Rochester ENergy Efficiency and Weatherization

RENEW (Rochester ENergy Efficiency and Weatherization), an initiative of the Community Foundation, helps residents make their homes more energy efficient, safer, and more comfortable while reducing our area’s carbon footprint.

Since 2015, RENEW has worked to strengthen and stabilize neighborhoods in Monroe County in order to build a more sustainable future for us all. To date, RENEW has completed nearly 1,000 home projects and eliminated 12,300+ tons of carbon by braiding funding, leveraging expertise from a network of partners, and implementing energy-efficiency upgrades.

How RENEW Works

While many programs provide safety nets, RENEW serves as a bridge. We remove obstacles to assist families so they can receive much needed weatherization and health and safety work. RENEW’s community partners offer a variety of home energy-efficiency grant programs for income-eligible homeowners, but eligibility requirements can often make it impossible to cover the full project cost. The majority of RENEW grants meet a need for “gap” funding.

RENEW grants to community partners help income-qualifying residents make home improvements that include insulation, furnaces, hot water heaters, or emergency health and safety repairs including sewer lines and electrical panels.

By collaborating with over a dozen partners, RENEW has established a proven model for combining federal, state, and local resources to upgrade homes, reduce the energy burden on income-eligible homeowners, and benefit the environment.

How You Can Help

Carbon offset donations allow individuals, businesses, institutions, and municipalities reduce carbon footprints associated with everyday activities. An online carbon footprint calculator will help you calculate your footprint and tell you the amount to donate to “offset” your carbon emissions. Your tax-deductible donation to the RENEW Climate Fund will directly benefit income-qualified homeowners in our region and reduce carbon emissions in our community. Your donation will stay local and clean the air we all breathe.