Misinformation, Bad advice and Falsehoods for Fools

In anticipation of April Fool’s Day, we are providing 10 pieces of bad advice you would be a fool to use.

1. Turn your water heater up to the highest setting to make sure your shower is HOT -or- turn your water heater ALL THE WAY down to save money.
   In reality: Your hot water heater should be set to 125⁰ Fahrenheit to ensure you don’t get sick from using the water, the risk of scalding is reduced, and it doesn't use too much energy.
2. If your next door neighbor has a low result on their radon test, go ahead and assume you'll have the same result.
   In reality: Radon test results can vary even between next door neighbors. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, so don’t guess! Pick up your free radon test from 4CORE today.
3. Leave your cell phone, laptop, wireless router, and tablet chargers plugged in because they don't suck electricity when your device isn't on or plugged in.
   In reality: Even when your devices are powered off or not plugged, your charger is pulling electricity, or phantom watts, from the outlet. Unplug, or use a power strip to turn everything off except when you are charging.

4. Don’t bother with low-flow shower heads. They don’t give you the pressure you need to get clean.
   In reality: Don’t fear the low flow! These have come a long way in the last few years, and often are adjustable for the type of “massaging effect” you’d prefer for your scrub time. Besides, they save you an average of $150 per year!
5. Don't worry about changing your furnace filter- it is such a pain anyway. Same goes for the lint trap in the dryer. In reality: Changing your forced air furnace filter every two months ensures your furnace is working effectively and efficiently, and reduces particles in the air that can irritate your respiratory system. Likewise, your dryer runs better with a clean lint trap. Put a reminder on your calendar so you can breath easy!
6. Use as many space heaters as you need to throughout your house to keep each room warm.
   In reality: Even the new energy efficient space heaters use energy and are not meant to be used in quantity to heat multiple rooms. Make sure your main heating system is up to snuff and add insulation and air sealing before you use any space heaters- it will save you in the long run!
7. If you get solar panels, you are going to be spending a lot of time on weekends to maintain them.
   In reality: Solar panels require little maintenance, and it doesn't take rocket science to understand that they are doing their job. Once they are set up, you may have to brush of the snow, if it is a particularly sticky storm, but they are meant to melt snow and work on their own so that you can rest easy, rain or shine.

8. Keep the heat tape on your roof plugged in all summer.
   In reality: We live in the Southwest, where there is no snow to melt in the summer. Put a reminder on your calendar to unplug it so you don’t spend all summer warming the feet of little birds that perch there.
9. Air sealing your home is super expensive and time consuming.
   In reality: Air sealing is THE MOST COST EFFECTIVE thing you can do to save energy in your home. Rolls of foam tape are inexpensive, a tube of caulk costs only a few dollars, and if you just don’t have time to do it yourself, here is a list of reasonably priced contractors.
10. Compact Fluorescent (CFL) bulbs contain mercury, so you might as well use incandescent to avoid it. In reality: Yes, it is true, they contain about as much mercury as the ball on a ball point pen. However, the amount of mercury you prevent entering the air from coal-fired power plants by using CFLs is much more! Better yet, buy LEDs. They contain no mercury, and our local electric utilities have rockin’ rebates for them right now!

Weatherization Assistance Program Administration Moving from Durango to Grand Junction

Administration of the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) for Southwest Colorado counties is slated to shift from the Durango-based Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE) to Housing Resources of Western Colorado out of Grand Junction as of July 1^st, 2013.

4CORE has administered weatherization of 588 homes over the last three-and-a-half years for low income qualified residents in Archuleta, La Plata, San Juan, Montezuma and Dolores Counties. Together with partners Housing Solutions for the Southwest and the Southwest Conservation Corps (in partnership with AmeriCorps), 4CORE makes a tremendous difference for hundreds of families. The organization’s commitment to implement the most energy efficient technologies has made homes safer and more affordable for local families who can least afford high energy costs.

“It has been a very rewarding experience to serve so many good people in this region,” said Robert Dawes, 4CORE Board Chair. “We understand the reasons for this decision, and regret that we will be unable to provide local management of this valuable program.”

The decision by the Colorado Energy Office (CEO) to consolidate the Southwest Colorado region with Housing Resources of Western Colorado is due to decreased funding from the U.S. Department of Energy for this program. Housing Resources previously administered the program for our area by subcontracting with Housing Solutions for the Southwest before the weatherization program was fortified with American Recovery and Reinvestment Act dollars in 2009.

“This decision is based purely on economics and is in no way to be interpreted as a performance issue regarding 4CORE’s representation and administration of the weatherization program,” said Marjorie L. Carrasco, CEO Weatherization Production Program Manager. “(4CORE and their) employees’ dedication to serving the region is to be complimented.” 

Housing Resources will continue to work with Housing Solutions for the Southwest in providing free weatherization services to the communities in Southwestern Colorado after July 1^st, 2013.

4CORE was established to provide access to resource efficiency information, practices and measures for our community. The weatherization program is one of several programs the organization delivers and oversees. 4CORE will continue to serve the residents of Southwest Colorado with programs, including residential and commercial energy efficiency and education and information for advancing resource efficiency in Southwest Colorado. 4CORE programs have saved residents and businesses over $875,000 in utility bills to date, and brought over $7.8M in grant funds to our region.

4CORE will continue to help our communities to make smarter use of limited resources, help reduce utility bills, decrease dependence on foreign oil, and maintain a high quality of life for future generations. Support 4CORE and get involved by visiting www.fourcore.org.

About Housing Resources of Western Colorado

Housing Resources has been in business in Mesa County for over 30 years. The mission of Housing Resources, a 501(c)(3) private non-profit corporation, is to provide affordable housing and to promote the wise and sustainable use of resources. Housing Resources offers pre-purchase and post-purchase educational services, weatherization services, opportunities for community revitalization, and the provision of quality, safe, affordable housing for those with low and moderate income.  Housing Resources is a chartered member of NeighborWorks America.  Housing Resources has been weatherizing homes on the western slope since 1998 and has completed over 6,400 jobs over the life of the program.  Learn more about Housing Resources online or by calling their offices at 970-241-2871.

Solarize to Facilitate Discussions to Increase Local Solar Electric (PV) Installations

4CORE is facilitating a meeting to discuss increasing the number of solar electric (PV) installations in our community through the Solarize Campaign. The meeting will be held on March 19th, from 9 to 11 AM at the Durango Recreation Center’s Windham room.

The campaign is a grassroots effort that uses community volunteers, active local government and a local non-profit to manage the project. The program capitalizes on the purchasing power of a community and motivates the residents by offering significant savings through a limited-time bulk purchase opportunity that also removes other common market barriers.

Case studies in other communities have shown a 20 - 40-percent discount on solar installations for participants. In addition, it would provide jobs and spur the market for ongoing growth in the local solar industry.

Funding efforts during this first Solarize Campaign could help create a sustainable funding source for future Solarize campaigns in other communities. Common Solarize campaign steps include developing partnerships and initiate planning, creating a database for customer interface, volunteer recruitment, request for proposal (RFP) process, outreach and education, customer enrollment, site assessments by solar installer(s), solar installations, evaluation, and celebration.

The goals of the meeting are to provide an overview of the Solarize concept and gauge our community's interest in a Solarize campaign. A few recommended resources to review before the meeting include the DOE Solarize Guidebook and a Solarize Campaign Website Sample from Washington State.

To attend the meeting RSVP here. 

More information can be found at www.fourcore.org/Residential/Solarize.aspx.