Heat USA is Moving its Office!
(image: mommylife.net)
We’re moving our office across town! We’re busy working to make the transition as seamless as possible, so we won’t be answering phones directly for the next few weeks.
But rest assured, we’re monitoring every call closely and our full staff of membership service representatives is still available to help with any questions and concerns. Just leave a message at our regular number, 1-800-660-4328, and we’ll get back to you post haste! Thanks for being patient, and as always, we’ll keep you updated.
CBS: Heat USA Does Get You Cheaper Oil
Dee Lee: Certified Financial Planner, author, educator and member of the Financial Planning Association. She has been featured as a resource in the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune, New York Sunday Times, USA Today, CBS, Smart Money, Worth, and more. (image: babajidesalu.wordpress.com)
In a recent feature on ways to save more on your fixed expenses, CBS Boston gave a shout out to Heat USA, spreading the word on what you already know: using the collective buying power of tens of thousands of homeowners, we work with heating oil suppliers to successfully bring you cheaper fuel.
The radio broadcast featured nationally renown Certified Financial Planner Dee Lee dishing out budgeting tips on everything from rent to auto insurance. So what did she have to say about Heat USA?
“Utilities are going to continue to increase because the price of oil is so unstable. I did find a source for cheaper fuel oil,” Lee said. “There is an oil buying network, Heat USA. A $25 membership does get you cheaper oil.”
She went on to divulge some more energy and utility bill saving tidbits that Heat USA followers will certainly recognize: insulate attics and basements, plant shade trees, close blinds and curtains in the summer, and invest in a home energy audit.
In doing these things, “I can see the savings in each and every bill,” Lee said.
To hear the radio clip for yourself, check out CBS Boston online here. And as always, if you’re interested in joining Heat USA or just want to learn more about our program, give one of our membership service representatives a call at 1-800-660-4328.
Reminder: Heat USA Is Here For You All Summer!
Yes, friends, it's true - we're here to help ALL YEAR! (image: erstories.net)
This isn’t heating season, friends. We realize home heating probably isn’t the first thing on your mind. But just because you’ve turned down the thermostat doesn’t mean we’re headed off to the beach.
We’re wishing all Heat USA followers a cool, relaxing summer and reminding you that if you have any questions or concerns, we’re available all year. The online Member Center is running smoothly and we have tons of DIY tips for improving your home’s energy efficiency in any season! To chat with a membership services representative, give us a call at 1-800-660-4328.
Thousands to Receive Supplemental LIHEAP Funds in New Jersey
NJ Department of Community Affairs commissioner Lori Grifa (image: nj.com)
New Jersey’s Department of Community Affairs announced that approximately 176,000 low-income households who received home energy assistance through LIHEAP this past heating season will soon be eligible for additional benefits, since funding for the program recently increased.
Here’s the breakdown: 19,000 households using heating oil, propane, or other deliverable fuels will receive $100 in extra assistance, on top of the $250 they were issued during the heating season. 158,000 households using gas or electric will receive an extra $250. And, 47,000 households who qualified for medically-required home cooling assistance will be issued an additional $75.
“The LIHEAP program provides invaluable help to thousands of New Jersey’s most vulnerable low-income households and allows residents to pay for other necessities such as food, clothing and health care,” said DCA Commissioner Lori Grifa. “It is a safety net for those who, with limited financial resources, have little ability to deal with seasonal and unexpected increases in home energy costs.”
New Jersey also offers the Universal Service Fund (USF) Program, which is similar to LIHEAP but is operated by the state Board of Public Utilities. Residents can fill out one application, any time throughout the year, for both programs. For more information, check out the DCA’s website.
Pennsylvania Community Action Continues Home Heating Savings Account Program
The CPCA provides services and programs aimed at helping low-income Pennsylvania households more self-sufficient. (image: clearfieldchamber.com)
Central PA Community Action has teamed up with the Clearfield Bank and Trust Company once again to keep the Home Heating Savings Account Program going in 2011, according to a GantDaily.com report. CPCA launched the Home Heating Savings Account Program (HHSA) last year to help needy families meet heating expenses while educating them on utility reduction and ways to improve saving habits.
The program assists households heated by oil or natural gas that don’t qualify for LIHEAP funding, providing they’re still living below the 200% Federal Poverty income standards. That’s around $44,700 per family of four, but participants can verify specifics when applying. Then, through clients’ Clearfield Bank and Trust Company savings accounts, the HHSA matches home heating expenses dollar for dollar. Clients must also maintain a savings budget of $50 a month for four months and attend two financial planning workshops.
Participation in HHSA is limited and will run from July through November. Interested eligible residents are encouraged to contact the CPCA at 800-822-2610 as soon as possible.
General Electric Zoneline Air Conditioners and Heaters Recalled
If you have one of these guys, call GE to schedule a free repair at 866-918-8771. (image: recallowl.com)
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and General Electric announced the recall of approximately 90,600 GE Zoneline air conditioners and heaters this week after burn hazard concerns surfaced, the Associated Press reported.
Consumers registered at least four reports of units emitting smoke or bursting into flames, with two of those cases leading to property damage from a spreading fire. However, no injuries were recorded. The CPSC stated a faulty electrical component within the Packaged Terminal Air Conditioners (PTAC) and packaged terminal heat pumps is likely the cause of the problem.
