If you were at our Annual Dinner last Thursday, I know you remember hearing Tina Stotz speak! After two of our Powerful Neighborhoods Staff members, Moges and Ramiro, took the stage, Tina got up and talked about the team’s overall successes. I asked her for a copy of her talking points – I am still impressed!
The ECOSS Powerful Neighborhoods started in March 2010, and is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
ECOSS has 17 employees from 11 countries including Vietnam, Eretria, Philippines, Hong Kong, Ethiopia, Korea, El Salvador, Mexico, Fiji, Cambodia, and the United States. They speak 20 languages including Vietnamese, Mandarin, Cantonese, Fukanese, Taiwanese, Tagalog, Amharic, Oromo, Kiswahili, Korean, Spanish, Fijian, Hindi, Punjabi, Cambodian, French, Dutch, German, and Japanese.
Since program inception they have served 2447 homes in Columbia City, Rainier Valley, Rainier Beach, Beacon Hill, Skyway, Georgetown, and South Park. The target residences are low-income, elderly, and non-English speaking residents. More than 55% of the people served are non-English speaking.
Services provided by this team include conducting a short home energy audit, testing toilets for leaks, monitoring water heater operations, inspecting dryer vents for inefficiencies and fire hazards, educating clients on more energy efficient practices, and installing energy efficient light bulbs.
Through October 23rd the team has installed 61,175 energy efficient light bulbs which will conserve 17,800,000 Kwh – the amount of energy needed to light 1100 average America homes for one year. These conservation efforts will save clients a total of $960,000. Seattle City Light will save nearly $500,000 and more than 12,500 metric tons of CO2.
This program is slated to end on December 15th, but we are hopeful to get additional grant monies that will allow us to continue into 2011. The dollars we’re asking you to donate tonight will go directly to support our multicultural programs to do additional outreach to communities of all colors across Puget Sound. We would like to continue to put this multi-talented, multi-lingual team to work on a number of other issues, from storm water to sustainable business practices to environmental health. The dollars you pledge tonight will support ECOSS and this team and keep green jobs and effective energy conservation efforts alive in our city and the Puget Sound Region.
Amen! Thanks again, Tina!