In 1999, Lisa Gartland was commissioned by the US Department of Energy's Rebuild America ReEnergize partnership to write an energy efficiency guidebook for Christmas in April (since renamed Rebuilding Together). To do this work, Lisa met with the director and house captains of the nearby Albany- Berkeley- Emeryville chapter. She quickly realized that Christmas in April staff were already very busy planning house repairs and coordinating volunteer teams, and that even the most cost-effective energy efficiency measures would put a strain on the Christmas in April/Rebuilding Together budget.
Lisa solved this problem by not only writing an efficiency guidebook, but by organizing the first-ever energy efficiency team for the Albany- Berkeley- Emeryville chapter. This team of volunteers raised their own efficiency materials, attended training sessions, and implemented energy & water efficiency measures in 30 homes to save each homeowner an average of $61 a year!
Energy Team '99 was so successful that the concept was expanded in 2000 to work with 5 Bay Area Christmas in April/Rebuilding Together affiliates. Energy Team 2000 was also supported by a newly formed US DOE Rebuild America partnership - Rebuild in April - to serve the Christmas in April affiliates and centrally raise material donations. Last year over 100 volunteers worked in 110 homes, saving each homeowner an average of $106 a year on their utility bills!!
We're currently making plans for Energy Team '01. This year we'll be working with 9 Rebuilding Together affiliates in Northern California and potentially one in the Washington D.C. area. Please contact Lisa Gartland at (510) 595-7674 or lisa@pstvnrg.com to participate.
Those of you outside of the areas we're serving this year can also participate by organizing your own Energy Team. Check out the resources on this web site for recruiting and training volunteers, working with Christmas in April affiliates, and raising materials.