Mario Herrera, 36, of Atwater said the weatherization program also made a big difference for his family, including his wife and six children. Herrera and his wife work full time, but money is still tight.
The weatherization program allowed Herrera to replace his water heater and a back patio door to improve energy efficiency in his home.
The starting price for a water heater is about $600, said Herrera, who works at Home Depot. The starting price for a patio door is about $300 to $400, he said, not including installation costs.
"I wouldn't be able to afford it," he said. "I'm very thankful for the program and for whatever means it was funded by. I really hope other families that can't afford these kind of things can also benefit and I'm really thankful that this program exists.” Mario has seen a 30% decrease in his monthly utility bill, money that now can be used to buy school clothes, and food for his 6 children.
