At Roanoke Cooperative, we take pride in our commitment to enhancing the lives of our member-owners through our various programs, including the Upgrade to $ave Program. Ida C. Freeman, a valued member of our cooperative for over 50 years, recently shared her experience with this initiative. Here’s a glimpse into her journey:
Ida C. Freeman has been a cherished member-owner of Roanoke Cooperative for more than five decades. Her long-standing relationship with us underscores the trust and value she places in our services.
Ms. Freeman initially had some awareness about energy efficiency but was not familiar with our Upgrade to $ave Program. After completing some repair work on her floors and ceiling, she was introduced to the program by Susan Williams, one of our dedicated staff members. Ida recalls, "I had heard about energy efficiency but wasn’t aware of the home improvement initiative. Once the repair work was done, Mrs. Susan told me about the Upgrade to $ave Program and the process involved in starting it. I told her I wanted to be a part of it and she helped me with the process."
Ida’s decision to participate in the Upgrade to $ave Program came after experiencing high electric bills. "After the repair work was done at my home, I mentioned my very high electric bill to Mrs. Susan Williams," Ida explains. "She informed me about this program and the benefits of being a part of it. I was already a member of Roanoke Cooperative and hadn’t heard of other options. The enrollment process was not difficult with Mrs. Williams assisting me every step of the way."
Following her enrollment, our Energy Services Technician, Shawn, conducted a thorough inspection of Mrs. Freeman’s home. She describes the experience, "A young man named Shawn came to my home to inspect everything—windows, doors, attics, underneath the house for duct work, pipes, leakage, and air drafts. He did a very thorough inspection, writing down all of his findings and explaining everything in his process to me."
Our contractor, Youneat James, then completed the necessary upgrades. Ida continues, "Mr. Youneat came and installed insulation around vents, weather stripping around the doors and attic, and checked under the house. He put in new light fixtures and did another test to see if there was any air escaping through vents, windows, or doors."
Ida has already noticed significant improvements. "My home is much cooler, and I don’t have to adjust the thermostat as much to keep up with the very hot temperatures outside. My light bill has been enormously high in the past, and I’m excited to see the difference now. It’s been extremely hot, so my AC unit runs continuously, but I know it will take time as the temperature cools to see how much the bill goes down. I’ve noticed the house is cooler in every room, which is a plus!"
Ida expressed her gratitude for the support she received throughout the Upgrade to $ave Program. "Roanoke Cooperative has been very supportive throughout the process. I’m very grateful. I have participated in community events in the past, though not recently, but I do plan on attending more meetings and events in the future."
At Roanoke Cooperative, we are honored to support our member-owners like Ida Freeman through programs that make a real difference. Her positive feedback and commitment to future engagement reflect our ongoing dedication to improving the quality of life for all our member-owners. Thank you, Mrs. Freeman, for your continued trust and support. We look forward to serving you and other member-owners in the future.