RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – Western South Dakota Community Action welcomed the community to view demonstrations of their weatherization processes to celebrate the 48 anniversary of weatherization programs with the Department of Energy on Wednesday.

Demonstrations included how carbon monoxide moves through a house, insulation blowing and how to prevent catastrophic events like fire in homes.

WSDCA has many programs for those working their way out of poverty, the weatherization of homes is just one. Auditors will check doors, windows, insulation, HVAC systems and more. After the audit is done, auditors put all the information from the audit into a computer software system created by the Department of Energy to find the most cost-effective way to improve the home if necessary. They will finish with installing the material and final inspection.

The weatherization is not just to save money, but also to keep people healthy.

“Low-income people survive by making things happen, and sometimes that’s not up to code. In other words, they make themselves in dangerous situations. As part of the final inspection is making sure everything is operating the way it’s supposed to be as far as HVAC goes and making sure no carbon monoxide is going to happen in that home,” William Thompson, an energy auditor with Western South Dakota Community Action, said.

Thompson added saving energy is huge for people with low income, so the organization tries to save the homeowner at least 15 percent their first year after weatherization.

WSDCA’s operations manager, Laura Fletcher, said weatherization of homes doesn’t just benefit the current occupant but also the community.

“Rapid City has increasing aging housing stock and the more we can keep these older homes livable, the longer that those homes are available to live in,” Fletcher said.

Thompson said he knew of many people who had their lives saved by the weatherization work WSDCA provides.

“It‘s one of the most gratifying things you can do, especially when you find life safety issues, and you actually save peoples’ lives. Personally, I know of at least five to 10 people that we’ve actually saved their lives. They medically had carbon monoxide poisoning and by our process we ended up making their homes safe after that. It’s a very gratifying job,” Thompson said.

Fletcher is hoping to put on another day of demonstrations for the 60 anniversary of Western South Dakota Community Action.

For more information about Western South Dakota Community Action and their programs like weatherization, visit WSDCA’s website.

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