Charlottesville's Local Energy Alliance Program - or LEAP - is trying to teach homeowners about some easy fixes to save them energy and money.
Wednesday night, LEAP kicked off the 2012 season of its GreenMatters workshops with a presentation focused on "do it yourself" projects. It was all meant to give folks some tips for making their homes more energy efficient, and in the meantime, make those buildings safer for families and cheaper to live in.
"Its not only about energy efficiency," LEAP Residential Energy Services Manager Guy A. Caroselli said. "Its about comfort, health, safety, making the building durable."
Caroselli recommends everyone get an energy audit for their home. It acts as a report card for the way the structure uses and helps you conserve energy. He says there are some common misconceptions about going green with your home, and where it is best to invest your time and money. For instance, Caroselli says a number of people think windows and doors are the main problem, but that's not always the case.
"Most houses have an opening in them about the size of a refrigerator door, and its other places - in the attic, in the basement, underneath the kitchen sink - places that they would never go or never go or look or seem to think are leaking," Caroselli explained.
LEAP even demonstrated some techniques for things like caulking and foaming. That way, those who participated got some hands-on experience with those kinds of "do it yourself" projects.
If you want more information on LEAP or future workshops, click here.
