December is a time when people come together in community. The days grow shorter and shorter until we reach the Winter Solstice, when the cold light of the sun returns little by little. Gatherings of community in these winter days, when the sun carries little heat and less hours of light, are what sustain us as beings that desire connection. Community can take many forms but one thing all community has in common is purpose. Your community may be faith-based, civic minded, activity related, professional, or a part of your identity, but however you participate or engage you are demonstrating your commitment to that connection and most often the common good.
Energy Navigator Volunteers are a group of volunteers whose purpose is to help friends, neighbors, and other community members learn about ways they can reduce their energy use and energy bills, and enjoy a safer and more comfortable home. Energy Navigator Volunteers lead by example within their communities. They have had energy assessments done on their homes, worked on conserving energy in their homes, and have utilized incentives for solar and air source heat pumps. These volunteers are not necessarily contractors, engineers, or experts in energy, but they do have a passion for helping others understand their energy use, how to save energy and money, and how to take advantage of programs to help them and their families be more comfortable in their home or apartment.
If you are interested in helping friends, neighbors, and members of your community by joining our community of Energy Navigator Volunteers, you can join one of our upcoming trainings. Trainings are online and we are looking for interested people throughout the North Country (Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence Counties).
There will be a Winter 2025 training from February 13 to March 20, every Tuesday and Thursday from 4-6 PM, and a Spring 2025 training from April 3 to May 13, every Tuesday and Thursday from 1-3 PM. If you would like to become an Energy Navigator Volunteer or are interested in future trainings, register here:
https://pub.cce.cornell.edu/event_registration/main/events_landing.cfm?event=Energy_Navigators_240
More information about about trainings, what is expected of an Energy Navigator Volunteer, please visit: https://stlawrence.cce.cornell.edu/-energy/energy-navigator-volunteers
