Energy Outreach Colorado Increases Assistance Payments
Energy Outreach Colorado was able to assist more families and individuals with increased energy payments during the recent heating season, helping ease the impact of high natural gas costs and a struggling economy.

Through its Charitable Energy Network of 136 assistance sites across the state, EOC increased the number of bills paid by 15 percent, boosted the average energy assistance amount by 12 percent and increased its total amount distributed by 30 percent from October through April, compared to the same period a year ago.

EOC is the state’s only independent, not-for-profit organization that raises funds for energy assistance. We are providing $5.4 million in 2007-08 to network agencies through four quarterly distributions, the last of which will be in August. We also are contributing $2.15 million to Colorado’s LEAP program.

Through these efforts, EOC funding will help nearly 100,000 Colorado households pay their energy bills. The LEAP program stopped taking applications for assistance on May 1 and will reopen on November 1. Charitable Energy Network agencies provide energy assistance funding year-round to families, seniors on fixed incomes and people with special health needs.

This year, EOC also granted $800,000 to 14 Colorado organizations to fund energy efficiency upgrades for affordable housing and provide educational programs through schools and other community organizations. This will help reduce energy usage, lower energy bills and limit the impact on the environment.

For information about making a donation or receiving assistance, please go to our website at www.EnergyOutreach.org or call toll-free 1-866-HEAT-HELP (1-866-432-8435).


Helping all Coloradans Afford Home Energy
• Oct. 1, 2007 - May 1, 2008, Energy Outreach Colorado and Colorado LEAP helped about 100,000 households pay a portion of their energy bills.
• EOC’s average benefit per household increased to $385 compared to $369 last year.
• EOC provided an additional $50,000 emergency distribution to La Puente in the San Luis Valley to help with extremely cold and snowy conditions.
• Energy assistance payments were made directly to energy providers as credits to the bills of approved recipients. Providers included vendors and utility companies that sell coal, kerosene, fuel oil, natural gas, electricity, firewood and propane.
• Energy assistance payments help reduce write-off costs for providers, and thus reduce the impact on rates for all customers.


Energy Outreach Colorado Outlook
Natural gas costs are on the rise in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain Region – more so than anywhere else in the country. That’s because a newly completed pipeline has begun shipping natural gas produced in our region to the Midwest, increasing competition and prices for the commodity.

Coloradans saw natural gas prices increase 3% this winter compared to a year ago. Prices will climb as much as 20% higher next winter as the new gas transportation pipeline is fully online. Electricity prices also are impacted because about half of the electricity generated in Colorado is through burning natural gas.

Our work is cut out for us. Energy Outreach Colorado continues to look for ways to raise energy assistance funds for low-income families and seniors. Currently, we’re supporting a measure at the state legislature to extend for 5 more years a measure that provides a portion of severance taxes for energy assistance and energy efficiency programs.

We’ve also expanded our programs to fund energy efficiency measures for affordable housing communities and for non-profit facilities such as homeless shelters. We’re excited about Colorado’s commitment to a New Energy Economy – we just want to ensure that everyone, including our low-income residents, can participate.

We’re fortunate that you, our many committed donors, realize the importance of ensuring that all Coloradans can have access to the basic need of home energy.

Let’s get to work.

Skip Arnold
Executive Director



EOC Recommended to Donors by Rating Agency
Energy Outreach Colorado is highlighted on a national list of charities recommended to help those hurt by the economic slump. Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator, listed EOC at the top of a list of 18 highly-rated organizations from across the United States that offer emergency financial assistance to those in crisis.

“Donors can give to these organizations, confident in the knowledge that they will be helping a person or family overcome a financial crisis,” states Charity Navigator’s website, www.charitynavigator.org, under the heading “Help Those Hurt by the Economic Slump.” Charity Navigator, the largest charity rating group in America, has given Energy Outreach its highest four-star rating for six consecutive years based on sound fiscal management.



Salida Seniors Warmed Through Energy Assistance
It was a cold and snowy February day when Sylvia and Roy, a senior Salida couple, nearly ran out of heat. Sylvia, 75, was suffering complications from hip-replacement surgery and hobbling around on a cane. Roy, 76, was on oxygen and restricted to bed after being hospitalized for COPD attacks related to emphysema. Three-foot high snow drifts surrounded their rural home.

