Home Heating and Energy Conservation

With October come the winds of change in Kansas. The days are shorter and the temperature begins to drop. At a time when energy costs continue to skyrocket it's important to find ways to conserve the use of energy at home and work. It is also a good thing to be aware of services to those who cannot keep up with high energy bills.

Below are links to information to help you cut back on home energy use and connections to agencies and groups that can assist those in need:

HOME ENERGY CONSERVATION

Kansas State University Extension
http://www.engext.ksu.edu/ees/henergy/index.html
(You can find answers to frequently asked questions, publications, and an extensive list of other Web resources in their link library to help answer your home energy questions.)

Winter Storm Preparation Tips
http://www.crh.noaa.gov/ict/wwa/wintip.php
(Provided by NOAA National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Wichita, Kansas)

10 Ways to Increase Home Energy Efficiency
http://www.governor.ks.gov/LtGov/EnergyEfficiencyIncrease.htm
(Provided by Kansas Lieutenant Governor, Mark Parkinson)

Conserving Energy
http://www.governor.ks.gov/conserve.htm
(Information from Governor Kathleen Sebelius)

warmhelp.org
http://www.warmhelp.org/
(Includes a list of Kansas energy providers, Conservation Tips, Ways to Help and a Media Center)

Home Energy Checklist for Action
http://www.aceee.org/consumerguide/checklist.htm
(Provided by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy)

ENERGY COSTS ASSISTANCE

Cold Weather Rule
http://curb.kansas.gov/cwr.htm
(The Kansas Corporation Commission established the Cold Weather Rule in 1983 to protect human health and safety and to insure that Kansans have residential electric and gas services they need during the winter. The Cold Weather Rule is effective from November 1 through March 31.)

Kansas Low Income Energy Assistance Program
http://www.srskansas.org/ISD/ees/lieap.htm
(The Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is a federally funded program. It helps eligible households pay a portion of their home energy costs by providing a one-time per year benefit.)

Weatherization Assistance Program
http://www.kshousingcorp.org/programs/wap.shtml
(The Weatherization Assistance Program, funded through the U.S. Department of Energy and the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, provides housing improvements that increase energy efficiency in income-eligible, single- or multi-family dwellings, including manufactured homes. Found on the Kansas Housing Resources Corporation website)

Energy Assistance Agencies
http://www.oneok.com/kgs/customerservice/services/kgs_assistance_agencies.jsp
(A list of agencies around the state that may be able to help. Due to limited funds some may not be able to be of assistance. Provided by the Kansas Gas Service corporation)