Community Energy Ambassadors Project Library

Steve wrote a brief story about heat pumps for his community newspaper. He kept the information simple and relevant to the era of homes in the Kenny neighborhood, and referenced CERTs resources if people wanted more information. Steve also introduced himself to his neighbors as a Community Energy Ambassador, and encouraged them to reach out with questions and suggestions!

To continue his ambassadorship, Steve worked with his neighbors to create a video on what it’s like to have an ASHP. 

Brian reviewed proposals for rooftop solar for a church in Plymouth. He reviewed technical and financial information and contracts for selected partners. He also gave approval based on final versions of proposals and contracts.

“There are challenges in resolving concerns from all stakeholders and coming to an agreement that meets everyone's wants. At the same time, people can get engaged with a project that has both environmental and financial benefits; especially at a church that is focused on caring for the community.”

April replaced an old central air conditioner with an air source heat pump and is preparing for solar panel installation. She engaged her neighbors by inviting them to a drone mapping of her roof  in preparation for the solar installation, and by keeping them in the loop on the steps of the project.

The project sparked curiosity and concern among neighbors, highlighting both excitement around new technology and the challenges of navigating contractor responses, code requirements, and rising energy costs.

One Roof Community Housing staff conducted a survey to assess homeowners’ existing understanding of energy efficiency upgrades and available incentives, as well as their current concerns and needs related to energy efficiency, financial assistance, and climate resilience. 

Using the survey findings, they developed a presentation highlighting key information on upgrades, incentives, and rebates. This information was then shared through both in-person and virtual events.

Climate Smart St. James hosted two multilingual evening training sessions for the Community Energy Ambassadors program, drawing 18 participants. Following the sessions, participants completed three projects:

• Creating an energy‑efficiency pamphlet for local school staff.
• Delivering a community “Heat Pumps 101” presentation.
• Leading multilingual workshops featuring practical energy‑saving tools such as LED bulbs and efficient showerheads.

Laura recently developed and delivered an energy audit referral training for a commercial banking team, clearly outlining why energy efficiency matters for their business clients. She highlighted the rising cost pressures facing commercial customers, the cost‑saving benefits of energy audits, and the free audit programs available to Xcel Energy and CenterPoint Energy customers.

Laura will continue offering these trainings within the finance sector to help more residents and business owners get connected to these valuable programs and resources!

Members of Rochester’s Sustainability and Resiliency Commission created a cohort to deepen their understanding of clean energy and support local initiatives.

By completing the training together, they built shared knowledge on topics like energy efficiency and renewables, and collaborated on community outreach at EarthFest and Arbor Day events.

Their efforts not only strengthened community engagement but also modeled how local leadership can drive clean energy goals through trusted, resident-led action.

Metro CERT Steering Committee Member Annie created a personalized home electrification plan for a friend. The plan focused on heat pumps and induction cooking, and included a clear roadmap of available incentives and resources.

Now she’s exploring ways to offer this service to others, starting with her neighborhood Buy Nothing group!

Energy Verde represents a unique cross-section of Latine community leadership. Over the summer, the group created a Community Energy Ambassadors Cohort and worked together to complete the training.

They found themselves coming back to a shared question: How can we share this information within our communities and make it relevant for specific groups, like renters?

They created an audience-specific messaging guide that supports energy action, after gathering insight from stakeholders across the housing system. 

Kelsey developed a clear and accessible pathway for Eagan residents to schedule a home energy audit. Through the process, she learned that the city is served by two electric utilities and three gas utilities, making the process more complex. After meeting with each utility she was able to translate the process into a user-friendly format.

Jean organized an energy audit and invited friends and neighbors to participate and learn more about the process. Through this, they gained insight into energy efficiency best practices. Jean plans to share what she learned with her landlord to help implement these improvements in their rental units.