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.

The 11th Annual La Plata County Energy Tour

“Sustainable development is a dynamic process which enables all people to realize their potential, and to improve their quality of life, in ways which simultaneously protect and enhance the Earth's life support systems.”
(Forum for the Future Annual Report 2000).

I really like the quote above. It expresses, in one sentence, what my philosophy is all about: Sustainable living can improve your quality of life while also protecting and conserving the earth's resources. The question is, who wouldn't want to improve their quality of life? If I am not mistaken, this is a desire that every single human being on this planet has in common. We all dream of a higher quality of life. For some, that means earning more money so that they can afford beautiful homes and cars. For others it means moving out of an urban area to be closer to nature. For others still, it could be saving money on energy costs in order to spend that money on something more important, such as school fees or healthier food. 


You do not have to be an environmentalist, by any means, to want to live a sustainable lifestyle. Whether you get your home weatherized or you invest in renewable energy, the end result is the same. You are doing something good by becoming more energy efficient and conserving resources (whether you intend to or not), and you are saving money on energy costs: That is what I like to call a "win-win". 

To show you all that this is not just a theory, but that there are lots of people out there who invest in renewable energy and save money because of it, 4CORE is putting on the 11th Annual La Plata County Energy Tour. The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the umbrella organization for this event. On October 2nd, 2010 there will be Solar Tours taking place in 42 states all over the country. The La Plata County Energy Tour  taking place right here in Durango, will showcase various houses and buildings in and around town that have invested in renewable energy, including solar, wind, or geothermal power. 

The tour will start at the Farmers Market in downtown Durango. Take a self-guided tour or a guided bicycle tour of homes close to downtown. Please car pool if you go on the self-guided tour. 4CORE will have a booth set up at the Farmers Mark where can purchase a $5 map of showcased buildings, and you can also purchase them online this year. We will also be handing out information on each of the houses on the tour. Home owners and/or installers will be present at each location to answer any questions you might have.  

The goal of this event is to help spread information on renewable energy. If you have ever thought about installing renewable energy, or are just interested to see how it works, we invite you to come out on October 2nd for the Energy Tour. Stop by our booth to get your map and a hot beverages before you head out. Come before 9 am if you would like to join the bicycle tour.

In the meantime, if you have any questions about the tour or anything related to it, feel free to contact me, Vanessa. I think that this will be a great event and I am really looking forward to being a part of it. I hope to see you out there! 

About Vanessa Von der Heyde, 4CORE Outreach Intern

Vanessa was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and moved to the States in 2005 to attend the University of Alabama on a swimming scholarship. After graduating from University with a Bachelor’s in Marketing, she decided to experience living in different parts of the States and promptly moved to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to work and give tours at a dog sledding kennel for the Winter Season. There she met a Durango Native, which opened up the door to live and work in Durango for a couple of months. Vanessa appreciates natural beauty and the outdoors, and loves animals. She wants to dedicate her life to preserving the natural environment, and educate people in becoming more environmentally conscious.

East to West

I moved to Durango, CO from Chapel Hill, NC two months ago to work as an intern at 4CORE, and to aid 4CORE in completing the Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP) for La Plata County.  I graduated in May from the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill with a degree in Environmental Studies, and a concentration in Environmental Policy.  After an epic solo cross-country road trip, I arrived in Durango in June astounded and excited by the natural beauty surrounding me.  I was born and raised on the east coast, and had never been to Colorado before.  I came here to experience a completely new part of the country, and to gain practical skills and knowledge associated with working on and writing a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Such a plan, often referred to as a Climate Action Plan (CAP), or CEAP in our case, lays out a strategy that an entity will use to address climate change and reduce its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.  There are currently 30 states and a multitude of local governments with a CAP in place, and many more in the works.  Establishing a CAP for a government or organization is becoming an increasingly important way to identify and reduce the emissions that these entities produce.  In addition to mitigating the effects of climate change, emissions reductions also serve to create economic opportunities and ensure our quality of life.

While in Chapel Hill, I worked with the Town to help them complete their own CAP.  In 2006, the Town of Chapel Hill committed to a Community Carbon Reduction Pledge, becoming the first U.S. municipality to commit to a 60 percent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from town operations.  As a student at UNC I was able to work with the Town as an intern to provide carbon accounting services and to recommend policy measures with which to reduce the emissions from town activities.

