Energy Efficiency

One way to make energy bills more manageable is to reduce the amount of energy used. Most low-income households already use as little energy as possible but pay for energy that is lost due to poor insulation and seals around windows and doors, and inefficient appliances. Some home weatherization items can be done at a relatively low cost while others may be too costly and accessible only through participation in a weatherization/energy efficiency program.

Do-It-Yourself Weatherization

The following actions may reduce home energy usage with low or no cost:

• Use caulk or weather stripping to seal air leaks around windows. In the winter cover window exterior with heavy-duty clear plastic sheets or clear plastic film.

• For gaps at the floor of an exterior door, leave a rolled up towel next to the bottom of the door. If there are leaks around the top and side of the door, use weather stripping or tack up a blanket or large towel.

• Tightly close the flue in the fireplace.

• Close doors to unused rooms and don’t heat or cool them.

• Lower the thermostat on the water heat and wrap it with an insulation blanket.

• Change the furnace filter.

• Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs).

If customers want to take greater steps to weatherize their home they may qualify for the weatherization assistance program.

Weatherization Assistance Program

The Federal government recognizes that many households cannot afford weatherization despite its positive effects. The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) enables low-income families to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy efficient. It is the longest running, and perhaps most successful energy efficiency program in the country. During the last 30 years, the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program has provided weatherization services to more than 5.5 million low-income families. On average, weatherization reduces heating bills by 31% and overall energy bills by $358 per year at current prices.

The New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority (MFA) administers the Weatherization Assistance Program in New Mexico and relies on nonprofits, housing authorities and local governments to implement the program. MFA also administers the HOME Investment Partnership program which helps low-income homeowners to make home repairs and includes energy-related improvements.

For more information on WAP or HOME program benefits and eligibility contact:
New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority
Gina Martinez, Weatherization Program Manager
Phone: [phone]
Email: gro.mngnisuoh|zenitramg#gro.mngnisuoh|zenitramg

Local Weatherization providers

Four agencies the Weatherization Assistance Program across New Mexico. For more information or to get on the waiting list, contact:

Los Amigos Education Resource Center
1549 6th St., Suite B
Santa Fe, NM 87505-3473
[phone] or [phone]
Counties served: Cibola, McKinley, San Juan and the Pueblos of Acoma, Laguna, and Zuni.

Siete del Norte Community Development
Hwy. 68, East Kennedy
San Juan Pueblo, NM 87566
[phone] or [phone]
Counties served: Colfax, Los Alamos, Mora, Rio Arriba, San Miguel, Santa Fe, Taos and the Pueblos of Jicarilla Apache, Nambe, Picuris, Pojoaque, San Juan, San Ildefonso, Santa Clara, Tesuque, and Taos.

Central New Mexico Housing Corporation
703 Osuna Rd. NE, Suite 2
Albuquerque, NM 87113
[phone] or [phone]
Counties served: Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance, Valencia, and the Pueblos of Cochiti, Isleta, Jemez, San Felipe, Sandia, Santa Ana, Santo Domingo, and Zia.

Community Action Agency of Southern New Mexico
320 East Wyatt Drive
Las Cruces, NM 88001
[phone] or [phone]
Counties served: Chaves, Catron, Curry, DeBaca, Dona Ana, Eddy, Guadalupe, Grant, Harding, Hidalgo, Luna, Lea, Lincoln, Otero, Quay, Roosevelt, Sierra, Socorro, Union, and the Mescalero Apache Reservation.

Utility-funded energy efficiency programs

In 2005, the New Mexico Legislature passed a law requiring utilities to design and fund programs that help customers make their energy usage more efficient. To date, only PNM offers energy efficiency programs to its natural gas customers. PNM, El Paso Electric, and Xcel Energy are in the process of designing and seeking approval for electric energy efficiency programs.