The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
$10,000 will contribute to energy assessments and upgrades for qualifying residents
[ By Katherine Nettles ]
An opportunity with some leftover discretionary funds from the Gunnison County budget at the end of the year means a local program that provides energy assessments and improvements to qualifying residents will get a boost of about $10,000. Gunnison Valley Heat, managed by the Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority, is specifically designed to help households in Gunnison County reduce their energy costs. The program provides home energy assessments and even improvements at a free or reduced cost for qualified homeowners and renters by using utility rebates and program funding.
Gunnison County commissioners approved last week of using their leftover discretionary spending funds to make a contribution to the program. The amount is not to exceed $11,000 and will be issued as a one-time grant.
“We want to be really specific in how we put those funds out there…this helps with families and individuals in need and is in keeping with our values around climate change,” said county commissioner chairperson Jonathan Houck.
The Gunnison Valley Home Energy Advancement Team works with renters and homeowners to assess energy efficiency, and based on their findings can make recommendations or, if a resident qualifies, the team provides enhancements such as appliance and furnace upgrades, air sealing, insulation, LED lighting upgrades, programmable thermostats and other improvements identified in the home energy assessment.
