CHESAPEAKE — The Ironton-Lawrence County Area Community Action Organization and Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development will host a Weatherization Open House Celebration in Chesapeake at 10 a.m. Monday, May 20.

The event will include workshops on energy efficiency, demonstrations, an open house tour, and will feature keynote speaker, State Rep. Ryan Smith.

The event will be at 91 Township Road 1156, Chesapeake.

The Weatherization Assistance Program is currently funded by the U.S. Departments of Energy.

Created in 1976 to assist low-income families, particularly the elderly, people with disabilities, and children, the Weatherization Assistance Program improves the energy efficiency of homes while ensuring health and safety for families. The Weatherization Assistance Program is operated in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Native American tribes and U.S. Territories. Funds are used to improve the energy efficiency of low-income homes using the most advanced technologies and testing protocols available in the housing industry.

The energy conservation resulting from the efforts of state and local agencies such as ours helps the nation reduce its dependence on foreign oil, improve environmental outcomes, create jobs, decrease the cost of energy for families, and improves the health, safety, and comfort our homes.

Among the 17 COAD member Community Action Agencies across the Appalachian Region of Ohio, more than 88,000 homes have been weatherized, 6500 homes in Lawrence County alone.

The energy savings in dollar value over the life of the measures installed in the last year will yield approximately $9.4 million dollars over the next 20 years at today’s energy prices that can be otherwise invested in the local economies throughout Appalachian Ohio. This is in addition to the 2011 program investment of $7.6 million dollars that kept hundreds of jobs in the region and benefitted local small businesses directly, indirectly and the supply chain through product manufacturers.

Take this opportunity to observe the Ironton-Lawrence County Area CAO crew as they weatherize a local home.

Find out why this vital service is so important for the economy, environment and to the nation’s effort to reduce dependence on foreign oil. Come learn how weatherization has had a positive impact in our region’s households and in their communities.

For more information or to RSVP contact Nicole Peoples or call (740) 594-8499, ext. 253.