Syracuse (WSYR-TV) -- The average New Yorker spends nearly $2,500 in energy costs.
Weatherization assistance programs have helped east the pain for low-income households by doing some energy efficient upgrades to their homes.
Weatherizing your home could save you hundreds of dollars a year. That’s why NY Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is asking for $210-million to support weatherization programs.
Hundreds of low income families count on weatherization assistance programs to make upgrades and save money, but without continued financial support from Washington, those programs and the people who rely on them, could be in trouble.
"In the winter months when it gets cold, families have to choose from heating homes, having food, medicines, everything they need for their kids and we think those choices are just unfair,” said Senator Gillibrand.
Washington lawmakers were in town on Friday and promised to fight for funding on Capitol Hill.
The money is needed to keep energy efficient and weatherization programs going. That training is done here in Central New York.
“It’s one of those programs where yeah, it costs a little money, but you get a return on it, you get people working, adding to the economy, cheaper energy bills,” said Congressman Dan Maffei.
Right now, more than 800 families are on a waiting list for weatherization assistance in Central New York.
The Energy Efficient Training Center in East Syracuse trains more than 1,000 students a year on how to weatherize homes.
