20th
Year Serving Colorado
EnergySource Celebrating 20 Years Helping Coloradans Afford Home Energy
Donor Newsletter | Winter 2009
www.EnergyOutreach.org
Energy Outreach Colorado
Achieves 20-Year Mark
Twenty years ago, Colorado was one of the first
states in the nation to recognize the need to help
low-income residents pay their winter heating bills.
Although the federal Low-Income Energy
Assistance Program (LEAP) had been in existence
since 1980, public funding for energy assistance
was reduced by 33 percent in 1988 and there was
no program in place to fill the gap. State leaders
recognized that helping families and seniors
avoid utility shut-offs helped reduce homelessness and supported
healthy and safe communities.
In 1988, Governor Roy Romer signed an executive order to
establish a state commission to determine how to raise additional
energy assistance funding for Colorado. On June 6, 1989,
the Colorado Commission on Low Income Energy Assistance
established the Colorado Energy Assistance Foundation —
now known as Energy Outreach Colorado.
The new organization was supported by energy providers and
corporations operating in the state, as well as individual donors.
Through contributions, in-kind donations and volunteers, this
unique collaboration grew into a self-sustaining, independent
non-profit that operates year-round across the state.
Over the past 20 years, as energy prices have skyrocketed,
its mission has expanded to include energy efficiency and
conservation, education and advocacy as well as energy assistance.
Its programs and funding levels have grown exponentially, as has
the critical need for its services.
Today, Energy Outreach Colorado is one of the largest and most
innovative organizations of its kind in the country. Since its
inception, it has raised more than $100 million to support energy
affordability in the state.
Energy Outreach Milestones
1989-90 – Colorado Energy
Assistance Foundation (CEAF) created
to raise funds for winter energy
assistance; Public Service Co., Colorado
Interstate Gas among start-up funders;
$1 million energy assistance to LEAP
1990-91 – Colorado enacts legislation
allowing utilities to contribute unclaimed
customer deposits and refunds to CEAF;
$1 million energy assistance to LEAP
1994-05 – CEAF begins providing energy
assistance through 11 partner agencies; $2 million
to LEAP, $75,000 to agencies
1997-98 – CEAF adds energy efficiency program
for affordable housing; $3.5 million to LEAP, $865,000
to agencies, $24,000 to energy efficiency
2001-02 – Amid skyrocketing natural gas costs,
CEAF begins year-round energy assistance funding
to partner agencies; $2.5 million to LEAP, $3.5 million
to agencies, $263,000 to energy efficiency
2003-04 – CEAF changes name to Energy
Outreach Colorado; $2.15 million to LEAP, $2.56
million to agencies, $318,000 to energy efficiency
2005-06 – As energy costs continue to increase,
millions of dollars in state severance and mineral
taxes are allocated to energy assistance; $3.15
million to LEAP, $4.5 million to agencies, $495,000
to energy efficiency
2007-08 – EOC distributes record amount
of funding; $2.15 million to LEAP, $8.75 million
to agencies, $2.1 million to energy efficiency
Energy Outreach Colorado
Board of Directors
Gayle Berry
Howard Boigon
Dian Callaghan
Adam Goldman
John A. Harpole
Joel Johnson
Jim Lightner
Patricia Nelson Limerick
Michael J. McFadden
Tom O’Donnell
Mark Sexton
Mark Sunderhuse
Jack Swift
Troy L. Whitmore
Energy Outreach
Colorado Staff
Skip Arnold,
Executive Director
Alan Bieber,
Director Web and Database
Management
Jennifer Gremmert,
Deputy Director
Heather Gullen,
Administrative & Program Assistant
Peggy Hofstra,
Communications Director
Lisa McDonald,
Development Director
Jennie Miller,
Associate Deputy Director
Pamela Packer,
Director, Long-Term Energy Solutions
Rose Reed,
Director of Administrative Services
Energy Outreach Colorado
Outlook
Home mortgage
crisis... rising
unemployment
rates... economic
recession....
Newspaper
headlines are
somber, the
Stock Market is skittish. Those of us
who still have jobs, can buy food, afford
medicine and heat our homes aren’t
experiencing a crisis.
We are treading softly, trying to stay
out of the line of fire until things turn
around — whenever that might be.
What to do in the meantime?
Give.
Give, as in help others who are having
trouble navigating through these tough
times. With one in five Coloradans
trying to survive on near poverty-level
incomes, there are plenty of opportunities
to give, right in your own community.
Assistance organizations are struggling
with increased demand for services —
food, shelter, medical care, heat. At the
same time, donations are way down.
I invite you to join Energy Outreach
Colorado in helping keep people safe
and warm in their homes during these
cold winter months. By making this
gift, you can help emergency assistance
organizations and utility providers save
low-income families, seniors and people
with special needs from the disaster of
having their home energy cut off.
You also can help fund energy
efficiency upgrades for affordable
housing developments and provide
education for residents about how to
manage their home energy costs so they
can lower their energy bills and rely less
on energy assistance.
By helping make things better in
your own community you are doing
something tangible to keep the
economy going.
Skip Arnold
Executive Director
It doesn’t matter how
little you have, there’s
always somebody with
less. I think we all need
to do more to help.
Assistance Helps
Struggling Veteran
After serving 10 years as an Army medic, Ann L. returned
to civilian life with an injured back, emotional scars and the
strength to continue forward, one step at a time. Divorced
and with three children, she went to work managing a 400-
unit apartment complex in Denver until her disabilities left
her on permanent leave.
Now 55, she struggles to stretch her veteran’s disability
benefits to cover rent and other living expenses while helping
care for her ill mother and support her kids. Yet, she’s proud
to mention her older son’s straight-A average in school,
college scholarship, and plans to go into medicine.
Ann was severely tested last winter when she fell and
shattered a heel, then contracted an aggressive staff infection
while hospitalized. Four operations later, she spent five weeks
at a Veterans Administration hospital and 10 more months
at a rehabilitation center. During that time, she entrusted
an accountant to pay her bills but her utility bill became
delinquent and her
service was shut off.
The pipes in her
townhouse froze and
it flooded. Without
mortgage insurance,
she was forced to go
into foreclosure.
She managed to secure a place to rent, but couldn’t get
on a balanced billing plan to level out her utility payments
until she took care of her past due bill. She turned to
Adams County Housing Authority, which allocated Energy
Outreach Colorado funds to pay off her delinquent account.
“I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize that payment —
it comes automatically out of my checking account each
month,” she said. “Receiving that assistance was like a big
weight being lifted off my shoulders.”
Colorado Springs Great-Grandmother
Gets Energy Make-Over
Patricia S. lost her partner and financial stability when her husband died a
couple of years
ago. As she was trying to cut back on expenses, the 71-year-old Colorado Springs
retiree
and volunteer contacted her local utility company to get advice on how to reduce
her
energy costs.
“I had the thermostat down and was freezing to death most of the time during the
winter,
but I was still having trouble affording my energy bill on my fixed income,” she
said,
noting that her husband’s military benefits were drastically reduced with his
death. “And
I knew that natural gas costs were going up.”
Fortunately, Colorado Springs Utilities referred her to its Home Efficiency
Assistance
Program (HEAP), which Energy Outreach Colorado supports through energy
efficiency grants. HEAP provides consumer
education, home energy audits and weatherization services for limited income
households.
Patricia’s 1970s-era home was fitted with a new energy-efficient furnace and
refrigerator, increased insulation and low-flow
toilets. Since then, her energy usage has dropped significantly and her home is
warmer in the winter and cooler in the
summer — good news for her five children, 26 grandchildren and 28
great-grandchildren.
“I’m much less worried,” she said. “It was a Godsend and a blessing. I can’t get
over how wonderful and professional
everyone has been.”
EOC Helps 18 Nonprofits Cut Energy Bills
Eighteen Denver-area shelters
and residential
treatment centers
are enjoying lower
energy bills this
winter, thanks to
EOC’s Nonprofit
Energy Efficiency
Program (NEEP).
Nonprofit
organizations
helped through NEEP in 2008 are Sobriety House (multiple
projects), St. Francis Center, Karis Community, the Dolores
Project, Savio House, Third Way Center, Dolores Project, Mile
High Ministries/Joshua Station, Urban Peak, Women’s Bean
Project, Denver Rescue Mission (multiple projects) and Warren
Village (multiple projects).
In total, the 18 facilities received more than $750,000 in
energy efficiency upgrades, projected to save $120,000 a year.
Their yearly energy savings is a projected 580,000 kilowatts of
electricity and 155,000 therms of natural gas, resulting in an
annual reduction of 1.8 million pounds of CO2 emissions.
NEEP is funded through a partnership between Energy
Outreach Colorado, the Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships
and Sun Power. The International Center for Appropriate &
Sustainable Technology (iCAST) audited and evaluated the
projects. The intent of the program is to increase the ability
of Colorado’s nonprofits to spend more of their budgets on
services for those in need and less on energy bills, while helping
the environment.
As an extension of the program, $300,000 in funding
provided by EnCana Oil and Gas, the StePP Foundation,
the Daniels Fund and Xcel Energy will go toward NEEP
projects in Weld and Garfield Counties.
NEEP 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. For more
information please contact Jennifer Gremmert at 303-226-5052
or jgremmert@EnergyOutreach.org.
EOC Awards Energy Efficiency Grants
Energy Outreach Colorado is awarding $800,000 in
2008-09 grants to 18 Colorado organizations to fund
energy efficiency measures for affordable housing
projects and solar installations. As a result, hundreds
of lower-income residents will be able to reduce their
energy costs and rely less on energy assistance while
remaining safe and warm in their homes.
“As consumers we don’t have much control over
the price of energy, but we can manage how we
use energy in our homes,” said Pam Packer, EOC’s
director of long-term energy solutions. “These grants
provide low-income consumers with access to energy
efficiency technologies and education so they can
take some control over managing their energy costs.”
Energy efficiency grant recipients:
- Colorado Housing Inc.
- Colorado Springs Utilities
- Fort Collins Housing Authority
- Groundwork Denver
- Habitat for Humanity of Colorado
- Housing Resources of Western Colorado
- La Junta Housing Authority
- Longmont Housing Authority
- Longs Peak Energy Conservation
- Loveland Housing Development Corporation
- Mercy Housing-Breckenridge
- Rebuilding Together of Metro Denver
- South Central Council of Governments
- The Park People
- Tri-County Housing
Solar grant recipients:
- Boulder County Housing Authority
- Boulder Housing Coalition
- Habitat for Humanity-Metro Denver
Energy Hog Brings
Conservation Tips to Students
The Energy Hog is on the road, teaching
elementary school students about
where energy comes from, how it
powers our lives and how it can
be conserved. Energy Outreach
Colorado’s Energy Hog Traveling
Road Show has been recognized
by the Colorado Alliance for
Environmental Education.
This year it is scheduled to appear in
48 schools in the metro area through May.
The free, interactive program is funded
through EOC and the Scientific and
Cultural Facilities District. Since 2003,
the show has been presented to 36,025 children in 821 classrooms.
For more information and to schedule a program for your school,
contact Pam Packer at 303-226-5057 or
ppacker@EnergyOutreach.org.
Multi-Family
Efficiency Project
Yields Big Results
Nearly 600 lower-income households were
outfitted with energy efficiency measures
last fall through a Mile High Youth
Corps project funded by Energy Outreach
Colorado.
Corps members installed 5,293 compact
fluorescent light bulbs, 374 low-flow
showerheads and 1,193 sink aerators in 587
housing units at properties operated by the
Archdiocese of Denver, Lakewood Housing
Authority and the Northeast Denver Housing
Center. In addition, Mile High Youth Corps
partnered with Denver Water to install 244
high efficiency toilets.
As a result, the 587-unit project is estimated
to result in an annual energy bill savings of
$38,942 and annual energy consumption
savings of 165,519 kilowatt hours. This
equates to annually reducing air pollution
by 874,289 pounds of CO2 and conserving
more than 8 million gallons of water.
“This was a very effective way to help a
large number of families reduce their energy
costs in a very efficient way,” said Jennifer
Gremmert, deputy director at Energy
Outreach Colorado. “Mile High Youth did
an excellent job installing these measures
and identifying the additional opportunity
with Denver Water.”
Mile High Youth Corp is a Denver-based
organization that hires youth for entry-level jobs and training in areas including
energy and water conservation, public land
conservation and restoration, and green
building.
EOC Awarded 4-Star
Rating for 7th Year
For the seventh consecutive year, EOC has received a top rating from
Charity Navigator. The independent charity evaluator annually ranks
the financial health of more than 5,000 U.S. charities. Only about
one percent have received seven consecutive four-star ratings.
“Receiving four out of a possible four stars indicates that your
organization excels, as compared to other charities in America,
in successfully managing the finances of your organization in an
efficient and effective manner,” stated Charity Navigator in its
award letter. “This consistency in your rating is an exceptional feat,
especially given the economic challenges many charities have had to
face in the last year.”
Energy Outreach Colorado has raised more than $100 million since it
was established in 1989. It plans to distribute $9.35 million through
its 2008-09 programs to support energy affordability in Colorado.
Donors Send Warm
Holiday Greetings
A Denver recruiting firm helped
share the warmth during the holiday
season by sending greetings in the
form of a donation to Energy
Outreach Colorado.
RTS CORP, which specializes in
oil and gas recruiting, made the
donation to EOC in the names of
its holiday gift card recipients as part
of its commitment to supporting
Colorado communities.
“Like other businesses we work with
in the oil and gas industry, such as
National Fuel Marketing, we think
it’s really important to contribute
to the well-being of
communities in which
we work and live,” said
Lynne Van Cleave, RTS
CORP General Manager.
“Helping others fits with
our mission of providing
people with employment
and the industry with
skilled professionals.”
Additionally, RTS CORP, which has
been in the recruiting business since
1975, has been a sponsor for the past
three years of the annual natural gas
golf tournament benefiting Energy
Outreach Colorado.
Other organizations who made
donations to Energy Outreach Colorado
as part of their holiday season activities
were Beatty and Wozniak; Davis
Graham and Stubbs; the Poudre River
Arts Center; APRS Auto Plastic Repair;
and the Hillcrest Neighborhood.
American West
Report Addresses
Energy Affordability
A report recently released by the Center
of the American West at the University
of Colorado at Boulder outlines the
challenges of transitioning to a new
energy economy while addressing the
ability of lower-income households to afford home energy.
The report, “High Energy Prices and Low-Income Americans:
Reducing the Risk of Unintended Injury,” discusses the increasing
costs that come with the research, design and construction of new
and renewable energy sources. It highlights the fact that these costs
will make it increasingly difficult for lower-income residents to afford
energy, and that these same residents will have difficulty benefiting
from them if they can’t afford to invest in the new technology.
The report was authored by Patty Nelson Limerick and Jason
Hanson. Limerick is Faculty Director and Chair of the Board of
the Center of the American West. She also is a professor of History
at the University of Colorado and a board member of Energy
Outreach Colorado. Hanson is a research assistant with the Center
of the American West, an organization that identifies and addresses
issues critical to the region.
To request a copy of the report, please go to:
http://EnergyOutreach.org/contact.asp.
Your Contribution Makes a Difference
Your donations affect individuals, seniors and
families in a very personal and heart-warming
way. Here are some comments we’ve received from
energy assistance recipients:
“Without your help I wouldn’t be in my residence.
The utilities would have been shut off. I am a single
mother of two. So without programs like Energy
Outreach Colorado there would be times that we
wouldn’t be able to go on. If my circumstances ever
change I would love to be able to return the favor.
Thank you so much for your help.”
“I want to thank you for help paying my utilities.
You gave me a fresh start.”
“If it wasn’t for your kindness and generosity,
my utility bill wouldn’t have been paid and we
wouldn’t have any electricity. It touched me and
helped us so much, so I figured the least I could do
was write a letter of gratitude and show you how
much I appreciate it.”
“I can never thank all of you enough for assisting me with my public service
bills. Your help will
never be forgotten.”
Energy Outreach Colorado Regional Partners Listing
Denver-Metro and Boulder
Access Housing
ACS Lift, Adventist Community Service
Adams County Housing Authority
Almost Home
Association for Senior Citizens
Aurora InterChurch Task Force
Boulder County AIDS Project
Boulder Housing Authority
Boulder Housing Coalition
Broadway Assistance Center
Catholic Charities, Denver
City of Arvada Housing & Neighborhood
Revitalization
City of Denver
Colorado AIDS Project
Community Ministry
Cross Community Coalition
Delores Project
Denver Indian Health and Family Services
Denver Rescue Mission
Denver Urban Ministries
Douglas/Elbert County Task Force
Emergency Family Assistance Assoc.
EMPOWERMENT
Family Tree
First Mennonite Church
Fish of Broomfield
Groundwork Denver
Habitat for Humanity – Metro Denver
Helping Hearts and Hands
House of Neighborly Service
Inter-Church ARMS
Inter-Faith Community Services
Jeffco Action Center
Jefferson center for Mental Health
Jewish Family Services
Karis Community
LifeBridge Christian Church
Longmont Housing Authority
Longs Peak Energy Conservation
Lowry Family Center
Lutheran Family Services
Mercy Housing
Metro CareRing
Mile High Ministries
OUR Center
Parker Task Force
Rebuilding Together – Metro Denver
St. Francis Center
St. Vincent De Paul Society
Salvation Army, Denver
Sara Brown Memorial Fund
Savio House
Seniors Support Services
Seniors’ Resource Center
Seniors! Inc.
Sister Carmen Community Center
Sobriety House
The Park People
Third Way Center
Urban Peak
Warren Village
Women’s Bean Project
Youth Biz
Mountain
Archdiocesan Housing
Catholic Charities, Glenwood Springs
Clear Creek County Dept. of Human Services
Family & Intercultural Resource Center
First Presbyterian Church of Salida
Help the Needy
Lake County Health and Human Services
Loaves and Fishes Ministry of
Fremont County
Mercy Housing - Breckenridge
Mountain Family Center
Mountain Resource Center
Park County Crisis Shelter
Salvation Army, Teller County
Salvation Army, Vail Valley
Northeast
Caring Ministries of Morgan County
Catholic Charities, Fort Collins
Catholic Charities, Weld County
Colorado East Community Action Agency
Cooperating Ministry of Logan County
Crossroads Ministry of Estes Park
Faith Community Service Fund
Fort Collins Housing Authority
Greeley Transitional Housing
Loveland Housing Development Corp.
Morgan County Family Center
Northern Colorado AIDS Project
Phillips County Department of
Human Services
Rural Communities Resource Center
Sedgwick County Economic Development
Northwest
Community Budget Center
Independent Life Center
Jackson County Department of
Human Services
Lift-Up of Routt County
WARM
Central, Southeast
Advocates Against Domestic Assault
Catholic Charities, Pueblo
City of Fountain Lighten the Load
Colorado Springs Utilities
Crowley County
Ecumenical Social Ministries
La Junta Associated Charities
La Junta Housing Authority
Las Animas Helping Hands
Northern Churches Care
Pikes Peak Community Action Agency
Prowers County Department of Human Svcs
Salvation Army, Colorado Springs
Salvation Army, Baca County
South Central Council of Governments
Southeastern Colorado Compassion Center
Southern Colorado AIDS Project
Tri County Family Care Center
Tri-County Housing
Tri-Lakes Cares
San Luis Valley, Southwest,
Western Slope
Colorado Housing, Inc.
Community Emergency Assistance Coalition
Comm. United Methodist Church,
Pagosa Springs
Delta United Methodist Church
Grand Valley Catholic Outreach
Gunnison/Hinsdale County Dept.
of Human Services
Housing Resources of Western Colorado
Housing Solutions for the Southwest
La Puente Home
MADA
Pinon Project
Telluride Foundation
United Methodist Church of Dove Creek
Western Colorado AIDS Project
Statewide
Brain Injury Association of Colo.
Colorado Low-income Energy
Assistance Program
Habitat for Humanity Colorado
Lupus Foundation of Colorado
National MS Society, Colorado Chapter
Rocky Mountain Center Centers
Foundation
Military Families
The Home Front Cares