation of solar photovoltaic systems to implement a broader set of sustainable energy efficient alternatives. The utility will purchase any overage.

CSC Celebrated Weatherization Month In October

This is the time of year when temperatures start to fall and many families in our communities turn up the heat. Low-income families don’t always have that option because these household pay 14% of their annual incomes for energy compared with 3.5% of most households. Many low-income families have been trying to catch up with bills because of the last year’s high-fuel prices or are struggling just to have their services reconnected. In fact many of the families are considering how they will make it through the winter without heat.

Community Services Consortium’s (CSC) Weatherization Assistance Program serving Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties addresses these daily energy concerns. The benefits provided through CSC’s Weatherization Assistance Program are many. The program reduces the energy cost by providing free weatherization services to low-income homeowners and renters by installing cost-effective and energy efficiency measures.

While everone’s home is different, it’s possible for a typical household to save $300 or more a year in energy costs through weatherization. During the last 30 years, CSC’s Weatherization program has helped to make over 7,300 homes safer, warmer and less expensive to live in. The dollar savings alone make a big difference for the families.

Remember: Saving energy means saving money!

You can save energy in your home by taking these steps :

· Turn off lights, computers and other electronic appliance when not in use.

· Lower the thermostat and dress warmer. Turn your thermostat down at night and whenever the house is not occupied. Try 68 degrees F during the day and 55 degrees at night.

· Lower the temperature on your electric water heater to 120 degrees F. Turn it off when leaving for extended periods of time.

· Take short showers instead of baths.

· Wash full loads of clothes; use warm or cold water to wash, cold water to rinse.

· Clean dryer lint filter after every use.

CSC Pre-apprentiship Program with Corvallis School District

CSC’s Weatherization Training Center hosts Corvallis School District high school students in a pre-apprenticeship program designed to connect classroom education with hands-on occupational exploration. Seven students from two of the area high schools are learning about weatherization and building science while participating in a service learning project that included replacing windows for a retired couple. The students attend class at the Weatherization Training Center once a week for five weeks. Upon completion, students will understand what it takes to be a weatherization professional including worksite safety. This program is designed to help teens think about their future career options and provide a tangible connection between classroom education and real world application of science and math.

More appliances now eligible for rebates

If you’ve got an appliance that leaks energy, the state’s newly expanded rebate program can help.

The program, which started in January to replace low-efficiency furnaces and heat pumps, now includes water heaters, refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers. The funding comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

The program is open only to homeowners whose annual household income is 60 percent or less of the statewide median. Rebates will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. And new appliances must be Energy Star, which certifies superior energy efficiency. Vouchers can be redeemed for up to 70 percent of the price, to a specified maximum. Old appliances must be legally recycled to receive a rebate.

For details or to apply:
Online: http://go.usa.gov/OTx
Call Oregon Housing and Community Services: 1-800-453-5511 (option 2, selection 4)
E-mail: appliancerebate@hcs.state.or.us

Source: The Oregonian 7/9/2010

For information about energy assistance or weatherization, call Community Services Consortium at (541) 752-1010.