Cash-strapped and environmentally conscious homeowners in Miami Gardens will be able toparticipate in a city program that will help them lower their energy bills.

The program, called ''Power Up Miami Gardens,'' which was approved by the city council Feb. 25,will hold two workshops on energy and water conservation.

The city also will give each of the participants a $250 voucher they can use to buy items from a listof products that will help them conserve energy.

Alex Segovia, the Lowe's employee who is working with the city, said the items will be simplethings that people can do on their own -- such as window caulking, using efficient light bulbs andweather stripping.

''Basically things that anybody can do themselves that don't require permits or professionals,''Segovia said.

Segovia will be at the free one-hour workshops to demonstrate some of the items the city hasapproved for purchase with the voucher.

After the workshops, residents can schedule an appointment with Segovia at Lowe's, 17460 NW57th Ave., where he will help them find the approved items. The vouchers must be redeemed withing60 days of the workshop.

Edith McClintock, who runs Dream in Green in Miami, a nonprofit that is organizing workshops forthe city, said the training will begin with assessments of the residents' homes.

Along with Segovia and a consultant from Dream in Green, McClintock said representatives from Florida Power & Light and the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department will be there to talk toresidents about the conservation services they offer.

The workshops will be held from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. March 21 and from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 26at City Hall, 1515 NW 167th St., Suite 200.

Funding for the program is coming from the sale of the Housing and Urban Development ''DollarHouse,'' a foreclosed property the city bought from the HUD for $1, renovated and sold belowmarket value.

''We're really trying to put the money back into the community,'' Daniel Rosemond, the city'scommunity development coordinator, said. The workshops are only open to Miami Gardens residents, but there aren't any restrictions on income, Rosemond said.

Applications for the workshops, which can only accommodate 50 people, can be found at City Hall,city parks, schools, churches and on the city's web site, www.miamigardens-fl.gov. Rosemond said there is no deadline.

The city will keep holding the workshops and giving away vouchers until it runs out of the morethan $70,000 they have allocated to the program. Completed applications can be turned in at City Hall or faxed to 305-622-8046.