the Murphy administration is trying to
break down the silos that separate
departments encouraging them to work
together to solve problems in the state
a case in point is heating assistance
from two agencies for those least able
to afford it with an eye to doubling
efficiency while using less energy
senior correspondent David Cruz has this
advance on peril and promised the
challenge of climate change let's face
it summer is gone and while temps today
were moderate it won't be long before
winter grips the state and for people of
lesser means the prospect is more front
than most because girding against the
season from inside an old house takes
resources they don't always have while
the state has provided weatherization
services through a number of programs
across several departments today the
lieutenant governor came to Toms River
to announce that her department
Community Affairs and the Board of
Public Utilities would consolidate their
weather Assistance Program and the
Comfort Partners Program at BP you just
think about the number of people all
across this state who don't have the
ability to afford heating during the
winter we have older residents who
through the years we've been able to
provide with oil we've been able to help
with new jersey shares but nothing gets
to be more important in the long term
than helping people weatherize their
homes to reduce down the cost and now
with the two departments formerly
merging their weatherization assistance
programs they'll be able to double the
effectiveness and efficiencies of
providing the services which in some
cases are life-saving we find gas leaks
and customers homes insulation that's
not there open sewers plumbing leaks
broken windows missing gutters the list
goes on and on this is also partly about
the administration's efforts to get
departments to work together we're
possible Oliver said she hopes that the
Legislature will see fit to increase
funding for the programs once they see
how much bang for buck they can deliver
bpu president Joffe Yardley so put it in
a broader context
we have as a society a moral obligation
to ensure the fact that we do everything
humanly possible to mitigate the effects
of climate change we're not joking here
as far as I know unless you know
differently this is the only piece of
real estate we can live on saving the
planet may be a lot to ask for from a
weatherization program but every bit
helps and a buttoned up home means
warmer residents using less energy and
paying less for it leaving some left
over for things like rent food and
clothing even climate change skeptics
can get behind that right in Toms River
I'm David Cruz NJTV news
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