AmeriCorps; Environmental Stewardship

In 2010, bcWORKSHOP completed the renovation and reconstruction of 5 homes on Congo Street, in Dallas, TX. The homes were owned by families that were a part of a tight-knit community, had lived there for multiple generations, and who were under threat of displacement. The project resulted in 5 LEED Platinum certified homes and became highly regarded in the neighborhood as an example of successful community redevelopment and regeneration. Solar arrays and solar thermal systems were installed on these homes with no cost to the resident as a pilot program to test a new economic model for giving lower-income households access to alternative energy sources. This test program allowed for the detailed monitoring of energy consumption and costs in these households for 12 months. Despite the high performance homes and alternative energy sources available, this monitoring showed an increase in energy usage. Because the self-generated energy led to a mindset of unlimited supply, it resulted in offsetting any potential energy savings and in some cases increased energy costs, especially for the larger households.

The Power Plus program, developed, initiated, and implemented by AmeriCorps VISTA Adam Kerechanin, examines the burdens and barriers created by energy dependence and guides residents through a behavioral approach to maximizing the success of sustainable energy technologies. This educational program increases awareness within each household of behaviors that will reduce their energy consumption.

Each household met one-on-one with Adam over the course of three months to learn about and implement better habits related to energy consumption. A TED (The Energy Detective) device was installed in each home to track in greater detail the specific systems that were the highest energy consumers in the household. Over the three month program, this tracking device was used to create a feedback loop for the resident to see the direct impact of their current habits on the cost of their energy bill and the results of beginning to change those behaviors. Each family was trained in this tracking technology; by the end of the program, residents track and report back on their own, giving them full ownership of the process.

This program has engaged every family member of each household, a total of 19 individuals. Two households have completed the program and two are currently in progress. On average, each household has saved almost 10% on their energy bill each month, and cut electricity usage an average of 108.8 kwH compared with their usage during the same months the previous year. After the first month of the Power Plus program, the first three households used between 10-36% fewer kwH than the Texas state average. Pre- and post-testing has shown an increase in awareness and understanding of energy systems, usage, and the effect of everyday behaviors on household consumption. Due to the success of this program, Adam is developing a summer program to train school-aged children in energy tracking technology, common behaviors that affect energy use, and the importance of energy conservation and environmental stewardship.