Nova Scotia Senior Reaps the Rewards of Conserve Nova Scotia's REAP program

Through the Residential Energy Affordability Program (REAP), Conserve Nova Scotia helped Audrey McGhee make energy efficiency upgrades to her home, providing her with peace of mind, in a time of rising fuel costs.

REAP, funded by Conserve Nova Scotia, is a program designed to help qualifying low-income homeowners in Nova Scotia save energy and money by making their homes more energy efficient.

Audrey, 78, lives in Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia.

Her house, built in 1948, needed a lot of work when she first moved in seven years ago.

Since then, flooring was replaced and sanded, plumbing was worked on, closets and doors were installed and a new roof for the house and garage was put on.

But, even after these renovations, Audrey had merely scratched the surface of the amount of work that needed to be done.

Her home was still drafty.

Unfortunately, Audrey had run out of money.

Audrey sent a letter to her local community services office requesting financial aid to continue with the renovations.

A short while later, she received news that she qualified for REAP, enabling her to have energy efficiency upgrades made to her home, free of charge.

Audrey happily accepted.

Under REAP, qualifying low-income homeowners receive about $5,000 worth of energy efficiency upgrades, at no cost to them.

As a result, program participants reap the rewards of the program through reduced annual energy bills.

Annual energy savings are projected to be about 30 per cent.

In Audrey's home, REAP contractors placed insulation in the basement, ground-level and attic walls and an electrician installed an exhaust fan in the bathroom.

Before the house was properly insulated, she complained that her furnace was on most of the time and rarely shut off.

"Now that it's insulated, it does what it's supposed to do," says Audrey.

"They put a thermostat in to regulate it and now I'm in control of it."

Although her fuel savings will be most evident during the cold winter months, Audrey has already noticed a drop in her oil consumption.

From March to May 2007, she purchased 700 litres of oil.

In the same three-month period in 2008, she purchased only 423 litres of oil.

Prior to these energy upgrades, Audrey struggled to make ends meet.

For Audrey, there was no such a thing as extra money to be put aside for a rainy day.

"I really had to budget my money," she says. "I began to consider selling my house. But after all the time, money and personal energy put into it, the thought of leaving was very disheartening."

After the energy upgrades, Audrey's house went from 46 to 72 on the EnerGuide rating scale, providing her with a cozier, more energy efficient home.

Thanks to the program, she can rest assured knowing her oil bills will be much lower in the coming months.

"I was getting worried because the price of oil kept going up," says Audrey.

"I thought I'd have to move, but with this program I don't have to now.

I'm really grateful that it was done. I really am."