This news item expired on Friday, July 27, 2018 so the information below could be outdated or incorrect.
Whether it’s hot, dog day afternoons or late-spring snow, your power bill might be costing you more than it should. Buncombe County has good news, we are partnering with the Blue Horizons Project to help residents across our County save money by making their homes more energy efficient, resulting in lower power bills. The goal of this program is to make energy efficiency accessible to everyone whether it is through tips on how to improve your home or funding for repairs.
Blue Horizons Project is a great example of community partnership, born from the Energy Innovation Task Force which is a collaboration between Buncombe County, the City of Asheville, Duke Energy, and other clean energy advocates.
“The County is excited to partner on the Blue Horizons Project because it helps meet one of our strategic priorities of promoting clean and efficient energy while lowering power bills for families and business,” notes Commission Chair Brownie Newman on behalf of the Board of Commissioners.
The Blue Horizons Project kicked off on Wednesday, March 21, by weatherizing Sam Quick Jr.’s Kenilworth home. The house, built in 1950, is where Sam was raised and is a great example of how weatherization, air sealing, installation of LED light builds, and other efficiency measures can lower power bills. And now the Blue Horizons Project is looking for more homes and businesses to work with. “The success of this project relies on active involvement of individuals, families, and local businesses. There are many easy and simple ways everyone can make it a success,” adds Newman.
There are a wide array of services and programs available through the Blue Horizons Project. There is a sliding scale for income eligibility, so please contact the Blue Horizons Project at (828) 254-1995 to find out if you qualify and for more details on the following programs: Duke Energy’s EnergyWise program; in-home energy assessments for homeowners; energy efficiency upfits for low-income households via the Energy Upgrade Program; and more.
County Sustainability Officer Jeremiah LeRoy notes the Blue Horizons Energy Upgrade Program checks a number of boxes, “It’s such a great investment for the County because upgrading homes to be more energy efficient helps reduce our community’s peak energy demand while also providing a service that can make homes more affordable and comfortable for many of the County’s most vulnerable citizens.”
Join other members of your community in saving money and helping the environment with these tips and to learn how your home or business can become even more efficient visit the Blue Horizons Project website or call them at (828) 254-1995.
