With the cost of living so high, you may be looking for ways to cut back on spending wherever possible. Improving the energy efficiency of your home or business can save you a lot of money, make your space more comfortable and safe, reduce our collective negative impact on the environment and help us reach our county and statewide climate goals for the future.

Through Yampa Valley Sustainability Council’s relationships with Energy Smart Colorado, Yampa Valley Electric Association, the city of Steamboat Springs and the town of Oak Creek, YVSC supports comprehensive energy assessments that include home analyses that recognize comfort concerns, blower-door testing with infrared cameras to detect insulation voids and air leaks and Combustion Appliance Zone testing to identify potential for carbon monoxide, and other hazards related to combustion heating systems. With the support of the Energy Smart Colorado’s tools and network, YVSC’s energy analysts can help Yampa Valley residents and business owners find the right equipment upgrades and apply for rebates that can ultimately reduce their energy bills.

Your home or commercial energy assessment should show how to improve your space to make it more comfortable, energy efficient, safe to live in, less expensive to operate, and easier on the environment. Energy assessments cost $500 to initiate the audit. However, YVEA customers are eligible for a $250 account credit after the assessment is completed, while town of Oak Creek residents are eligible for a $250 discount at the time of the assessment. A home energy assessment for your primary residence may also qualify for a tax credit of up to $150.

For income-qualified individuals, the burden of the cost of the assessment should not prevent taking advantage of this service. Funding is available through the Colorado’s Affordable Residential Energy (CARE) Program to make the cost of the assessment free.

For business owners, there is now a USDA grant for commercial energy assessments, bringing what would be a cost of $1,500 down to $375 for buildings of 10,000 square feet or less. The commercial energy assessment utilizes a whole-business approach and pinpoints areas of your business that could help improve your energy efficiency, identify areas for safety improvements, and help lower costs.

A certified building analyst will walk through your home or business and help you understand the best energy-saving devices while providing coaching along the way on best energy-saving practices. To schedule your energy assessment, visit YVSC.org.