COMMUNITY OUTREACH

The ECC directs its efforts toward improving the energy efficiency of the residential portion of the built environment in the cities of Charleston and North Charleston, South Carolina.  Outreach efforts are directed toward local area residents with low to moderate incomes and utility bills that constitute a significant portion of monthly income.  In conjunction with the housing offices of both Charleston and North Charleston as well as City Development Block Grant (CDBG) offices, the ECC targets homes and families that will see a significant decrease in utility bills creating more expendable income for those households.  Outreach efforts are geared toward identifying community residents whose income is stressed by higher than average monthly utility expenses.  This is accomplished through an application process with income requirements and comparison of income to utility expense to identify ratios that are deemed excessive. 

CREATE A GREEN WORKFORCE

The training that Energy Conservation Corps members receive serves as a valuable asset in attaining a job in the growing green workforce in the Charleston Metro area.  Evolving from a trend to a necessity, retrofitting area housing stock to be more energy efficient has become a worthwhile investment and certified specialists are in high demand.  Equipped with the skills to do just that, Energy Conservation Corps members graduate from the program a step ahead of the competition.  Many ECC graduates will go on to work for contractors and builders, equipping homes to be more energy efficient and lower utility costs.  Other ECC members will go on to pursue more technical skills and training to build upon a foundation of green building knowledge.  Regardless, ECC members will graduate with the skills to join a field that is growing and needs a skilled workforce.