Hampton Direct makes donation to help cut heating costs

Hampton Direct is donating $40,000 worth of Twin Draft Guards to help alleviate Vermont’s heating crisis. The energy-saving, weather proofing products are being distributed to low income households seeking assistance from Vermont’s five Community Action Agencies.
The average Vermonter spends nearly $3,000 annually on fuel costs and some 27,800 Vermont homes currently receive heating aid. While rising fuel prices and decreased federal funding have contributed to the current heating crisis, Community Action Agencies like the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) are helping low-income families weatherize their homes and fight the cold. Twin Draft Guards install easily to block drafts from windows, doors and floor boards and have been shown to save as much as 30 percent in home heating costs. The 4,000 Twin Draft Guards provided by Hampton Direct will be available to low-income households and families through heating relief resources such as the WARMTH Support and Shareheat programs.
‘We applaud the efforts of Governor Shumlin to ensure the people of Vermont stay warm and safe this winter,’ remarked Steve Heroux, Founder and CEO, Hampton Direct, Inc. ‘With funding cut backs, it’s more important than ever to help protect people from the cold and give them the tools to help reduce their heating costs.’
Designed as a dual draft blocker and heat insulator that reduces energy bills, the Twin Draft Guard underscores the Community Action Agency’s mission of helping those in need achieve economic independence. Community Action Agency weatherization services also focus on home improvement such as energy audits and insulation.
‘Vermont’s fuel assistance clients are thrilled with their gift of Twin Draft Guards. The first four cases were gone in a matter of days. We heard from several people who already feel warmer in their homes,’ said Peggy Treanor, Community Services Director at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity. ‘Given the large cuts to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) program this winter, these energy saving items will help us stretch fuel assistance dollars further. Vermont has some of the oldest housing stock in the country and many of our clients live in that housing, much of which is quite drafty. We are very thankful to Hampton Direct for this donation.’
Source: Hampton Direct, 12-2-2011