RENEW Turns 10, Expands, and Launches Million-Mile Challenge
March 27, 2026In homes across our region, heating and cooling bills take a big bite out of family budgets. In Genesee and Orleans counties, households with the lowest income spend more than 15 percent of it on energy — one of the highest energy burdens in our region. That’s one reason RENEW is expanding its work there, and inviting residents to celebrate 10 years of impact by joining a Million-Mile Carbon Offset Challenge.
RENEW, which stands for Rochester ENergy Efficiency and Weatherization, began at Rochester Area Community Foundation in 2015. Initial funding came from a court-ordered settlement for violations of the federal Clean Air Act, awarding $1 million to invest in Rochester homes over the course of four years. By 2019, coordination between partners was humming, the return on investment was incredible, and waitlists were long. No one wanted RENEW to end.
Today, RENEW has worked with nearly 2,200 income-qualifying Monroe County residents on home improvements that make where they live more efficient, safer, and more comfortable.
People Want Healthy Homes
Sara, a first-time home buyer, had put offers on eight homes before one finally accepted — but only if she waived the home inspection. She reluctantly agreed. After moving in, she discovered a dangerous issue: a poorly venting radiator that posed a carbon monoxide risk.
Through PathStone’s Weatherization Assistance Program, Sara qualified for most of the cost of a new furnace and heat-pump hot water heater. But after putting everything she had into her down payment, she couldn’t cover the rest. RENEW was able to fund the final $4,000.
Sara said these repairs relieved her of a “huge weight,” allowing her to address a dangerous ventilation issue and make her home more energy-efficient without adding to her debt. The improvements cut Sara’s fuel usage nearly in half.
As RENEW celebrates 10 years of impact, it’s launching the Million-Mile Challenge to bring the benefits of a healthy home to more neighbors.
The Million-Mile Challenge
This Earth Month, RENEW is inviting each of us to join in shrinking our footprint by offsetting travel-related emissions — whether that’s a vacation, a month’s worth of commutes, or corporate travel.
- Planning for spring break or holiday travel? A $20 donation can offset the emissions from a roundtrip flight between Rochester and Orlando.
- Craving a carbon-free commute, but still driving a gas-powered vehicle? A recurring annual gift can offset your commute.
- Sending your team to a conference? Include a carbon offset in the budget.
Offsetting one million miles of travel would fund much needed home upgrades for two additional families this year while sparking a mindset shift in the way we think about energy.
“This is a chance to take action together. The challenge is big, but the impact is bigger.”
— Elizabeth McDade, director of RENEW
It Takes a Village
RENEW’s secret sauce is combining funding from multiple sources to get homeowners what they need. On average, each investment by RENEW is tripled by partners. “We can get a homeowner $20,000 in upgrades with a $5,000 grant from RENEW. That’s life-changing for a family and game-changing for our community,” says Elizabeth McDade, director of RENEW.
Without RENEW, here’s what would happen: A homeowner working with a local nonprofit gets approved for a new furnace that will lower their energy bills and improve air quality. An inspection reveals problems with an outdated electrical panel, but the nonprofit’s funding won’t cover that type of work. Without the electrical panel upgrade, the entire project will be scrapped. Instead, the partner requests a small grant from RENEW to keep the project moving.
The nearly 1,000 home upgrades that RENEW has completed to date were made possible by an extensive partner network — city, town, and county governments and more than a dozen nonprofits with expertise in housing, public health, environmental justice, clean HVAC technologies, and more.
Flexible dollars entrusted to the Community Foundation by and for this community have given RENEW the ability to impact an entire system, resourcing collaboration that centers individuals and families — not program requirements.
How to Get Involved
Looking to make a concrete, local impact on your community and the air we all breathe? Visit renew-roc.org/challenge.
RENEW is open to partnerships with local businesses interested in integrating carbon offsets into their sustainability strategies. If your business is looking to make our community more climate resilient, reach out to renew@racf.org.
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