Efficiency Pros Ride to the Rescue of Disabled Couple

It took a New York Times article published on Feb. 4, 2012 to shine the national spotlight on the plight of many Maine families with limited resources, leaky houses and climbing oil prices.  In this case, it focused on the Hartfords, a disabled couple in Dixfield, Maine who could not afford to heat their home on their fixed income of $1,200 per month. In desperation, Robert Hartford drove his 1996 Lincoln Town car to the local oil company and offered them the title to it in exchange for heating oil.

Partly because of cuts to LIHEAP funding, increasing numbers of Mainers are in this situation where they must choose whether to "heat or eat".

In response to the NYT article, several Maine businesses that provide energy efficiency services have stepped up to provide assistance to the Hartfords. DeWitt Kimball of Complete Home Energy Evaluation Services  and Kevin Casey of Upright Frameworks performed an energy audit on their home on the Sunday morning after the article was published.  Some work to improve the energy efficiency was done that day and more is planned in the coming weeks.

Peter Troast of Energy Circle wrote about the situation in his blog:

"During the external visual inspection, there are many obvious issues: an entirely missing window covered only be plastic, uninsulated walls, significant leaks where the rear addition connects, a door that once went to a porch that has no function other than to leak air. Right away we see big opportunities for envelope improvement.

"People in the energy efficiency community, most without being asked, are lining up to help the Hartford's situation. So far:

DeWitt Kimball, Complete Home Evaluation Services: full energy audit at no charge.

Josh Wojcik and Kevin Casey, Upright Frameworks: coordination of weatherization and retrofit work. At a minimum, they will do the work under their 'Raise ME Up' program, in which they provide their labor at cost.

Peter Troast of Energy Circle will provide at cost whatever efficiency products the retrofit team needs--ventilation products such as low energy bathroom fans, interior storm windows, switches and timers, smart strips, etc."

There may be others; you can watch for updates on the Energy Circle blog about this project.

Read the article in the Sun Journal, too.

Sympathetic readers of the New York Times article have responded by sending donations in excess of $100,000 to Hometown Energy to create a fund for providing oil heat to the Hartfords and to others in need. To donate, contact Hometown Energy, 90 Weld St. in Dixfield.

The obvious question remaining is, how many other families are there like the Hartfords, who are not so fortunate as to receive this assistance?  Please add your comments below.