Utility Discounts for Medical Devices or In-Home Patients

No matter what your income, you may be eligible for a discount on your utility bill if someone in your home is dependent on a medical device that uses electricity. Or if you need heating and air-conditioning to care for someone with special needs. To find programs you may qualify for in your area you must search 1) your city or township government, 2) your county government, 3) your state government, 4) local nonprofit agencies and local development corporations, 5) as well as your utility company. Make sure you check with all of the following offices for help in locating appropriate organizations in your area like: 1) your local library, 2) your local elected officials, 3) your local United Way and, 4) all housing agencies in your area. Local government offices can be identified at www.govengine.com and your local United Way can be identified at http://national.unitedway.org/myuw/. Listed below is a sampling of similar local programs around the country. You can also contact your local Area Office on Aging by calling 1-800-677-1116 or go to http://www.aoa.gov/eldfam/How_To_Find/Agencies/Agencies.asp. You should also seek out your local community action agency near you to see if they have a program to help you. You can find your local agency at www.communityactionpartnership.com/about/links/map.asp or by contacting Community Action Partnership in Washington, DC at 202-265-7546

A lot of Local Utility Programs can be identified on the web by going to www.hud.gov then choose your state under the title “Information by State.” Most state pages have a link called “Renting Help Page.” Click there even if you are a home owner. Most Rental for both renters and homeowners. Help pages have a link called “Help With Your Utility Bills” which describes programs for both renters and owners.

Listed below is a sampling of the types of programs that are available around the country.

1) 30% Rate Discount to Run Medical Equipment or Care for Paraplegic, Hemiplegic, Quadriplegic or MS Patient
Medical Equipment Discount Rate, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Sacramento, CA
http://www.smud.org/residential/services/med_rate.html

2) Rate Discounts for Life Equipment or Special Needs
Services For Medical Baseline and Life-Support Customers, Pacific Gas and Electric California
http://www.pge.com/res/financial_assistance/medical_baseline_life_t/

3) Pay No More for Extra Electricity to Run Medical Machines Heating and Air-conditioning for Patient
Medical Baseline Allowance, Utility Consumers’ Action Network
San Diego, CA
http://www.ucan.org/consumer_info/Elec_Bill/reduce_utility_bill.htm

4) Get 25% Discount on Utility Bills with No Income Requirement
Medical Residential Assistance Programs, Municipal Services Division
Santa Clara, CA
http://www.ci.santa-clara.ca.us/pub_utility/pu_help_paying.html

Income Eligibility: varies from program to program. Contact a program near you to learn specific requirements.

$25,000 for Historic Preservation

Provides grants of up to $25,000 grants to professionals in the historic preservation field to support projects of innovative original research or creative design related to historic preservation, including architecture, landscape architecture, architectural conservation, urban design, environmental planning, archaeology, architectural history, and the decorative arts. Contact The James Marston Fitch Charitable Foundation, c/o Neighborhood Preservation Center, 232 East 11th Street, New York, New York 10003; 212-252-6809; Fax: 212-471-9987; http://www.fitchfoundation.org/; Email: FitchFoundation@aol.com
Application: http://fitchfoundation.org/06application.html and http://fitchfoundation.org/blinderapp.html
Income Eligibility: Determined on a case-by-case basis.

Low- and 0% Interest Loans to Buy Energy Saving Appliances and Fix-Up Your House

No matter what your income and as long as your improvements will create a more energy efficient home, you can save a lot on interest rates and finance charges by using a subsidized energy conservation loan program. These programs are typically available from your state department of energy, a local government office or your utility company. State and local government offices can be found by contacting your state or city operators or www.govengine.com. Your local phone directory and library can help you locate your local utility companies. Be sure to check them all. Here is a sample of the kinds of programs available.

1. $35,000 Low Interest Loan For Fireplaces, Freezers, Cloth Washers, Etc.
   Dollar and Energy Saving Loans, Nebraska Energy Office
   Lincoln, NE
   http://www.neo.ne.gov/loan/index.html
2. $50,000 Low Interest Loan For New Energy Saving Appliances
   Energy Loan Fund, Ohio Department Of Development
   Columbus, OH
   http://www.odod.state.oh.us/cdd/oee/ELFGrant.htm
3. $20,000 Low Interest Loan To Make Energy Saving Improvements
   NY Energy Smart Loan Program, NY Energy Research & Development Authority
   Albany, NY
   http://www.nyserda.org/loanfund/
4. 0% Interest Loans For Energy Efficiency Improvements
   Residential Weatherization Program, Tacoma Power
   Tacoma, WA
   http://www.ci.tacoma.wa.us/power/ResidentialServices/default.htm
5. $3,000 For New Storm Doors Or Windows
   5% Weatherization Loans, Tideland EMC
   Pantego, NC
   http://www.tidelandemc.com/p&sincentives.htm
   Income Eligibility: Varies.

