Lack of Weatherization Help Leaves Rural New Mexico Shivering
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October 30, 2009
LAS VEGAS, NM - Today is National Weatherization Day, and as cold weather settles in on the Land of Enchantment, some local groups are using the day to highlight households that could use help sealing up their homes for winter, but sometimes have a hard time finding assistance.
Lloyd Goding, with Sustainable Las Vegas, says rural New Mexicans often have trouble accessing the weatherization programs they hear mentioned in the news.
"We have a stock of older homes that need a lot of work to improve their energy efficiency. We don't have the resources, most of us, to even qualify for tax credits."
Kira Jones, energy leader with Community Action New Mexico, says weatherization and efficiency are among the best and easiest ways to reduce energy bills and climate change pollution, and there are many reasons the state's rural residents need help making those improvements.
"Our residents suffer some of the state's highest poverty levels and extreme temperatures. Often, there are very-limited to none-at-all community-based resources for bill assistance."
He says measures or programs should be put in place to help bridge those gaps, save money for those that need the most help and reduce carbon emissions. Goding's group, along with others, including the Sierra Club, Community Action New Mexico and Interfaith Power and Light, will be holding an event today in Las Vegas that includes an energy audit of a local church and a demonstration of weatherization measures on a home in town. The event begins at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul's Peace Episcopal Lutheran Church at 810 8th Street, Las Vegas.