Helping Nonprofits
HEET's Work in the Buildings of Nonprofits
HEET is a Cambridge-based group that organizes energy-upgrade work parties in the buildings of nonprofits (such as churches, food pantries and preschools).
At the parties, we have team leaders teach volunteers hands-on skills in energy efficiency, while we work to make the building more efficient. Typical work items include decreasing the draftiness of a building and installing electricity- and water-saving measures.
After the work is finished, we share food and celebrate.
An online survey showed over 70% of our volunteers use their new skills on their own home.
Through these upgrade parties, we:
- Teach energy efficiency skills
- Reduce energy bills so a nonprofit can spend on core services instead
- Socially market stewarding the planet
- Increase community
The nonprofit pays for the materials and the food and drink (averages $500). The work is free since it’s provided by volunteers. In a nonprofit, our work lowers the energy and water bills by $1,000 per year on average. The work should last for 7 years, saving over $7,000 in all.
Interested?
- HEET will audit the building, then draw up an action plan and create a list of the necessary materials.
- You approve what work you want, pay for the materials, schedule the event, and recruit volunteers. HEET's network will help provide additional volunteers.
Awards: 2010 EPA Environmental Merit • MCAN Climate Superstar • City of Cambridge’s GoGreen Award
Some of the nonprofits we’ve worked on:
- Margaret Fuller House
- St. Bartholomew’s
- Cambridge Community Center
- First Parish
- Heading Home Shelter
- Cambridgeport School
- Western Ave Baptist
- Several domestic violence shelters
- Eitz Chayim
- First Church in Cambridge
Articles: Boston Globe, Boston Phoenix, Boston Metro & many others
Contact: heet.cambridge@gmail.com
HEET helps lower the energy use in First Church in Cambridge
HEET spent $654 on materials. We get an 8% below wholesale rate with Energy Federation Incorporated, making our materials cost very low. The work of our auditors and organizers are paid for by grants. The work is done by volunteers under the guidance of team leaders.
Heating:
We installed 6 programmable thermostats and programmed them so the temperature would be automatically turned down in each zone when the area wasn’t used, saving 5% off the heating bill.
Lighting:
We installed 24 compact florescent bulbs, analyzed the energy savings for LEDs, helped New Generation Energy set up a matching grant microdonation website so the church’s congregation was able to raise the funds in two weeks to install 165 LEDs in the church sanctuary,
Computers:
We changed system preferences so the computers would automatically hibernate when unused.
Water:
With a licensed plumber, we fixed a bad hot water leak, installed faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads.
Insulation:
We found there was no insulation in the chuch. We analyzed the cost and energy savings for attic insulation, found a great contractor, raised the funds through New Generation Energy microdonation site. With luck, insulation will get installed this summer.
Savings:
With the insulation and LEDs installed, over the next 30 years, the church will save over $150,000 in energy costs, and teach its congregation through example to steward the planet.
Awards: 2010 EPA Environmental Merit • MCAN Climate Superstar • Cambridge’s GoGreen
Contact: heet.cambridge@gmail.com
