Eileen has been working with Smart Energy Choices since its inception to help residents in Tioga County and the surrounding region better understand and manage their home energy needs. She now shares her many years of experience, offering training and support to a growing team of community energy advisors across the Southern Tier region.
Eileen first started working for CCE as a Community Energy Advisor(CEA) in 2018, when the program was known as the Community Energy Engagement Program; connecting with individuals and families about their home energy concerns and referring them to resources that could help them make improvements was a gratifying part of that role for Eileen.
She said “I loved helping them with things they didn’t even know about their homes that could save them money and, even at times, save their lives”.
She shared a few cases where she helped families replace broken heating systems to make their homes warm again and clear of harmful combustion fumes. In other cases, she found great joy in connecting home owners with grants to add insulation and install new appliances that would improve the energy efficiency of their home.
Over the last three years, Eileen served as CEA lead, supporting over 12 community energy advisors who serve eight counties of the Southern Tier. In recent months, she has moved into supporting the onboarding and training of Community Energy Advisors on best practices for outreach and energy advising. Eileen also serves as a campaign manager ensuring the program meets specific actionable goals, while helping to facilitate partnerships across the region.
Eileen particularly enjoys working together with an enthusiastic team of advisors who are excited to help residents in their communities make energy-related improvements to their homes. She feels that so much of what the program and team offers is “integral to helping their communities function better and be healthier”.
When Eileen isn’t supporting the team, she spends her free time outdoors, traveling, or with friends. She brings her love of skiing to a seat on the Board of Directors for Triple City Ski Club, and gives back to her community by coordinating the Adopt A Highway clean up for Route 17 twice a year.
Eileen encourages anyone in the Southern Tier with concerns regarding their energy bill or has heating and cooling needs to reach out to the Smart Energy Choices team at the Cornell Cooperative Extension office in their area.
“”Talking with people you really get to understand and meet them where they are and learn more about their lives. There is so much to this job that is important and integral to helping our communities reduce their utility costs, have cleaner air, and be healthier.” ”