Clear Creek County is working with the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments (NWCCOG) to provide homeowners and renters in our community with weatherization and energy efficiency assistance.

These opportunities are provided through two programs, the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) and Colorado’s Affordable Residential Energy Program (CARE), the details are available below.

Colorado’s Affordable Residential Energy Program (CARE):

Colorado’s Affordable Residential Energy Program (CARE) is a state program that provides free energy conservation services to eligible households, both for owner-occupied and rental properties. Clear Creek County CARE applicants must utilize either Colorado Natural Gas or Xcel Energy as their utility provider in order to be eligible.

Qualified applicants may receive assistance with insulation, air-sealing, furnace repair, furnace replacement, refrigerator replacement, LED Lightbulbs, and more.

If the CARE application is approved, NWCCOG will:

1. Schedule a free home energy audit.
2. Manage the FREE installation of approved energy efficiency upgrades to the home, following the audit.
3. Send a certified inspector to assess the completed work for quality.

Applicants may also be qualified for CARE if they or a member of their household are currently enrolled in any of the following programs:

• Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
• Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Aid to the Needy and Disabled (AND)
• Old Age Pension (OAP)
• Aid to the Blind (AB)
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
• Section 8 Housing

To apply for the CARE program, please complete the application available here(External link).

Rental applicants will also need to submit a landlord waiver completed by the property owner, available here(External link).

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP):

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) is a federally funded program that provides free energy conservation services to eligible households, both owner-occupied and renters.

Qualified applicants may receive assistance with insulation, air-sealing, furnace repair, furnace replacement, refrigerator replacement, LED lightbulbs, storm windows and doors, and Health and Safety evaluations.

If the WAP application is approved, NWCCOG will:

1. Schedule a free home energy audit to identify the most appropriate and cost-effective home improvements.
2. Schedule a qualified weatherization crew to install appropriate energy efficient upgrades for free, following the audit.
3. Send a certified inspector to assess the completed work for quality.

Applicants may also be qualified for WAP if they or a member of their household are currently enrolled in any of the following programs:

• Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
• Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Aid to the Needy and Disabled (AND)

To apply for the WAP, please complete the application available here(External link).

Other Programs and Resources:

LEAP

The Colorado Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is a federally funded program that helps eligible Colorado families, seniors and individuals pay a portion of their winter home heating costs. The LEAP program works to keep communities warm during the winter (November through April) by providing assistance with heating costs, equipment repair and/or replacement of inoperable heating tools. While the program is not intended to pay the entire cost of home heating, LEAP aims to help alleviate some of the burdens that come with Colorado's colder months.

For applications, please contact 303-670-7550 to reach Stephanie McCaulley at 1969 Miner Street, Idaho Springs or 303-679-2364 to reach Tracy Troia at 405 Argentine Street, Georgetown.

The following videos are also available to assist LEAP applicants:

How to Apply for Colorado's Low income Energy Assistance Program(External link)

Cómo Aplicar al Programa de Asistencia de Energía para Personas de Bajos Ingresos de Colorado (LEAP)