Local Home Receives Energy-Efficient Modifications

    Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh and the Associated Petroleum Industries

of Pennsylvania continue commitment to increase energy efficiency in homes

nationwide, help enrich homeowners' lives



    PITTSBURGH, Aug. 23 /EMWNews/ -- Volunteers from

Rebuilding Together Pennsylvania, the local affiliate of the nation's

largest nonprofit organization working to preserve affordable

homeownership, and the Associated Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania, a

division of the American Petroleum Institute, gathered today to help

improve a local homeowner's quality of life, as well as reduce his energy

use and save money as part of an energy-efficient rebuild of his home.



    



    The rebuild is part of the Energy Efficient Homes Initiative, a

national partnership between Rebuilding Together and America's oil and

natural gas industry, which incorporates energy efficiency into home

renovations for low-income homeowners nationwide, many of whom are elderly,

disabled or have young children. The energy-efficient modifications, which

include a new energy-efficient furnace, water heater and ENERGY STAR

refrigerator, will help reduce the homeowner's heating and cooling bills,

and ultimately help preserve his homeownership.



    "Our combined efforts have an ongoing, positive impact on homeowners in

our neighborhood and across the country," said Cindy Gilch, executive

director of Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh. "The Associated Petroleum

Industries of Pennsylvania's support enables us to help improve the quality

of life for many deserving homeowners who can now live more comfortably,

safely and use less energy."



    "America's oil and natural gas industry practices energy efficiency

every day within our operations, so we know the significant value of such a

commitment," said Rolf Hanson, executive director of the Associated

Petroleum Industries of Pennsylvania. "We are delighted to partner with

Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh in this outstanding initiative. Our efforts

will help provide the homeowner with the dual benefit of saving energy and

money."



    Today, Rebuilding Together Pittsburgh is renovating James Johnson's

home with energy-saving renovations. Mr. Johnson is disabled and has lived

in his home for 37 years and recently underwent open heart surgery. He also

lives on a limited income and supports his adult daughter, who is

physically and mentally disabled.



    "Now I can live, instead of just existing," said Johnson.



    "This will make my life a lot easier and a lot more enjoyable," he

added, "I had heard about this program and am glad to be a recipient of

these renovations."



    Since 2005, the Initiative has expanded its reach, doubling the number

of rebuilds conducted nationwide and affording homeowners the ability to

save as much as 30 percent on monthly energy bills, thanks to a variety of

energy-efficient techniques incorporated into their homes. The Initiative

is an additional component of Rebuilding Together, which is celebrating 20

years of having revitalized more than 100,000 homes and nonprofit

facilities with the help of millions of volunteers in communities across

America.



    In addition to making homes more energy efficient, the Initiative also

provides homeowners, volunteers and others with materials and information

with recommendations on how to preserve energy now and in the future.



    Rebuilding Together is the nation's largest nonprofit organization

working to preserve affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods

by providing free home repair and modification services to those in need.

With the help of everyday citizen volunteers, skilled trades people, the

support of local business and major corporate partners, Rebuilding Together

affiliates in America's largest cities and smallest towns make life

considerably better for thousands of low-income homeowners. In addition to

its core home repair work, Rebuilding Together rehabilitates community

centers and conducts home modification and repair programs that focus on

aging in place, energy efficiency, veteran's housing, and disaster recovery

and reconstruction. Rebuilding Together is currently celebrating 20 years

as a national organization and the completion of over 100,000 homes thanks

to the efforts of more than 200 affiliates nationwide. For more

information, visit http://www.RebuildingTogether.org.



    API, the American Petroleum Institute, is the primary trade association

for the oil and natural gas industry in the United States. Representing one

of the most technologically advanced industries in the world, API's

membership includes nearly 400 companies engaged in all aspects of the oil

and natural gas industry, including the exploration, production, refining,

transportation and marketing of crude oil, natural gas and related consumer

products. For more information on API, please visit its website:

http://www.api.org.