Residential Success Stories

Shortly after moving into her new home four months ago, Brown found several problems going on with a freezing kitchen, floors and walls.

 

She called to find someone to do an energy audit. Melissa Baldridge, energy auditor and co-founder of GreenSpot, who came out and did an inspection on the house to discover there wasnt any insulation in the kitchen attic or walls.

 

I contacted several insulation companies.  Most never returned my calls. I was at my wits end. I had taken time off work twice and nobody showed, explained Brown.

 

She said Paul Jensen, a certified residential energy auditor (with Energy Geeks) did call her back and stopped by her home to check it out along with an estimate of what the insulation repairs would cost.

 

I just bought the house. Everything I had went into the down payment, inspection and closing costs, she said.

 

Brown is tremendously grateful to Jensen for saving the day and referring her to the Denver Energy Challenge Program and getting rebates from Xcel that allowed her new home to be properly insulated. Through the citys energy challenge program, she was able to get attic air sealing, attic insulation to R50 with blown cellulose and dense pack wall cavities to R13 with cellulose. She plans to make further improvements to winterize the windows and doors of her home.

 

Brown has told friends, family members and co-workers about the benefits of the citys energy advising services.

 

Its well worth the investment, she expressed and believes Denver Energy Challenge is a wonderful program that helps residents.

 

I would like to personally thank Paul Jensen of Energy Geeks and Rocco Sucato of the Denver Energy Challenge program for making the process of this costly repair, a seemingly easy process. They truly are my angels. There are no words that can express my appreciation.

 

Energy Advisor Rocco Sucato with Denver Energy Challenge said the energy audit further motivated Brown to participate in the citys program and saved her money.

 

I try to prioritize upgrades and what will give homeowners the best return on their investment, he expressed. Debra and I worked together to make sure her upgrades met the minimum requirements to receive rebates from Xcel and through Denver Energy Challenge.

 

Sucato added that he always informs homeowners of the comfort and financial benefits of addressing air sealing and insulation in their home, combined with do-it-yourself tasks like compact fluorescent light bulbs or well-programmed thermostats, which can greatly reduce their energy costs.

 

Denver Energy Challenge works to inform and engage efficiency contractors in order to deliver a consistent path for residents from start to finish.

 

The City and County of Denver has offered the free residential and commercial energy program for the past year.  A program funded through a grant from the United States Department of Energy Better Buildings Program.

 

The goal is to help residents and businesses save energy by 15 percent or more by offering free energy advising and exclusive rebates. And the amazing news for homeowners who participate in the program is the money they save, reduction in energy usage, increase in home comfort and the improvement of indoor air quality.

 

The question most asked is who can participate? Any single-family, owner occupied resident living within the City and County of Denver, as well as businesses within the city and county limits are eligible to take advantage of the Denver Energy Challenge program.  Multi-family, renters or any new construction do not qualify for the program.

 

For further information and to sign up today please call 720-865-5520 or visit www.DenverEnergy.org.