Greer CPW will hold an auction sale of used equipment on Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 10:00am. Auction items will be available for viewing at 8:00am on the day of the auction. The sale will be held at Greer CPW’s main office located at 301 McCall Street, Greer SC. All sales are final and Greer CPW reserves the right to reject any bid. All items are to be removed from the lot on the day of the sale. No refunds.

Direct all inquiries to: Blake Barbare - 864-848-5503 between the hours of 8am and 5pm, Monday-Friday

Now both are adjusting and re-emphasizing an effort to help the needy. Back in the days when both organizations were still young and growing, Greer Relief and Greer Commission of Public Works shared a space on Trade Street.
“I’ve heard this from donors past and from supporters past, that if you couldn’t pay your utility bill at CPW, they would send you down the hall to Greer Relief,” said Caroline Robertson, the agency’s executive director. That neighborly bond eventually grew into a program called Caring People Working Together, which for the past 10 years has focused on CPW sending out envelope inserts during the winter months to “help those right here in Greer who cannot pay their utility bill.”
Those funds are donated directly to Greer Relief, which CPW will match up to $25,000 for a total of $50,000. Last year, the number of people seeking assistance from the agency increased by 20 percent, but contributions Greer Relief received from the utility program dropped to $34,002 — the lowest it has been in recent years, according to Robertson.
And though that amount helped 257 households in the area, “There was $5,000-$6,000 that CPW offered that was left on the table because we didn’t have the matching gift,” she said.
Greer Relief is hoping to change that this year by starting Caring People Working Together earlier, without the yellow envelopes, to help prepare for the upcoming winter. “What we’re asking for is for folks to look at what little they’re paying in utility bills this summer and help us out…so that at the end of the year we can get the 100 percent $25,000 match,” Robertson said.

Donations can be mailed to Greer Relief, P.O. Box 1303, Greer, 29652.

For more information on ways to help, call 848-5355.

The United States Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program has provided weatherization services to more than 6.4 million low-income families, who expect to save $358 on their first year’s utility bills. Weatherization returns $2.69 for each dollar spent on the program in energy and non-energy benefits.

For more information on the Weatherization Assistance Program and to see if you qualify, please visit http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/weatherization/

It has never made more sense to start updating your old appliances to more energy efficient machines. Starting March 31, rebates will be offered ranging from $50 to $500 to those who purchase Energy Star certified appliances.

The money, derived from the federal stimulus funds distributed among the states, works along the same lines as the Cash for Clunkers program,. Customers who wish to purchase a new appliance must turn in their old item for recycling to ensure inefficient appliances are removed from the power grid. South Carolina will have $3.9 million for the rebates, which will be offered at purchase or upon installation.

This is a great chance for you to update your outdated appliances for new machines that take less energy to power, saving you money in the future on your energy bill. Greer CPW encourages our customers to take advantage of this opportunity and to continue learning how to save energy in the home.

You can find more information about the program, the participating retailers, and energy efficiency at the Energy Office Appliance Rebate. www.appliancerebates.sc.gov

• Insulate pipes in your home’s crawl spaces and attic. These exposed pipes are most susceptible to freezing. Remember - the more insulation you use, the better protected your pipes will be.
• Heat tape or thermostatically-controlled heat cables can be used to wrap pipes. Be sure to use products approved by an independent testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories Inc., and only for the use intended (exterior or interior). Closely follow all manufacturers’ installation and operation instructions.
• Consider closing foundation vents until temperatures exceed freezing, and seal leaks that allow cold air inside near where pipes are located. Look for air leaks around electrical wiring, dryer vents and pipes. Use caulk or insulation to keep the cold out and the heat in. With severe cold, even a tiny opening can let in enough cold air to cause a pipe to freeze.
• Disconnect garden hoses and, if practical, use an indoor valve to shut off and drain water from pipes leading to outside faucets. This reduces the chance of freezing in the short span of pipe just inside the house. If your outside hose bib is not frost-free, then you will need to wrap the hose bib with newspapers or rags covered with plastic, fiberglass, or molded foam-insulating covers.
• If you are leaving for the night or for a few days, set the thermostat in your house no lower than 55°F (12°C). Ask a friend or neighbor to check your house daily to make sure it’s warm enough to prevent freezing or Shut off and drain the water system. Be aware that if you have a fire protection sprinkler system in your house, it will be deactivated when you shut off the water.
• As a last resort a trickle of hot and cold water might be all it takes to keep your pipes from freezing. Let warm water drip overnight, preferably from a faucet on an outside wall. This is a waste of water and is not a permanent fix. Open cabinet doors to allow heat to get to un-insulated pipes under sinks and appliances near exterior walls.

If you turn on your faucets and nothing comes out, leave the faucets turned on and call a plumber. If you detect that your water pipes have frozen and burst, turn off the water at the main shut-off valve in the house; leave the water faucets turned on. (Make sure everyone in your family knows where the water shut-off valve is and how to open and close it.) Remember to never try to thaw a pipe with a torch or other open flame. Water damage is preferable to burning down your house. You may be able to thaw a frozen pipe with the warm air from a hair dryer. Start by warming the pipe as close to the faucet as possible, working toward the coldest section of pipe. Do not use electrical appliances in areas of standing water because you could be electrocuted.

Of course water can freeze at 32 °F if fully exposed, but partially or poorly protected pipes can also freeze when temperatures drop to 20 °F or less.

If you experience any problems, or have any questions, please call Greer CPW at (864) 848-5500.

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