DCCA REACh cuts refrigerator expense for low-income families

Low-income families in the CNMI will soon get the chance to purchase new, energy-efficient refrigerators at almost half the regular price through private partnerships forged by the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs.

To address the need of low-income families to obtain affordable energy-efficient products that will help reduce their utility costs, REACh is offering $300 refrigerator rebates to clients of the DCCA Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program over the next several months.

“The truth is, many of our LIHEAP clients have worn-out refrigerators that need to be replaced, or they do not even have one at all,” said DCCA acting Secretary Daisy Villagomez-Bier. “The REACh rebate program is our initiative this year to help our clients get refrigerators or to reduce their power bills by purchasing energy-efficient models at reduced cost.”

The rebates are good for a 14.4 cubic ft. Whirlpool refrigerator from Ace Hardware or at 15.8 cubic ft. General Electric (G.E.) refrigerator from YCO Appliance Outlet on Saipan.

Applications for refrigerator rebates are now available for LIHEAP clients at the LIHEAP/REACh Office at 1344 Ascencion Ct. on Capitol Hill. Applications will be accepted during three periods in 2006: Feb. 15-March 15, April 15-May 15, and June 15-Aug. 15.

“Applications will be granted on a first-come, first-serve basis with priority given to households without refrigerators, followed by households with refrigerators purchased before 2000,” said REACh project coordinator Linda Concepcion-Torres. “We’re pleased we can reduce the price of the refrigerators from over $600, and we want to give our LIHEAP families enough advance notice on this opportunity so they can begin budgeting for their purchase.”

REACh is a competitive grant awarded by the Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families, and DCCA was awarded $150,000 for fiscal year 2006.

The 18-month project will also include the arrangement of in-store demonstrations and sales of energy efficient products targeting low-income families and the organization of Energy Conservation Fairs coinciding with vendor sales.

The scope of the project will also meet the need for LIHEAP clients to comprehend family budget matters through combined village workshops dealing with family budgeting and home energy conservation.

The need for public education on energy conservation will be met through the appointment of student “Energy Ambassadors” to teach their peers and the community on energy conservation; the use of energy conservation mascot “Officer Ophing Powers” for media and public appearances; and an Energy Conservation Day Camp held during the summer.

For more information, call Concepcion-Torres at 670-664-2568/9 or 287-9180. (PR)