Single Mom Thankful for Energy Efficiency Outreach Project

July, 2011

Alma Velazquez is a single mom making a modest income as a school teacher.  She lives in a 1947 home in Portland’s Cully neighborhood.

Before MACG’s Changing the Climate in Cully campaign, Alma knew she had no insulation in her house, and half of the heat was being wasted, blowing out the walls.  “My bills were pretty high”, she says.

What’s worse, she and her young daughter experienced headaches when their 30 year old furnace was running.  “I noticed a pattern that when I left my furnace on through the night because it got so cold, I would wake up with a headache.”

She knew she needed to upgrade her furnace, but could not afford the up front costs.

Then she received a Changing the Climate in Cully brochure at her door.  She got excited about the program and signed herself up.

Faison Construction, the contractor assigned to Alma, tested her furnace and found out it showed high levels of Carbon Monoxide in the flue and was drafting poorly.  

Alma was extremely relieved to know Faison would be able to fix the problem and that she could afford the upgrade through the long-term, low-interest financing, with no upfront cost.  She feels very fortunate to have been part of the program.  

Plus she’s much more comfortable in her home!  “I notice that my house is much warmer in the winter, and much cooler in the summer.”

Even though the Cully project is over, MACG's home energy improvement outreach continues with Weatherize for Good.  Read more here.