As a newcomer to DC, I am eager to explore all this city has to offer. Yet despite the sprawling National Mall and the throngs of tourists, DC is also a network of communities. This blog explores the ways that DC residents are banding together to strengthen communities, and building an inclusive green economy from the bottom-up.
On Thursday, June 24, I joined a group of interested community members at the WeatherizeDC office to learn how to conduct volunteer energy assessments. A volunteer energy assessment is a walkthrough of a home conducted by a trained volunteer in order to:
- Get to know the homeowner and build a personal relationship.
- Educate the homeowner about home efficiency and home science.
- Provide the homeowner with actionable recommendations for do it yourself measures.
Home energy assessment fills a necessary gap. It allows interested parties who are not ready to receive an energy audit a chance to learn more about the benefits of weatherization, and get some immediate do it yourself energy saving tips—all for free! Moreover, it gives volunteers a chance to learn more about home science, and engage with community members.
The training takes about an hour and a half, and includes home performance statistics, role-playing, and a virtual walk through a house to learn to identify areas of energy inefficiency. The training was conducted by WeatherizeDC Field Director, Sam Witherbee, and Jacob Weiss of Ardently Green—a home performance company that partners with WeatherizeDC to provide low-cost audits and weatherization in the DC metropolitan area. This was the second training of its kind, and there will likely be more to come.
Trained volunteers will be frequenting Farmers’ Markets and other community events providing information about home energy assessments. If you are interested in receiving a volunteer energy assessment of your home, or if you wish to volunteer, please send inquiries to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
