At the Intersection of Environmental Engagement and Community Service.

Low Income Weatherization

At the Intersection of Environmental Engagement and Community Service

Williams College

Sarah Rowe• Senior• 3 years with Winter Blitz

Todd Holland• Engineer• Project Manager

Williams College | The Zilkha Center

• Liberal Arts • 2200 Students• 1050 Employees• 450 + 2900 Acres

• 4 Staff• SUSTAINABILITY• Greenhouse Gas

Emissions• Green Buildings• Energy Efficiency• Sustainable Food &

Agriculture

Stephanie BoydAmy JohnsBrent WasserTodd Holland

The Zilkha Center for Environmental Initiatives

A Tale of Two Cities

Williamstown North Adams

A Tale of Two Cities

Williamstown• College Town• Pop. 8400• 47 square miles• Median income $52,000• 5.5% below poverty line

North Adams• Mill Town• Pop. 13,600• 21 square miles• Median income $35,000• 22.3% below poverty line

Air sealing is most cost effective

Weatherization Summary

• Mass Save energy audit program• 9 Rental Units at Williams College• Cost after rebate = $5400 (per unit)• GHG reduction = 4.7 tonnes per year• Estimated annual savings = $1600• Payback = 3.3 years

Fuel Assistance Criteria• LIHEAP Eligibility

• $31k annual income, one person

• $60k annual income, family of four

Winter Blitz

Tools of the TradeSTUFF WE CAN DO• Caulk• Spray foam• Weatherstripping• Pipe wrap• Light bulbs• Window wrap

(temporary storms)

STUFF WE DON’T USE• Faucet aerators• Shower heads• Ladybugs• Outlet and switchplate

gaskets

Zilkha Interns (1-3)

Planning Committee (4-8)

Team Leaders (20-30)

Volunteers (160+)

Supplemental Committee (5-10)

6:00 am

• Student leaders and planning committee gather to set up the day• Begin to consume large amounts of coffee

8:30 am

• Planning committee sets up supplies, picks up lunches

• Leaders start arriving for training

10:00 am

• Check-in for volunteers• Transportation for

volunteers arrives

10:30 am

• Volunteer send-off!

10:30 am – 3:00 pm

• Volunteers work on homes in the community• Each team does two houses; change homes

around 12:30

6:00 pm

• Follow up pizza party for volunteers• Supply sorting and inventory for next year

Student Engagement• Reaching beyond the “choir”– Focusing on already existing student groups:

teams, freshman houses, orientation groups• Emphasize team building aspects– “Who are you signing up with?”

Student Engagement• Recruiting strategy – Frequent and personalized communication with

volunteers– Reach out to sports captains, leaders in Residential

Life, other campus leaders– Harness social pressure of freshman houses by

making it a competition

Student Engagement

• Teach students very basic skills– No commitment to long training process

• Give clearly-outlined times to volunteers– Avoids over-commitment issues– Makes event more unusual and exciting

Challenges

• Collaboration with Community Organizations• Supply Logistics

Collaboration with Community Organization

• Work with community organization– Dependent on others to reach out to homes– This year, reaching out to greater number of

organizations

Supply Logistics

• Predicting supply usages and storage– 1300 leftover outlet gaskets in 2011

Questions?