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KSL Meteorologist Dina Freedman reporting As the weather gets colder and we get our houses ready to deal with winter, not everybody has the ability to afford those home improvements.
But people with lower incomes can now apply for a grant here in Utah to help with weatherizing their homes.
Getting your home ready for fast-approaching cooler temperatures isn't that easy for everyone. Patty Roden, a single mom with two kids can't easily afford new windows, insulation and a new back door on her home, so she turned to the Salt Lake Community Action Program.
Patty Roden/ Homeowner: "It's an older home and I knew there was a back door that didn't fit right, and there were some openings. I wanted the professionals to come out and look at it."
The Department of Weatherization in Utah was awarded a little over 2-million dollars in June to help low income families save money on their energy bills.
Laura Reilly/ Program Manager: "It has been determined that the average savings per household is 21 percent on their combined energy bills."
An energy audit is conducted and it determines how to make the place more efficient.
Tammy Ransdell/ Energy Auditor: "The computer actually tells us what measures to take on the home that will save the most on their energy bills."
They use an air blower to test for leaks in the house and even look at the furnace to see if it needs repair.
"There have been times where our staff have discovered they have saved people's lives. They have found carbon monoxide in the home or furnaces that are so terribly dangerous that they either need to be repaired or replaced."
Older homes can contain lead paint. That's the reason men in protective suits came here, and that's the reason why Patty got a new window.
Patty Roden, Homeowner: "I am just so excited for my front windows. They were single pane. They had mold. They would fog up. I'm just so thankful."
The program has already helped 113 homes since July and during its last fiscal year, 436 homes received grants from the Department of Weatherization.
To find out where you can get an application for that program, check the link in the box at the top of the story.
