By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

CHINA GROVE — Starting next week, Duke Energy will provide free energy efficiency help to an estimated 700 homes within the town limits.

The homes are located in a stretch of the town between Main Street and U.S. 29. The stretch of houses that will receive free energy efficiency equipment and advice starts at China Grove’s northern limits and ends near at Elm Street.

Representatives from Duke Energy spoke about the project during Tuesday’s town council meeting. Duke Energy says it uses 200 percent of the poverty level as a qualifying factor for whether people will receive the services.

Duke Energy calls the program coming to China Grove its “Neighborhood Energy Saver Program.” It offers free walk-through energy assessments that aim to help customers lower electricity bills. As part of the program, Duke representatives said employees would replace customers’ air filters, change light bulbs to energy-efficient bulbs, add weather stripping, caulking and door sweeps and install water-saving shower heads and faucet aerators.

A program flier says the total value of the products that will be installed could cost up to $210. It could save customers an estimated $95 per year.

Casey Fields, a Duke employee at Tuesday’s meeting, said letters and postcards have already been mailed to customers eligible for the service.

A neighborhood information session about the program will be held at 6 p.m. on Sept. 15 in the China Grove Community Building, 412 S. Myrtle Avenue. A catered meal will be provided.

In other news from Tuesday’s meeting:

• China Grove Police Chief Andrew Deal announced the hiring of a new lieutenant.

Deal has promoted from within for the position, which he held before becoming police chief. David Walther, who has worked for the department since 2003, will serve as Deal’s second in command.

He has worked in a number of roles for the department. Walther is originally from Kentucky. He graduated from Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.

• Because of the schedule for a brick-laying class at South Rowan High School, Town Manager Ken Deal said a veterans memorial may require six extra months for completion.

The high school students are expected to help complete the memorial, which will be made of brick.

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246.