Roy, a truck driver for 58 years with a flawless record, had recently been laid off. Sylvia, a certified cardiovascular technician, wasn’t working due to her surgery. Because of their ongoing health issues, including throat cancer and two heart attacks for Roy and chronic scoliosis for Sylvia, they were struggling to make ends meet. They’d had their electricity shut off, run out of propane and were nearly out of fuel for their wood stove.

In desperation they contacted the Chaffee County Department of Human Services, which directed them to the First Presbyterian Church of Salida. The church is one of the emergency assistance organizations that receive Energy Outreach Colorado funds.

Church volunteers Al and Wanda Johnson immediately authorized payment of the couple’s overdue propane and electric bills and arranged for the National Forest Service to provide two loads of free firewood. Through another church program, they also authorized payment of a prescription that Roy had waited nearly a month to fill.

“I couldn’t believe it – I just broke down into tears,” said Sylvia. “We’ve never had to ask for help before, we’ve always been ones that give, but it had been one crazy thing or another and we were both flat on our backs.”


State Program Raises $2.4 Million for Energy Assistance
Colorado’s Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, which Energy Outreach Colorado helped create, generated more than $2.4 million for energy assistance in 2007, according to a report recently released by Energy Outreach Colorado.

The program was signed into law in May 2005 and requires energy utilities operating in Colorado to implement programs to support energy assistance. The state’s six investor-owned utilities and several rural electric cooperatives now offer customers the opportunity to make a tax-deductible monthly donation to Energy Outreach Colorado by simply checking a box on their energy bill.

Participating utilities are Xcel Energy, Atmos Energy, Aquila, SourceGas, Eastern Colorado Utilities, Colorado Natural Gas, Intermountain Rural Electric Association in Sedalia, La Plata Electric Association in Durango, Grand Valley Rural Power Lines in Grand Junction and Poudre Valley Rural Electric Association in Fort Collins.

Many of these companies also are matching their customers’ contributions, including Atmos Energy, SourceGas and Aquila – dollar for dollar; Xcel Energy – up to $1 million; IREA – up to $75,000; Empire Electric Association – up to $10,000; and United Power – up to $7,500.

Other utilities, including more than 50 municipally-owned energy providers and rural electric cooperatives, have other programs to raise funds for energy assistance. Some support Energy Outreach Colorado specifically and others support local organizations.

Energy Outreach Colorado’s report about the program’s 2007 results can be found at www.energyoutreach.org/downloads/2007FinalReport.pdf. If you’d like to participate, please go to our website for a complete listing of utility programs. www.EnergyUutreach.org/utilities.asp.


EOC Expands Program to Weatherize Nonprofits
Energy Outreach Colorado’s successful partnership with the City and County of Denver to increase the energy efficiency of nonprofit facilities is expanding.

The Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Program (NEEP) has helped 19 Denver-area nonprofits upgrade the energy efficiency of their facilities and reduce their energy costs in the past two years, and more projects are in the works. This is increasing the ability of Colorado nonprofits to spend more of their budgets on services for those in need, and less on energy bills, while helping the environment.

The program was initiated in 2006 as part of a new 20-year franchise agreement between the City and County of Denver and Xcel Energy. During the pilot phase, 8 nonprofit facilities offering 24-hour residential services received assistance.

Since then, 11 more agencies have had their facilities weatherized. They include Sobriety House, the St. Francis Center, Karris Community, Savio House, Third Way Center, the Delores Project and Joshua Station.

EOC contracts with the International Center for Appropriate & Sustainable Technology (iCAST) to audit and evaluate these projects.

For more information about NEEP, please contact Jennifer Gremmert at 303-226-5052 or jgremmert@EnergyOutreach.org.


EOC Adds New Staff Members
Energy Outreach Colorado is proud to introduce Pamela Packer, our new director of long-term energy solutions. Pam replaces Shelly Wallace, who is moving with her family to Wisconsin. Shelly had many accomplishments during her five years at Energy Outreach Colorado and we wish her luck in her new endeavors.

Before coming to Energy Outreach Colorado, Pam was a program manager at the Colorado Energy Science Center. There she managed programs with homeowners, funders and contractors to install home energy efficiency upgrades, and helped develop and coordinate EOC’s Energy Hog program for elementary schools. She also held positions with the Colorado Outdoor Training Initiative and the University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension, and worked as an independent consultant for facilitation management and policy development. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin.

