A Short History of the Energy Upgrade Program
The Energy Upgrade program was established in 2012 to educate homeowners in Sarasota County on energy and water efficiency. In 2016, based on community research, the program expanded to include new initiatives to address the energy burdens facing local under-resourced residents. Two years later, the “Energy Coach” volunteer training program was introduced, increasing outreach capacity and creating a path for deeper community engagement. This expansion was inspired by the Community Weatherization Coalition’s Home Energy Tune-up Program in Gainesville, where a network of volunteers perform their tune-ups.
In addition to workshops and educational events, a grant-funded partnership with the Sarasota Housing Authority (SHA) began in 2018. With the support of the Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation and the SHA, we began in-residence “Energy Sweeps” to install efficiency upgrades, share educational resources, and provide in-person support and advice. A total of 310 households at the SHA were evaluated and upgraded with energy- and water-saving devices by staff, interns, and volunteer Energy Coaches between 2018-2024.
With over a decade of growth and expansion, the Energy Upgrade program now fully embodies each part of the triple bottom line of sustainability: Planet (mitigation by reducing greenhouse gas emissions), Prosperity (saving residents money to make their homes more affordable), and People (reaching families that need energy-efficiency programs the most).
Energy Upgrade in 2025
New Funding Fuels a New Phase of Upgrades
The Energy Upgrade program is continuing to impact Sarasota County communities through a Department of Energy grant awarded in 2024 – the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). With $300,000 in federal funding, we are focusing on two major milestones:
- Continuing and expanding existing outreach: The foundations of our Energy Upgrade program – meeting people where they are with the resources they need – will continue with EECBG funding. From empowering workshops about energy efficiency to at-home consultations and upgrades, we are out in the community every week to inspire and support change. We are also connecting with new partners throughout the County, offering new programs at school and community organizations and in-residence Efficiency Upgrades to a new set of housing providers.
- ENERGY STAR certified appliance rebates: This federal grant also supports an appliance rebate program for affordable housing providers. To alleviate the split-incentive problem – in which landlords aren’t incentivized to upgrade appliances and renters cannot afford to – we offered complete reimbursement towards the purchase of ENERGY STAR certified appliances for affordable housing providers. Applications for this program were reviewed in 2024, and nearly $200,000 worth of rebate funds were awarded. These funds supported energy efficient upgrades to HVAC systems, water heaters, refrigerators, and/or washers & dryers for almost 70 residences in 2025.
Energy Coach Program Upgrades Increase Accessibility
Energy Coaches have been vital to the Energy Upgrade program since 2018. Each year, we have held an Energy Coach Training to onboard a new group of volunteer Coaches. This training model has included 4-5 days of required coursework (14+ hours) to receive Energy Coach certification. Once certified, coaches conduct consultations, distribute energy and water efficiency kits, perform evaluations and upgrades, and join other outreach programs.
Between 2018-2024, Energy Coaches were key to the success of our Sarasota Housing Authority partnership as well as other community programs, with several core volunteers providing many hours of support. We are so proud of what we have accomplished together!
This year, in support of our program growth, we reimagined our Energy Coach Training to reduce participation barriers. This new certification model condenses content into only 8 hours of training, offered primarily nights, weekends, or virtually. We plan to welcome new Coaches to our program each year at spring and fall trainings, with additional trainings throughout the year at partner organizations.
The goal of Energy Coach training is not just to staff Energy Upgrade initiatives. We are working to build a vibrant community of support–mutually aiding one another on the path to collective health, happiness, and sustainability. Energy Coaches meet and connect with new people, while learning about programs and strategies to share with people in their lives. Volunteers bring a wealth of knowledge and connections with them when they join our program, further enriching our offerings and deepening the relationships we form along the way.
Energy Upgrade Welcomes a New Group of Coaches
On August 9th, 2025, we welcomed our first cohort to the new training program. On Saturday morning, 13 prospective Energy Coaches completed a 3-hour training course followed by a community-building lunch, setting the stage with data on Sarasota County’s energy disparities and introductions to energy and water efficiency strategies and the Energy Upgrade program. This training set attendees up with what they needed to begin making upgrades in their own homes and with friends, family, and neighbors. Following the training, people who wanted to continue on to become a certified Energy Coach were invited to register as volunteers with Sarasota County and sign up for the remaining webinars and in-residence training.
After the training, participants shared feedback about their experiences, with high levels of satisfaction –
“I’m so glad I was able to attend the event, I learned so much from the lectures and really valued our one-on-one conversations.”
“Beautiful spirits encourage interest and participation.”
“It is valuable to go through these programs with our own home so that we might in the future be able to share with experience under our own ‘tool belt.’”
“I was happy to be there and have already made a couple of energy changes in our home. You all were super organized and covered a lot of material.”
Participants also shared their main takeaways at the end of the training, including connections to community resources and assistance, increased knowledge about efficiency, common pitfalls, and increased awareness of energy burdens in our county communities.
In-residence Efficiency Upgrade Training – Villas of North Port Upgrades
Another in-person step for Energy Coach certification happens in the homes of real Sarasota County residents. After volunteer registration, Coaches-in-training join staff for Efficiency Upgrade Training. This cohort’s first opportunity occurred 11 days later at Villas of North Port, a housing provider partner. It was time to take the energy and water efficiency knowledge from the first training and put it to work.
We met with 6 residents in their homes to listen to their priorities and concerns, share tips and resources, and make minor upgrades. In total, we replaced 9 faucet aerators, 2 showerheads with WaterSense-verified models, and 28 lightbulbs with efficient LEDs. We also distributed 6 smart power strips, insulated 3 hot water heater pipes, and installed 5 air sealing gaskets.
When this is converted into annual energy and water savings, the impact speaks for itself:
- 5,880 kWh of electricity saved
- 11,640 gallons of water conserved
- $871 in utility bills saved
As we moved through the residences, we also checked appliances, fixtures, and structures for areas of concern to ensure a holistic assessment of their home. This process allows us to share any larger projects with housing providers to help them prioritize next steps in maintaining the units.
The biggest reward at the end of every Energy Upgrade event is the resulting impacts, on residents and volunteers alike. Just as each home we enter is unique, so are the people who live there. Our staff and volunteers connect with members of the community, while residents are able to connect with resources and assistance they may need.
After our Efficiency Upgrades, the Community Manager at Villas of North Port shared her gratitude:
“Thank you to you and your team for the outstanding job today.
Our residents truly appreciated the program you provided. Many have shared with me how detailed and informative the visit was. I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate in this initiative…your insights are incredibly helpful in supporting our efforts to improve the community. Thank you again for bringing this valuable program to us.”
What’s Next?
As these Energy Coaches continue to work toward certification, we are already starting to plan for our Spring 2026 trainings! Visit our Energy Upgrade webpage for up-to-date information about training and additional volunteer opportunities.
Learn More!
- Follow our journey from 2018 to today through our blog updates:
- Check out our Eventbrite for upcoming Energy Upgrade classes and webinars: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/program-sustainability-213939
- Browse our Energy Upgrade website: https://www.scgov.net/government/sustainability/sustainability/energy-upgrade
- Take our virtual, self-paced Energy Upgrade course on Canvas at: https://ifas-sarasota.catalog.instructure.com/browse/sustainability/courses/energy-upgrade
- Check out a DIY Home Energy/Water Audit Backpack from the Sarasota County Libraries! Details and availability: https://scgovlibrary.librarymarket.com/event/do-it-yourself-home-energy-audit-kits-demand-0
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