When Glenda Whelcher started saving more than $100 on her utility bill after making changes she learned from a Basic Energy Efficiency Workshop hosted by green|spaces program Empower Chattanooga, she was able to buy necessities for her family but also able to keep her gas tank full. With a full gas tank, she was able to provide rides for her friends and neighbors to important doctor appointments, to the grocery store; putting her savings to work for a good cause.
“My utility bills in the winter averaged $250, so when I got my bill this past February for $67 I was not only happy to see how much I saved, but I knew that with this blessing I wanted to help others,” said Ms. Whelcher.
Save it Forward, is a campaign that focuses on one of the many benefits of saving money on utility bills - the ability to pass along a kind deed.
green|spaces is challenging all residents of Chattanooga to set a goal to save money on their own utility bills by using the Empower free energy savings checklist and community services like ESCORE, which can be found at www.greenspaceschattanooga.org/about. Residents can then donate a portion of their utility savings to green|spaces to educate more families like Glenda.
The goal of green|spaces’ Empower program is to help residents and organizations in a community consider how energy use and affordability of utilities affect broader challenges. If utility bills are high, less money is available for other necessities, like gas for a car, officials said.
One of the ways Empower does this is through Basic Energy Workshops. Held once a month in four different locations in Empower’s target neighborhoods, these workshops teach residents about low-cost and no-cost ways to save money on utility bills. "In many households, the money saved on utilities will ease tight budgets for families that currently are forced to make trade-offs between healthy food, home payments, utilities, and health care. Furthermore, every dollar saved in energy efficiency goes straight back into the neighborhood, improving economic opportunities," officials said.
green|spaces is also challenging local businesses to Save it Forward as well. Office Furniture Warehouse is the first business to partner with the Save it Forward campaign.
“We want to see an unfortunate cycle broken, and for these communities to regain control of their expenses, retain disposable income, and improve the quality of life within,” said OFW Owner John Jerman. “That’s why OFW is helping to Save it Forward.”
"Due to program sponsors, it only costs an additional $8 for Empower to provide education for one household. Businesses and individuals can help in many ways and an easy, low-cost way would be to take $8 that was potentially saved on a utility bill, and save it forward by donating. For meeting information on the Basic Energy Efficiency Workshops, see below," officials said.
Basic Energy Efficiency Workshops are held:
- First Monday of the month at Glass House Collective 6:-6:30 p.m.,
June 6, Aug. 1, Oct. 3, Nov. 7, Dec. 5
- First Tuesday of the month at Chattanooga Library South Chattanooga Branch 6-7 p.m.,
June 7, July 5, Aug. 2, Sept. 6, Oct. 4, Nov. 1, Dec. 6
- Second Thursday of the month at Chattanooga Library Downtown Branch 6-7 p.m.,
May 12, June 9, July 14, Aug. 11, Sept. 8, Oct. 13, Nov. 10, Dec. 8
- Last Saturday of the month at Sacra Coffee Shop 10-11 a.m.,
May 28, June 25, July 30, Aug. 27, Sept. 24, Oct. 29
"Studies have shown that residents in these neighborhoods use over 40% more energy than the average home in Chattanooga. Residents may be willing and eager to make changes to their homes to improve energy efficiency, but just don’t know where or how to start, or where to get the money to do it. These workshops are the perfect way learn about and connect with energy efficiency and other quality life programs," officials said.
“We have been excited to see Empower in action over the past year. Glenda is just one of many families who have started to save money every month on their utility bills. With Save it Forward, we look forward to helping many more,” said Sam Fulbright, Empower Chattanooga program coordinator.
Officials said, to date Empower Chattanooga has:
- Assisted over 1,000 people with low cost and no cost ways to reduce utilities;
- Hosted over 40 Free Energy Savings Workshops;
- Sponsored three clean up days on Glass Street & East Lake Duck Pond;
- Partnered on six Community Fairs;
- Participated in National Night Out Safety Events;
- Assisted with creation of Avondale Block Leaders; and
- Provided Free Energy Savings kits to ANYONE regardless of income or location.
"Empower is key to our mission of progressing the way we live, work and build in Chattanooga as we work towards regional sustainability and we are proud of our progress so far,” said Mr. Fulbright.
Empower is also able to schedule the basic energy workshop with other organizations including neighborhood groups, churches, and social organizations within the neighborhoods. For more information on the workshops or to schedule one for your group, contact Mr. Fulbright at 423-648-0963 or email info@empowerchattanooga.org.