It is very exciting to have the opportunity to use the experience I gained in Chapel Hill to work on the CEAP for La Plata County.  To me, the CEAP is an incredibly interesting and engaging project, as its intention is to identify problems within our community, and then work to come up with creative solutions that have wide-spread benefits.  For example, the primary mission of the CEAP is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in La Plata County, but by doing so it also seeks to strengthen our local economy and to ensure the social integrity of our community.

I am also excited to be working on the CEAP, as I am learning so much about the land and community in which I now live.  Originally, I had only intended to stay in Durango for the summer, but I have fallen in love with the town, as well as my work.  Many of the environmental issues I am faced with here are very different from those I experienced on the east coast, both due to geographic, as well as social differences.  But these differences are what make this experience exciting, and I am looking forward to learning as much as I can.

About the Author
Amanda was born in Florida, but attended college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  Upon graduating this May, with a degree in Environmental Studies, she drove across the country to Durango, CO to work as an intern at 4CORE.  Amanda has spent her entire life on the east coast, but is really enjoying the beauty and lifestyle of the west.  Amanda enjoys hiking, kayaking, traveling, reading, soccer, team handball and the beach. 

It’s Easy To Be Green in the Summer

By Beverly McAllister

Living green is an omnipresent theme here in Southwest Colorado. Since beginning my Internship at 4CORE, I have discovered that although there are many ways my lifestyle supports a conscious approach to zero waste living, there are always new ideas to employ toward this goal. The summer season offers a variety of opportunities to improve our efficient use of resources.

One obvious change is to use alternative transportation while the weather is cooperative. The Clean Commute Week, organized by the City of Durango in June, encouraged many alternatives to diminish our reliance on less efficient methods of transportation, and promote cleaner ones. For summertime fun and a healthier lifestyle, participate in zero carbon activities such as utilizing mass transit, walking, biking, and sharing rides. Attend the 3rd Annual Verde Fest in Cortez, CO or the 4 Corners Green Living Expo in Durango, CO for lots of product vendors, sustainability advocates, and fun!

Reducing our footprint by using less electricity can be accomplished a number of ways. To help fund sustainable energy sources you can purchase a Green Power Block from local electric providers La Plata Electric Association and Empire Electric Association.

Our region receives abundant solar energy, and there are tax credits and rebates for adding photovoltaic panels or solar thermal systems to your home or business. This is also a good time to apply for the income-based free weatherization services

Switching to newer, more energy efficient appliances or adding a solar shade to your home could be a summer improvement project. To reduce additional wasted heat and power, turn off unnecessary lighting, use the air-dry setting on your dishwasher, set your water heater temperature lower, switch to compact fluorescent bulbs, and utilize power strips to shut down electric power to appliances and electronics when not in use.

In and around your home consider using a “solar powered’ clothes dryer, an old-fashioned clothes line. Xeriscape your yard or use a push mower to cut your grass (and exercise!). If you have a garden or access to the summer’s bounty of fresh foods, try a solar dehydrator as a preservation method. Build one yourself for almost free.

Recycle and compost your personal waste. Set your thermostats to 78 degrees and run ceiling fans on medium, blowing down in summer, and close shades and drapes during the day to keep the heat out. If you use air-conditioning, have your system checked out by a HVAC technician and remember to clean filters monthly. Evaporative cooling is especially well suited for climates where the air is hot and humidity is low, since it is relatively cheap and requires less energy than many other forms of cooling.

Support the economy by buying locally, and save resources by buying recycled or used items. Shop the flea market, farmer’s market, thrift stores, and yard sales to reuse, recycle, and save money. As an alternative to discarding useful items, donate them, have a sale, or list them on sites such as the Freecycle.

Pay a visit to the “Really Really Free Market" at the Riverfront Park on Sundays 1-3 pm, and not only get free stuff but also free food from “Durango’s Food Not Bombs”.

When dining out, ask if the restaurant uses recyclable food containers for packaging your leftovers. Even if they do not, you can help raise their awareness that their customers feel strongly about this issue. Also, consider bringing your own containers and cutlery if they use disposable utensils (available locally at Nature’s Oasis).

After calculating my carbon footprint (12.47) and interning at 4CORE, I have realized so many more ways to be on a “carbon diet”. It is my hope that some of these suggestions will be beneficial in your life this summer, help you reduce your energy bills, save you money, and make it so you can grow more green.

