WESTERN NEW YORK RESIDENT UPGRADES FROM FUEL OIL TO HEAT PUMPS FOR A LESS DRAFTY, BETTER INSULATED, HEALTHIER HOME – WITH AIR CONDITIONING!
Pembroke, NY
YEAR BUILT: 1865
HOUSING TYPE: Homeowner-occupied single family
FUEL TYPE: Delivered fuel (oil, propane)
DESIRED UPGRADES: The resident was concerned about toxic hazards in the home like mold and asbestos and wanted to have those removed. She was also interested in getting a heat pump to replace an expensive fuel oil system that was not keeping the home warm in the winter.
What problem was the resident having? Her oil furnace was at the end of its life and wasn’t going to last another season. Additionally, heating with oil is very expensive and she wanted to bring down her monthly utility cost. She applied for heat pumps from Empower+ on May 4th and hoped to get installation done before the summer; as an older adult, she was concerned about heat stroke during the hot summer months, and was very interested in the air conditioning benefits from heat pumps.
She needed several services in order to get the heat pumps: her home required an energy audit, insulation and air sealing, and electrical panel upgrade, new doors to the cellar and basement, an oil tank removal, asbestos abatement, and mold remediation. She also needed to have the oil furnace safely removed and disposed of, which Empower+ does not cover the cost of.
Total cost to upgrade: $30,100
Portion paid out of pocket that GAP Funding would cover: $9,000
Were they able to get funding for the problem? The resident unfortunately had high out of pocket costs; as an older adult, she had some savings, which disqualified her for USDA home repair grants, despite living on fixed income. She did not apply for the Weatherization Assistance Program because the waiting list was so long.
Were they able to fix the issue? If not, why? The resident was able to complete the project, however it should be noted that it unfortunately took over 5 months (which means that she missed out on having an air conditioner during the summer season) and she also had to pay $9,000 out of pocket in order to remove the oil tank from her home and abate some asbestos issues in the basement. These costs were not covered by any of the assistance programs she was eligible for. However, now that she has new heating and cooling tech, she is much more comfortable and loves the new set up. She finds the home is more consistently warm throughout the house (for example, the bathroom is finally warm).