
January 24, 2006
PATH Teams with DOE, The Home Depot
for Home Repair Workshops
NEW ORLEANS, La.
-- Thousands of hurricane-affected residents of Orleans and Jefferson Parish learned how to repair damaged walls, fortify roofs, replace windows and install insulation--courtesy of a consortium of the Department of Energy, PATH and its partners.
The U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), The Home Depot and Entergy are working together to offer hurricane-hit homeowners free home repair workshops highlighting energy efficiency.
This initiative, You Can Repair Your Storm Damaged Home, was held at the Kenner, La. Pontchartrain Center as the first of three two-day workshops; follow-on events will be held in Biloxi, Miss., and Mobile, Ala. The sponsors have designed these home repair clinics to give hurricane victims the skills they need to start repairing their homes.
"As the Gulf Coast begins rebuilding, we are giving them the know-how to make repairs themselves with energy efficiency in mind," said Douglas L. Faulkner, Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. "Together with our partners, we believe this effort will benefit the region as it recovers from this disaster."
"This workshop embodies the spirit of the public and private partners, which we call PATH, working together to improve the affordability, durability and energy efficiency of American homes," said Dr. Darlene Williams, HUD Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research. HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research coordinates all activities of the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH).
Workshop attendees will get hands-on instruction on repairing storm damaged roofs, ceilings, walls and floors, as well as installing windows, doors and hurricane shutters and how to improve a home's energy efficiency and durability. In an effort to help homeowners make use of their training right away, The Home Depot is offering giveaways such as discount coupons worth 10 percent off purchases and Gift Cards valued up to $1,000.
The Pontchartrain Center event was held January 22, 23. The next two scheduled Home Repair Workshops will take place in Biloxi, Miss., January 28-29, from 9am to 4pm at the Imperial Palace; and Mobile, Ala., February 4, from 9am to 4pm at the Mobile Convention Center.
PATH Partners participating in the workshops include:
- CertainTeed
- DuPont Building Innovations
- James Hardie Building Products
- Owens Corning
- Simpson Strong Tie
- U.S. Gypsum
Download the "How To's for the Handy Homeowner"
tech briefs.
For more information:
Kate Fried
301-588-9387
Content updated on 1/31/2006
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