11-1SG Seacoast Area Renewable Energy Initiative
Grant Round:
2011 February
Grant Program:
Small Grants
Grant Type:
Other Grants
Grant amount requested:
2,500.00
Grant amount awarded:
$1,500.00
Attachments
Please provide a brief description of the project for which you seek funding.
SEAREI hopes to assist in the installation of up to 8 -12 energy raisers per year and to consult on at least 8 – 10 additional solar hot water or PV system installations referred to professional tradesmen per year.To reach this goal, SEAREI needs to be able to conduct thorough, concerted and ongoing outreach to individual residents, community groups and municipal officials and institutions. Currently, our key challenge as an organization is balancing our own paid working lives with our volunteerism. We have conducted our own informational events and availed ourselves of community event opportunities as they come up and as we can staff them. We have built a large contact list, member information materials and e-newsletter. What we have not been able to do as yet is conduct regular and consistent outreach to communities throughout our region in a professional and efficacious manner. In particular, we want to reach out to local energy committees and other local organizations in the region, as well as libraries and municipal energy forums on a regular basis. We need to “sell” our program and encourage more local residents and community projects to avail themselves of the opportunities we offer. Our program would benefit greatly from professional coordination and more routine presentation to interested community residents.We also need better handout materials, displays, and website/online services to be able to convey our program offerings. With adequate funding, SEAREI hopes to hire two paid, part-time employees who can develop and expand its message to the community, work with other like-minded community organizations and ensure timely and efficient completion of projects throughout the region. We have already received initial funding through NHCF for a Project Manager, particularly to handle our HFH projects, but we also need an Outreach Coordinator/ Program Director to coordinate and administer the above-named tasks. Throughout the year, SEAREI staff and volunteers will prepare and deliver numerous public presentations focused on solar energy installation benefits, sustainable home ownership, community awareness and technological advances within the solar energy industry. In partnership with Habitat for Humanity, SEAREI will conduct additional presentations to local community and university-based volunteers and potential first time homebuyers who can become the earliest and long-lasting beneficiaries of lower energy consumption.
Project Summary
In 2011 SEAREI received a grant to support a part-time program director to increase outreach and participation in their programs.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program Dir. 0.1FTE | $2,500.00 | Yes | Materials |
| Produce Educ Materials | $300.00 | Materials | |
| Telecom/Edu Webinars | $200.00 | Materials | |
| Travel and Event Fees | $400.00 | Materials | |
| New Members Development | $200.00 | Materials | |
| Energy Share Speakers | $200.00 | Materials | |
| RaiserVolunteerSupport | $100.00 | Materials | |
| EnergyRaiserMarketing | $100.00 | 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.
SEAREI has continued to nurture a spirit of collaboration, paying it forward, and neighbor helping neighbor as part of our energy raiser policy. We typically have 20 - 25 volunteers and SEAREI business members, at least one plumber and one electrician, who attend our energy raisers. We expect that the same number or more would willingly volunteer for our Habitat for Humanity Energy Raisers. Additionally we will be educating and training the volunteer pool who typically volunteer for Habitat for Humanity projects, thus increasing the numbers who will participate in our energy raisers. Outreach efforts by a new Program Director and Project Manager will expand SEAREI's exposure immensely. They will offer presentations to energy committee and regional planning meetings, etc. Increasing our newsletter circulation from bi-monthly to monthly will optimize our exposure to our membership and friends of SEAREI. Our newsletters is an important way to educate on issues of sustainability, climate change, and renewable energy. It is similarly a valuable way to keep SEAREI's name and activities fresh in people's minds.
If your group receives a NEGEF Grow grant, how do you plan to pay for remaining expenses?
| $ Amount | Source |
|---|---|
| $2,500.00 | NEGEF Grant |
| $500.00 | SEAREI Fundraiser |
| $1,000.00 | Membership Dues |
Please list these materials or services
| $ Amount | Item |
|---|---|
| $400.00 | Glover Plumbing |
| $100.00 | Ricci Lumber |
Please describe what changes will occur in your community and its environment when your group's project is successful.
Having appropriate resources will allow SEAREI to assist many more homeowners install solar hot water systems and PV systems. They will also enable us to achieve a higher profile as both an educational and consumer service organization through the Seacoast region. As renewable energy installations become more ubiquitous in our communities, residents will be all the more likely to adopt them, accelerating the transition to a sustainable energy system for our region. Our New Program Director will develop a satisfaction evaluation for recipients of renewable systems,. SEAREI now sends newsletters and other educational mataerials to members and friends via Constant Contact. As part of our package we receive a breakdown of those who have opened the materials, asked to be taken off the list, etc. The Program Director will tabulate results from all mailings to note findings. This will allow SEAREI to adjust all informational emails. Energy Share and educational sessions have until now received anecdotal responses regarding the usefulness of materials. Participants will be asked to fill out a brief evaluation form before they leave which will be tabulated by our Program Director.
Please list how many people in your community your group expects to actively engage in this project.
500
What relevant skills does the group need (but does not currently have access to) to help move the initiative forward?
We must add Board Members who have strong fundraising skills so we can continue to build and develop our capacity as a program.
What relevant skills do current members of the group have to help move the initiative forward?
Board Members bring multiple skills to the table, including architecture, contract builders, fine woodworkers, educators, environmental specialists, organizers, and renewable energy specialists. We plan to hire an Program Director who will have specialty skills in environmental science, education, and outreach. Our new Project Manager will have building and renewable energy expertise. Our vounteers are engineers, plumbers, builders, etc. and each has an important skill to offer to each of our energy raisers.