Deeper Shades of Green: Energy Costs

Did you know that National Grid will pay you $25 to get a programmable thermostat? For this and more rebates, click here.

Facing down those energy costs as winter continues...

  

As we in the northeast continue to face cold weather and snow, coupled with rising natural gas prices, now is a great time to take an extra look at those bills that are stacking up. Knowing what is costing you can save you money right away, and taking action can save you money for years to come.

Small changes to your daily activities can have a big impact on our bill and the environment. Click here for tips that can help you manage your home energy usage. 

On the side of every energy bill is a handy chart tracking your usage each month. For buildings that are heated with Natural Gas, you can expect to see an increase in winter months, but if that increase is sharp and high, you may be able to spend a little upfront to insulate and reduce leakage and save hundreds of dollars.

If your windows get cold or drafty, one great winter project that can pay dividends for years to come are window insulation panels. You can buy them from a local company, or build them yourself using these very thorough instructions: 

http://www.arttec.net/Thermal-Windows 

A programmable thermostat can also do wonders to reduce your heating bills by automatically dropping the temperature in your house while you are away, and boosting it back up before you get home. National Grid is currently running an incentive program where they will send you a $25 rebate to help you buy one. 

Even though spring will be upon us soon, it is never too late to make the lasting improvements that will save you money for years to come. 

Planning ahead to get ahead!

The 52 week savings plan

If January’s credit card bills or other holiday-related debt have you down, it’s a perfect time to put together a holiday spending plan.  Decide how much you can comfortably spend on gifts this year.  First, put together a list of all the people to whom you would like to give gifts.  Then decide how much you would like to spend on each person.  Don’t forget to include the costs of decorations, wrapping, and cards in your spending plan.   Parts excerpted from http://citifmonline.com

Then use the 52 week savings plan below to get you there!

Faces at TRIP: Bobbi Carter

Bobbi Carter joined TRIP as the first director of its NeighborWorks HomeOwnership Center which opened in 2001.  She had previously worked in the lending industry for 18 years.   Despite the pressures of a growing demand by people who want to become homeowners, want to save or preserve their homes from disrepair or foreclosure, or want to turn their financial position around, Bobbi loves her job.  Her staff of five is like family to her, as are many of their customers who become life-long friends.  That is the key to her happiness; she most enjoys working with people who come in with financial problems and little hope – and leave her with a new understanding of what’s possible.  She’s quick to add that that doesn’t necessarily mean being a homeowner, since not everybody wants to or should own a home. Learning how to manage your finances, however, creates the path toward any dreams. 

When Bobbi is not working, she is able to spend time with her four-legged family, Max and Cutie, her mini Schnauzers. And are they the cutest!  

And what else do you think Bobbi might do when not working?  Talk about taking your work home with you, she did several  – what else?  -- home improvement projects recently.  Read the accompanying DIY article to see her story.  

New Year, New Skills

Learn to DIY

While holed up at home recently taking some time off from work, Bobbi Carter, Director of TRIP’s HomeOwnership Center, took a mental inventory of house projects that needed to be done and pondered repair people to call.  Perhaps because it was during the holiday season when she often counsels people about how to manage their money, she realized there is no reason why she couldn’t try to do the repair, even if it ended with her needing to hire a professional to finish it.  

It started with doing the necessary research, in this case, searching the internet for “How do you….”

With a great deal of help from the web and YouTube videos in particular, Bobbi was able to learn each step of her repair project and the materials needed.  She even learned the names and uses of the many tools left her by her father, about three of which she knew how to use.  

Armed with knowledge, Bobbi tackled the inner mechanics of the downstairs toilet and replaced the corroded pop up drain and trap for the sink in that room.  Hours later, she successfully mastered it and had changed its inner parts, replacing old corroded pipes that will conserve water use and ultimately save her some money.

Next up was bleeding the radiators, draining them of any air that is caught within which reduces heat and increases costs.  First, YouTube, then get the right tool (in this case, the key), then get to work.  Again, a success. 

Bobbi is planning next to replace her old thermostat with an energy-efficient, programmable one.   The only thing she is worried about for this project is making sure the power is off before tackling it, so her task this weekend is to buy a good tester (the one tool her Dad didn’t seem to have)!  After this it’s back to the list that that seems to be growing daily along with expertise and YouTube, and confidence.

She will be taking the money she is saving with contractors & energy efficiency and adding it to her 52 Week savings so this time next year she can actually take a Vacation and not a Staycation!   And you can too!

Thank You!

45 Years: Thank You for Your Generosity

We are enormously grateful to the countless neighborhood residents, government officials and individual and corporate donors who so generously gave of their time and resources this past year. 2013 marked our 45th year of facilitating community development in Troy and Rensselaer County. As in every prior year the credit truly goes to the community. We are impressed and humbled by the trust you have put in us and we look forward to working with each of you in a busy and impactful 2014. Our best to you and your families.

Thanks to our 2013 Donors!