At EOC, Pam is responsible for the energy solutions grants to increase the energy efficiency of affordable housing throughout Colorado; the Non-profit Energy Efficiency Program to increase the efficiency of non-profit shelters and facilities; and the Energy Hog program to educate elementary students and families about the importance of energy management.

Another recent EOC addition is Heather Gullen, administrative and program assistant. Heather joins EOC after holding positions in teaching, curriculum development and office management at education and non-profit organizations. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Colorado State University.

At Energy Outreach, Heather is responsible for the Energy Savings Kit program and other program and administrative duties.


Energy Hog School Program Receives Award
The Energy Hog Traveling Road Show, an elementary school program offered by Energy Outreach Colorado and the Colorado Energy Science Center, has been recognized by the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education. The program received an award for making significant and lasting contributions to environmental education in Colorado.

This year, about 6,600 elementary students in 32 Colorado schools participated in the Energy Hog Traveling Road Show to learn about where energy comes from, how it powers our lives and how it can be conserved. EOC and the Colorado Energy Science Center offer the free show with funding from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. Since 2003, the show has reached about 195 schools and nearly 33,000 students and their families.


Donor Profile –Amy Vandersall
When Amy Vandersall opened her January energy bill, she was shocked to realize it was much higher than she’d ever seen it. She immediately thought about the families that were struggling to make ends meet and imagined how awful it would be to have to go without heat.

Although she already was donating monthly to Energy Outreach Colorado through her energy bill, she felt so strongly about the situation that she spontaneously picked up the phone and made another unplanned donation to EOC.

“My heart just goes out to people who can’t afford enough to eat or who don’t have medical insurance and get sick,” said the retired professor and art historian.

“It had been so cold and it made me feel good to help out others in need,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how little you have, there’s always somebody with less. I think we all need to do more to help.”

Prof. Vandersall taught courses on the history of medieval art at the University of Colorado at Boulder until 1995. She now splits her time between Boulder and New Haven, Connecticut, where she received her Ph.D in art history from Yale in 1965. Throughout her interesting and varied career she’s combined her interests in history and art through teaching and sculpting.

“There are some wonderful, warm-hearted people in Colorado,” she added.


Estate Planning Establishes Charitable Giving
If you haven’t thought much about charitable giving and how to continue giving into the future, now may be the time. Planned giving is a strategy that lets you designate charitable contributions through your will, trust, retirement fund or insurance policy. This can maximize your personal objectives while minimizing after-tax costs.

Depending on the gift asset and type of arrangement you select, you can generally expect to obtain some or all of the following benefits:
• Fulfillment of philanthropic goals
• Income-tax savings through the charitable deduction for the value of the gift
• Avoidance of capital-gain tax on contributions of long-term capital-gain property
• Payments for life for the donor and/or other beneficiaries
• The possibility of increased disposable income
• Elimination of federal estate tax on the value of the interest in property passing to charity upon the donor’s death
• Reduced costs and time in estate settlements


Gas Industry Golf Event to Benefit EOC
Please reserve the afternoon of Sept. 11, 2008, for the National Fuel Marketing Golf Tournament to benefit Energy Outreach Colorado. This fourth annual event will be held at the Inverness Golf Club in Englewood, beginning with lunch at 11:30 a.m.

Registration is $1,000/team and includes lunch, golf and the awards reception. Last year’s event raised more than $150,000 to help seniors, individuals with special needs and income-limited families in Colorado pay a portion of their energy bills.

This year’s organizers hope to raise more than $200,000 for energy assistance. National Fuel Marketing is title sponsor and St. Mary Land & Exploration Company is premier sponsor of the event. Last year’s supporters included the Colorado Mining Association, Enserco Energy Inc., Hein + Associates, Rosetta Resources and US Bank.

To register and view participating teams, please go to www.EnergyOutreach.org/golf.asp or call Lisa McDonald at 303-226-5058.


EOC Supports Affordable Housing Leaders
Two organizations receiving Energy Solutions Grants from Energy Outreach Colorado have been recognized for their achievements in the affordable housing industry.

