NASHUA - Turn it off, turn it down, tune it up, and buy smart.

That was the message of a recent presentation on weatherization and energy efficiency by Southern New Hampshire Services workers Paul Chalifour, an energy auditor, and Dan Girard, a technical coordinator for the organization.

Though it’s among the sexier things a homeowner can do to “greenify” the home, replacement windows certainly are not among the most effective upgrades.

Instead homeowners have an array of options—from the most basic —turning off lights and keeping the temperature down when leaving the house— to the more involved —having an energy audit done on the home and carrying out the recommended upgrades.

This is what Southern New Hampshire Services provides to several hundred low-income households every year.

“Comfort and affordability, those are the two biggest issues,” Girard said. “That’s what we’re hearing all the time: ‘My home is so much more comfortable and my heating costs have dropped dramatically.”

Lifestyle changes can have the highest impact. Hanging clothing outside to dry, turning off unneeded lights and conserving heat, can bring 20 to 30 percent savings.

When it comes to heat, the experts recommend small steps: “You don’t want to turn it down 15 degrees of you’re only going to be gone six hours,” Girard said, but bringing the temp down five degrees for eight hours will cut five percent off the bill.

Installing programmable thermostats can make such a strategy effortless for homeowners.

Preventing leakage is another key part of conserving heat. Sealing around heating ducts, in addition to keeping registers clear and open at all times can greatly increase the efficiency of a heating system.

SNHS experts also recommend having oil heating systems services annually, and gas every other year to optimize performance.

They also say not to close rooms off, as the heating system is designed to provide heat equally to all rooms. A technician might able to redirect the system, however.

Girard and Chalifour stressed that since heat travels upward, a house loses most of its efficiency through the attic. Therefore sealing off plumbing and fan vents, as well as recessed lights can prevent this.

But nothing takes the place of sealing air penetration.

Many electrical items don’t have a cut off, and continue to expend energy even when turned off, Girard and Chalifour noted. Unplugging these things when not in use, or in the case of larger units, cutting the breaker switch, can result in noticeable decreases in energy use.

Water-efficient showerheads and taking shorter showers, in addition to washing dishes in cold water, which is possible with the detergents currently available. “I went to warm (water) for a little before I went to cold, but there’s no difference,” Girard testified.

SNHS’s ability to help homeowners with weatherization has been buoyed by federal funds.

Ryan Clouthier, weatherization director at SNHS, said federal stimulus money has “been outstanding. We were definitely able to create jobs with it and weatherized three times more homes than we could have.”

This is “one of the very few government programs that actually shows a payback,” Girard concluded. “We’re not only spending money, but we’re benefiting from it.”

Low income households are able to apply for the weatherization services, though there’s currently a long wait list.

SNHS is a non-profit organization that receives most of its funding from the state, in addition to monies from the utility companies. It also provides fuel assistance and runs Head Start programs and a variety of nutrition programs. More information is available at www.snhs.org.

Reprinted with permission
Union Leader Corporation
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
www.unionleader.com

In the latest in its series of free workshops, Seniors Count-Nashua offers information on how to recognize a scam, how to protect yourself from fraud, the steps you can take if you become a victim of fraud, and what resources are at your disposal. Jane Constant, Senior Relations Officer for the Nashua Police Department is workshop presenter.

The workshop is scheduled for Monday, March 12 at 1:00pm. It will be held at the Nashua Senior Activity Center, 70 Temple St., Nashua.

Advance registration for the workshop is requested. Please call Beth Todgham, Seniors Count-Nashua facilitator for Southern New Hampshire Services at (603) 889-3440 x 629 for more information.

Workshop participants can come early to enjoy lunch offered by St. Joseph Community Services (Meals on Wheels) in the cafeteria at the Nashua Senior Activity Center. A $2 donation is requested for diners age 60 and over; the price is slightly higher for those under 60. Pre-registration for lunch is required. Call Steve, SJCS site manager, at 882-2106 to reserve your lunch. Lunch is served from 11:45am to 12:45pm.

The workshop is one of a series of free programs offered monthly at the Senior Activity Center by Seniors Count-Nashua. The workshops provide area residents with information on resources available in the community as they age.

Past workshops have included topics on managing money in tight times, senior driving issues, gizmos and gadgets to stay safe in your home, clutter control and being a grandparent in the 21^st Century. All programs have been filmed by Nashua’ Education Channel 99. Programs are broadcast Mondays at 1:00pm and can be viewed on-line at http://nashua.ezstream.com.

Additional support for the workshops is provided by Southern New Hampshire Services, ServiceLink Resource Center, the Nashua Public Library, and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services: Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services.

NASHUA – If you have ever cared for a loved one with Dementia, you know that it is not easy to understand what they are going through and the challenges that they face.

