For Leicester resident Tonya Lawrence, the home energy efficiency work that Asheville-based Energy Savers Network (ESN) provides for free has great personal significance. As part of its ongoing partnership with Duke Energy, ESN earlier this year provided Lawrence with energy efficiency upgrades that would have cost her thousands of dollars. Upgrades to her home included an HVAC heat pump replacement, insulation installation, and window and door home repairs—work that resulted in a 21 percent reduction in air leakage in her home.
“I am so thankful for Energy Savers Network,” Lawrence says. “They weatherized my house, did much needed structural repairs including duct work and window repair and also installed a new HVAC system. I am a cancer survivor still going through chemo treatments and can only work part-time. This help was huge in my life. My light bill went down $200 a month. Everyone was so nice and helpful. I am eternally grateful.”
ESN’s upgrades at Lawrence’s home also mark a milestone for the nonprofit, representing the completion of weatherization services for its 1,500th home. In collaboration with Duke Energy’s Income-Qualified Weatherization Program, ESN provides comprehensive energy efficiency upgrades at no cost to eligible homeowners in Buncombe, Haywood, Henderson and Madison counties.
Duke Energy’s program is designed to help income-eligible customers save energy and money. From sealing air leaks to upgrading old appliances, the program strives to make energy efficiency accessible to everyone, regardless of financial standing. The program also provides access to health and safety home repairs…