ECA

Section I: Organization Information

Agency Mission: The mission of Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA) is to help people conserve energy and to promote a sustainable and equitable energy future for all in the region.

Name/Title of Contact: Liz Robinson, Executive Director

Address: 1924 Arch St., Philadelphia, PA 19103

Phone Number: 215-609-1033

Website: http://www.ecasavesenergy.org/

Email: lizr@ecasavesenergy.org

Total number of agency staff members: 106

Agency Budget: $16.3 million

Section II: Community Need

Please state in measurable and quantifiable terms the specific community need that the Philly Fellow will address, including the number of people in the community directly affected by the problem.

As Public Outreach Coordinator, the Fellow will build public awareness about the energy crisis taking place in the city. The recent economic downturn has left thousands of people without work – recent reports estimate that in 2008 alone, the Philadelphia region lost about 76,000 jobs. At the same time, utility prices are continuing to increase and the effects of global warming are becoming more apparent. Next year, when electricity rate caps expire, electricity rates are expected to jump 20%. These rising utility prices are making it more difficult for people, especially those with low-income, to remain in their homes. Building public awareness about this crisis can help solve both our unemployment and our environmental challenges. By educating the public about the steps they can take to conserve energy, the Fellow will help drive the market demand for trained “green collar” workers and lead the way for improved energy policy and goals for the city. Energy conservation services reduce overall energy consumption and so help slow global warming by reducing overall emissions. The three keys to building public awareness will be creating transparency, communication and education around these issues. The Fellow’s responsibilities will be geared towards building ECA’s capacity in these areas.

Through outlets such as our 14 Neighborhood Energy Centers, ECA is able to offer energy services and support to low-income residents. In order to offer aide and services most effectively, ECA must have an accurate sense of the lived experience of low-income Philadelphians, especially as it relates to their experiences with available social services. Collecting anecdotal information and conducting client interviews that give the human side of the energy issue are critically important steps that allow ECA to constantly improve our services and programs to make sure they best meet the needs of clients. As the landscape of energy policy, funding, and available services changes over the coming year, the fellow will analyze these changes and speak with those in need of help to make sure that low-income families are still receiving the services they need to make it through the winter season.

Describe how your agency addresses this need, and how the new capacity created by this fellow will help alleviate the problem.

In collaboration with our citywide network of 14 Neighborhood Energy Centers (NECs), ECA provides energy services to more than 40,000 low income families each year. These services include: weatherization, bill payment assistance, heater repair and replacement, and energy education and counseling. To help create the systemic change that is needed, ECA has expanded its leadership role in energy policy work in the City and Commonwealth. ECA has also recently become certified as a state weatherization training center and will now be able to provide training at all levels for those interested in becoming part of the green economy. The Fellow will add to ECA’s capacity by creating increased public awareness that will drive the need for these services, keeping current information on www.energywisepa.org, tracking the success of area sustainability plans in meeting the needs of low-income families, and providing forums for learning and discussion between ECA and the public.

Describe the level of community involvement in the fellow’s project.

The Fellow will engage with the community by developing forums for discussion between ECA stakeholders and community members on the topics of energy services, policy, and conservation. The fellow will also engage with the community by assessing the success of new policies and services and advocating for additional services when necessary. The fellow will train additional speakers from the NECs and other volunteers from the community to present on these issues. The anecdotal and interview information he or she obtains can be written up on the state energy website, www.energywisepa.org, and in the ECA newsletter to put a human face on the energy needs of our region, and the impact of these problems on our low income constituents.

Section III: Job Description

Please outline in list form the fellow's duties and responsibilities.

The Fellow will work with existing Program Managers, Board Members, volunteers, and other energy-conservation programs in the region to create and manage a comprehensive public outreach program aimed at preparing low-income communities, policy makers, and service providers for the next heating season; raising public awareness about these issues; evaluating the success of current programs; creating greater transparency and communication surrounding current programs and their progress; and assessing the lingering needs of low-income residents. The specific tasks that the Fellow will be responsible for as follows:
• Organizing a Candidates’ Forum for Pennsylvania’s 2010 gubernatorial candidates in Philadelphia. While the Fellow will not engage in any lobbying efforts, he or she will organize the event and create a series of non-partisan questions that all candidates will answer.
• Updating www.energywisepa.org with the sustainability plans of other cities and counties in the state.
• Creating an online tool that will allow Philadelphians to track the progress each county is making on their Greenworks Philadelphia energy and sustainability goals.
• Seeking speaking engagements for Liz Robinson, ECA staff, and other trained speakers whom he/she will recruit from the community to engage and educate the public.
• Creating a Speakers’ Bureau that will allow Board Members and other volunteers whom she/he will recruit from the community to engage the low-income community in discussions about energy and conservation. The fellow will develop presentation materials and organize training for the facilitators. While these discussions will be for a low-income audience, the fellow will develop a program that could be used even more widely in the future.
• Supporting the work of nearby counties’ sustainability work. The Fellow will share information about the plans of other counties and how they addressed low income needs. He or she will work with reps from all the counties to develop a metric to measure success and a powerful visual tool to track it online.

