The heat is on
Help with the cost of staying cool is availableBy Connie Cartmell, ccartmell@mariettatimes.co
Article Photos
Fact Box
HEAP assistance program
To apply for Home Energy Assistance Program (H.E.A.P.) assistance for an air conditioner or to help pay electric bill (one-time):
Assistance providing air conditioner, fan and/or the electric bill must take place at the same time.
One-time $175 assistance per family for paying electric bill or purchase of window air conditioner (or both if applicable).
Applications open 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 1, in Morgan County (15 Third St., McConnelsville) and Thursday, July 2, in Washington County (218 Putnam St., Marietta).
Schedule: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays in Morgan County; 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays in Washington County.
Who: Must be over 60 years old and/or supply a statement of need from physician (if you are under 60 years). Must apply yourself, unless there is a power of attorney.
Income: Below 175 percent of the 2009 federal poverty guidelines.
Source: Washington/Morgan Community Action, H.E.A.P.
Summer conservation
Keep air-conditioning system clean (coil and filters especially). Make certain the outside unit is free of grass clippings and keep foliage away from the fan.
Set your thermostat for the highest temperature that you can tolerate. Remember that once the house is free of moisture, even 76 to 78 degrees will feel cool.
Make sure your air-conditioning system (or air conditioner) is checked out by a professional on a regular basis.
Plant fast-growing trees on the south side of your house to shade the house from the sun.
Protect trees on your property; keep them trimmed and in good condition. A tree is not just shade from the sun, but "transpires," taking in carbon dioxide and giving out oxygen and moisture - all part of a natural cooling process.
Source: Dave Haas, vice president, Morrison Inc., Marietta.
Belpre resident Oliene Webb didn't have a central air-conditioning system growing up and isn't much of a fan now.
"I have it in my house, but I don't use it much unless someone comes over here and they are used to it," said Webb, 87. "It takes a lot of heat to bother me."
With temperatures beginning to climb into the high 80s, many Washington County folks are switching on the air.
"I don't like it much," Webb said. "I'm cold-natured and I've got my ceiling fans."
When the house gets too hot, she retreats to her cool basement to watch television or do the laundry.
"I lived on a farm growing up, and nobody had air conditioning," Webb said. "We had a big house and lots of trees around. At night it would cool down."
Summer in the region is looking pretty much normal with "equal chances" for just about any weather concoction, according to Jeff Hovis, meteorologist with the National Weather Service at Charleston, W.Va.
"'Equal chances' means no one thing jumps out for the period of July, August and September," Hovis said. "We expect to see average summer temperatures, on the whole."
Summer in the Mid-Ohio Valley means mid-80s to lower 90s for the majority of days, Hovis said. Rainfall during the summer months is also expected to be in the normal range, he said.
The remainder of this week will see upper 80-degree temperatures starting today and continuing over the weekend, Hovis said.
It may not get quite as hot as the desert southwest in southeast Ohio, but it's a lot more humid, especially in July and August.
Those who need help paying for air conditioning during those hot periods may find it through the Home Energy Assistance Program, commonly known as H.E.A.P.
The program, administered by Washington/Morgan Community Action, provides one-time electric bill assistance, and even an air-conditioning unit, to eligible families with at least one member over 60 years of age. People in need of air conditioning because of a medical condition can also qualify with a doctor's recommendation, regardless of age.
By Aug. 1, 2008, H.E.A.P. had run out of that year's allocation of money. Mary Bayless, H.E.A.P. coordinator, is concerned the same thing could happen this year.
"We will have window air conditioners for those who apply, but that benefit is part of a one-time $175 payment that includes the family's electric bill," Bayless said.
In other words, if the electric bill you need help paying is at $175 or higher, then forget about the air conditioner. The benefit needs to pay the electric first. You also cannot be in arrears with your utility bill, Bayless said.
"We have about $60,000 for both Washington and Morgan counties," she said. "The program is supposed to go through Aug. 31, but I expect we will be out of funding long before that."
Dave Haas, vice president of Morrison's Inc. of Marietta, said late July is about the peak for summer heat in the region. More families than ever are choosing central air conditioning, but systems need to be maintained for the best efficiency and least cost.
"You need to keep the temperature (thermostat) set as high as you can stand it, actually 76 to 78 degrees is good," Haas said. "What happens is that as the air conditioner runs, moisture is drawn out of the house, making it feel cooler, even at a higher temperature."
Filters should be checked regularly and changed or cleaned, he said. If there is a central air system, it should have already been inspected by a professional for the season, but it's never too late.
"One good thing you can do to help air conditioning efficiency is to plant fast-growing trees on the south side of your house," Haas said.
Trees cut power costs and conserve energy, he said.
"It's not just the shade they provide, but the fact that trees 'transpire,' taking in carbon dioxide and giving off oxygen," Haas said. "In addition, during this process moisture is given off, which also serves to cool the area."
Jo Seyler, executive director of the Washington County chapter of the American Red Cross, said when summer temperatures get really unbearable, and people have no air conditioners, the chapter house at 401 Fourth St. will be opened as a "cooling station" during the day.
There are no provisions for overnight unless there was a major, widespread power outage throughout the area and hundreds of people were suffering as a result of the heat.
"Last summer we did offer a cool-down station at one point, but only a few people came in," Seyler said. "It would have to be a very unusual circumstance (in this region) for a heat emergency to occur."
Seyler said for ordinary heat-related issues, people should remain inside air conditioning (if they have it) or in shade, drink lots of water, wear lightweight and light-colored clothing and avoid over-exertion outside.
For her own child, and four others she cares for during the day, Maggie Tome of Marietta sets up a sprinkler in the yard on hot summer days or fills the kiddie pool.
"We also eat Popsicles to stay cool," Tome said. "However, my air conditioning is already on."
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BigCountry
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06-25-09 2:49 AM
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I think "wildbill" has a point. Have we de-evolved and lost our ability to withstand heat? or havre we just lost our will power and ethic to make ourselves live and work in the heat and humidity because it's better to work in it than not have a job. STOP SUBSIDISING SLOTH! I am not so arrogant to asume that every single person that has AC in their home is merely lazy, but I certainly do feel that we have come to believe that it is a neccessity than a luxury. I personally have never had AC in my home, and when I have lived in environments where I have had AC installed (ie - military quarters) I do not utilize it. The reason is simple; I have watched far too many risk, and sometimes suffer, heat injuries ranging from cramps to heat-stroke, because they were not accustomed to being in the heat. I also will never understand the "entitlement mentality" by which people feel that they are somehow oppressed because they have to live without a luxury like AC. Grow up and ge
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mrsmom
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06-25-09 12:42 AM
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I prefer God's air to air conditioning, always have.
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peppie
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06-24-09 9:26 PM
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Unless there is a health problem, air conditioning is not a necessity. If you can't pay your electric bill without an air conditioner, then running ac will only make the electric bill higher. When there is an electric outage in the summer, people act like it is a major catastrophy. I have ac, but it is only run when the temps are in the 90's, then it is set at 80. With global warming, the future generations better get used to the heat.
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wildbill
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06-24-09 3:59 PM
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I often wonder, given the fact that living creatures(including humans) adapt to their environment, if it's possible for humans to evolve with a much lower tolerance for heat due to the fact that most everyone is now raised in air conditioning?
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