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Efficiency Tips for Older Homes

A person sits with a dog on the front porch of a single-story brick house with a well-maintained garden and lawn.

Q: How do I improve the efficiency of my older home while keeping its charm? A: The features of older homes can make them less efficient than modern construction, but it doesn’t have to be that way. There are ways to keep charm while increasing efficiency. Start by prioritizing the invisible upgrades that make your […]

Generate Safely

A person pulls the starter cord of an orange portable generator on grass in front of a small white building.

The wind howls outside your windows as a major storm system blows through the area in the late evening. Your lights flicker for a moment or two before you’re plunged into darkness. The social media feed on your phone is packed with reports of damage and power outages, and the storm shows no sign of […]

Choosing the Best Replacement Windows

A person’s hands are shown opening a window with a white frame, letting in natural light from outside.

Q: I want to replace my original windows. How can I compare the various window design and material characteristics? A: Selecting the best replacement window is not only dependent on the design characteristics, but also your specific house and family’s lifestyle. The three main criteria to consider when selecting replacement windows are the frame material, […]

Co-ops Ramp Up Fire Prevention

Smoke drifts across a rural valley with houses and fields, while mountains and clouds rise in the background under partly cloudy skies.

Nothing provokes nightmares for electric co-op staff like a wildfire does. Fires can melt power lines, burn utility poles, destroy equipment, and knock out power to co-op members. And fire risks in Colorado are increasing due to lower humidity, more forest diseases, and more human settlement and activity in fire-prone areas. “When there are red […]

Prep Now for Summer Savings

Man sitting on a gray sofa with eyes closed, facing an oscillating fan in a living room with minimal decor and a potted plant.

Q: How can I prepare my home for lower energy bills this summer? Summer is right around the corner. There are many ways to get a jump-start on preventing summertime high bills and energy waste. Add your cooling equipment to the spring-cleaning checklist. An annual tune-up by an HVAC professional should include refrigerant charge, airflow […]

Move Over to Protect Roadside Crews

A rural road stretches into the distance with a "Utility Work Ahead" sign on the right; fields, houses, and power lines are visible under a partly cloudy sky.

When lineworkers are perched in a bucket truck repairing power lines along a busy road, they have good reason to be concerned about their safety. However, most are less apprehensive about working with high voltages or falling. Their biggest worry is also the most unpredictable: a distracted driver slamming into their vehicle or a nearby […]

Hot Wires and Cold Nights: The life of a lineman

Utility workers in elevated buckets repair power lines against a cloudy sky backdrop.

Electric lineworkers put their pants on one leg at a time like the rest of us; they just happen to be flame-resistant jeans so the worker’s skin doesn’t melt if things go sideways with a hot wire. They like to eat dinner with their families, too, but it can come with a side of apprehension […]

Landscaping to Save Energy

A suburban street with a row of modern two-story houses featuring stone and wood exteriors, neatly trimmed lawns, and young trees lining the sidewalk under a cloudy sky.

Q: How can landscaping help lower my energy bill? A: There’s a lot going on in the space around our homes. Competing factors of aesthetics, safety, energy efficiency, water conservation, and more are a lot to consider. Thoughtful planning and good design can address these factors. Carefully positioned trees can save up to 25% of a […]

Electrical Safety: Grounding 101

A white electrical outlet with a plugged-in white cord is shown. The outlet features labeled reset and test buttons.

Q: What is grounding, and why is it important? A: Many people believe if an electrical device is working, then it must be hooked up to a properly wired outlet. Be aware that some electronics will operate even if connected improperly, but this can severely injure the user. To ensure your hair dryer, clothes dryer, […]

Co-ops Innovate with Energy Storage Solutions

Illustration of a modern house with solar panels on the roof, powering an electric car and household electricity, connected to the grid.

Like every electric utility in Colorado, your local electric cooperative is managing a lot of change right now. State policies are phasing out the old workhorse of electrical generation — coal-fired power plants — and rapidly expanding wind and solar power, which have many benefits but only produce electricity when the wind blows or the […]