Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Assn.

Do You Want to Reduce Your Water and Sewer Bills?

Oct 10, 2000

By Debra Kennedy

Is your money dripping down the drain because of rising water and sewer bills? The focus of our next BWNA General Meeting will be a water conservation workshop, sponsored by the Portland Water Bureau and the Community Energy Project.

The workshop will teach how to detect leaks around your home, repair leaky faucets and toilets, control your water-sewer bill, and more. They will share ways we can all live comfortably while reducing water use. Everyone attending will receive a FREE kit of materials that can help save up to $80 a year on your water and sewer bills. The materials are valued at $25 and include lots of water saving ?“goodies?”.

The Community Energy Project, Inc. (CEP) is a non-profit organization that has been conducting free energy conservation services since 1979. They utilize volunteers, community outreach, educational programs and self-help workshops in combining energy conservation with community development. Volunteers share their time weatherizing the homes of low-income seniors and people with disabilities. Using less energy decreases utility bills, providing more money for other necessities.

At the meeting, you?’ll also be able to sign up for a volunteer project later this year. The CEP staff will help us plan weatherization projects to fit the number of volunteers interested in participating.

Typically, volunteer groups meet at the CEP office where they go through a thirty-minute training. Volunteers then go to project sites in their area and install weather-stripping on doors, caulk windows, and install ?“interior vinyl storm window kits?” (reusable plastic on the insides of windows). Last year their volunteers completed over 8,000 hours of service in over 200 households!

Information about upcoming self-help weatherization workshops in our area will be available too.

The Community Energy Project is a great organization. We appreciate their interest in sharing their time and knowledge with us. You won?’t want to miss this meeting!