Groundswell guides community members in coordinating their home energy audits and efficiency upgrades. Pooling individual residents’ purchasing power together helps lock in a discounted rate for efficiency services, generates savings for each household budget and lowers families’ energy use.
Impacting the Broader Community
By joining together in a Strong Homes project, families in Silver Spring, Maryland saved on average 15 percent on their home energy upgrades. Local and federal tax incentives provided additional savings.
Participants use their strengthened economic power to not only improve their homes, but also reinvest in their local communities. Groundswell works with communities to make sure their project delivers the social benefits and impacts that residents want to see. Benefits include support for local businesses, businesses that provide employees with a living wage and health benefits, and businesses that are women- and minority-owned or operated.
Through this process, neighbors are working together to make community impacts that hit home.
By vetting local small businesses, Groundswell ensures residents hire contractors that deliver top-quality service. Groundswell only works with Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified contractors.
The Process
Groundswell guides communities’ collective investment in energy efficiency every step of the way. For each Strong Homes project, Groundswell:
- Partners with mission-based organizations, neighborhood associations, and other community networks to create easy pathways for members to join.
- Organizes individuals in a localized area into bundled requests for efficiency upgrades.
- Supports the purchasing group in selecting a local business based on discounted pricing, experience and expertise, and commitment to responsible environmental and social business practices.
- Facilitates the completion of home energy audits and efficiency upgrades.
Get Involved
Interested in joining or starting an efficiency project in your community?
For Montgomery County residents, contact:
Peter Roquemore
Field Organizer, Strong Homes Program
Email:
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Office: 202.573.8361
For Howard County residents, contact:
Lindsey Warren-Shriner
Field Organizer, Strong Homes Program
Email:
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Office: 301.744.7809
Erica Stout
Field Manager, Strong Homes Program
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Office: 202.656.2059
