Operation Fuel Inc

DESCRIPTION:THE PURPOSE OF THIS COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT IS TO PROVIDE FUNDING TO OPERATION FUEL, THE COUNTRY'S OLDEST FUEL FUND, TO ENABLE THE ORGANIZATION TO DEVELOP THEIR BETTER HOMES AND BUILDINGS PROGRAM TO ADDRESS BARRIERS, WEATHERIZE HOMES AND INSTALL HEAT PUMPS IN LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES ACROSS CONNECTICUT WHICH THE ORGANIZATION LAUNCHED LAST YEAR, AND THIS YEAR'S PROJECT WILL BUILD ON PREVIOUS EFFORTS AND FOCUS MAINLY IN BRIDGEPORT. ACCORDING TO THE ORGANIZATION'S WORKPLAN, HEAT PUMPS TRANSFER HEAT FROM A COOL SPACE TO A WARM SPACE AND DO THIS WITH 50% GREATER EFFICIENCY THAN ELECTRIC RESISTANCE BASEBOARDS AND WINDOW AIR CONDITIONING UNITS. HEAT PUMPS ELIMINATE THE NEED FOR INEFFICIENT HEATING AND COOLING SYSTEMS, SUCH AS FOSSIL FUELED FURNACES OR BOILERS AND WINDOW- OR PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONERS, WHICH IMPROVE AIR QUALITY AND SAVE ON FOSSIL FUEL USAGE. OUTREACH WILL BE DIRECTED TO LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS IN BRIDGEPORT, A CITY THAT QUALIFIES AS AN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY DEFINED BY THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY AS ONE DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED BY ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH BURDENS.ACTIVITIES:THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF OPERATION FUEL'S BETTER HOMES AND BUILDING PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE THE UTILIZATION OF CONNECTICUT'S WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND INSTALL UP TO 10-15 HEAT PUMPS IN SINGLE FAMILY HOMES AND MULTI-RESIDENT RENTAL UNITS BY SEPTEMBER 2024, THEREBY DECREASING ENERGY BURDEN, CARBON FOOTPRINT, AND NEGATIVE HEALTH IMPACTS. OPERATION FUEL AND NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES WILL CONDUCT A CONSUMER AWARENESS AND EDUCATION CAMPAIGN THAT WILL REACH 4,000-5,000 RESIDENTS. THE EDUCATIONAL TOPICS WILL FOCUS ON INCENTIVES AROUND HEAT PUMPS, ENERGY EFFICIENCY TIPS AND WEATHERIZATION. OPERATION FUEL PLANS TO REQUEST 10-15 COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS OR LEADERS TO SHARE PROGRAM INFORMATION WITH THEIR NETWORKS. THE ORGANIZATIONS PLAN TO PROMOTE THE PROGRAM ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH 20-30 SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ACROSS FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN, INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER WITH A TOTAL OF 6,000-8,000 EXPECTED IMPRESSIONS AND 1,500 TO 2,000 PAGE VISITS. IN ADDITION, OPERATION FUEL WILL CONDUCT AN EMAIL CAMPAIGN WITH AT LEAST 6 EMAILS TO 6,000 TO 7,000 SUBSCRIBERS WITH AN AVERAGE 30% OPEN RATE AND 5% CLICK RATE. THE ORGANIZATION PLANS TO IDENTIFY 200 CLIENTS AS POTENTIAL ENROLLEES IN THE PROJECT WITH ABOUT 15-20 CLIENTS COMPLETING APPLICATIONS TO BEGIN ENROLLMENT IN PROGRAM. IN ADDITION, THERE ARE PLANS TO CONDUCT 4 EDUCATION WORKSHOPS (OFFERED IN-PERSON AND VIRTUALLY) WITH ENERGIZE-CONNECTICUT, WHICH IS A PARTNERSHIP AMONG THE STATE, NONPROFITS AND ENERGY COMPANIES ON CONSUMER ENERGY EFFICIENCY TO TALK TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF INSTALLING HEAT PUMPS.