If you’ve lived in Grand County long enough — which for the purposes of this topic could be a single month in January — you know that winter here isn’t just a season, it’s a full-blown personality. And for many, it’s not a friendly one.

We’re talking about negative temperatures that make your car battery cry and your dog question its life choices. Pipes freeze and then destroy everything in their path as the temperature reaches a balmy 33°F. I’ve had to move out of my home a few times.

At this point, I’ve got Rocky Mountain Catastrophe on speed dial. I’ve lived here for 33 years. Believe me, what I write is true.

Here’s the good news: your local library isn’t just a cozy refuge with books, DVDs, snowshoes, and Wi-Fi. It’s your ally in the battle against bitter cold and outrageous electric bills.

Last year, Grand County Library District teamed up with Helen Brown from Sustainable Grand.  Together we offered programming on how to save money on repairs (up to $2,000 in rebates in some cases) and created four Home Sustainability Kits that are available for patrons to audit where energy is being lost. Kits include two magical tools: a thermal camera to spot those sneaky drafts, and a “Kill-A-Watt monitor” to measure energy efficiency of appliances.

These kits are game changers. Last February, I borrowed a kit and discovered my floors were a brisk 41°F. It reminded me of the 1990s, when my winter window-film insulation coverings were blown clear off by rogue gusts of wind, leaving me living in my parka. I saved for years to replace those windows. I saved again and replaced my electric floorboards with an electric thermal storage heater. Ahh, I started hanging up my parka, while cutting my electric bill in half.

But there was still more to do. Brown introduced me to Tim Archie from High Country HEH. After he did a home energy assessment of my 756-square-foot condo, I received a 31-page report. I headed to Country Ace Hardware to purchase two cans of foam spray to plug a couple of cruel openings where my water pipes dove into the Arctic crawlspace. Thanks to Helen’s guidance, I received a $250 rebate from Mountain Parks Electric, making Tim’s assessment just $100 out of pocket.

The report also revealed that my building’s 1985 crawl space, with open air ventilation and remnants of insulation, was another major culprit. Electric floorboards are scattered throughout the area, hoping to keep the area above 32°F. Our HOA winter electric bill for four buildings in January 2025 was more than $4,000. No, our HOA does NOT pay for our personal use of electricity. In July, our electric bill was $850. Tell me this discrepancy doesn’t scream “fix me by November!”

Being proactive, I called Scott York from Rocky Mountain Spray Foam. He showed up to inspect the dungeon. After a few minutes, he couldn’t stop laughing at how much we’d save by insulating the entire crawl space. He estimated that within two to three years, the project would more than pay for itself in electric bill savings. This certainly was enough to gain our HOA president’s attention.

Brown confirmed that if we spray foamed throughout the entire crawl space, we could get $250 rebates for each condo unit effected. That’s a win-win-win: warmer homes, lower bills, and fewer tears over heating costs. I have not yet received York’s quote, but my feet are already screaming, “Yes, please. When can you insulate the crawlspace?”

If you’re tired of living in a walk-in freezer, come to the library. Borrow a Home Sustainability Kit. Find those leaks. Measure your appliance efficiency with the Kill-A-Watt monitor to help you decide if now is the time to shop for a more cost-effective water heater, refrigerator, or another appliance.

Reach out to Sustainable Grand today! Rebates, incentives, and federal tax credits are expiring soon. Get signed up now and start your journey toward a warmer, more energy-efficient home.

We’ve got the tools, the resources, and yes, even the right sense of humor to help you through it. Because in Grand County, surviving winter isn’t just about layering up — it’s about smart choices, community support, and maybe a little or a lot of spray foam.

Tallie Gray is the director of library resources at Grand County Library District. Contact her at tgray@gcld.org.