Smarter Homes Start Here
At Clearwater Credit Union, supporting you goes beyond just banking. We believe it’s also about helping you live a healthier, more comfortable, more affordable life.
In late 2025, we took another step forward in serving you by introducing our new Home Energy Advisor program. This new service offers you objective advice and insights to help you improve the overall comfort and efficiency of your home, reduce your energy costs, and minimize your environmental footprint. The program includes two options.
No-Cost Objective Advice
You can now consult with an on-staff, Home Energy Advisor to get answers to common energy performance questions about appliances, heating, cooling, solar energy, and more. This service is included with your membership at no cost.
“Folks can ask questions, toss ideas around, and have a reliable source of information, someone they can trust,” Home Energy Advisor, Jeremy Flesch said.
Comprehensive Home Energy Assessment
For a deeper review of your home, the Home Energy Advisor program also offers a comprehensive, in-home assessment of your home’s overall energy performance. During the assessment, experts assess air leakage, insulation performance, and overall energy efficiency using tools like blower door testing and thermal imaging. This hands-on approach helps pinpoint improvement opportunities and recommend solutions. Costing up to $850 elsewhere, Clearwater members pay just $250. The comprehensive assessment is only available in Missoula and Lolo currently, but we do have plans to expand it to the other areas over time.
“The comprehensive assessment is great for people looking to understand their home better – and to understand what’s working and what isn’t from an energy and air quality perspective” Home Energy Advisor, Jeremy Flesch explains.
After completing a comprehensive assessment, you’ll receive clear, actionable recommendations. Common improvements include:
- Adding insulation or improving air sealing
- Installing programmable thermostats
- Upgrading to high-efficiency furnaces or heat pumps
- Exploring solar energy options
Many homeowners are surprised by what they learn. In some cases, newer features like recently installed windows turn out to be unexpected sources of air leakage. Others discover just how much their heating and cooling systems impact their monthly energy bills. Clearwater employee and member, Ben Ostby, recently participated in a home energy assessment to better understand his home’s performance.
“Built in 1993, our home has some aging to it, so I wanted to see what to prioritize to make it more efficient,” Ben said.
Like many homeowners, Ben had questions about comfort and future upgrades.
“There’s one room that’s always cold, and we’ve talked about adding air conditioning, but we didn’t know the smartest way to do it,” he said.
After completing the assessment, Ben gained valuable insights into how his home was performing and where improvements could have the biggest impact.
“I was surprised by how much air leaks through small areas like windows—and how simple some of the fixes are,” Ben said.
One of the program’s greatest benefits is helping homeowners prioritize projects based on their goals and budget.
“Everything we recommend is based on your goals—what matters most to you,” Flesch explained. “If you’re thinking about adding air conditioning, there’s a most cost-effective path, and then a few other options depending on your priorities.”
The assessment report provides homeowners with clear recommendations, making it easier to decide what improvements should come first.
“It’s super thorough,” Ben said. “What stands out most is the cost and payback—it really helps prioritize what to do first.”
Since its launch, the Home Energy Advisor program has steadily gained momentum. As awareness grows, so does the program’s impact, helping more Montanans create homes that are efficient, comfortable, and cost-effective.
Beyond individual homes, the program also supports something bigger. By helping reduce energy use, it contributes to lower overall demand, a smaller environmental footprint, and healthier indoor environments. A ripple effect that strengthens communities across Montana. It’s one more way Clearwater is living out its commitment to protecting the environment and building resilient, inclusive communities one home at a time.