Featured Project New Pilot Project Addresses Energy Issues in Homes of Low-Income Residents KANSAS CITY, MO (August 20, 2009) — KCP&L, Blue Hills Community Services and Greater Kansas City LISC have joined together in a unique private-nonprofit partnership to perform weatherization improvements for residential homes in the Blue Hills neighborhood in Kansas City, Mo. The pilot program, called Energy Smart, is a joint effort, and it is the first time the groups have worked together to combat energy inefficiency in aging homes in a low-income neighborhood. Selected homes will receive up to $3,500 each in weatherization improvements.
“Because many older homes are structurally inefficient, energy expenses can be an issue for urban families. By making improvements to the home, we will lower the energy costs for these residents. This is critical to creating sustainability in the neighborhood,” said Julie Porter, executive director of Greater Kansas City LISC. “We are excited to partner with KCP&L and Blue Hills Community Services on this project because it is an excellent example of the NeighborhoodsNOW mission in action: Nonprofit and private entities collaborating to improve the quality of life in our urban neighborhoods.”
results such as: installing insulation; sealing windows with new caulking; and conducting repairs to heating and central cooling systems. The weatherization services will be provided in accordance with guidelines administered by the Department of Energy's LIWAP Program. Energy Smart will enable families to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. Energy Smart improvements are expected to be completed this fall – saving homeowners hundreds of dollars in energy expenses this winter. On average, weatherization reduces energy bills by 31 percent and overall energy bills by $358 per year at current rates.
“KCP&L is proud to be involved in this unique pilot project and partnership. Earlier this year, we approached Greater Kansas City LISC to help us develop the Energy Smart project. LISC recommended Blue Hills Community Services to coordinate it in their neighborhood. Blue Hills Community Services has a good rapport within the neighborhood and was able to identify residents who needed our services,” said Roland Maliwat, sustainability projects manager at KCP&L.
Joanne Bussinger, executive director at Blue Hills Community Services, noted, “The Energy Smart program is an exciting partnership opportunity and will provide Blue Hills residents with critical home weatherization improvements and substantial energy savings.”
Energy Smart is just one component of KCP&L’s Weatherization Assistance Program which enables qualifying families to save money and improve safety and energy efficiency by reducing their energy use. Through this program, experts install energy-efficiency measures free of charge that help keep a home’s temperature comfortable, no matter the weather conditions. For more information about KCP&L’s Weatherization Assistant Program, please visit www.kcplsave.com/residential/programs_and_services/weatherization/default.aspx. About Blue Hills Community Services Blue Hills Community Services, a not-for-profit community development corporation, has been a catalyst for neighborhood development for nearly 34 years. Founded in 1974, BHCS set out to battle social and economic challenges faced by residents of the Blue Hills and surrounding neighborhoods in Kansas City, Missouri. Using a block by block strategy to focus neighborhood revitalization with new and renovated single family homes, multi-family development and home repair services to owner occupants, BHCS ensures neighborhood development is comprehensive and sustainable in creating healthy urban communities. For more information, go to bhcsmo.org.
About KCP&L Headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., Great Plains Energy Incorporated (NYSE: GXP) is the holding company of Kansas City Power & Light Company and Aquila, Inc. (doing business as KCP&L Greater Missouri Operations Company), two of the leading regulated providers of electricity in the Midwest. Kansas City Power & Light and Aquila use KCP&L as a brand name. More information about the company is available on the Internet at: http://www.kcpl.com.
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