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Local homeowners, AmeriCorps workers, and Rutgers members of the Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) came together in the older neighborhoods of New Brunswick to spread the gospel of energy efficiency. Student volunteers performed free energy audits for three homes on Friday, October 16, and did a hands-on demo of home weatherization for their hosts.

NJPIRG volunteer Vidaly Pekelis caulks a window as chapter chair Nicole McCann looks on.

"With an energy crisis looming over our country, this event educates local homeowners and renters on ways that they can save energy and money," said Heather Plante of the service group. The Energy Service Corps is a joint project between AmeriCorps, the national community service program, and NJPIRG, a statewide organization that works to solve social problems.

The fall work party was one arm of a larger PIRG initiative that aims to improve energy efficiency through simple changes in the local community. The Energy Service Corps conducts K-12 education to plant the seed of energy saving in young children; demonstrates energy auditing and weatherization for residents to share the skills and knowledge to make houses more energy efficient; holds workshops to help members of the community apply for grant funding for energy audits and weatherization; and grassroots organizing.

They followed up the October 16th event with an on-street education campaign during Rutgers' Make a Difference Day. Volunteers and local staff distributed information and compact fluorescent light bulbs, asked residents to pledge one of five simple things to save energy in their home, and offered the next opportunity to have Energy Service Corps volunteers weatherize their home.

For more information on the Energy Service Corps, contact Heather Plante at 908.930-5964 or visit: www.njpirgstudents.org.