Green

NOVEMBER NEVADA LEGAL SERVICES CLINICS/CLASSES DECEMBER NEVADA LEGAL SERVICES CLINICS/CLASSES

November 5, 2015 Ask a Lawyer/Self Help Clinic – Gardnerville (1:30 – 3:30) December 3, 2015 Ask a Lawyer /Self Help Clinic (1:30-3:30pm) (Thursday) Douglas County Community Center, 1329 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville, NV (Thursday) Douglas County Community Center November 9, 2015 Wills/Estate Clinic (2:30 – 4:30) (Monday) Senior Law Project, 1155 E. 9th Street, Reno, NV. Register: 775-334-3050 ext. 310

1329 Waterloo Lane, Gardnerville, No Appointment Necessary

November 10, 2015 Veterans Benefits Seminar (1:30 – 3:30) December 7, 2015 Will & Estate Planning (2:30-4:00pm) (Tuesday) (Monday) Carson Sheriff’s Office, 911 E. Musser St., Carson City, NV. Register: 775-883-0404 1155 E. 9th Street Suite 25, Reno, NV, Register: 775-334-3050 ext. 310

November 12, 2015 Sealing Records Clinic (1:00 – 3:00) (Thursday) 204 Marsh Avenue, 3rd Floor, Reno, NV. Register: 775-284-3491 ext 237 or 210

November 13, 2015 Ask a Lawyer/Self Help Clinic (1:30 - 3:30) (Friday) Supreme Court Law Library, 201 S. Carson Street, Carson City, NV.

November 14, 2015 Self Help Clinic (9:30 – 11:30) (Saturday) 2nd Judicial Court, 75 Court St., Reno, NV

November 18, 2015 Ask a Lawyer (10:00 – Noon) (Wednesday) Veterans Resource Center, 305 N. Carson St., Carson City, NV. Register: 775-883-0404

November 19, 2015 Bankruptcy Education Class (1:30 – 3:30) (Thursday) 204 Marsh Avenue, 3rd Floor, Reno, NV. Register: 775-284-3491 ext 237

November 23, 2015 Living Wills Clinic (Powers of Attorney) (2:30 – 4:30) (Monday) Senior Law Project, 1155 E. 9th Street, Reno, NV. Register: 775-334-3050 ext. 310

November 24, 2015 Minor Guardianship Education Class (10:30 – 12:30) (Tuesday) 75 Court Street, Room 220B, Reno, NV. Register: 775-284-3491 ext. 214 or 237

December 9, 2015 Ask a Lawyer / Self Help Clinic (2:00-4:00pm) (Wednesday) 75 Court Street – Room 116, Reno, NV, No Appointment Necessary

December 11, 2015 Ask a Lawyer / Self Help Clinic (1:30-3:30pm) (Friday) Supreme Court Law Library, 201 S. Carson Street, Carson City, NV No Appointment Necessary

December 17, 2015 Bankruptcy Education Class (1:30-3:30pm) (Thursday) 204 Marsh Avenue, 3rd Floor, Reno, NV, Register: 775-284-3491 Ext. 242

Call (775) 328-6147 for free and confidential testing

PHOTO/KELSEY FITZGERALD

Light-emitting diode  (LED) bulbs are  available at discount  prices through local  hardware and home  improvement stores.

Dodging drafts

Energy and weatherizing programs cut costs

As skiers celebrate the arrival of snow, Northern Nevada homeowners may react with less enthusiasm to the higher heating bills that often accompany winter’s by cooler temperatures. For people interested in weatherizing and improving the Kelsey energy efficiency of their homes, various programs, rebates, energy audits

Fitzgerald and other do-it-yourself options are available, including a new program funded by the state of Nevada. On Nov. 17, the Governor’s Office of Energy launched a new Direct Energy Assistance Loan (DEAL) program, which offers interest-free loans of up to $6,000 to state employees who want to make energy efficiency upgrades. In this program, an energy auditor visits the home of the applicant and recommends weatherization and energy efficiency improvements. Eligible measures include window replacement or repair, attic or floor insulation, furnace replacements, water heater replacements, programmable thermostat installation, and more. Loans must be paid back within five years. “This is just for state employees, but it’s a pilot program that could be duplicated with other entities in Nevada,” said information aide Scott Kelley. “We’re hoping we can show that this is a successful program that universities and other city and county governments will consider possibly doing as well.” A second Office of Energy program called Home Energy Retrofit Opportunities for Seniors (HEROS) launched a year ago, and has now provided assistance with weatherizing and energy efficiency measures for 175 low-income seniors across the state, saving each household an average of $804 per year in utility bills. Rather than administering loans like the DEAL program, improvements made under the HEROS program are paid Information on for outright by the state. The HEROS program is open to the general public, the Direct Energy though participants must be at least 60 years of age and meet certain other Assistance Loan eligibility criteria.(DEAL) program: http://energy.nv.gov/ Programs/Direct_ Homeowners who aren’t eligible for either state program can still hire an energy auditor to assess the energy efficiency of their home. A visit from an

Energy_Assistance_ energy auditor costs an average of $600 to $1200, according to Sierra Green Loan/ Builders owner Paul Taylor. An air seal test can help to identify places where holes and cracks let air in or out, which is especially helpful on older homes. NV Energy offers tips on saving energy: The auditor will recommend changes that the homeowner can make, and if the changes are made, Taylor says that future savings in energy bills will https://www.nve- eventually make up for the cost of the initial investment. nergy.com/home/ “You can get the audit, but without doing the work, you don’t get the saveenergy/energytips.cfm money back. So don’t start without finishing,” Taylor cautioned. Even without hiring an energy auditor, Taylor says that there are plenty of do-it-yourself actions that homeowners can take to reduce energy bills during the winter. Replacing regular light bulbs with light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs, which are subsidized through NV Energy’s Energy Star LED Lighting program, is one easy and cost-effective measure that can lead to savings of $135 over the life of the bulb. To find discounted bulbs, look for bulbs with a bright green sticker that says “LED discounts provided by NV Energy” at hardware and home improvement stores. Taylor also recommends checking around doors for drafts, and replacing weather-stripping as necessary. In homes with a garage, insulating the garage door can be a huge help in preventing heat-loss as well. Ω