Home Improvement Warning: Ladder Falls On The Rise

Spring is a busy time for chores around the house, and because of that it’s also a busy time for hospital emergency rooms. One of the largest studies ever to look at ladder-related injuries is out. And it shows that the number of people falling – is rising.


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Be Safe and Sound When Repairing or Remodeling your Home

Home improvement projects can be dangerous. Many tasks call for sharp tools or power tools that can cause injuries. You can't successfully repair or tackle home improvement projects your home if you're not careful. With a little careful organization and forethought, even the most difficult home improvement tasks can be conquered safely and successfully.

Be sure to completely read the instruction manual for your power tools and follow the manufacturer's safety cautions. Tighten any adjustments and check that the guard is working before you operate a tool. Keep power tools dry, and plug them into grounded electrical outlets. Take care not to cut the power cord. Never store your power tools while they are still connected to the power supply.

Keep fingers well away from a power blade. Clamp small pieces of wood before cutting them, rather than holding them. It's imperative to wear work gloves when you're handling rough materials such as wood, glass, or metal, but take them off when using a power tool so you have complete control over it.

Never use any kind of power tool without proper protective eyewear. Unplug a power saw before changing the blade or doing any other kind of maintenance or cleaning to it.
Learn how to properly support a board when you cut it with a power tool so it doesn't kick back towards you during use.

Always completely shut off power or water when working with the electrical wiring or the plumbing. One of the first questions you should ask as a new homeowner is where your shutoffs are located.

When working on a ladder, don't lean out to either side. Keep your body weight between the sides of the ladder. It may take longer to get off the ladder and move it to reach farther, but it is well worth your time. Falls are one of the most common causes of injuries in the home.
If you're not used to the physical element of doing construction, remodeling, or renovation work, you might easily injure yourself or strain your muscles. You may not even notice the aches and pains until you wake up the next day. Don't take chances and overexert yourself when lifting heavy objects, or when repeatedly lifting lighter loads. Get a helper to do some of the work, and take plenty of breaks. Listen to your body's signals and realize when enough is enough. Learn to bend and lift with the knees and not your back.
You're going to find a great satisfaction and pride knowing that you're able to safely and successfully accomplish repair, remodeling and renovation projects around your house as long as you're smart, safe, and keep yourself organized, focused and on task.

What Remodeling Your Kitchen Can Do For Your Home

Are you a homeowner? If so, there is a good chance that you take great pride in your home. Despite taking great pride in your home, there may come a time when you may want to spice it up a little bit. When that is the case, a fairly large number of homeowners make the decision to remodel their homes. When it comes to home remodeling, one of the most common rooms remodeled is that of the kitchen. Of course, remodeling your kitchen may make you happy, but did you also know that it can do things for your home? The truth is that you are not the only one who can benefit from a little bit of kitchen remodeling, your home can also benefit.

Perhaps, the greatest way that your home can benefit from a kitchen remodeling project is with its value. If you make the decision to have your home remodeled, you will likely find that the overall value of your home will increase. Sometimes, the increase may be hard to notice, but it can also be quite noticeable. Honestly, the increase in value will all depend on what type of remodeling was done and how it turned out. Professional kitchen remodeling jobs are the ones that tend to increase a home s value the most. Also, the more of your kitchen you remodel, the more the value of your home is likely to increase. An increased home value can turn into a profit for you, if and when you decide to sell your home.

In addition to an increase in value, you will also find that by remodeling your kitchen, the overall appearance of your home will better. That will not only have an impact on your home, but you as well. It is a known fact that when homeowners have a decent looking home, they not only feel more comfortable in it, but they also feel more comfortable inviting guests over. By remodeling your kitchen, your home may seem more welcoming and inviting. Whether you just want to have your friends over for coffee or you want to host a large party, a kitchen remodeling project may be just what you need to get the ball rolling.

The appearance of your home, particularly your kitchen, and the increase in your home s value are two of the greatest ways that your home can benefit from a kitchen remodeling project. Although your home can benefit from a kitchen remodeling project, it is important to note that the results are not all the same. As previously mentioned, the end result, of a kitchen remodeling project, makes all of the difference in the world. Although you may have better results using a professional contractor, you may not want to. If you want to perform your own kitchen remodeling, you can, but it is best that you first know exactly what you are doing.

If you do not have experience with home improvement projects, it may be a good idea to take a kitchen remodeling course, class, or seminar. Depending on where you live, you should have access to a number of these courses. In fact, you may find that one of your home improvement stores offers these classes for free or for a reasonable fee. If you are unable to attend a kitchen remodeling class, course, or seminar, you should at least obtain a copy of a kitchen remodeling guide or how-to book. Many of these books are available for sale online or in book stores. Depending on the size of your library, you may also be able to find a few remodeling books there.

Although it is not required that you use a guide or attend a remodeling seminar, you may want to. Since the overall value of your home, as well as its appearance depends on the outcome of your kitchen remodeling projects, you may want to make sure that your remodeling is done right.