Local labor in climate action projects

Last week, the #ResidentialRetrofitsforEnergyEquity(R2E2) initiative released an authoritative Playbook designed to navigate the complexities of energy upgrade financing models, economic inclusion, and community engagement. One of the most noteworthy elements of the Playbook is found in Section 2: Actions and Best Practices, particularly under the “Identify Program Focus Areas” header. This section underscores the significance of the 2021 High-Road Workforce Guide for City Climate Action. The #HighRoadWorkforceGuide, developed in collaboration with the Bloomberg Philanthropies' American Cities Climate Challenge, offers city staff, elected officials, and advocates a strategic framework for supporting high-road workforce development. This approach is aimed at creating a qualified local workforce to meet ambitious climate goals while advancing racial equity in workforce programs. With the infusion of billions of dollars from the #InflationReductionAct(IRA), the 2021 #BipartisanInfrastructureLaw(BIL), and other federal sources, there is an unprecedented opportunity to address the critical issue of energy inefficiency in low- and moderate-income homes while reimagining and focusing on equitable workforce development. Explore the Playbook to learn more about its recommendations for energy upgrade programs, actions for program administrators, and best practices aimed at improving health outcomes, lowering energy bills, and strengthening local economies. Overall, I found the user experience and methodologies to be straightforward, making it a comprehensive read filled with an abundance of case studies that reflect real-life applications of the suggestions offered. The hyperlinked report and site attachments are also highly valuable. At the intersection of climate action and economic recovery, the #R2E2 Playbook serves as an excellent tool that offers practical and digestible guidance. I encourage everyone to bookmark the link and share it with Environmental Justice and Community-Based Organizations in your networks! Congratulations to Annika Brindel, Ian Becker, and to the Playbook’s collaborative efforts as a whole, produced by The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), Elevate , Emerald Cities Collaborative, and HR&A Advisors. This playbook is a good reminder to embrace a future where energy-efficient homes are a standard, not a luxury, and where every community, especially those historically divested, can thrive. #R2E2 #Workforce #EconomicInclusion  #EnergyEquity

How 56,000 Residents Are Rewriting the Heat Pump Playbook 🏡 Quick context: Heat pumps are super-efficient electric heating and cooling systems that can replace gas furnaces and air conditioners. They're crucial for decarbonizing homes and improving energy efficiency. The conventional wisdom says adoption depends on: • Federal tax credits • Utility rebates • Contractor availability • Equipment costs But something fascinating is happening in communities across America... New data from RMI reveals how 12 local programs are cracking the adoption code through an entirely different approach. Here's what they discovered: 1. The Missing Ingredient: Community Leadership Traditional programs focus on: - Marketing utility rebates - Technical education - Contractor training - Individual sales What's actually working: - Local government coordination - Neighborhood champions - Volunteer "heat pump ambassadors" - Community installation tours - Multilingual engagement 2. The Proof Is In The Numbers Real results from these community-led programs: - 56,000+ residents actively engaged - 100+ local contractors brought into network - 3,000+ successful installations - 95% reduction in home fossil fuel use - Materials in 8+ languages - 3,500+ neighbor-to-neighbor conversations in Cincinnati alone 3. The Innovation That's Working These communities succeeded by: - Partnering with BIPOC organizations to ensure equitable program design - Creating qualified local contractor networks (saves homeowners time) - Offering full coverage options for income-qualified residents - Training volunteer ambassadors who speak the community's language - Hosting neighborhood tours so people can see installations firsthand Key insight: While the industry debates technical specs and rebate amounts, these communities are showing that adoption barriers are more social than technical. People trust their neighbors more than utility mailers. For utilities: This is how you build trust and engagement at scale. For contractors: A blueprint for community-led market development. For policy makers: Evidence that local partnerships accelerate adoption. For community organizations: A proven model to lead climate action locally. Question: What other clean energy technologies could benefit from this community-led approach? What are we missing by focusing solely on incentives and technology? #HeatPumpRevolution #CommunityPower #CleanEnergy #LocalLeadership

Communities need to benefit directly from renewable energy projects through jobs, ownership, and local reinvestment. « The more people learn about the scale and urgency of the climate crisis, the more they look to the government for leadership. Yet they tell us they don’t have confidence that the government will provide that leadership. There is a danger that people fall into a fatalism trap: it’s too big for me alone, they say, and yet I don’t believe politicians will step up. « There is a route out of this trap. Politicians need to put forward bold policies for the climate that link to people’s aspirations and provide tangible benefits, such as local jobs. If they did that, our research suggests that people would both reward them and step up to the mark themselves to work toward local solutions. » « If Cumbrians could stand on the sandstone cliffs and look out at wind turbines they owned, and that had provided jobs for local people, that might just build the political support and engagement that is so vital to reaching our climate targets. « That’s where ventures such as Project Collette come in. Imagine increasing the supply of zero-carbon electricity through solar farms and wind turbines that are part-owned by local people or local councils. Green jobs would no longer be something dreamed up by Westminster thinktanks, but tangible, visible schemes employing you or your neighbour. The locally owned profits could be invested in local priorities, like insulation schemes for all homes and improved green spaces. » #energy #sovereignty #renewables #community