(September 30, 2021) As proud first time homeowners of their Bloomfield residence purchased this past January, Mr. and Mrs. Velasquez’s initial joy of homeownership was soon overcome with the painful reality – the challenges of maintaining an older home.
Fortunately, the family learned about La Casa’s Home Energy Conservation Program. They already had a level of trust with La Casa being that their daughter was enrolled in La Casa’s after school enrichment program.
La Casa’s home energy conservation program team went to work to assess the home and determine their needs. Our team quickly determined that not only was the home cold and damp due to a faulty heating unit, but given that their home was built before 1978, it was possible that the home had lead paint – something especially risky for small children.
After the team conducted its energy audit, they concluded that the home lacked wall and attic insulation, had decrepit heating and hot water units, and tested positive for the presence of lead! The Velasquez Family was the perfect candidate to benefit from La Casa’s comprehensive home energy conservation and health and safety services.
At the end of the day, the Velazquez Family received over $32,0000 worth of home repairs, all at no cost to them, thanks to the Weatherization and Lead Home Remediation programs that La Casa provides to qualified Essex County residents. They received new attic and wall insulation, air sealing throughout the home, removal of lead, new, energy efficient windows, and a new energy efficient heating unit and hot water tank.
If you or someone you know would like to learn more about La Casa’s Energy Conservation and Lead Remediation programs, please contact us at 973-485-0701 or wxleadasst@lacasanwk.org.