Community Energy Ambassadors Project Library

Steve wrote a brief story about heat pumps for his community newspaper, the Kenny Neighborhood Newsletter. 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.

As a bonus, Steve wrote a story introducing himself to his neighbors as a Community Energy Ambassador, and encouraged them to reach out with questions and suggestions!

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.”

Jackson created an electric vehicle newsletter for his organization to use in outreach and education.

“I learned a ton about different ways electric vehicles can benefit us... I previously knew they would be better for our Earth because of less emissions, but I didn't know about the cost saving benefits for consumers or some of the rebates you can receive from buying EVs.”
 

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.

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.

At the Brooklyn Park Juneteenth celebration, Citizens Climate Lobby of Minneapolis engaged attendees with energy-saving ideas and clean energy technologies. They combined resources from CERTs and Home Energy Squad with trivia and kids’ games to build stronger connections within the community.

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.

Habitat for Humanity Rice County staff worked with partners to send energy audit postcards to 700 households in lower income areas of Northfield, creating awareness around what an energy audit provides and helping people create more energy efficient and comfortable homes.
 

Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light staff developed and delivered a resilience hub training series designed for community groups and leaders, covering what resilience hubs are and the basics of emergency management.