It seems you can't pick up a newspaper, turn on the news or have a conversation with a friend or family member without the topic of home heating costs coming up.

Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency's Energy Services component has seen a sharp increase in the calls for help and in the level of peoples' concern over how they are going to meet the financial demand of heating their home.

The agency's Energy Services component's focus is on energy conservation, customer education and health and safety. The Weatherization Assistance Program is the cornerstone of activity with several other programs aiding in the struggle homeowners and tenants are having in maintaining safe and affordable living conditions. There is no cost to the eligible homeowner or tenant for services provided by the program.

The Weatherization Assistance Program is funded by the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Department of Energy. The Division of Housing and Community Renewal administers the program in New York state.

Estimates vary on how much it will cost to heat your home this winter. Many analysts believe it could cost as much as 40 percent more than last year. Although there seems like very little we can do to control the cost of heating fuels, there are significant things everyone can do to control the amount of energy they use in their home.

Eligible customers of the Weatherization Assistance Program will have a comprehensive home energy assessment completed at their home. Building Performance Certified staff will complete a survey with the customer to determine the family's patterns of energy usage, health and safety concerns as they relate to indoor air quality, and general information about how their home performs in the heating and cooling months.

Staff perform a variety of diagnostic tests on heating appliances, water heaters, refrigerators and stoves as well as airflow tests that help determine where program dollars will be spent to have the largest impact on the customer's energy bills. Also included in the assessment process are tests to identify equipment that may pose a danger to household members due to improper drafting or high levels of dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide.

A physical inspection of the entire home, from attic to basement, inside and out, is performed to accurately model the home. This includes inspection and measurement of current insulation levels, inspection of windows and doors and overall integrity of the structure.

Information gathered through the home energy assessment process is evaluated using previous experience and program-approved software to determine which measures will be installed to reduce energy usage, improve indoor air quality and health and safety conditions.

Eligible energy conservation measures may include heating appliance tune and clean and repair where necessary, sealing distribution, pipe wrap, attic and side-wall insulation, vapor barrier and cold crawlspace insulation, window repair, door repair or replacement and airsealing. Electric reduction installations may include replacement of inefficient refrigerators and installation of compact fluorescent light bulbs. Staff also provide personalized suggestions based on the electric household items and fueled appliances being used so informed choices can be made regarding current and future patterns of use to reduce overall energy usage.

Follow-up tests are performed on each completed project to ensure customer's comfort and safety as well as the quality and completeness of all installed measures.

For more information or to apply for the Weatherization Assistance Program, call the agency's Energy Services component at 255-1703 ext. 142.

Marie Montgomery is the Energy Services director with the Cayuga/Seneca Community

Action Agency