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:OPERATION FUEL WILL ALSO TRACK OTHER HEALTH AND NON-ENERGY BENEFITS ACHIEVED. THE PROJECT OUTCOMES INCLUDE: #61623; REDUCED BARRIERS TO SOCIAL AND STRUCTURAL CAUSES OF HOME ENERGY AFFORDABILITY BY PROVIDING INCREASED RESOURCES TO BRIDGEPORT RESIDENTS INCREASING UNDERSTANDING AND REDUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH RISKS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL TOOLS. #61623; DELIVER A CLEANER, SAFER, AND HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL CONNECTICUT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS (STRATEGIC GOAL 1) BY CREATING MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN PARTICIPATING HOMES LEADING TO A NUMBER OF POUNDS OR METRIC TONS OF GREENHOUSE GAS ELIMINATED; REDUCTION IN KILOWATT-HOURS OF ENERGY USED; AND IMPROVED INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: IMPROVEMENT IN QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ASTHMATICS, INCLUDING AN INCREASED NUMBER OF SYMPTOM-FREE DAYS; #61623; MORE EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS SECTORS AND COMMUNITIES (STRATEGIC GOAL 2) AND CONNECTICUT LEGISLATORS ENGAGED IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND HUMAN HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS FOR RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES (STRATEGIC GOAL 3)

DESCRIPTION:THE OVERALL OBJECTIVE OF OPERATION FUEL'S BETTER HOMES AND BUILDING PROGRAM (BHBP) IS TO INCREASE THE UTILIZATION OF CONNECTICUT'S WEATHERIZATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND INSTALL 30 HEAT PUMPS IN SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES AND MULTI-RESIDENT RENTAL UNITS BY SEPTEMBER 2023, THEREBY DECREASING ENERGY BURDEN, CARBON FOOTPRINT, AND NEGATIVE HEALTH IMPACTS. ACTIVITIES:THESE FUNDS WILL BE USED TO CONDUCT A CONSUMER AWARENESS CAMPAIGN THAT WILL REACH 4,000-5,000 RESIDENTS, PROMOTE THE PROGRAM ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH 30-40 SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS ACROSS FACEBOOK, LINKEDIN, INSTAGRAM AND TWITTER, CONDUCT AN EMAIL CAMPAIGN WITH AT LEAST 6 EMAILS TO 6,000 TO 7,000 SUBSCRIBERS, IDENTIFY 300 CLIENTS, AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF LMI SINGLE-FAMILY HOMEOWNERS AND RESIDENTS OF RENTAL UNITS THAT RECEIVE HOME ENERGY COUNSELING AND IMPLEMENT ENERGY EFFICIENCY BEST PRACTICES IN THE NEW HAVEN REGION FOR A GOAL OF AT LEAST 75 RESIDENTS BY SEPT 2023, TO DECREASE ENERGY BURDEN, CARBON FOOTPRINT, AND NEGATIVE HEALTH IMPACTS.SUBRECIPIENT:NO SUBAWARDS ARE INCLUDED IN THIS ASSISTANCE AGREEMENT.OUTCOMES:EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE REDUCED BARRIERS TO SOCIAL AND STRUCTURAL CAUSES OF HOME ENERGY AFFORDABILITY BY PROVIDING INCREASED RESOURCES TO NEW HAVEN RESIDENTS INCREASING UNDERSTANDING AND REDUCTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND HUMAN HEALTH RISKS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL TOOLS; DELIVER A CLEANER, SAFER, AND HEALTHIER ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL CONNECTICUT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS BY CREATING MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN PARTICIPATING HOMES LEADING TO A NUMBER OF POUNDS OR METRIC TONS OF GREENHOUSE GAS ELIMINATED; REDUCTION IN KILOWATT-HOURS OF ENERGY USED; AND IMPROVED INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENTS IN PUBLIC HEALTH INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO: IMPROVEMENT IN QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ASTHMATICS, INCLUDING AN INCREASED NUMBER OF SYMPTOM-FREE DAYS; MORE EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS SECTORS AND COMMUNITIES AND CONNECTICUT LEGISLATORS ENGAGED IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND HUMAN HEALTH IMPROVEMENTS FOR RESIDENTS, ESPECIALLY IN ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES THROUGH IMPROVED COLLABORATION ACROSS NONPROFITS AND WITH OTHER SECTORS TO INCREASE ORGANIZATIONAL AND COMMUNITY CAPACITY IN TO SOLVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES.