SustainableWorks Receives Stimulus Funds for Energy-Saving Retrofits
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On Friday, October 09, 2009, Governor Christine Gregoire announced that SustainableWorks will receive a $4 million Grant as part of the Community Energy Efficiency Pilot Grants program funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
SustainableWorks is a non-profit that facilitates energy efficiency retrofits for homes and small commercial buildings. The organization is the culmination of the efforts of hundreds of Washington residents acting through the Sound Alliance and the Spokane Alliance, on their concerns for the environment, energy independence, lower energy costs and the creation of family wage jobs. SustainableWorks has pioneered retrofit projects in small commercial and residential buildings in Spokane to refine its processes and is now a statewide non-profit pioneering neighborhood-based, large scale energy efficiency projects.
The grants from the Community Energy Efficiency Program derive from the American Recovery and Reinvestment monies targeted to WA State and released through WA State Senate Bill 5649. The Senate bill carved out part of the State’s stimulus funds for innovative residential programs supported by community-based efforts and having strong employment standards.
"As advocates for energy efficiency and green jobs and supporters of SB5649 we are thrilled that the grant money will be flowing to SustainableWorks and the other grantees" commented Shirley Bondon, member of Miles Memorial Church of Tacoma, a Sound Alliance member institution. “These funds will reach directly into neighborhoods to help homeowners and at the same time they will create hundreds of green jobs,” she added.
SustainableWorks will leverage the $4 million grant with utility incentives and homeowner investments to generate hundreds of new green jobs. By organizing one moderate income neighborhood at a time, Sustainable works hopes to achieve a high density of participation that will allow us to reach aggressive energy efficiency goals.
“Our unique model provides a one stop shop for customers,” noted Steve Gelb, Executive Director of SustainableWorks. “Homeowners will be able get an audit of their home, have workers ready to fix and retrofit any energy problems and their costs will be matched through low interest loans with their energy savings,”
SustainableWorks has been laying the groundwork for the large scale project since summer and is initiating its first energy-saving retrofits with 200 neighborhood homes in the Northeast Seattle and 300 in the South Perry neighborhood of Spokane. On Saturday, October 17, SustainableWorks will hold a Seattle kickoff event to recognize the grant funding and to introduce the exciting project. Seattle Mayor Greg Nichols, House Speaker Frank Chopp and SustainableWorks staff will speak and volunteers will be on hand to explain all aspects of the pilot program.
SustainableWorks is a non-profit that facilitates energy efficiency retrofits for homes and small commercial buildings. The organization is the culmination of the efforts of hundreds of Washington residents acting through the Sound Alliance and the Spokane Alliance, on their concerns for the environment, energy independence, lower energy costs and the creation of family wage jobs. SustainableWorks has pioneered retrofit projects in small commercial and residential buildings in Spokane to refine its processes and is now a statewide non-profit pioneering neighborhood-based, large scale energy efficiency projects.
The grants from the Community Energy Efficiency Program derive from the American Recovery and Reinvestment monies targeted to WA State and released through WA State Senate Bill 5649. The Senate bill carved out part of the State’s stimulus funds for innovative residential programs supported by community-based efforts and having strong employment standards.
"As advocates for energy efficiency and green jobs and supporters of SB5649 we are thrilled that the grant money will be flowing to SustainableWorks and the other grantees" commented Shirley Bondon, member of Miles Memorial Church of Tacoma, a Sound Alliance member institution. “These funds will reach directly into neighborhoods to help homeowners and at the same time they will create hundreds of green jobs,” she added.
SustainableWorks will leverage the $4 million grant with utility incentives and homeowner investments to generate hundreds of new green jobs. By organizing one moderate income neighborhood at a time, Sustainable works hopes to achieve a high density of participation that will allow us to reach aggressive energy efficiency goals.
“Our unique model provides a one stop shop for customers,” noted Steve Gelb, Executive Director of SustainableWorks. “Homeowners will be able get an audit of their home, have workers ready to fix and retrofit any energy problems and their costs will be matched through low interest loans with their energy savings,”
SustainableWorks has been laying the groundwork for the large scale project since summer and is initiating its first energy-saving retrofits with 200 neighborhood homes in the Northeast Seattle and 300 in the South Perry neighborhood of Spokane. On Saturday, October 17, SustainableWorks will hold a Seattle kickoff event to recognize the grant funding and to introduce the exciting project. Seattle Mayor Greg Nichols, House Speaker Frank Chopp and SustainableWorks staff will speak and volunteers will be on hand to explain all aspects of the pilot program.