Green Iowa Americorps

Green Iowa AmeriCorps empowers Iowa communities through energy education, home weatherization, and outreach. This grant-funded community service organization housed at the University of Northern Iowa’s Center for Energy and Environmental Education (UNI CEEE) in Cedar Falls has four satellite offices in Cedar Rapids, Decorah, Dubuque, and Spirit Lake, Iowa. This unique grassroots program actively facilitates energy conservation efforts for residents throughout Northeastern and Northwest Iowa. In one year, Green Iowa AmeriCorps anticipates that five sites with 25 members can collectively reach over 4,000 people through 250 educational presentations, workshops, and tabling events. Collaboratively, they can weatherize 425 homes that result in over $90,000 annual energy savings, and discuss energy efficiency with over 6,000 people.

In addition to performing direct service, members of Green Iowa AmeriCorps are encouraged to expand personal energy efficiency knowledge. Our program hopes to train the next generation of ‘green-collar’ workers through a combination of field trips, presentations, and hands-on learning. Members have the opportunity to build leadership abilities through specific coordinator roles, which allow each member to contribute unique skills to the program. Each member also plans and oversees one Volunteer Generating Project (VGP) throughout the service term. Members have access to free trainings, learn about green building techniques, and engage in extensive community engagement.

We intend to hire socially-minded individuals who want to make a difference in the community. Applicants should express an interest in energy efficiency/renewable energy, sustainable design/construction, and green living. Applicants should demonstrate an ability to work as a team or individually on projects that require learning/teaching new skills or participating in physical labor. Applicants should be self-starters, capable of working with minimal supervision.