THE KITS
The fabricated box provides materials and instructions for Pittsburgh residents. Door sweeps, window plastic, weatherstripping, and electrical socket insulation are included in the kit and are labeled to match the descriptions and instructions within this booklet. The booklet was written, illustrated, and compiled by students, and acts a resource for people who were were not able to initially give boxes to.
LONG TERM GOALS
While this is not a project that will solve the problem at a large scale, it aims to provide an immediate solution for the season and provide easy access to information about more long-term solutions that residents could pursue, should they become a homeowner or be moving in the future. In doing this every year, we have developed a sustained relationship and presence within the Pittsburgh communities, which has allowed us to partner with community organizations on larger projects.
THE ISSUE
In Pittsburgh, 66% of working families make the choice between paying for living expenses or paying for utilities. When the house you are renting is poorly maintained and you can’t afford to make the repairs, much of the heat you are paying for will, quite literally, go out the window. Simple initiatives such as caulking and weatherstripping your home can reduce infiltration rates by 20% which can amount to significant savings on utilities, and reducing the need to make tough choices about which bills to pay. These kits provide information on how to perform these energy and cost-saving initiatives, as well as the materials necessary to do so.
DISTRIBUTION
We hold distribution and demonstration events around Pittsburgh every fall. At these events, we demonstrate how to install the products in the kits and give the recipients a risk-free attempt at the installations before they install the products in their homes. This is an opportunity for people to ask questions in person, and give us feedback for the next season.
We've partnered with the Larimer Consensus Group, the Kingsley Association, the Build-a-Bridge Foundation, and the Hill District Consensus Group to distribute dozens of kits every year.
