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INVESTIGATOR: Fluellen, V. M.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
FORT VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
FORT VALLEY, GEORGIA 31030

PROJECT GEORGIA RESIDENTIAL ENERGY EFFICIENCY NETWORK (GREEN)

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) data reveals that Georgia's average residential electricity use is 22% higher than the national average residential use. Out of the total 50 states, Georgia has the 11th highest average residential electricity bill. In 2005, the average Georgia residential customer paid $99.22 per month for electricity, 12% higher than the national average, evidence that the average Georgia residential customer uses more electricity than the average U.S. customer. The "Georgia Residential Energy Efficiency Network" (GREEN) project will focus on the overall goal of providing low-to-moderate income Georgians with the education and information they need to adopt energy practices that produce economic benefits, reduce environmental impact and increase sustainability of energy supply. The GREEN program will address energy concerns of Georgians by providing measurable savings or offsets. This savings will be noted in several ways: increase in the number of Energy Educators providing one on one technical assistance and education; increase in low-to moderate income families participating in energy awareness programs; decrease in the amount of kilowatts used, increase in the number of CFLs used in the home; gallons of water saved by using low flow shower heads and increase in the usage of best practices adapted. The Georgia Residential Energy Efficiency Network is a program that will be statewide and reach hundreds of low to moderate income communities.

OBJECTIVES: To ensure the energy concerns of the rural disadvantaged and low-to moderate income audiences are addressed, the FVSU Cooperative Extension Program will create the Georgia Residential Energy Efficiency Network (GREEN). This program will focus on the overall goal of providing low-to-moderate income Georgians with the education and information they need to adopt energy practices that produce economic benefits, reduce environmental impact and increase sustainability of energy supply. The objectives of the program are to: 1) Train an Extension supported energy efficiency team to provide technical assistance and education to clientele on best practices for energy efficiency in Georgia 2) Provide education and technical assistance to homeowners and/or renters through workshops to increase energy efficiency and reduce the impact of energy consumption 3) Increase communications and outreach to low-to-moderate income families on current best practices as well as strategies of energy conservation and calculate the environmental impacts of the outreach efforts. Project GREEN will increase the number of Extension personnel trained as Energy Educators, number of hours trained and CEUs awarded, number of resource tools and materials acquired to aid the Energy Educators, number of forums created for interaction between the public and trained energy educators and number of partnering agencies participating in the educational network. GREEN will also increase the number of workshops on energy awareness with a placed emphasis on efficiency/conservation, number of low-to-moderate income families serviced throughout the county service areas, number of technical assistance visits to homeowners and/or renters, number of residential homes in communities impacted through educational outreach, percentage increase in the number of low-to-moderate income communities participating in statewide energy awareness activities, percentage decreases in the amount of energy consumed among, low-to-moderate income communities, percentage increase in knowledge gained of energy conservation among low-to-moderate income families, percentage reduction of the energy cost burden of consumers through improved energy efficiency and energy management. GREEN will track knowledge gain and behavior changes of participants, percentage increases in communication and outreach to minority and underserved, low-to-moderate income communities, percentage increases in the number of publications developed that target low-to-moderate income communities, percentage increases in the number energy related publications distributed among minority, underserved, and low-to-moderate income communities, number of exhibit sites at local community centers and/or churches, increase the number of publications developed, increase the number of low-to-moderate income clients receiving educational information through the Project GREEN exhibit.

APPROACH: GREEN will concentrate on low-to moderate income audiences that receive continuous assistance from the FVSU Cooperative Extension Program. Project GREEN will provide technical training to County Agents. This training will be designed to reach and teach educators to help their clients in being proactive in reducing their home energy consumption and in saving money through no and low cost energy efficiency measures, behavioral changes and retrofits. The audience targeted for GREEN will meet the minimum requirements for less than medium area income as designated by latest census trac data. GREEN will begin with an introductory outreach and network meeting between all the partnership organizations and the GREEN project staff. This will create an educational network between organizations that provide outreach and assistance to low income audiences. FVSU-Cooperative Extension Program will sponsor 20 workshops entitled GO GREEN! across the five regions of Georgia. These 20 workshops will be conducted by the trained County Agents/Energy Educators in partnership with such agencies as Head Start, Family Connection, USDA Rural Development, Public Housing Authorities and GA DCFS. The workshops will be developed with needed input from the partnering organizations to be specifically tailored to meet the needs of their clientele. The workshops will raise awareness, educate the general public, and increase adoption of energy conservation/efficiency behaviors and practices at home. Additionally, Energy Educators will identify and assist with 250 families. Each family will begin with an energy audit that will be conducted by a local service provider. The energy audit will serve as the foundation for the identification of energy conservation issues that need addressing for each family. Energy Educators will then develop conservation plans that address the conservation challenges of each home. The GREEN outreach exhibit will target a minimum of sixty (10) sites each year for a minimum of sixty (60) sites reached throughout the three (3) year program.

