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Mission:	To lower the financial impact of rising energy costs on low-income rental tenants in the Greater Seattle & will work to recruit, hire, and train disadvantaged young adults how to perform the basic weatherization tasks.
Founder:	Nicole sorochan, Victoria
Summary:	Today’s news is filled with word that energy prices are increasing and that the negative impact on our global environment is growing. Meanwhile the financial means afforded by low income families to pay for those rising energy costs are shrinking. The Switch Project seeks to address this social injustice and establish a long term path to energy affordability and environmental sustainability. The domain of the Switch Project is low income housing, specifically Section 8 renters, a population that is growing 4% annually, who receive living assistance provided by the Seattle Housing Authority through its Porchlight program. Home energy prices, including electricity, propane, gas, and oil, have respectively risen between 9% and 49% in the last two years. Meanwhile, average income levels and the amount of subsidies available to low income families are not increasing. In the Seattle Housing Authority's Section 8 program there are approximately 6,500 families. All of whom receive housing assistance and all of whom may be affected by increased energy costs, particularly in the winter months. In many instances, these families choose between food for the family or paying the power bill. At the worst, high energy bills could force the same family to decide whether to visit a medical clinic or pay for electricity. By providing education and taking action, The Switch Project will advance social justice by not only helping to close the gap between rising energy costs and the limited financial means available to low income families, but also the conservation effort will impact the global environment by further reducing our carbon footprint.
Details:	The purposes of Support Operation Switch (SOS) are manifold. First, SOS seeks to lower the financial impact of rising energy costs on low-income rental tenants in the Greater Seattle Area who receive housing assistance through the Section 8 program. The objective is to help tenants reduce their consumption of electricity and water used on a monthly basis, relative to reducing utility and water bills. To achieve this result, a series of weatherization tasks will be performed. Tasks and activities may include, but are not limited to the following: Install compact fluorescent light bulbs Install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators Install programmable thermostats Seal internal electric outlets and switches Place weather-stripping on external doors Replace toilet flapper valve and install water displacement devices Lower hot water heaters from 160 degrees 120 Wrap and insulate hot water heaters Second, SOS will work to recruit, hire, and train disadvantaged young adults how to perform the basic weatherization tasks suggested above. The objective is to teach basic weatherization and energy efficiency, life and interpersonal skills to historically disadvantaged individuals. It is hoped that participants in SOS will then be directed to pursue vocational and/or technical trade education at a Puget Sound Area community college or apprenticeship program where they will have an opportunity to build on their baseline of experience, relative to propelling them along a successful green career path.
Tags:	green  electricity  Seattle  of  jobs  moontown  switch  color  SOS  Section  weatherization  people

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