11-2SG Acorn Renewable Energy Co-op
Grant Round:
2011 September
Grant Program:
Small Grants
Grant Type:
Other Grants
Grant amount requested:
2,400.00
Grant amount awarded:
$0.00
Attachments
Please provide a brief description of the project for which you seek funding.
The Acorn Energy Education Series: Engaging the Community around Renewable Energy was developed to make reliable information more accessible, promote dialogue, and increase local use of renewable energy. For many people, having enough time or capacity to sift through the information about the various types of renewable energy is overwhelming or confusing. The Energy series provides Co-op members and the general public a convenient way to interact with trusted sources and experts, and explore their energy options so they can make smart and environmentally sound decisions for their businesses, homes and for the future of our community.
The 2011-2012 Acorn Energy series is the second season for the presentations, following the positive interest generated by the first. With funding and evaluation support that this grant would offer, we are confident that we can expand both the reach and outcomes associated with the topics covered including heating with wood, energy efficiency, conservation, group net metering, solar options and clean transportation. We are seeking funding to support the winter/spring segment of the series, January - July 2012.
Primary Issue Area:
Climate Change & Energy
Please break-down/categorize the program expenses:
| Proposed Item | Estimated $ Amount | Would grant funds be used for this item? | Type Of Expense |
|---|---|---|---|
| Series Organizer (Contractor) | $2,100.00 | Yes | Materials |
| Filming of presentations for archiving on Middlebury Community Television | $150.00 | Yes | Materials |
| Presentation Packets for Participants | $100.00 | Yes | Materials |
| Printing of outreach materials | $50.00 | Yes | Materials |
Whom does your group need to make this project happen?
Please explain how your group will engage members from your community in this project.
The series organizer, Elizabeth Golden-Pidgeon, works for months in advance to put together the series, actively seeking input from area experts, regional resources and green energy conference vendors. There are three key ways the series will engage members from our community:
1. The Series Coordinator designs each program to encourage participation among attendees. A lecture packet and area resource information is provided to everyone who attends to help make connections to community renewable resources. The series is designed to be a "safe" environment where all questions are welcomed.
2. We invite attendees to tap into the Co-op's expertise and partner discounts. With support from this grant, we would also host several follow-up Q & A phone discussions on topics the attendees are interested in that match up with the Co-op's incentives and expertise. Attendees will be asked to indicate their interest to a) receive our newsletter, b) participate in a follow-up conference call or a personal follow-up, and c) spread the word about the taped events now archived on Middlebury Community Television that encourages more viewing and community action on renewable energy and conservation.
3. We invite our members, partners, and network of supporters to suggest ideas for future topics, spread the word about the Energy Education Series, and participate in tours that are related to some of the presentations.
If your group receives a NEGEF Grow grant, how do you plan to pay for remaining expenses?
| $ Amount | Source |
|---|---|
| $1,650.00 | ACRCP sponsorship for filming |
| $800.00 | sponsorships from renewable energy companies |
| $150.00 | voluntary donations at events |
Please list these materials or services
| $ Amount | Item |
|---|---|
| $300.00 | Community Space, Ilsley Library |
Please describe what changes will occur in your community and its environment when your group's project is successful.
Our main indicators of success for the project period (January - July 2012):
- obtain an average of 30 participants per presentation (over 25 participants on average the first season)
- collect ideas and technical assistance needs of the participants (the first season we collected fuel type used by participants for home heating)
- demonstrate value of the series by collecting voluntary donations with the goal of collecting $150 per the series)
- incorporate follow up into the series by offering two "follow up Q&A phone sessions" on key topics with the goal of generating a total of six action items (setting up a solar site assessment or energy audit, or connecting participant to a REV certified installer)
- success indicators will also include how many purchase a Solar Hot Water system, Photovoltaic system, boiler or wood stove, arrange for an energy audit and retrofit. We can incorporate better tracking measures to get a sense of some, if not most, of the series' participants activity and outcomes.
Please list how many people in your community your group expects to actively engage in this project.
40
What relevant skills does the group need (but does not currently have access to) to help move the initiative forward?
The relevant skills we are missing are Web design and marketing. We have a wonderful volunteer for Web design, but his pro bono work capacity is limited. Moreover, we have tried to gain the experience and knowledge of a marketing professional on our board, but have not been successful. We realize that we need more marketing - and have formed an Ad/Marketing Committee that meets by phone every 2-3 weeks to discuss strategy and cost efficiency for placing local ads. But we aren't yet using Google, Facebook, or other online social media like we could. Finally, we are very fortunate to have a graphic designer who charges us a low rate for his work but his time (and our budget) is limited as well.
- budgeting and management experience as business owners and consultants and involvement in other organizations
- capacity to communicate need, vision and execution to investors, local leaders, and the community
- passion for community having access to knowledge, to being involved, gaining and creating equity, and participating in local energy decision-making
What relevant skills do current members of the group have to help move the initiative forward?
Our core volunteer base possess a real commitment to renewable energy. Many of them have been working on various forms of sustainable energy for numerous years before their efforts coalesced into forming and running the Acorn Renewable Energy Co-op. Their skills include:
- ability to envision what can be used as a local energy source and extensive knowledge of different types of renewable energy systems (and their relative environmental costs/benefits) - one such project that exemplifies this is the group net metering project to be located behind the Middlebury Police Station; the Energy Education Series is another: the topics cover the breadth of renewable energy
- budgeting experience as business owners and consultants and involvement in other organizations
- capacity to communicate need, vision and execution to designers, investors, local leaders, and our community
- passion for community having access to knowledge to be involved, gain and create equity, and participate in local decision-making