"It is just so good to be able to look out our nice new clear windows," says Gloria Maug. " For so long the old ones were cloudy and leaking moisture, but now the sun shines in so brightly."

Many years ago, Gloria worked as an outreach worker for Western Dairyland. When the home she and her husband ( a retired farmer) occupy began to show signs of an ungraceful middle-age, she called the Housing and Energy department. With a failing septic system, suspicious well and bad electric wiring, as well as the rotting, leaking windows, there was much work needed. "We have been so grateful for the help," Gloria says. "We didn't know where to turn on our small retirement income, there simply wasn't money to take care of all we needed."

Western Dairyland's weatherization crew came with their computerized energy audits and chased the draft and cold away with their expertise. Attic, sidewall and foundation insulation, are nearly always the areas with greatest need. Unsafe and inefficient heating systems are also an area of great need.

For the past 32 years, Western Dairyland's Housing and Energy program has been helping families improve their living standards while saving energy.