Improving Communities – One House at a Time

James Carson, Weatherization Crew Leader

Being singled out by a program auditor usually is not a good thing. But for James Carson, it brought about agency-wide recognition for his meticulous work and dedication to his profession. In November 2005, James was the only Weatherization crew worker as the agency was in the process of hiring a new employee for a vacant position. The auditor took note of this during his review, stating:

The crew at this agency is down to 1 man, James Carson, he is the lone ranger… I asked James to show me some of what he had already done, so he took me to the attic. I could not believe my eyes when I got there; this home had a furnace with all the duct work in the attic. James insulated every square foot of duct and plenum in the attic. It was perfect, the workmanship was excellent and I could truly say that I have never seen better. For one man to do this type of work is unheard of.

Part of the reason that the work was so perfect is that James has been working for the Weatherization program for over 22 years, the last 21 years as Crew Leader. He has witnessed the program evolve from a simpler program, focusing on installing storm windows and weather-stripping, to a technologically advanced program, utilizing a blower door to discover and seal cracks and crevices where air is leaking from the home while preserving indoor air quality. One element that has remained unchanged is the ultimate goal of reducing energy consumption and ultimately reducing utility bills.

This focus on saving energy and the fact that no eligible clients are turned away are two of the areas that James highlights when telling others about his job. “I tell them always try,” he says. James sees the Community Action Promise fulfilled on a daily basis as he helps clients save energy – not only through the work that he does but also through the education that he provides. Lives, homes and communities are improving each day thanks to the work of the weatherization team, and their Crew Leader, James Carson.