State program will help some Santa Clarita residents save money.

Santa Clarita has embarked on a mission to spread the word to residents that free money is available from Uncle Sam. Thanks to the trickle down effect of federal recovery funds, the state of California has come in to $185 million which they plan to distribute to low income homeowners for energy upgrades.

The state has designated the Maravilla Foundation as the non-profit which will release funds for the Weatherization Assistance Program to residents. Based on a sliding income scale, eligible homeowners can receive free energy efficient products and services, including insulation, weather-stripping and new doors and windows.

“Through the Weatherization Assistance Program, eligible local residents can upgrade outdated and inefficient energy features in their home, including attic insulation, caulking, heating and cooling system repairs, and other conservation measures, at no personal cost,” said Mayor Frank Ferry. “The Program is a great way to keep family members healthy while reducing energy costs.”

The program has two big benefits to government officials; it reduces energy consumption and provides investment in energy efficient products.

Recipients, however, see the dollar signs. Aside from receiving the upgrades free of charge, there’s no telling how much continual savings each affected home will encounter on a monthly basis.

Despite the expected appeal for long term energy savings, the funds for this program have not been widely drawn upon.

“A lot of this money has not been tapped in to,” said Patrick Bryant, Administrative Analyst with the Santa Clarita City Manager’s office. “That leads us to believe that this information has not been readily available to home owners. So we’re trying to do our best to reverse that trend and to get this money to the individual families who are in need of these upgrades.

In the eyes of the City, every homeowner who takes advantage of the program helps everyone around them.

“The more energy upgrades you can provide to homes, the more sustainability the community can achieve,” Bryant said.

To learn about the eligibility standards, contact Santa Clarita’s local Energy Provider, the Maravilla Foundation, at (800) 906-4651 or visit www.csd.ca.gov.