Energy Coordinating Agency (ECA)

Is your community struggling to pay their utility bills as the temperatures drop? One out of four Philadelphia homes experience a high energy burden, meaning that they use up to 25% of their household income to pay for their home energy bills.?? ? ECA is here to help. For 40 years, ECA has supported income eligible Philadelphians in accessing utility bill assistance programs like LIHEAP, energy efficiency education, home weatherization, and crisis heater repair. Our network of 16 Neighborhood Energy Centers is ready with knowledgeable energy counselors able to walk clients through the various programs they may be eligible for and help make the best decisions for them.?? ? Spread the word and learn more about how ECA is here to help keep Philadelphia’s heat on: https://lnkd.in/ewxH7T6B

"He that hath a trade hath an estate" is a Benjamin Franklin quote commonly heard around our Green Careers Training Center, but it feels especially applicable for today's graduates of our Gas Technician program. Skilled gas technicians are retiring at a higher pace than they're entering the workforce, leaving the industry with fewer and fewer workers. That's where ECA comes in: we provide training and credentialing for high-need energy careers that pay family sustaining wages. A huge congratulations to today's twelve graduates who worked hard, persevered through learning an incredible amount in such a short period of time, and all passed their exams to become certified gas technicians! As their instructor, Tyrone, said today "I'm looking to see you guys do some big things. This is just the beginning." Interested in a new career? Learn more about ECA's training center here: https://lnkd.in/eciXr3cH

Calling all block captains, community organizations, and offices of elected officials - do you want your constituents to learn how to keep their homes comfortable this winter while reducing their energy bills? Host an ECA led energy efficiency workshop! Your community will learn the basics of conserving energy in their homes to keep themselves warmer in the winter. And don't worry, ECA will provide the instructor and a FREE DIY weatherization kit for all attendees! To schedule a workshop for your community, contact Tracey Mathis with the phone number or email address in the photo.

On October 17, we welcomed just under 200 energy, utility, and community leaders to Drexel University's campus for our 2024 Energy Conference and the outcome was an incredible day of discussion and information sharing! ?? The Utility Assistance Programs and Solutions Panel covered the ways that Philadelphia Gas Works, PECO, Philadelphia Water Department, and UESF can support income eligible Philadelphians through hardship funds and other programs. ??♂? On our Workforce Development Panel, representatives from Beyond Literacy, Exact Solar, and Philadelphia Works, Inc. shared insights into meeting the needs of the burgeoning clean energy economy. ?? The Tangled Titles and Estate Planning Panel helped us unravel the complicated ways that homes pass down through families and how to preserve and build generational wealth with Greater Philadelphia Asian Social Service Center and Affordable Housing Centers of Pennsylvania. ???????? The Strengthening Communities through Collaboration Panel with Philadelphia Corporation for Aging, Clean Water Action, Learn Empower Grow Consulting Group, and Philadelphia Register of Wills #PHLROW reviewed how community-based organizations can work together to support clients and facilitate a just clean energy transition across Philadelphia. ? Lastly, our Electrification and Solar Power Panel had representatives from the City of Philadelphia's Office of Sustainability, The Energy Co-op, PosiGen, and Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission discussing the future of clean energy in our city, state, and country. Thank you to our panelists and moderators for sharing their expertise and to everyone who attended. We hope to see you all next year! In the meantime, check out our upcoming events here: https://lnkd.in/eEDjZnVA

"This is a day of celebration for all of you" said one proud parent at this morning's commencement ceremony. It marked the graduation of 15 students from three different clean energy training programs: HVAC Technician, Integrated Pest Management, and Environmental Remediation. US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Region 3 Chief of Staff, Terri Dean, gave words of wisdom to the new graduates, congratulating them on taking this next step towards a new career. A huge thank you to the EPA for funding the Environmental Remediation program! Please join us in sending best wishes to these hardworking young people! And if you're interested in exploring an ECA training program, you can reach out here: https://lnkd.in/e96AEkFm Photo credit: Jeff C.

?? Last chance to register for the 2024 Energy Conference ?? Reminder to join us THIS THURSDAY at Drexel University for critical conversations about climate resilience and community level energy support! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gPR3Ms_X And, as always, THANK YOU to our sponsors: BRADFORD-WHITE WATER HEATERS, INC., Lamb Insurance Services, Efficient Home, LLC, Rob Nolfi Roofing, Canon Solutions America, and Qnectus.

“It [a career in the clean energy economy] changes the financial structure of his whole family,” Jackie Robinson, ECA Lead Instructor, said. “As people in the community make more money, the standard of the community raises up. We improve housing and everything in process.” The Associated Press wrote an incredible article about the importance of ECA's Green Careers Training Center, illustrating how our work sits at the intersection of climate justice and community empowerment. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eM2wJdYq

?? One week to left to get your tickets to the Energy Conference ?? Each year, ECA's Energy Conference welcomes 200 leaders in the energy and utility fields to discuss updates to utility assistance programs, workforce development, and community programs. We hope you'll join us for these critical conversations to improve climate resilience across Philadelphia! Hosted at Drexel University on Thursday, October 17, this year we'll also be screening a powerful documentary and hosting a sip 'n' share happy hour! Join us on October 17 by registering here: https://lnkd.in/gPR3Ms_X Thank you so much to our sponsors, who make this conference possible: BRADFORD-WHITE WATER HEATERS, INC., Lamb Insurance Services, Efficient Home, LLC, Rob Nolfi Roofing, Canon Solutions America, Qnectus

"We got each other through this," said Amanda R who graduated from ECA's GRIT program yesterday, and was also the elected program manager for the cohort's internship. It's not always easy to make it to graduation day! Our Green Renovation Immersive Training is tough - it's a lot of information to learn quickly and then put to use immediately in an internship with Friends Rehabilitation Program. But these 20 students picked each other up and made sure that their fellow trainees understood the material and mastered the carpentry, electrical, and energy efficiency skills. After an 18-week program, they all made it to graduation with five new construction credentials to serve them in their new careers! Thank you to Chief of Staff, Carlyn Crawley, from the office of Councilmember Quetcy Lozada for attending and inspiring our graduates, and to Philadelphia Energy Authority who helps make this program possible. If you'd like to be in our next training, you can sign-up to learn more about ECA's programs here: https://lnkd.in/eUux6K29

Our 2024 Energy Conference: Empowering Change through Energy Collaboration is just TWO WEEKS AWAY! Join us on October 17 by registering here: https://lnkd.in/gPR3Ms_X Remember how fun and informative it was last year?! We got updates from PECO, PGW, and PWD about their utility bill assistance programs and how to support community members through hardship. We discussed workforce development and expanding the clean energy economy. We learned about resolving tangled titles, and about electrification and heat pump technology. And this year, it will be even better! Hosted at Drexel University on Thursday, October 17, we'll not only convene similar discussions between energy leaders to improve climate resilience, but we'll also be screening a powerful documentary and hosting a sip 'n' share happy hour! A huge thank you to this year's sponsors and supporters, who make this event possible: Bradford White, Lamb Insurance Services, Efficient Home, LLC, Rob Nolfi Roofing, @upennenviornment, The Environmental Collaboratory, and Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission