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DENVER – Several Denver-area nonprofit agencies, responsible for
the care and wellbeing of our community’s poorest and least secure
residents, will receive help themselves this winter, thanks to the new
Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Project.
The project is a partnership between Energy Outreach Colorado, The
Denver Foundation, Xcel Energy Foundation, Daniels Fund, Mile High
United Way and Governor’s Office of Energy Management and Conservation.
The organizations are working together to identify nonprofit agencies
that could reduce their energy bills through weatherization, and then
fund and manage the improvement projects.
This partnership marks the industry’s first effort to help critical
social-service organizations that, like the people they help, struggle
to afford the energy they need. Until now, Colorado energy companies
have participated in energy assistance efforts for individual
households, but not for organizations.
Family Tree in Jefferson County manages three shelters for women and
children in crisis, along with two transitional housing apartment units
for the homeless. The Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Project will provide
all five of its properties with energy efficiency measures this winter
“The project’s energy experts reviewed our properties and energy costs,
and showed us which efficiency improvements they will make in order to
generate the biggest savings for us. We’ll then be able to re-invest
those savings back into our programs for the people who rely on us,”
said Scott Shields, chief financial officer for Family Tree.
Shields also explained that investing in efficiency upgrades for the
properties generates a benefit beyond savings. “By giving our residents
a place to live that keeps them warm with new appliances that work well,
we’re saying to them that they deserve a better life. They start
respecting the property and they start respecting themselves. You can’t
put a price on that, and we wouldn’t have been able to do it without
this program.”
The first Family Tree facility to receive upgrades is a transitional
housing apartment unit in Lakewood. Crews installed three energy
efficient furnaces and four ENERGY STAR™ refrigerators, as well as
ceiling and wall insulation. They also sealed and fixed numerous vents
inside and outside the units. The upgrades cost about $23,000 and are
expected to generate an energy savings of up to 20 percent.
“This new partnership gives Energy Outreach Colorado the opportunity to
provide permanent energy savings to the agencies that act as a safety
net for the thousands of Colorado residents who otherwise would spend
the holidays and most days cold and hungry with nowhere to go,” said
Shelly Wallace, director of long-term energy solutions for Energy
Outreach. “We hope this project can continue to grow and reach as many
agencies as possible.”
One of the project’s partners, Xcel Energy, also provides energy
efficiency workshops for non-profit organizations. Project funds may
also be able to leverage conservation and solar rebate dollars through
energy company programs.
“Xcel Energy and our partners in this project hope that other major
funders will step up to participate in this creative approach to helping
the nonprofit sector be more efficient and sustainable,” said Jay
Herrmann, vice president of customer and community affairs for Xcel
Energy in Colorado.
Nonprofit organizations that could benefit from this program should call
Energy Outreach Colorado at 303-825-8750 ext.230 and speak to Wallace
about applying. Other agencies scheduled to receive energy efficiency
upgrades through the Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Project include
Volunteers of America, SafeHouse Denver, Urban Peak, Gateway Battered
Women’s Services and Boulder County AIDS Project.
Those interested in making a tax-deductible donation to Energy Outreach
Colorado to help the organization continue to provide programs like this
are encouraged to visit its website at
www.EnergyOutreach.org.
About Energy Outreach Colorado
Energy Outreach Colorado is the only non-profit organization in the
state that raises money for energy assistance. Its programs include
energy bill payment assistance for income-limited households, energy
efficiency upgrades for affordable housing and energy efficiency
education. Since it was founded through the Colorado Governor’s office
in 1989, the organization has distributed more than $102 million to fund
these programs. Energy Outreach Colorado is an independent, non-profit
organization that relies on private donations, corporate contributions
and foundation grants. More information is available at
www.EnergyOutreach.org. |
