The HEET is on!

As the weather changes from the hot days of summer to cold New England chills, we look to lower our heating costs in every way possible. In the summer of 2008, the Home Energy Efficiency Team, otherwise know as HEET, formed to bring community volunteers together to weatherize homes. Using the barn raising model, HEET aims to reduce the carbon footprint of specific houses, teach participants skills that they can use to make their own homes more energy efficient, and build a sense of community.

We are thrilled to announce that A-HEET (HEET’s Arlington chapter) and HCA are joining forces to weatherize one of HCA’s two-family houses. In order to locate the areas in the homes where the most cold air is coming in, Feinmann, Inc. is contributing a blower door test in the weeks preceding our work day in order to determine how much we can reduce the loss of heat through the combined air sealing efforts. Feinmann is also donating the materials for air sealing, including expanding foam, caulk, foam gaskets for electrical plates, and pipe wrap.

On the morning of Saturday, September 12th, using A-HEET’s expertise and guidance, HCA volunteers will air-seal the property and lower employ other methods of reducing energy usage, therefore lowering utility costs for the tenants and energy usage for the community at large.

Please contact Joanna at jain@housingcorparlington.org or 781-316-3606 for more details or (even better) if you would like to join us!