SYRACUSE, NY — Energy Secretary Bill Richardson announced recently that more than 12,000 high-efficiency room air conditioners will be donated to the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) program to provide heat relief to low-income residents in Texas. The donation came from Carrier Corp.

Ranging in size from 5,000 to 10,000 Btu, the units will be provided for 51-state weatherization agencies to install in homes of eligible low-income residents. All the air conditioners are energy-efficient models that qualify for the Energy Star® label.

The DOE weatherization program helps reduce heating-cooling costs and improve the health and safety of low-income families by improving the energy efficiency of some 70,000 homes each year.

The eight states affected most by the extreme and prolonged heat this summer are receiving $35 million in Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The states can use these funds to buy air conditioners, pay cooling bills, or provide other assistance to low-income families.