As a part of Cooperative Extension’s commitment to reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions, the statewide Cornell Cooperative Extension Energy and Climate Change Initiative is launching a new program to support YOU in reducing energy use in your Association’s building.

With your participation, the Energy Savings in Extension Buildings will empower staff, administration, and boards to advance energy conservation and efficiency in Extension Association buildings.

Program goals:​​​
(1) Redirect money that Association’s spend on energy bills to core educational programming,
(2) Model energy and carbon reduction efforts to others in your community, and
(3) Build and share experience with energy efficiency with other nonprofits and small businesses

The program will support YOU in learning about energy conservation and efficiency in non-residential buildings, available financial incentives for efficiency upgrades, the formation of in-house Green Teams, benchmarking software for tracking energy use, education materials to use with employees, methods for tracking energy use, and making the case for the value of energy assessments and upgrades. 

A fun competition among participating Associations will be held to inspire creativity and participation in reducing energy in participating Associations. Success stories will be shared through the Energy Blast newsletter and through the annual success story reporting.

Benefits of Participating:
• Build relationships with your Association staff, administration, and board members
• Be part of supportive team of Extension colleagues across the state
• Get support for piloting conservation and efficiency efforts in your Association
• Make a difference by saving money for your Association, so more can be spent on core mission

Commitment for Participating:
• Be a leader in your Association to motivate staff, administration, and board on behavior change, operational changes, and energy efficiency upgrades (if applicable)
• Participate in 20 minute intake survey
• Participate in four 1-hour statewide team conversations from now until April 30, 2012
• Organize and support Green Team in your Association (optional but encouraged)
• Conduct pre-inventory of energy conservation practices
• Facilitate survey response by your executive director
• Participate in online discussion forums once every two weeks as well as email list discussions
• Work with Association board and administration to present options for energy assessments and upgrades
• Track and record your Association’s electric and heating energy usage​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​