Wally & Jane Altes, Anonymous, Architecture+, Bank of America, Charles Barnes, Judith A. Barnes, Bartle McGrane Duffy & Jones, BBL Construction, Berkshire Bank, Tony Behan, Robert & Mary Brand, Bob & Sheryl Burke, Callanan Industries, Cannon Heyman & Weiss LLP, Capital Bank, Capital District YMCA, Karen Carlson, Nancy Carroll, Carroll Realty, Joanne Carter, Joe Cary, CDWA Legal Project, Andrew Chase, Joyce and John Chupka, Citizens Bank, Chris Collins, Commission on Economic Opportunity, Community Loan Fund of the Capital Region, Susan Cummings, Andrea Daley, Michael and Rebecca Danforth, Tony Dawson, DeFazio Imports, Garrett and Shellie Degraff, Jessica Derrick, Honorable Bob Doherty, Doug Dylla, Emma Willard School, Lorraine and Jeff English, Carl Erickson, Michael Esposito, Joe & Barbara Fama, Donald & Lisa Fane, Marion Field, First Niagara Bank, First United Presbyterian Church, Joseph and Claudia Fleming, Melissa Franklin, Charles Freihofer, Sandra Garrity, Marie Gavazzi, Tim & Kathy Gilchrist, Colleen Goldston, Jude Goldwin, Honorable Jim Gordon, Honorable Peter Grimm, Groff Networks, Hannaford, David and Katie Haviland, John & Karen Hedley, Barbara and Gary Higbee, Hilton Garden Inn Troy, Alane & Paul Hohenberg, Penny Holmes, Hoosick Valley Contractors, Hudson River Bank & Trust, Rev. David and Mozella Irving, Honorable Kathy Jimino, Liza Johnson, E. Stewart Jones Jr., Joseph Mangione Inc., Sam Judge, Paul Keely, Charles Keels, Key Bank, Nancy Klepsch, Honorable Lynn Kopka, Gwen Krause, Hilary Lamishaw, Bernice Bornt Ledeboer, Joseph Lomonaco, M&T Bank, Bob and Janet MacLasco, Cara Macri, Patrick Madden, John Madden Jr., Joseph P. Mangione, Honorable Kathy Marchione, Roger & Maria Markovics, Morris and Esther Massry, Norman Massry, Jillian Mayott, Kim Mazor, Denise Mazzariello, Jack McCann, Honorable John McDonald III, Thomas McGuire, Elizabeth McLaughlin, Honorable Steven McLaughlin, Honorable Rich McNally Jr., Honorable Mike McNulty, Heinrich Medicus, Carole Montepare, Ovsanna & Mihran Mooradian, Townsend Morey, Steve and Mary Muller, NBT Bank, Edward Nash, Marilyn Neal, Christine Nealon, Barb Nelson, Theresa Newton, Nina Nichols, Jeanette Nicholson, Kevin and Pat O'Bryan, Tim O'Byrne, Thomas O'Connor, Jane Otto, Gail Padalino, Elsie Pastor, Peony Ventures LLC, Pfeil Hardware, Sandy Phoenix, Pioneer Bank, Ratna Randive, Marsha Ras, George Regan, Steven Rein, Edward Reinfurt, Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Reverus, Jay Richardson, Honorable Lou Rosamilia, Ken & Dorcas Rose, Honorable Ellen McNulty Ryan & Mark Ryan, Michael Rynasko and Susan Troll, Peter Sawyer, Nancy Scarchilli, Bill Shroeder & Wendy Pattison, SEFCU Mortgage Services, Christopher Shaw and Bridget Ball Shaw, Yvette Smalls, State Farm Insurance, Stewarts Shops, Dr. Mary Theresa Streck, Sunmark FCU, T. McElligott Inc. Trustco, Michael Tucker, Turner Construction Company, Unity House, Tina Urzan, Value Options, Peter Fox and Erica Veil, Betsy Voss, Danielle & Rob Wattsman, Charles Weisman, Amy Williams, Patty Williams, Wiltshire Energy, and Wojeski and Co.

TRIP depends upon charitable contributions to support its work in community revitalization, affordable housing, and resident leadership development. Thank you for your role in revitalizing Troy and its neighborhoods. TRIP is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

Click here to make a secure online donation.

Or

Please make checks payable to:

Troy Rehabilitation and Improvement Program, Inc. or TRIP 

Mail to:

TRIP

415 River Street

Troy, NY 12180

Make a Difference - Volunteer with TRIP

Here are some specific ways you can help.

Or if you have a specific skill, let us know.

We can put it to use!


Social Media:

• help with updates to Facebook and Twitter about events and relevant info
• write drafts of articles for monthly newsletter

We Appreciate Your Generous Support

Your Donation Matters

"TRIP rents apartments at affordable prices."

"Really? I thought TRIP helps people become homeowners."

"No, TRIP is about rehabbing old, unmarketable homes and making them useable again."

"Hmm, I thought TRIP supported neighborhood leaders and associations."

Many people don't know that TRIP does all of the above... and more. These core activities enable us to work towards our mission and vision, which is about people, homes, and communities.

We hope you will take ten minutes to watch a video entitled "TRIP - More Than Housing: Building Leadership." it will give you an idea of the impact we can make upon one individual and where that can lead. Enjoy!

To make a secure donation to the work of TRIP, click here.
Or
Please make check payable to:
Troy Rehabilitation and Improvement Program, Inc. or TRIP and mail to:

TRIP
415 River Street
Troy, NY 12180