In the latest in its series of free workshops, Seniors Count-Nashua offers a better understanding of this topic at a special “Journey through Dementia” presentation given by Michele Canto from St. Joseph Hospital. Canto is the Volunteer Services and SAGE Manager for the hospital.

This interactive workshop offers participants insight into the life of a person with Dementia and offers ways to understand the challenges that they face. Using this experience, workshop participants can better support their loved ones.

The workshop is specifically for those who care for individuals with Dementia; it is not appropriate for those who have been diagnosed with Dementia or Alzheimer’s.

The workshop is scheduled for Monday, February 13 at 1:00pm. It will be held at the Nashua Senior Activity Center, 70 Temple St., Nashua.

The Nashua Senior Activity Center is located at 70 Temple Street in Nashua. The program begins at 1:00pm.

Advance registration for the workshop is requested. Please call Beth Todgham, Seniors Count-Nashua facilitator for Southern New Hampshire Services at (603) 889-3440 x 629 for more information.

Workshop participants can come early to enjoy lunch offered by St. Joseph Community Services (Meals on Wheels) in the cafeteria at the Nashua Senior Activity Center. A $2 donation is requested for diners age 60 and over; the price is slightly higher for those under 60. Pre-registration for lunch is required. Call Steve, SJCS site manager, at 882-2106 to reserve your lunch. Lunch is served from 11:45am to 12:45pm.

The workshop is one of a series of free programs offered monthly at the Senior Activity Center. The workshops provide area residents with information on resources available in the community as they age.

Past workshops have included topics on managing money in tight times, senior driving issues, gizmos and gadgets to stay safe in your home, clutter control and being a grandparent in the 21^st Century. All programs have been filmed by Nashua’ Education Channel 99. Programs are broadcast Mondays at 1:00pm and can be viewed on-line at http://nashua.ezstream.com.

Additional support for the workshops is provided by Southern New Hampshire Services, ServiceLink Resource Center, the Nashua Public Library, and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services: Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services.

Initial federal funding cuts forced the state to limit immediate eligibility to families and seniors making less than 125 percent of the federal poverty level. The increased funding will allow the program to cover people up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level – although there is still the potential for a waiting list later in the season.

We are pleased that the importance of this program was recognized and additional funding was authorized. These continue to be challenging times for many families due to the unstable economy, coupled with high fuel oil prices, and the additional funding was very much needed,” said Joanne Morin, director of the state Office of Energy and Planning. “This increased federal funding will allow us to help thousands more New Hampshire families and seniors stay warm this winter.”

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services initially allotted $14.7 million in LIHEAP funding for New Hampshire. Recent congressional action increased the funding to approximately $26 million, which is still about $9 million less than $34 million New Hampshire received last year.

“We must remember that even though funding was increased over our initial allotment, New Hampshire is still receiving less LIHEAP aid than last year at a time when demand is increasing,” said Joanne Morin, director of the state Office of Energy and Planning.

The Office of Energy and Planning will monitor the program to ensure monies are available for emergencies as required by law, and may be forced to again start a waiting list later in the season to ensure that adequate resources remain to address emergencies.

If you have any questions about your benefits or wish to see if you are eligible for heating assistance, please call your local community action agency.

Representatives from Southern New Hampshire Services’ Weatherization Program, including Ryan Clouthier, Dan Girard and Paul Chalifour, will present the workshop. Also included will be information on home energy audits as a way to identify sources of heating loss in your home.

The Nashua Senior Activity Center is located at 70 Temple Street in Nashua. The program begins at 1:00pm.
Advance registration for the workshop is requested. Please call Beth Todgham, Seniors Count-Nashua facilitator for Southern New Hampshire Services at (603) 889-3440 x 629 for more information.

Workshop participants can come early to enjoy lunch offered by St. Joseph Community Services (Meals on Wheels) in the cafeteria at the Nashua Senior Activity Center. A $2 donation is requested for diners age 60 and over; the price is slightly higher for those under 60. Pre-registration for lunch is required. Call Steve, SJCS site manager, at 882-2106 to reserve your lunch. Lunch is served from 11:45am to 12:45pm.

The workshop is one of a series of free programs offered monthly at the Senior Activity Center. The workshops provide area residents with information on resources available in the community as they age.

Past workshops have included topics on managing money in tight times, senior driving issues, gizmos and gadgets to stay safe in your home, clutter control and being a grandparent in the 21st Century. All programs have been filmed by Nashua’ Education Channel 99. Programs are broadcast Mondays at 1:00pm and can be viewed on-line at http://nashua.ezstream.com.

Additional support for the workshops is provided by Southern New Hampshire Services, ServiceLink Resource Center, the Nashua Public Library, and the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services: Bureau of Elderly and Adult Services.