Helpful Links
Weatherproofing | Conservation | Financial assistance programs | Tax Breaks
Weatherproofing
Links We Recommend
The American Gas Association provides some great tips on topics like properly insulating your home and knowing how to use energy wisely.
The State of Illinois’ Web site, Keep Warm Illinois, contains a wealth of information on staying warm while saving energy in an easily printable brochure.
The DIY Network site contains valuable information on weatherproofing your home yourself and a number of other do-it-yourself projects aimed at making your home more energy efficient.
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Conservation
Links We Recommend
EnergyStar, a government-sponsored site, provides a fun and interactive tool that educates you on how to conserve energy in every room of your home. Each room contains a number of “stars” on items that could help cut energy costs and help conserve.
Home Energy Saver, a government site lets you conduct your own home energy audit. Enter your zip code to find out about average homes in your area and the difference in cost between an energy efficient home and a regular home. Answer the questions and find out exactly how much you could save.
This tip sheet fvrom, the Power Is In Your Hands organization, provides you with plenty of useful conservation tips that range from no-cost to those that require a financial commitment.
Keep Warm Illinois is a state-sponsored site designed to provide helpful tips for conserving energy in homes. Along with a list of tips for each section of your home is a video that both shows and explains how to conserve energy in that particular part of the house.
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Financial assistance programs
Links We Recommend
Visit LIHEAP Illinois for information on the program and how to apply.
If you have questions about the LIHEAP program, go straight to the frequently-asked-question section of the site.
CEDA (Community and Economic Development Association) chapter in Cook County administers various programs for low-income families, including the LIHEAP program.
Seniors living in the City of Chicago can learn more about getting a grant to help repair their homes.
The City of Chicago’s Web site provides information on how to apply for a grant to weatherproof your home.
The Chicago Neighborhood Housing Services offer the Neighborhood Lending Program and many other resources to help low-income families buy, maintain and keep their homes. They provide many classes such as shopping for a home and keeping a home on budget.
The U.S. Weatherization Assistance program can help people who can’t afford to weatherize their homes pay for these repairs. This site offers all the information they need about the program as well as how to sign up.
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Financial Assistance and Tax Breaks
Links We Recommend
This site provides information on their Homeowners Energy Conservation Project.
Learn how to get a free energy efficiency consultation and even a free Energy Star refrigerator from the Northern Illinois Energy Project Organization.
You can save money on your taxes by making improvements to your home’s efficiency. This site, from the Alliance to Save Energy, provides detailed information on the recently developed and improved tax credits for energy efficiency.
For additional information on tax credits, visit the EnergyStar site.
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