As temperatures drop across North Carolina as winter approaches, many families will be forced to make an unimaginable choice. Monthly energy bills will skyrocket to $200, $300, even $400 a month. How to pay for the rising electricity costs means a trade-off from paying for something else, whether it’s putting food on the table, gas in the car, or warm clothes on children.

This past Saturday, more than 100 Winston-Salem residents of the Waughtown neighborhood discovered ways that they can keep their energy bills under control. At the Southeast Neighborhood Association’s Job Fair and Community Day, organizers with PowerUp NC, a project of the NC League of Conservation Voters, provided information, materials, and hands-on training for do-it-yourself weatherization treatments.

“Today’s event is really to empower people,” said Rashad Gibson, Triad Field Director for PowerUp NC. “There has to be a first step when it comes to making homes more energy-efficient. Items like caulk are that first step. It might seem small but it’s important to start somewhere. We have to work together to acclimate minds to the possibilities. This is how we can start to make change.”

Residents could pick up weatherization strips to place around their windows and doors, foam sealer to close up drafts in walls, and even reusable air filters to replace disposals to reduce pollutants in the home. Additionally, residents learned other small ways to reduce their energy consumption, including washing clothes in cold waters and turning down the temperatures on their water heaters. It was clear from the constant activity at the table that folks were hungry to help their homes and wallets.

“You can see eyes light up as folks listen to how they can start making a difference in their homes,” Gibson noted.

‘What would you do with the extra money saved from lower energy bills?’ was one of the questioned posed to residents on a giant whiteboard. Participants wrote down goals such as “saving money for my family” to “taking a vacation.”

This was the first major event for the PowerUp NC project. With similar events planned for Raleigh and Charlotte in the coming weeks, it was important to the Winston-Salem organizers to reach as many community residents as possible to come out.

“We had been going door to door day-in, and day-out,” said Aaron Bryant, Field Organizer for PowerUp NC. “It’s so fulfilling to see people turning out and interested. The impact of utility bills on local residents is real. When I first started, I had no idea you could learn all of these techniques to make your home more energy-efficient.”

According to PowerUp NC, this is only the beginning for Winston-Salem residents when it comes to weatherization. “We’re going to continue to build out our organizing committee in order to prepare for a demonstration project this December,” Bryant said. “This is where we will be bringing in a local contractor to work with and alongside homeowners and renters on more advanced retrofitting projects. The goal is to not only bring the knowledge and resources to residents on how to lower their energy costs but to provide training and skill-building so residents can take this work forward to creating sustainable, safe jobs.”

PowerUp NC will expand its outreach in the coming months to eastern Winston-Salem neighborhoods, which are predominantly African-American and older populations. “This is not the last time we’ll be sharing out materials and information,” noted Gibson. “Before it gets too cold, we want to get out as much as possible.”

Community residents can connect with PowerUp NC by attending one of its upcoming resiliency hub meetings and by participating in the NC Climate Justice Summit, which will be held November 20 -22 at the Haw River State Park. You can find more information about the Summit at nclcv.org/PowerUp NC or at ncclimatejustice.org.

PowerUp NC is building a movement for a stronger economy, healthier environment, and a more inclusive democracy. Through public education, advocacy, and organizing, we are advancing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that lower energy bills, improve housing conditions, and reduce pollution by lowering dependence on fossil fuels. PowerUp NC is a project of the NC League of Conservation Voters.