News 12 at 6 o'clock, Thursday, September 16, 2010

BEECH ISLAND, S.C. -- Last year the heat outside was nearly impossible to escape inside Fred Runyon's home. It needed an energy makeover. The power bill wasn't cheap, and he had to keep his air conditioning on.

"I got asthma real bad, and if i don't have AC," he says, "I'm gonna wind up in the hospital."

Then Aiken Electric Cooperatives helped his house. More insulation. A new heating and air unit. And a new water heater. A $10,000 energy makeover.

"Right after they insulated my house, I can tell a big difference," he said.

A more comfortable home. And a thicker wallet.

"I was paying $200 a month last year, paying about $125 this year."

Less energy used. A savings of about 75 dollars a month. Soon you could be saving too.

"South Carolina is moving an idea that would be a tremendous benefit to the entire country," said Congressman James Clyburn.

Clyburn is the sponsor of the bill that would allow 225,000 customers of South Carolina Electric Cooperatives tp get between $3,000 and $7,500 dollars to weatherize their homes.

Most of the money from the low-interest federal loans are paid back through the energy costs you save. Instead of spending the money on electricity, the plan allows you to automatically pay back the loan.

"If they do their house like mine was, you save 100, 75 dollars a month," said Runyon. "You're not even going to know you're paying it back."

Adds Clyburn: "That is a tremendous impact. These savings cover the monthly cost to repay the loan through the monthly bills at the Co-op."

For the Runyons, energy savings are nice. But that doesn't mean the money is going straight to the piggy bank.

"Giving it to the kids," adds Runyon.