BIBG Fights Poverty with Energy Knowledge

New Orleans homeowner Shirley Johnigan was distraught over high utility bills, which averaged nearly $400.00 a month, even though her income was 80% below the Area Median Income (AMI).  Because she could not afford such expense, she felt like she might have to move out of the Gentilly neighborhood she loves. “I was robbing Peter to pay Paul.  I couldn’t afford my medicine and my utility bill,” she said.

The year before Hurricane Katrina struck and flooded her house with 10 feet of water, Ms. Johnigan lost her husband.  While living in a FEMA trailer next to her home after Katrina, she suffered a minor stroke that left her face partially paralyzed.  On top of all these burdens, she now had to cope with high utility bills. 

She sought help from Global Green’s Build it Back Green (BIBG) program.  BIBG team members Andrew Spaulding and Myron Warden visited Ms. Johnigan’s house and performed a Home Energy Assessment.  They also found a total lack of insulation in her attic, and substantial points of air leakage in her attic floor and ductwork. 

Using a limited pool of weatherization funding available to assist select low income clients, BIBG performed small scale weatherization upgrades on Ms. Johnigan’s home.  The $1200 budget included installation of radiant barrier in the attic, duct sealing, installation of an insulation blanket around her water heater air sealing, changing out old incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient compact fluorescents, installation of dual flush kits, and fiberglass and blown cellulose insulation.

After the work was performed, diagnostic testing showed a 40% improvement in the energy efficiency of Ms. Johnigan’s home, which will have a significant impact on her ability to manage her monthly finances and live independently.

Sitting at her dining room table with hands on her chin smiling, she said, “My kids said I should move into a senior citizens home.  I said, well you know, I raised my children here, I love it here, I feel safe here, I love this neighborhood.  It means a lot Global Green would help me be able to stay here.”

For information on the BIBG program please call 504-525-2121 or visit www.globalgreen.org/bibg.