Post Author's Photographer By Paul Cutting January 2, 2026

The Winneshiek Energy District is excited to share the impact of a recent grant from the Depot Outlet, which has expanded our ability to serve residents of Winneshiek County. 

With the funds the Depot Outlet provided, WED purchased professional energy auditing equipment, including a new blower door, manometer, smoke pen, and essential accessories. This toolkit support’s WED’s work to identify home energy leaks and efficiency gaps, allowing us to provide homeowners with precise suggestions and information to help them lower their utility bills and improve home comfort.

The investment in this equipment served as a critical part in the organization’s ability to launch free home energy audits for Winneshiek County residents, a program made possible by partnership with the City of Decorah and the Clean Energy Districts of Iowa. These partnerships support free, high-quality energy audits and personalized energy coaching to 50 low to moderate income households within our community who often face the highest energy burdens.

WED successfully completed 35 of the 50 energy audits to date and is seeking additional applicants. The energy auditing equipment provided by the Depot Outlet allows us to conduct rigorous testing that gives homeowners the information they need to make informed decisions in improving their home’s overall energy efficiency while taking advantage of available incentives.

The Depot Outlet’s investment in this equipment has increased WED’s technical capacity to deliver direct energy assistance to the community. This support provided the physical tools required to implement programs funded by other partners, ensuring that local residents receive practical help and guidance. We are grateful to the Depot Outlet Board of Directors and the local community for supporting these grants that benefit organizations and residents throughout the county.

Interested in signing up for a home energy audit? Learn more and sign up for your free energy audit here.


Winneshiek Energy District Energy Planner Paul joins Winneshiek Energy District with a background in teaching and carpentry. For the last seven years Paul was a high school industrial tech teacher in Lanesboro, MN. There he taught carpentry, cabinetmaking, electricity, engineering design, graphic design, CAD, entrepreneurship, and more generally, enjoyed helping youngsters grow into capable and confident young adults. Prior to teaching, Paul spent several years as a carpenter disassembling and reconstructing 19th century Norwegian-built log buildings for clients. He also worked several seasons for HistoriCorps, a non-profit that pairs volunteers with hands-on historic preservation projects throughout the mountain west. In his free time Paul enjoys making furniture, trail running with his dog Bobo, scheming backpacking trips out west, camping in his homemade teardrop camper, and rehabbing his 170 year old brick house.

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