About Beverly McAllister, Intern
Beverly has lived in Durango for the last 30 years. Before coming to 4CORE, she worked with the Mercy Medical Center's Gift Shop trying out her innovative ideas on customers. Beverly enjoys going to punk rock concerts and taking time off for fishing vacations. She has become an integral part of the 4CORE team by taking on multiple duties and tasks that are requested of her.

Integrating 4CORE into the Fort Lewis College community

[To the left is a picture of FLC students with an IR camera, which are used in the Weatherization Assistance Program]

As a new intern for 4CORE I became very attracted to the Weatherization Assistance Program. It is a great way to strengthen the community because it increases the quality of housing stock, creates work for local contractors, decreases our dependence on foreign oil, and lowers our total energy footprint one house at a time. This program offers free weatherization services to qualified low income households. The only problem is that not very many people know about the program. I have decided it is time to get the word out there and recruit people to apply. It is not easy to get the word out, but I have devised a plan.

Fort Lewis College (FLC) students make up a large portion of the Durango renting community. College students have also always been known for being broke. Incidentally these two factors make them the perfect low-income candidates to qualify for the program. Students are ideal because it is easy to reach out to them. They are already grouped together in classrooms so if I can find my way into classrooms for a few minutes to present the possibilities of the program then just maybe I can attract a good portion of the students one short presentation at a time. Another way it’s easy to reach out to college students in bulk is through Facebook. 85% of college students these days have a Facebook account, and that number is only growing. I will organize a Facebook group dedicated to recruiting FLC students. On the page will be a link to the weatherization application and advertisement of an event where there will be a presentation and incentives to come- such as free pizza. I was a College student for the past four years and if I’ve learned anything about students it’s that they love free, especially free food.

This plan should attract FLC students to apply for the weatherization program and increase the number of homes weatherized in Southwest Colorado. My basic theory of the whole plan is to keep it simple and to the point. Let them know they can help decrease energy use for free and be helped by 4CORE for free; It’s a win-win situation. I want the students to get the idea that there is no reason they shouldn’t apply.

Hopefully while I am recruiting students to apply I can make the 4CORE name recognizable to the FLC student community. 4CORE exists “to decrease the emission of pollutants, protect public health, and strengthen the economy” as declared in the mission statement. Considering the amount of students enrolled at FLC is roughly one third of the population of Durango, the school could be a great portal to help accomplish the mission statement, especially strengthening the economy.

About the Author:

Cara was born and raised in New Hampshire. Upon completion of her internship at 4CORE, Cara will receive her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Policy. After four years in Durango, she has fallen in love with the mountains and claims she will never move back to the east coast. Cara enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking, traveling, reading, dancing, and floating down the river with a good group of friends.

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!

Community Energy Coordinator Announcement & FREE Zero Waste Event!

Governor Ritter recently announced Colorado’s new Community Energy Coordinators (CEC), naming the Four Corners Office for Resource Efficiency (4CORE) as the CEC for La Plata, Dolores, San Juan, Montezuma and Archuleta counties. “We’re excited to see champions for the New Energy Economy on the ground in these local communities, working closely with citizens, businesses and governments to help them save money, create jobs and increase our energy security,” Gov. Ritter said.

Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, this 30-month grant from the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office (GEO) will provide a way for smaller or “non-entitled” communities to prepare and position themselves for renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation opportunities as well as develop local sustainability strategies and energy action plans.

Key components of the Energy Action Plans will include:
•    A public outreach and education plan
•    A plan to attract new energy efficient (EE) and renewable energy (RE) businesses to the five county region
•    Contractor EE and RE training
•    Identification of residential, commercial and utility-scale RE opportunities in the region
•    Opportunities to reduce energy-related impacts of transportation
•    A plan to increase participation in material conservation programs such as recycling and zero waste
•    The development of water conservation plans

Join us for the Community Energy Coordinator Kickoff event!
The public is invited to 4CORE’s Community Energy Coordinator kick-off event, an Introduction to Zero Waste workshop featuring Gary Liss on April 15, 2010 from 8am – 11:30am at the Durango Public Library. This FREE event will cover the features, issues and applications of zero waste principles. Come learn what Zero Waste communities and businesses are doing to divert over 90% of their waste from landfill and incineration.

Locally made bagels and coffee will be provided in the morning for participants. Click here to learn more and RSVP or view the event flyer.

Stay in the Loop!
Interested in staying up to date on CEC events, educational sessions, contractor trainings, GEO rebate programs and grants? Subscribe to 4CORE's monthly e-newsletter!