Northeast Denver Housing Center (NDHC)
• $43,882 grant for Central Park Apartment Buildings; leveraged $24,000 in additional funding from the Governor’s Energy Office for a total grant award of $67,882
• New, 18-unit affordable rental property within Stapleton redevelopment
• Measures include solar photovoltaic system, high efficiency windows and appliances, and compact fluorescent lighting
• NDHC received an “Excellence in Renewable Energy” award from the Governor’s Energy Office for this project
• Central Park is the first multi-family community of its size in Colorado to receive gold certification in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council

Lakewood Housing Authority (LHA)
• $85,000 grant for Residences at Creekside
• New, “green” 118-unit senior housing community
• Measures include Colorado’s largest installation of solar power on a residential development, a system that captures heat from wastewater, extensive insulation, high efficiency appliances and compact fluorescent lighting
• The development received the 2007 Colorado Renewable Energy Society’s Exemplary Building Award, as well as awards from Housing Colorado and Jefferson County


Salida Church Offers Sanctuary for Needy
The First Presbyterian Church of Salida is known as a place where those in need can get energy assistance and other help. And church leaders and members work hard to keep it that way.

The church provides support to seniors on fixed incomes, young working couples, people with special health needs and others trying to develop work skills. It’s also a sanctuary for people traveling through to go when they get a flat tire, become sick, or need lodging.

The church distributes energy assistance funds provided by Energy Outreach Colorado through its Lazarus Project. This “practical offering of hope” also includes a food pantry, day labor program, G.E.D. tutoring and testing, family mentoring and financial assistance for rent, lodging and other emergencies.

Each person that comes through the doors is viewed as deserving of basic needs. “That’s what Christian faith is about – working for justice,” said Pastor Mike Orrill. “Energy Outreach funds make it possible for us to be able to not turn people away.”

Allan and Wanda Johnson and other church volunteers manage the energy assistance fund. They say their community is increasingly becoming a retirement location, but salaries are low and residents struggle with a lack of affordable housing, increasing taxes and high housing costs.

“It’s great to be able to help people in our own backyard,” Allan Johnson said, noting that more than 80 percent of their energy assistance recipients haven’t needed to return for help the following year.


Energy Saving a Gift for EOC Recipients
Thousands of limited income families in Colorado are receiving free home energy saving kits through an Energy Outreach Colorado program funded by the Governor’s Energy Office.

The kits contain compact fluorescent light bulbs, low-flow shower heads, thermometers to adjust refrigerator and water heater temperatures and educational materials. Energy Outreach Colorado is working with 10 assistance agencies in locations around the state to provide the kits along with one-on-one training tofamilies needing assistance.

Jeffco Action Center, one of the agencies helping distribute the kits, has seen an enthusiastic response from its clients. “They’re very pleased to have something they can actually do to control their own energy costs,” said Nancy Morgan, director of program services at the agency.

“This is very relevant information and helps us provide a longer-term service once we’ve responded to a clients’ immediate crisis,” she added. “Being able to offer the actual products along with education strengthens our energy assistance program and is a nice complement to the other homelessness prevention services we offer.”


Save Energy + Cool Your Home = Help the Environment
For a winning equation this summer, follow these tips to save energy, cool your home and help the environment.

LIGHTING: Turn off lights when not needed and consider using a smaller lamp instead of a room light. Incandescent light bulbs release 90 percent of their energy through heat so replace them where possible with more efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). CFLs last 7-10 times longer and cut lighting costs in half.

APPLIANCES: Wait to run your dishwasher and dryer until you have a full load and the outside temperature has cooled since they also generate heat. Skip the heated drying option on your dishwasher. If replacing an appliance, buy an Energy Star® model which uses at least 10% less energy than current federal standards.

COOKING: Use a microwave and serve more salads and sandwiches to avoid heating the oven. Cooking, lighting and other appliances equal about 30 percent of a home energy bill so decreased use saves you money.

REFRIGERATOR: Refrigerators and freezers are high energy users. Vacuum the coils in back, limit opening the door and unplug if not in use.

HVAC: Change your furnace and air conditioner filters at least every three months. Install a programmable thermostat. Ceiling fans use as little energy as a 100-watt light bulb and help keep things cool. Keep air conditioners set at no cooler than 78 degrees F.

WINDOWS: Windows are your home’s largest source of heat gain so keep them shut and drapes closed during the heat of the day. In the early morning and evening, open windows and coverings to let in cooling breezes.

SEALING: Insulating attics and walls prevents conditioned air from escaping. Summer heat enters through leaks around walls, windows and doors. Fix damaged or loose caulking and weather stripping.