Metro CERT intern helps off-campus student renters save money and energy

In March 2026, Macalester College student and Metro CERT intern, Cristian Cano, completed CERTs’ Community Energy Ambassador program. Inspired by the energy burden work he supported with Metro CERT, his Ambassador project was to organize a workshop to help student renters save money in their off-campus homes.

The off-campus home I lived in during my last two years of college was over a hundred years old and you could feel it in our energy bills. We felt drafts during the winter and supplemented our heating system with a space heater to keep warm. I know a lot of other students in similar situations, and since the college had no formal programming to help students navigate the renting process or how to lower their energy bills, I wanted to do something about it. It was also a perfect opportunity to complete my Community Energy Ambassadors project.

Shortly after joining CERTs, I applied for Macalester’s Action Fund, a grant students can use to partner with a community organization and address an unmet community need. I received $2,500 to help off-campus student renters save energy and learn their rights as ratepayers.

I organized an interactive ‘Renting and Energy Efficiency 101’ workshop on March 10 in collaboration with Macalester’s Sunrise chapter, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), and CERTs. Since the event was tailored for new and future renters, I started with a presentation on renter’s rights and tips for renting.

CUB's Outreach and Communications Manager James Birr presented to students about their rights as ratepayers, along with energy efficiency tips and programs they can participate in as renters. 

Says James, “Renters have all the same rights as homeowners when it comes to electricity and natural gas bills. Everyone has the right to a payment plan for overdue utility bills that works for your budget. Everyone can contact the Consumers Affairs Office and file a complaint about their utility service.

“There are two big things that renters can do to take charge of their energy use: monitor their usage and change their behavior.

“And, there are programs available to renters to help improve the energy efficiency of your home, but applying for programs and implementing projects can be daunting. If you live in select neighborhoods in Minneapolis or Saint Paul, see if the navigators at Good Energy Connections could help you out. They can walk you through the programs available to you and help you work with your landlord to improve your home’s comfort, health, and efficiency.”

With the money from my Action Fund grant, I purchased materials for renter weatherization kits, including window cling, rope caulk, door sweeps, and expanding foam sealant. The workshop featured a hands-on component where students were able to open up a kit and practice installing the energy efficiency materials in different areas in and around the room - and then were able to take the kit home for use in their own space!

We concluded the workshop with programs that students can participate in without their landlord’s permission, such as Energy Assistance, community solar, and Home Energy Squad assessments; as well as ones that would require landlord cooperation, such as Weatherization Assistance and utility rental efficiency upgrades programs like the Income-Qualified Rental Efficiency program and Multifamily Building Efficiency programs. Students took home a zine with the useful information on all the programs listed above.

Students were very excited and grateful for the training, and we ended up having twice as many attendees as we anticipated. One attendee, Catherine, said “I’m happy I came. My house pays over $400 a month on our heat bills, so this is perfect for us!”

Cristian graduates from Macalester in May 2026 and his internship is coming to a close. With some leftover funding from the Action Fund grant, Cristian purchased additional weatherization materials for distribution with CLUES. If you're interested in addressing a need in your community, like Cristian, make sure to check out CERTs’ Community Energy Ambassadors Program!