Utility offers free insulation kits

Free home winterizing kits will be passed out from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at NorthWestern Energy's office at 890 N. Meridian Road in Kalispell.

These kits are essentially starter packages of plastic for single-pane windows and door strips for renters and homeowners to quickly add insulation to their homes to prevent heat from escaping.

The insulating upgrades should take less than an hour, NorthWestern Energy officials said.

NorthWestern Energy is passing out the free kits statewide in response to rising natural gas costs leading to higher heating costs in Montana.

The free kits will be available at the Kalispell office only on Thursday. However, the same door strips and insulating plastic can be bought at retail stores.