Local Contractors Band Together to Make a Difference in the Lives of Patients and Their Families

Kevin Guest House Gets an Energy Efficiency Makeover

Buffalo, NY - December 2002: The Kevin Guest House will soon be less expensive to run and will offer even greater comfort to the families who find an oasis there, thanks to the efforts of a group of local Home Performance contractors.

Certified contractors in the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® program have banded together to bring their money saving program to the Kevin Guest House, by donating a number of improvements that will increase the facility's energy efficiency and save on monthly bills. The 100-year old facility in Buffalo, New York serves patients and families by offering comfortable, affordable temporary housing.

The Kevin Guest House complex, located near the corner of Ellicott and High Streets, consists of the main house, the carriage house and a brick apartment building. Utility bills are a major part of their annual budget. "Because of the ENERGY STAR® Program's help in offering efficient energy costs, our utility bills will be reduced," says Jen Ann Berger, executive director of Kevin Guest House. "Therefore our mission of offering accommodations at a reasonable cost to those already going through stressful situations, can continue."

The process of improving the home's efficiency started with a home performance evaluation by John Jennings of CSG and Martin Bakowski of Home Performance Professionals. Both certified contractors through the Building Performance Instituted and donated their time to get the project started.

A number of improvements were recommended. Insulation upgrades, air sealing will help to eliminate uncomfortable and costly drafts. Two new water heaters with high efficiency ratings helped to eliminate major expense. Appliances including three refrigerators, two dishwashers, a number of room air conditioners and two clothes washers all certified with the ENERGY STAR® Label save energy in every day tasks. Finally, over 100 high-efficiency light bulbs and a number of new light fixtures were recommended and installed.

These improvements are designed to save over 30% on the monthly bills at the Kevin Guest House.

This project was conceived by John Ennis, a past president who saw a way to extend a popular program for homeowners to benefit this important charity as well. "I really wanted to see this happen," says Ennis. "The Home Performance project is terrific because it saves significantly on energy bills, reduces the environmental impact of powering a home and even makes homes more comfortable by reducing drafts."

To make all of the improvements on the Kevin Guest House took a major team effort. "We are very grateful for the help that this small not-for-profit will be receiving from the business community in Buffalo for the ENERGY STAR® Program. Their giving of products, time and talent is awe-inspiring," says Berger. "We consider ourselves very fortunate to receive this."

Mr. and Mrs. Cyril Garvey of Sharon, Pennsylvania acquired the Kevin Guest House complex as a memorial to their son Kevin, who, on January 14, 1972, at the age of 13, lost his battle with cancer. During the period of Kevin's treatment at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the Garveys became aware that many other families, who were also experiencing stressful situations with loved ones undergoing cancer treatment, were unable to afford adequate housing near the hospital. Some of these families slept in their cars as a last resort. Thus, the Garvey family's memorial to Kevin was established to provide temporary, safe refuge for patients and their families at a nominal fee.

In 1972, a group of civic-minded community leaders formed a not-for-profit corporation, complete with a Board of Directors, to supervise the management of Kevin Guest House. Volunteers obtained donations of paint, wallpaper and furniture and began renovating the main house. Through their persistence and hard work, Kevin Guest House welcomed its first guests on July 26, 1972.

Kevin Guest House has the distinction of being the first hospital hospitality guest house in the nation. In cooperation with the Roswell Park bone marrow treatment unit, the carriage house and the brick apartments adjacent to the main house were made available to bone marrow patients who require separate housing due to their severely weakened immune systems.

Ultimately the goal is to provide all accommodations free of charge. At present, contributions are made based on each guest's ability to pay. The suggested donation is $20 per night per person.

ENERGY STAR® is a joint program of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the US Department of Energy (DOE). This collaboration concentrates on teaching consumers the benefits of highly energy-efficient residential new construction, appliances, heating/cooling equipment, windows, consumer electronics, office equipment, and residential lighting. By creating partnerships with manufacturers, retailers, and utilities, ENERGY STAR® is working to help establish a sustainable consumer market for these superior technologies and products.

For more information about Home Performance with ENERGY STAR® and a list of BPI-certified contractors and a free video, call 1-877-NY-SMART or visit www.GetEnergySmart.org. Insulation, HVAC and general contractors interested in becoming a BPI-Certified Home Performance Contractor should call 518-207-4504.