Austin, TX -- One House at a Time, a new collaborative project from A Nurtured World and Meals on Wheels and More, aims to make the homes of low-income Austin residents more energy efficient, thereby decreasing burdonsome utility bills for these residents and simultaneously improving the environment.

The project began in August 2007 and has succeeded in upgrading the homes of several Meals on Wheels and More clients. One House at a Time has been recognized by many civic leaders in Austin as an important and unique project. With the poverty rate at 15.7 percent in Austin, many residents must choose between paying their utility bills and buying food. One House at Time lowers maintenance costs through weatherization and the installation of energy-efficient appliances and rain-collection systems.

"Austinites pride themselves on having a strong environmental conscious," said Dan Pruett, the CEO and President of Meals on Wheels and More. "But what has yet to be discussed is the disconnect between poverty and the environment. Those living in substandard housing can barely afford groceries, much less the new technologies that help improve a home's efficiency, lower daily living costs, and have a positive impact on the environment."

In September, Mayor Will Wynn attended a One House at a Time work event to lend his support to the project.

"As Mayor, advancing energy efficiency has been one of my top priorities -- both for its environmental benefits and for the positive impact it has on housing affordability," Wynn said. "One House at a Time demonstrates a unique and important awareness in that the organizers recognized these dual benefits and are putting them to work for the people who need them most."