Valerie Clark watched in amazement Thursday as workers connected a combustion analyzer, a blower-door air sealer and an infrared camera at her Madison Place home.

        The workers were part of the Cincinnati-Hamilton County Community Action Agency's Home Weatherization Assistance Program. Mrs. Clark's residence is one of 400 the agency will improve this year to make them more energy-efficient.

        “I am glad to be a part of the program because my heating bills have been terrible,” Mrs. Clark said. “We average about $350 a month in the wintertime on heating bills.”

        On typical winter days, she said, she has to turn her thermostat up to 80 to get it to put out heat.

        After the improvements, her bills could be as low as $200 a month, workers said.

        Jim Tenhundfeld, director of the agency's energy-efficiency program, was in charge of a demonstration on Mrs. Clark's house designed to promote awareness of the program.

        His crew set up the electronic equipment throughout the two-story frame house as several city and county officials watched.

        In the basement, a combustion analyzer was hooked to the furnace to determine output and leakage.

        “This measures oxygen and carbon monoxide levels,” said Donnie Washington, program coordinator. “We can tell at what levels the furnace is functioning, which will let us know if it needs replacing.”

        The equipment helps determine where energy is wasted.

        “Once we make that determination, we make free home improvements that help lower heating bills,” Mr. Tenhundfeld said.

        Improvements include blower-door air sealing; insulation of heating ducts, attics, walls and floors; tune-ups of heating systems; and in some cases, heating unit replacements.

        “Many working poor must make a choice between heating or eating,” Mr. Tenhundfeld said. “They have to make a choice between buying groceries or medicine versus paying utility bills.”

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