CREC's Energy Conservation Corps (ECC) has hit the ground running! Crew supervisor Luke Bertram started working for CREC at the beginning of February, attended two weeks of training for Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification, and is ready to rock and roll with his new crew. Crew orientation began February 22nd and we are pleased to welcome Ferdinand, Tyler, Kevin, Tyson, Sam, Rick and James to CREC’s pilot ECC program. CREC is also happy to relay that every single new crew member was recruited directly from Flagstaff, providing another seven jobs within the community.

The crew's first project will be working with WACBAT, a local volunteer organization, to install Tier I weatherization measures at the Family Food Bank. There will also be a community event sponsored by WACBAT to bring community awareness to weatherization and its benefits.

There has been promising progress in identifying and receiving support for our summer crews on the Navajo Reservation. CREC AmeriCorps members Philan Tree and Nelson Cody have made some strong connections in receiving support from the local chapter houses, even finding office space provided to us free from the Leupp Chapter. This is an important step forward for the ECC and the Navajo community collaborative efforts for energy conservation.