Energy efficiency represents one of the most cost-effective pathways to lowering energy usage, though the biggest barriers to completing energy efficiency (EE) measures are basic skills/knowledge and the upfront money needed for tools/materials. Family and Consumer Sciences agent, Conmmunity Education and Bluegrass Community Action in Garrard County partnered with Bluegrass Greensource, a 16-year old environmental education nonprofit that serves 20 Central Kentucky counties, to provide a multi-lingual, home energy efficiency workshop for low-income and linguistically isolated families in Central Kentucky. These workshops were led by two home energy experts (from MACED) and taught participants basic EE skills, while offering them practice & feedback.  Free energy kits were provided to remove the financial barrier of purchasing entry-level energy efficiency materials. The items in the kits were chosen to work for someone regardless of whether they live in a single-family home, apartment, mobile home, or other structure. Although the workshop in Garrard County was limited to 25 participants, we accepted 35 participants.  This was a collaborative effort by Bluegrass Community Action, Community Education and the Extension Service to promote the program, educate about energy efficiency and conduct a one-night workshop trying to reach this audience. Childcare was provided along with a meal to serve families. All participants received free energy kits which included 4 LED bulbs, 2 tubes for caulk and caulk gun, low-flow shower head, sink aerators and power strip. This workshop was held at the end of April, so followup will be in fall of this year with Garrard County participants. End of the workshop survey of participants: 100% stated they plan to use the information, 100% agreed they would find it easy to install one or more of the energy starter kit items and plan to do so.

The collaborative effort was very successful, reaching a large number of participants. Sharing the promotion, ideas and the workshop responsibilities made this endeavor worth the effort and future collaborations are being planned.