The product was sold across the country by GE authorized HVAC representatives and sellers from March 2010 to March 2011. GE stated they cost between $1,000 and $2,000, and were commonly used in apartment buildings.
If you suspect you may own one of these units, stop using it immediately and contact GE’s website to make an appointment for a complete free repair.
NYSEG, RG&E Gave $9 Million in Assistance in 2010-2011 Heating Season
When federal funding for heating assistance runs out, community-minded utility companies often chip in to help low-income area residents. (image: egia.org)
Now that we’re definitely out of the heating season, a couple of New York’s major utility providers have calculated exactly how much home heating assistance they dished out to low-income upstate customers this past winter.
Here’s the breakdown: New York State Electric & Gas Corp. supplied $6.3 million in assistance to 62,455 low-income clients, while Rochester Gas and Electric distributed $2.4 million to 39,267 low-income customers.
With colder-than-usual temperatures felt throughout much of the Northeast, the companies saw the need to step in and supplement the state’s federal LIHEAP allocation. LIHEAP funds were especially tight, as extreme weather and a nationwide spike in fuel poverty forced administrators to release $200 million more than usual in emergency aid.
Additionally, NYSEG contributed $200,000 to Project Share, a social service program operated by the American Red Cross that helps eligible customers financially cope with energy emergencies like HVAC equipment repairs, cutoff notices, water heater replacement, and weatherization projects.
CPSC Accepting Petitions, Feedback on Glass-Front Gas Fireplaces
Practically all fireplaces come with the risk of a burn hazard, but some consumers believe increased CPSC warnings could cut down on annual injuries. (image: archiexpo.com)
Fireplace season is a long way off; it’s the perfect time to review consumer safety regulations! The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is accepting comments from the public on two petitions regarding future regulation to address burn hazards linked to gas vented fireplaces with glass doors or covers, Occupational Health & Safety reported last week.
Feedback on the two petitions will help the Commission draft its consumer protection warnings on glass-front gas fireplaces. The first one, written last month by Carol Pollack-Nelson, Ph.D., states that the current industry standard for these products allows the glass covers to reach temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. She also says that according to the CPSC’s National Electronic Injury Surveillance System database, over 2,000 children (ages 5 and under) have suffered burn injuries from this type of fireplace between 1999 and 2009. Pollack-Nelson argues glass-front gas fireplaces are dangerous for a multitude of reasons, “including the high surface temperature of the fireplace glass, the accessible location of the glass front, the attractiveness of fire to young children, and the lack of consumer awareness of the hazard,” and thus requests the CPSC implement a mandatory barrier such as an “integral safety screen” to keep small hands and fingers away from hot surfaces.
The other petition, written by William S. Lerner, suggests the CPSC should require a “high temperature warning system” to “project a clear high temperature alert onto the glass front of the fireplace that will remain visible from the time the fireplace is lit until the glass is cool enough to touch safely.”
Care to weigh in? All comments are due by August 8, 2011 – mailing and email addresses are available here.
Concerned About LIHEAP Cuts, Program Administrators Suspend Summer Energy Assistance
State LIHEAP allocations include money that can be used for home cooling during the summer months, but administrators are hesitant to distribute that portion in case the budget gets slashed before winter heating season. (image: philasun.com)
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program escaped seriously deep cuts earlier this year when federal lawmakers were hammering out details of the national budget, but the issue is back on the table, leaving LIHEAP administrators and community service workers across the country scrambling to plan for the near future of energy assistance in their respective states.
LIHEAP fund distributors in Iowa are particularly concerned, since they have to reserve part of Iowa’s allocation for the following year – funds don’t come through until October and early winter weather can leave some low-income households struggling with hazardous living conditions, the Quad-City Times reported yesterday.
The Obama administration’s budget proposal for the 2012 fiscal year includes a $2.57 billion (essentially 50%) reduction to the program, which the House of Representatives has tentatively approved.
“That could be huge. If that were to win the day, that would be a $40 million cut to Iowa,” said Jerry McKim, chief of the bureau of energy assistance in the state. “I can document that energy is unaffordable. Even with $70 million, we’re falling behind here.”
LIHEAP funding will help 94,978 Iowa households in the 2011 fiscal year. Cutting that number in half would put huge pressure on private community service and charity organizations that often don’t have the funding or resources to make up the difference.
“The two big times that I lose sleep over are coming out of the moratorium then going into winter when we have people who owe so much that we can’t reconnect them,” said McKim. “Every year, there’s about 10,000 – 15,000 houses in Iowa without power at the beginning of winter.”
Rad Radiator Designs: “Heatable Storage”
Depending on where you install this charming radiator, it could warm your towels, baguettes, or socks in the morning! (image: popularmechanics.com)
The latest find in our ongoing hunt for awesome radiator designs is a summery, multi-functional number from Italy. Caleido’s steel Pellicano radiator simultaneously provides heat and shelving, perfect for those stylish kitchens, bathrooms, and apartments without a ton of space.
This model was well received at exhibitions for its aesthetically sweetness, and who doesn’t need a little more storage space? Plus, this company is serious about radiators:
“Radiators are no longer merely functional items; they play a leading role in our living environment, creations to install in contemporary settings that highlight their formal significance,” states Caleido’s website, on its philosophy. “Radiating surfaces impose their own extraordinary personalities and express concepts linked with the strategic use of shapes reminiscent of the natural world.”
Radiators with personalities, eh? We like it.