PROGRESS: 2012/09 TO 2016/08
Target Audience:This project focuson the overall goal of providing low-to-moderate income Georgians with the education and information they need to adopt energy practices that produce economic benefits, reduce environmental impact and increases sustainability of energy supply. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The GREEN Project has provided over 25 professional deveopment opportunities (including face to face and webinars) a selected list is below: 1. Impact Writing Training 2. Grant Writing Workshop 3. Georgia Association Association of Extension Educators State Meeting 4. Home Energy Self Awarenes Assessment Webinar 5. Home Energy Audit Training-Southface Energy Institute 6. NRCS Energy Webinar on Lighting 7. Healthy Homes Conference 8. Energy Efficiency Workshop 9. National Association of Housing Counselors and Agencies Training How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The GREEN Project has provided the folowing outreach opportunities to communities: Participated in 25 exhibit opportunities resulting in over 265,721 Georgians receiving educational publications, technical assistants and information. Conducted over 25 energy audits to low-to-moderate income families. Provided training and technical assistance to over 3,646 individuals, families and communities. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

IMPACT: 2012/09 TO 2016/08
What was accomplished under these goals? The GREEN Project has accomplished the following goals: The project has educated over 3,646low-to-moderae income families on energy conservation and adopting energy practices to produce economic benefits.70% low-to-moderate income families changed their behaviors to improve efforts to improve energy efficiency. Conducted 25 energy audits resulting in $45,725cost savings toclients. Developed and distributed 5,245 publications to Georgians. Participated in 25 exihibit opportunities and social media media engagement resulting in over 265,721 Georgians receiving educational publications, technical assistance and information. The GREEN project received 1st Place in State State Award from the Georgia Associateion of Extension Educators.

PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2012/09 TO 2016/08
No publications reported this period.

PROGRESS: 2014/09/01 TO 2015/08/31
Target Audience:The GREEN Projet focuses on low-to-moderate income Georgians in a twenty conty coverage area. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The GREEN Project has provided, attended, and partnered over 20 professional development opportunities (including face to face and webinars) a selected title list appears below: Defensive Driving Training at the ATCC Family Connection Meeting USDA Energy Auditor Webinar Google Drive Training Extension Energy Summit National Extension Association of Family Consumer Science (NEAFCS) Annual meeting Impact Writing Training Lighting Certification Exam Prep Course USDA Energy Auditor Webinar Mayor's Housing and Community Development Taskforce Elevate Energy Webinar How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The GREEN Project has provided the following outreach opportunities to communities: Participated in 10 exhibit opportunities resulting in over 241,483 Georgians receiving educational publications, technical assistance and information. Conducted 9 workshops for 249 clients. Provided training to the Georgia Extension Association of Family and Consumer Science (GEAFCS) at its annual meeting. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The GREEN Project will use the remainder of the project period to continue providing energy audits, educational trainings, and outreach opportunities for the 20 county coverage areas.

IMPACT: 2014/09/01 TO 2015/08/31
What was accomplished under these goals? The GREEN Project has accomplished the following goals: Hired an Energy Educator. Developed and distributed 2,825 publications to Georgians, as well as radio advertisements. Participated in 10 exhibit opportunities in resulting over 241,483 Georgians receiving educational publications, technical assistance, and information. Conducted 9 energy audits resulting in 39,895.08 cost savings to our clients. Conducted 11 workshops for 370 clients. GREEN received 4 State, Regional, and National Awards at GEAFCS.

PUBLICATIONS: 2014/09/01 TO 2015/08/31
No publications reported this period.

PROGRESS: 2012/09/01 TO 2013/08/31
Target Audience: This project will focus on the overall goal of providing low-to-moderate income Georgians with the education and information they need to adopt energy practices that produce economic benefits, reduce environmental impact and increase sustainability of energy supply. Changes/Problems: County Agents are no longer conducting the educational workshops, coordinating energy audits or providing exhibit oportunites. The following steps were taken to fullfill the opbjectives of theproject: Job descriptiondeveloped Searchconducted Energy Educatorhired The above mentioned actions were apprived by USDA NIFA. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? 4 FCSCounty Agents and1 ANR County Agentwere provided a two-day training. Topics included Energy Audits and Assessments,The House as a System, Air Sealing, Insulation, Water Heating and HVAC Systems. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

IMPACT: 2012/09/01 TO 2013/08/31
What was accomplished under these goals? The project has educated over forty low-to moderate income families on Energy Audits.Exhibit orpportunities have been provided to over 240 Georgians. Energy related publications have been distributed to over 240 Georgians.

PUBLICATIONS: 2012/09/01 TO 2013/08/31
No publications reported this period.