Background Statement
Energy Smart Colorado began in 2010 as a federally funded program to promote residential energy efficiency in the central mountain region. Eagle County, Pitkin County, and Gunnison County worked successfully with community-based nonprofits to promote energy efficiency. In 2014, the program incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Energy Smart Colorado (ESC) is now a collaboration of 11 community partners serving 20 Colorado counties whose collective goal is to make energy efficiency improvements simple and affordable while advancing community-based goals for energy efficiency or climate action.
Through ESC's community partners, homeowners and businesses are provided with energy assessments, coaching on energy recommendations, access to financing (including on-bill repayment programs, incentives, rebates, tax credits and loans), and connections to qualified local contractors to perform energy improvements.
In addition to starting up and supporting member organizations, Energy Smart Colorado also provides services to utilities and municipalities as they implement climate action plans. These services include a consistent field assessment tool, a robust data management system, participant enrollment support, as well as energy reduction tracking and program marketing.
In 2023, Energy Smart Colorado actively and successfully pursued federal grant opportunities to enhance programming and build capacity for all Energy Smart Partners. Recent grants awarded by the Department of Energy aim to build a sufficient workforce, address high energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions for households across the western slope of Colorado.