Posted on 09/24/2011 8:05:18 AM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
For about a year, Dauhn Minus has been struggling to pay her utilities bill, which, at times, she said runs well over $300.
"That's a lot of money for an electric bill," said the 52-year-old West Palm Beach resident.
The main reason their bill is so high is because the air conditioning unit is 15 years old and working overtime to cool their two-bedroom home. But it can't do the job properly since Minus' home wasn't energy efficient.
"I would have my AC on at 70 degrees, but it was reading 85 degrees in my house," Minus said. "I was burning up."
Minus was a perfect candidate for the Weatherization Assistance Program. Paid for by the U.S. Department of Energy.
Minus said she heard about the program from her sister and applied immediately. She said she got a response in about a week.
"I applied in July and within two weeks they were here assessing what I needed," Minus said. "They didn't waste any time."
Minus said she received solar panels on 14 of her 21 windows as well as energy efficient water faucets, attic insulation and a brand new air conditioning unit.
"I can stand in the middle of the room and feel the AC now," Minus said.
(Excerpt) Read more at palmbeachpost.com ...
From each according to his ablity to each accroding to his needs?
I can’t speak for FL implementation of this weatherization farce but...
the program in Muscogee Co. GA is nothing but a featherbed for Acorn approved contractors and a paycheck for staff of a community service office.
And I would like to point out, most of weatherization can be done by the homeowner and a couple charitable friends in a couple days. Ya don’t need a govenment program to learn how to use a caulking gun!
Here in Michigan a lot of state agencies benefited from the weatherization and greening programs.
Seems like I also read about a woman in Chicago living in a million dollar home also qualified for weatherization.
How did George Washington defeat Cornwallis without proper weatherization and A/C?
How did Grant defeat Lee without proper weatherization and A/C?
How was the "intercontinental" railroad built without proper weatherization and A/C?
How did the Marines take Iwo Jima without proper weatherization and A/C?
Owner/Operator · Apr 2007 to present · West Palm Beach, Florida
Making homemade desserts whether regular or sugar free from scratch by order within 48 hrs. All desserts are free of artificial ingredients when possible.
http://www.dessertsbydauhn.com/
Call to place orders
(561) 881-7458
- oR -
Fax orders to
(561) 840-7775
Please allow 48 hours
preparation time
when ordering
Desserts by Dauhn started more than 25 years ago when Dauhn began baking with her children as a hobby. She was a single mother, with little or no extra money and thought it would be a great way to bond and spend quality time with her kids. It allowed them to be creative and have fun in the process. Family members and friends enjoyed the desserts Dauhn made and gave away as gifts.
With the encouragement of her family and the inspiration of a mentor, Dauhn decided to step out on faith and go into business for herself in 2007. Through this business’ success and experience, Dauhn will be able to attend the local Florida Culinary Institute in the near future.
Your business will help her achieve her dream of becoming “Chef Dauhn” and turn her hobby into her life’s passion. She has been taking additional classes to enhance her baking skills and produce desserts that are more creative. She also plans on specializing in sugar free desserts for Diabetics or for individuals watching their calories. Enjoy her delectable homemade creations.
Being thrifty, I keep our air at 80-85 even this year when we had weeks of highs over 100F. You'll find little sympathy from me; it's too bad the same can't be said for my money.
Interesting catch. I wonder if that oven Ms -Minus uses for her bidness had anything to do with her electric bill ...
If millions of older homes had better insulation, they would have substantially cut their air conditioning and heater bills, since both wouldn't have to run so long. And such a program would have meant lots of jobs for home improvement companies, too.
Yup. BTDT. I survived w/o any gov't money, too. Imagine that. Sure 55F is cold in the winter, and no AC can be pretty miserable especially when the house has no tree cover, but it can be done.
Please, please tell me this is a missprint or a joke??
She keeps the AC at 70? Really? I am not on public assistance and I enjoy earning a handsome salary to support my family of five.
My thermo stays at 80.
they would have substantially cut their air conditioning and heater bills, since both wouldn’t have to run so long.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
This is a plus till the Utilities figured out they were selling less energy but would have to raise OUR rates to make up the ‘lost’ money.
Remember the oil companies used to ‘pee and moan’ about the additives in fuel - not so much as the territorial, but the fact they had to put the additives in.
When, during an ‘oil crisis’ Prez “W” offered that EPA would drop the additives (for a while) with the Oil Companies responding well, that won’t save much, something has to be in there.
Remember a public utility can work on a regulated profit margin - say 5% and if they only hit 4.99% - they can claim a loss for the year.
If we all could do that, imagine what the scams would be to drop the profit margin....(on paper)
I had the weatherization event at my house. If you get a discount for abject poverty from the electric co, this service is mandatory. Guy (a private contractor hired by either electric co or govt) came in and inspected my home from top to bottom, including closets for no reason I could determine. The piece of cheese at the end of the process was a free box of squiggly Chinese light bulbs. He installed them himself. When he was gone I removed them, put back the old ones and gave the freebies away. Which I hear is the only 100% safe way to dispose of them.
He also told me my desktop uses too much electricity and I should get a laptop. Near busted a gut — if I had laptop money he wouldn’t be standing there would he? Got no dryer, no stove, no a/c, no tv, now I should toss the pc too. Then he said get a different water heater. Yeah, how? Then he offered to take the six-yr-old fridge out and replace it with a new one, free of charge (to me, not so free to current taxpayers). No thank you.
He insinuated at some point that I might be considered uncooperative. I stuck my neck out letting him in the basement, since I also have no property insurance and the steps aren’t rated for 200-lb men. But...what’s a govt visit without a snarly threat of some sort, eh?
I have been doing that too. However, you need to be very careful if you have children. You tell anyone your house is 55, and the CPS will be there in two shakes, telling you you'd better make it 60 or surrender the minors. I am not kidding.
Using the oven all day would run up the electric bill and heat up the house. Bet she got a small business owner grant and another two or three because she’s a minority and a woman. She’s all about government freebies from us taxpayers who have enough sense to open a few of those 21 windows for a nice cross breeze.
And here I am paying for my own stuff like a sap!
Well, I’m glad she can feel the AC now. Here in North Texas, when it’s 110 degrees outside and the continuously running AC can’t get the house below 84, I change the thermostat to 85.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.