green|spaces is excited to partner with the City of Chattanooga Department of Economic & Community Development to expand the work of their Empower Chattanooga program. Over the past two years, Empower has provided educational classes to more than 1,000 renters and homeowners teaching simple low and no-cost ways to lower their utility bills.
This Spring, Empower will fund 12 community projects up to $,1000 each to help residents implement community energy efficiency ideas.
“Residents have amazing ideas on ways they can help solve the issue of high utility bills in their neighborhoods," said Sam Fulbright, Empower coordinator.
"The idea of the grant program was inspired by Project Porch Light. A resident in the Highland Park neighborhood wanted to reduce crime activity and thought that by giving people a free LED light bulb, they would be able to keep their porch light on all night with adding just $1 annually to their utility bill.”
The residents went door to door to hand out the light bulbs while also giving out information on other low-cost energy efficiency tips and upcoming Empower workshops. To date, over 125 residents have signed up to participate in Project Porch Light with a second round planned for this Spring.
The grants are made possible by “Partners for Places - a project of the Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities.”