SEEDS of Northeastern Pennsylvania wants to help lower income residents in Lackawanna County save money on their energy bills.
After a two-year hiatus, the nonprofit based in Honesdale, is offering its energy assessment program. This summer the organization has expanded the program into Lackawanna County, thanks to a grant from the Robert H. Spitz Foundation administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation. SEEDS started in 2008 and promotes living a more efficient life by helping residents save energy and reduce their carbon footprint.
High school student interns as well as adult volunteers help provide the assessments. They were educated during an assessment training in June.
The TEAAM members — which stands for The Energy Awareness Action Movement — meet with residents to discuss energy usage in their homes. They then look over the exterior of the residence and the interior, including the basement and attic, and make suggestions on how to reduce energy consumption and save money.
“It takes about an hour and of course it's free," said Katherine Dodge, executive director of SEEDS. "It's a basic assessment just to help the residents save money on their utility bill."
Some of the changes SEEDS suggests are as simple as switching out light bulbs from incandescent bulbs to LED lights to more complicated issues, like changing out insulation.
Residents will be asked to sign an agreement letter and provide TEAAM members with their utility bills so assess their usage.
"We will follow up a year later to see if the changes that we suggested made a difference in your energy bills," said Dodge.
Holly Zuluski is a Greentown resident and incoming junior at Scranton Prep. She’s interning this summer with the SEEDS energy assessment team.
She said the training is information and made her realized how much people worldwide can benefit from energy efficiency practices.
"I've learned so much just through this quick internship so far, and it's been amazing," she said. "What I realized is by doing these small things, like you're having an impact, not only on this generation, but also on future generations and their experience.”
While the target is lower-income families in Lackawanna County, SEEDS is open to assessing the homes of anyone to help them save money on their utility bills and have a healthier home.
To sign up for the energy assessment, visit seedsgroup.net/assessments/ or call 570-245-1256.
Those interested can also email Zoe Spaide, Energy Assessment Program Coordinator, at zoe@seedsgroup.net.
