City launches program to help residents stay cool

With extreme heat becoming more frequent in Las Cruces, city officials are rolling out a new program designed to help low-income homeowners stay safe in older homes that often lack effective cooling.  

The initiative, called Plugged In For Good, focuses on improving living conditions by upgrading aging homes with more efficient systems and weatherization improvements. The effort has been in development for several years, shaped by community input and concerns about rising temperatures.  

“This is about health and safety,” said Jenny Hernandez, sustainability officer for the City of Las Cruces. “Everybody has the right to be able to have a safe and healthy home.” 

Qualifying homeowners may receive a range of upgrades aimed at improving indoor conditions and reducing energy loss, including added insulation, sealing gaps around doors and windows, and replacing outdated cooling systems with newer, more effective equipment. In some cases, additional work such as ventilation or water heater upgrades may also be included.  

Participation is limited to low-income homeowners, with eligibility based on income requirements and home conditions. Officials say the current phase will serve a limited number of households before expanding access. 

City data highlights the scale of the issue, with about 16,000 homes relying on evaporative cooling systems, while 34% of residents do not have any cooling at all. Additionally, 20% of households face a high energy burden, meaning they spend more than 6% of their income on energy costs.  

“In triple-digit temperatures, the coolest those homes can get is around 86 degrees,” Hernandez said. “That’s not a safe or comfortable environment for long periods of time.” 

First responders say prolonged exposure to high indoor temperatures can lead to serious health problems.  

“Some of the things that we see pretty often include heat stroke, dehydration, and difficulty breathing,” said Wes Smith, a case manager at the Las Cruces Fire Department Mobile Integrated Health Unit. 

Smith said crews frequently respond to heat-related calls where living conditions contribute to the situation.  

“In a home that isn’t well maintained, it can get very dangerous, and we’ve had several cases of poor health outcomes, including death,” Smith said.  

“There is a lot more need than what we can currently serve,” Hernandez said.  

Residents who are interested or unsure if they will qualify are encouraged to reach out and learn more about the program. For more information, residents can call (575) 541-2175.

“We want to help as many people as we can,” Hernandez said. “If you're struggling or just not satisfied with your current system, give us a call.”