Please outline in list form the skills/qualifications a fellow should have to succeed in the position.

Excellent written and oral communication skills; excellent coordination and documentation skills; initiative and attention to detail; a motivational and engaging personality; strong analytic skills; leadership experience; passion for energy and conservation issues (recommended but no prior experience needed); ability to solve problems with creativity and resourcefulness.

Please describe your agency's plan to orient and train the fellow.

During the first two weeks of the fellowship, the fellow will interview selected staff members to understand the different departments and roles at ECA. The fellow will shadow one of ECA’s audit crews during the first two weeks of the fellowship to become familiar with some of the basics of energy conservation and home weatherization. The fellow will also meet weekly with Liz Robinson.

Section IV: Project Plan

Please describe the proposed project goal(s) you expect the fellow to achieve. These should relate to your community need and reflect the long-term impact of the fellow’s project.

As Public Outreach Coordinator, the Fellow will help build ECA's capacity to serve both the low-income community and the Philadelphia region by creating greater communication, transparency, and education around issues of energy conservation. The Fellow will work to create and manage a comprehensive public outreach program aimed at preparing low-income communities, policy makers, and service providers for the next heating season; raising public awareness about energy issues; evaluating the success of current programs; creating greater transparency and communication surrounding current programs and their progress; and assessing the lingering needs of low-income residents.

Section V: The Nitty Gritty

Will fellow be working at the same address listed above?

Yes

Please describe the fellow's work environment.

Fellow will have a shared office.
Fellow will have their own desk.
Fellow will have their own computer.

Please list the name and title of the fellow's immediate supervisor.

Liz Robinson, Executive Director

Please approximate the percentage of time fellow will work:

Independently: 70%
As a team member in a group setting: 15%
As a team leader in a group setting: 15%

Travel:

Will the fellow be expected to travel as part of the position?

Yes

If so, how often and where?

The fellow will be required to travel around the city occassionally. ECA will provide either tokens or access to Philly Car Share.

Will the fellow need the following to carry out the position?

A driver’s license: Yes
Their own car: No

Section VI: Supervision/Resources

Please briefly describe plans for supervision of fellow:

The fellow will report directly to Liz Robinson, the Executive Director. They will have a one-on-one meeting each week to discuss the status of projects and any issues/concerns that arise.

What methods, information, or data will you use to evaluate the fellow’s success in their position and your agency’s success in meeting your community need?

The fellow’s success will be measured against the work plan.

Encore: Application wasn’t long enough for you? Please include any additional information you feel would be useful in evaluating your application.

The mission of the Energy Coordinating Agency is to help people conserve energy, and to promote a sustainable and socially equitable energy future for all in the Philadelphia region. Last year, ECA provided over 40,000 low income families 86,218 energy services (valued at $35,709,815).

ECA is a leader in the development of energy efficient affordable and market rate housing, sustainable building practice and solar energy in Pennsylvania. As a LEED for Homes Provider, ECA works with a wide range of partners to bring new homes up to the ENERGY STAR Homes and LEED for Homes standards.

Last year, ECA became the first Building Performance Institute (BPI) Affiliate in Pennsylvania, and currently conducts courses, and proctors written and field tests for BPI’s Building Analyst Certification. ECA was recently chosen by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry to become a state certified weatherization training center. Last spring, ECA offered its first entry-level weatherization training in partnership with Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) and the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation (PWDC), resulting in permanent, full-time jobs for 17 trainees.

ECA is now developing the John S. and James L. Knight Green Jobs Training Center on the second floor of our 58,210 square foot warehouse, which serves as the base for our weatherization program. Approximately 18,000 square feet of this space will house the Training Center, which will have both classroom and hands-on laboratory spaces with working equipment, diagnostic tools, and life-size mock-ups. With support from the Knight Foundation and a challenge grant of from The Kresge Foundation, ECA has raised more than half the funds required for the renovation.