The 1944 house in Portland’s Cully neighborhood had no insulation, and the family had to plug in an array of space heaters to stay warm in winter. And relying on a window air conditioning unit in summer drove the family’s electric bills to between $300 and $400 per month. Plus, after Ramos injured his hand at his job at a recycling facility in 2019, he underwent four surgeries and physical therapy, often spending time at home and using even more electricity.
Thanks to funding from the Energy Trust of Oregon, a nonprofit organization funded by Oregon taxpayers, the Ramoses’ home was upgraded with an electric heat pump and weatherization last
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