Weatherization- More than Comfort, Safety, and Saving Money

Sherry Cuthbertson is a recent weatherization client in La Plata County. She is a single woman who has health issues that prevent her from being employed. She read in the local paper and was also told by her social worker about the Weatherization Assistance Program. She made a call to 4CORE and was approved to have her home weatherized. It took about one month from her initial contact (she was out of town) for the work to be initiated. She described the service as being “really fast!” between the first evaluations, repairs commencing the following week, and job completion in two and a half days.

Sherry resides in an older mobile home which is in overall good condition; however, upon the initial audit, it had many areas in need of improvement, which the weatherization crew could provide. The roof had been replaced 2 years ago but the leaks had compromised the indoor ceiling, and there were indoor air quality issues caused by the hot water vent pipe that was not connected properly. “It was a miracle they came”, she stated. Sherry has been on supplemental oxygen for a year and a half due to health concerns, and she did not have a carbon monoxide detector or a functional smoke alarm. There was evidence of carbon monoxide leaking from her furnace, and the weatherization crew rectified the situation.

Sherry’s natural gas forced air furnace was replaced with a more energy efficient one, and both her water heater and furnace were repaired with emphasis on proper venting and safety provisions. The ceiling was structurally re-supported and insulating “burrito” blankets (pictured above) were placed in her crawlspace next to the skirting to insulate the home from convective air loss. “I know my ceiling is not going to fail, and I think the “burritos” will really help with insulation,” Sherry stated. She said the crew explained every step fully, and admitted the roof was a real challenge. “They were so nice!” She was very pleased that the crew completed their job while leaving her home vacuumed, clean, and in the original condition as when they began the work.

Sherry has recommended the service to others. “The crew is working on a friend’s house now. This was nothing but a blessing. It made me feel so humble. It was a pleasant experience, and they were kind. I was so pleased, and I would recommend this to everyone!” She does not know yet what a difference these services will make in her utility bills, but she is hoping for a warmer winter and is very grateful. “They even asked if I wanted them to repaint!” Although she is struggling to get by, she described the free weatherization as “a little ray of sunshine” coming in to her life.

Weatherization provides protection of a building from the elements and helps reduce energy consumption while optimizing energy efficiency. Building energy usage in the United States contributes greatly to air pollutants and energy waste. The US Department of Energy (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), created in 1976, provides assistance to low income families to reduce their home’s energy usage and improve their comfort level and safety. Four Corner’s Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE) is the WAP source for the five county area  in Southwest Colorado. Not only does this assist our residents by improving their health and safety, it also helps reduce our country’s dependence on foreign oil, and  ultimately, air pollution.


About the Author:

Beverly McAllister has volunteered and worked for 4CORE since May 2010, as an Intern for both the Office and the Weatherization Services. After having been a resident of the region for 30 years and raising her three children here, she considers it her home. Her interests include skiing, camping, music, and many artistic pursuits.

Resource and Energy Action Plan- REAP

Southwest Colorado plays an important role in the burgeoning New Energy Economy in our state. Much of our landscape receives 7 kilowatt hours of sunlight per square meter per day, there is enough of a breeze in many places to make wind power possible, and the feasibility of at least a few win-win off-channel hydro power projects is currently being studied.  Combined with traditional sources of power, such as natural gas, this makes our region a valuable commodity as our state looks into increasing the diversity of our energy portfolio.

As the recipient of the Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) Community Energy Coordinator (CEC) program grant, 4CORE is convening a five-county advisory board that will provide input and feedback on the Resource & Energy Action Plan (REAP) for Southwest Colorado. In addition, 4CORE has been busy getting the word out and answering questions about incentives to save energy through the new RechargeColorado Campaign. These efforts are aimed at creating new jobs,  developing the region’s three- to five-year strategic sustainability plan, and positioning our region for future New Energy Economy activities and funding.


This point in history poses an incredible opportunity for evaluating the way our region uses energy and how we can positively benefit from decreasing our energy use. Incentives provided by Federal and State programs are making it increasingly realistic to save money on our individual energy bills and decrease our dependence on foreign oil, all while improving our quality of life.


Much of the motion toward the New Energy Economy is being generated from the top down through government programs. Constituents are taking advantage of these programs. However, in order to create real energy savings, each of us needs take a focused look at our homes, work place, schools and public buildings, and how we move between these places. There are many ways to save energy.

Clean air, trails, and mountain views are why we live here. Learn about how to get involved in REAP and how to thrive using less energy. Stay tuned here, at www.fourcore.org, and contact us if we can help!