It's been a while since I have blogged. Running the LIHEAP program on the New Hampshire side of the Connecticut Upper Valley keeps you pretty busy during this season. I wanted to point out in this blog the average fuel prices as of December 2, 2008; You can find this information at
http://www.nh.gov/oep/index.htm

Average Fuel Prices as of December 8, 2008

Heating Oil, credit: $2.516/gal Propane, credit: $2.782/gal Kerosene, credit: $3.367/gal Electricity: $0.16461/kwh Natural Gas, first tier: $1.4996/therm Natural Gas, second tier: $1.3950/therm Gasoline, self-serve regular: $1.741/gal Diesel: $2.696/gal

Here are the average fuel prices as of September 2, 2008 that were posted in a previous blog;

FUEL PRICES
Heating Oil, credit:
$3.973/gal
Propane, credit:
$3.238/gal
Kerosene, credit:
$4.634/gal
Electricity:
$0.15872/kwh
Natural Gas, first tier:
$1.5250/therm
Natural Gas, second tier:
$1.3844/therm
Gasoline, self-serve regular:
$3.634/gal
Diesel:
$4.260/gal

It's amazing how people just a few months ago were paying these high prices for fuel.

(Difference in fuel prices between September 2, 2008 to December 2, 2008)

Heating Oil: $1.46/gal
Propane: .45 Cents/gal
Kerosene: $1.27/gal
Electricity: .00589/kwh
Gasoline: $1.89/gal
Diesel: $1.57/gal

A dollar and some change may not seem like much, but it add's up and it add's up on the "things" that we all consume. Just because the fuel prices have gone down doesn't mean that social service agencies as well as food pantries have seen a decrease in clientele. I can say that in my office it has been heavy and steady. Most recently there have been a large number of lay offs. So not only have I seen an increase in people applying for LIHEAP who are low-income and a vulnerable population as well as many others, there are now more people coming into my office who are trying to prepare for the near future before their lay offs catch up with them financially.

One flaw with the LIHEAP program that I run is that I HAVE to take income from the date of the clients application and thirty days prior. This means ANY income received within the household. For example if someone is laid off and comes into my office a week later for help with their fuel, their current income does not reflect their current situation.

So our media has finally admitted to this recession. Of course we have all seen it coming in slow motion. For information about services in your local area in Vermont and New Hampshire you can dial 211, it's FREE!! Also visit www.fapgap.org

The Soda Can Solution

When I was a young child living in Florida, my family lived in one the few homes on the block without a solar hot water heater. I never knew why my parents opted out of free hot water, but I've been obsessed with solar technology ever since.

Solar Heat For The Masses

One of my all time favorite products was designed by a Newfoundlander and is called the Cansolair. The Cansolair is an inexpensive solar panel made out of Plexiglas and recycled aluminum cans that can heat about 800 square feet of living space during the day. Here is a video from the CBC showing how the device works.

A solar heater of similar design could be made for $2-4 a square foot and significantly reduce the oil consumption of a mobile home.

Gordon

Heating From The Ground Up

As fuel prices continue to increase, renewable and alternative heating options become more attractive. One of my favorite alternative heating options is geothermal heat because it is sustainable and in the right application it is cost effective. Geothermal heat uses the constant temperature of the earth to heat or cool a building. Here is a youtube video explaining how geothermal heating systems work.
Gordon

BUTTON UP VERMONT!!!

Yes, I know...we're in New Hampshire...BUT...there is only a little trickle of water between us and the GREAT state of Vermont. The Vermont CAPS are sponsoring a bunch of really cool (or warm) workshops on "buttoning up your home"
Click here for the link to the workshops and join one! It's about your windows and doors - doing this can save up to 30% on your heating bill! 30% folks, that's a lot of money that WONT go to the big oil companies.

This morning as I was getting ready to come in and battle the fuel crisis, this man named Paul Camyre, 89, was on the TV screen. He was telling his story of his struggle this year about paying for his taxes or heating his home. This is a just another example of heat or eat. This heartbreaking story today has touched many Americans. Something that is not new to me, I hear these stories on a daily basis. Out of site out of mind, not so much anymore.....



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=562u-_9NzIw

Confused about LIHEAP...we are (sometimes...)

Here is a great site to help you better understand LIHEAP and what all those congress people are doing and how much New Hampshire is getting. It has constant updates (no pretty graphics though...) www.neada.org Its the National Energy Assistance Directors Association.
Here is the most recent press release...

"Congress Passes CR, Increases LIHEAP Funding to $5.1 Billion

September 26, 2008

The FY 09 CR was passed by the Senate on Saturday by a vote of 78-12. It now goes to the President for signature and there is every expectation that he will sign it. So, we are even closer to a historic victory for LIHEAP! Thanks so much for your help the last year in providing data, program summaries, etc. It helped a great deal. The numbers were used as part of the Appropriation Committee calculations.

The CR provides $5.1 billion for LIHEAP of which $4.5 billion would be for the basic grant, an increase of $2.53 billion in the basic grant from $1.98 billion in FY 08. The remaining $590.3 million would be provided as emergency contingency funds, the same level as provided in FY 08. Of the funds provided for the basic grant, $3.669 billion will be allocated by holdharmless or Tier 1 part of the formula and $839.9 million by Tier 2 and Tier 3.

In addition, the bill:

1. Increases the eligibility ceiling from the greater of 150% of poverty or 60% of state median income to the greater of 150% of poverty or 75% of state median income,
2. Allows states to carryover any funds remaining from FY 08 to FY 09
3. Requires that all funds provided be obligated within 30 days of enactment. This would seem to suggest that the Administration would be required to obligate the $590.3 million in emergency contingency funds. I will be checking today to see if in fact that is the legal interpretation."

If you go to the site - you can click on the Appropriations Table to see how we (New Hampshire) fare in all of this mess.

The update from the Tri-County CAP line is this...

We have 5,145 households who have applied for FAP or have scheduled appointments to apply.
At this date last year there were 4,112 households. This is an increase of over 25%.

Last year at this time the price of heating oil was about $2.70/gallon.
This year it’s $3.95 – an increase of more than 46%.

Last year we ended up with 6,746 households qualifying for benefits and we provided $4,661,164.01 in benefits. Our present contract with the state is for $2,332,357 in benefits.

eak...joie&angel...coming to you from the no-stress-express...

WRITE YOUR LETTERS!!!

FROM LIHEAP.ORG

"Today many Americans are concerned about gasoline and energy prices, which remain high by historical standards, and are worried about whether they'll be able to afford their home energy costs this year. Low-income households—particularly those that include elderly residents, the disabled, and children—are especially concerned since they are most vulnerable to rising costs and often must choose between paying their energy bills or buying food and medicine.

Fortunately, there is a way to help low-income Americans pay their heating and cooling costs. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, was created by Congress in 1981 and provides funds that can be used for many types of energy assistance for low-income families. Families receiving LIHEAP assistance must have income below 150 percent of the federal poverty level, and two-thirds of LIHEAP families earn less than $8,000 per year.

Today, however, many low-income households that are eligible for LIHEAP assistance are not receiving it. That’s because funding levels for the program have not kept pace with the growing number of households eligible for assistance.

You can help to ensure that our nation’s most vulnerable citizens are not left behind. Use this site to send a letter to Congress, asking lawmakers to support an $800-million increase in LIHEAP funding this year."