The Home Energy Legacy Program helps low incomes replace big ticket items such as furnaces, hot water heaters and attic insulation to save energy and keep homes viable for years to come. This year, three Yorkton homes and one Canora home are going to receive the benefits of the HELP program.
Tracy Meadows is one of those homeowners, receiving a new furnace through the program, as well as new attic insulation, a new thermostat and a more efficient toilet.
Meadows says that she has had a rough couple of years in her personal life, and being selected for HELP is a "mini lottery" at the end. She also says that it was very much needed, as her old furnace was at the end of its life, not only being inefficient, but unreliable and it was becoming difficult to find replacement filters.
Shannon Doka says the program is in place because people need to think about being energy efficient, by ripping out inefficient furnaces and appliances and putting new ones in place, it highlights the difference it can make in everyone's life if they step up and upgrade their homes.
Participants had to attend an information meeting back in January to apply. Doka says that people must have an income of under $52,000, as well as have a story. She says that the process is long and involved, and finally four people within the Yorkton area were selected.
Another important part of the program, outside of replacing big-ticket items, is cost. Stephen and Ann Poole were participants last year, and say that the new furnace has caused their bills to decrease significantly, even after the recent long winter. Apart from being more efficient, the new setup was also warmer, as the combination of a new furnace and insulation was better able to heat the home effectively.
