(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) With winter just around the corner, nearly 225 Louisville Gas and Electric Company employees and their families are joining forces with volunteers from various businesses, schools, churches and community organizations to weatherize homes for low-income senior citizens and the disabled over the next two Saturdays.
In its 20th year, the annual weatherization event is spearheaded by Project Warm and supported by LG&E. Since its inception, volunteers have weatherized more than 6,000 homes across the community.
The Blitz will be held Nov. 6, and Nov. 13. Volunteers — working in teams of up to five people — hope to weatherize more than 300 homes in this year's effort.
Participants will focus on simple weatherization techniques, including hanging interior, plastic storm windows. Project Warm estimates these basic techniques can help clients save up to 25 percent on heating bills.
This year's event has been bolstered by an outpouring of volunteers associated with LG&E's annual "Day of Caring." As such, about 25 percent more company volunteers will participate in the 20th anniversary event. A similar weatherization effort was held in Lexington last month, backed by Kentucky Utilities employees.
"A poorly insulated, drafty home increases energy usage during the winter months, and that translates into higher energy bills," said Frank Schwarz, Executive Director of Project Warm. "Since most of our clients live on a fixed-income, any cost-savings from increased energy efficiency goes a long way."
John P. Malloy, LG&E and KU's Vice President of Energy Delivery — Retail Services, added: "We've been a partner with Project Warm since their inception in 1982, and ever since, thousands of families in our community have benefited from their weatherization and energy education services. We're proud to be a long-standing partner in this effort."
Teams will gather both Saturdays at LG&E's Broadway Office Complex, 820 W. Broadway, around 8:30 a.m. where they will be given weatherization materials before heading to their assigned residences.
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LG&E is a wholly-owned subsidiary of E.ON U.S. LLC that serves 314,000 natural gas and 389,000 electric customers in Louisville, Ky., and 16 surrounding counties.
