Smoke damage prompts efficiency upgrades for Battlement Mesa family
A project to clean up smoke damage turned into an energy-efficient home renovation opportunity for a Battlement Mesa family, thanks to Garfield Clean Energy’s ReEnergize program.
Al and Alexis Ramirez knew the house they bought in 2019 in the Willow Creek neighborhood overlooking the Grand Valley was a fixer-upper. But when a brush fire erupted in the spring of 2022 on a nearby hillside, it added a new reason to fix the place up. Smoke filtered into the house around the window and door casings, and got into the ventilation system.
“Everything smelled like smoke and it was in our clothes and all our belongings, and you could see the black residue on the walls,” Alexis recalled. Read more...
Five fixes to make your home more energy efficient
It’s that time of year when we start to feel the effects of energy inefficiency most acutely, in the form of cold drafts and high energy bills. Here are our five top suggestions for making your home cozier and less expensive to heat.
1. Insulate hot water pipes to keep the heat you pay for where you live. Insulating your water heater and boiler/furnace pipes is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy loss in the home. It also creates the potential for quicker and hotter water by anywhere from 2° to 4°. Simply buy some pipe insulation (it looks like a pool noodle and costs about $10 for a 6-foot length) and wrap any accessible hot pipes. Read more...
Why Colorado leads the nation in EV sales – and deals
According to data released last week, Colorado now ranks first in the nation in electric vehicle sales. Just over 25 percent of vehicles sold in the state are EVs, putting us slightly ahead of California for the first time.
The reason? In a nutshell, EVs are insanely affordable here in Colorado. And I’m not just saying they’re relatively affordable, considering they’re electric. No, certain EV models literally cost less than a comparable gas car – and the deals on leased EVs are even better.
Generous state incentives, stacked on top of a federal tax credit, are fueling this windfall for EV buyers. But the window for the lowest prices will soon close, so if an EV is right for your lifestyle and you’re ready to pull the trigger, don’t wait. Learn more in our monthly Glenwood Springs Post Independent column.
