Looking for a one-of-a-kind way to make a real impact in the fight against climate change and help limited-income families in our WNC community? You’ve come to the right place.
The Energy Savers Network team is comprised of passionate, dedicated volunteers who share their talents contributing to wide variety of tasks–from retrofitting homes to building interior storm windows to recruiting Buncombe County residents eligible for our services and much more. To volunteer please follow the two steps below.
Step 1: Sign Up as a Volunteer
Click the button below to fill in your volunteer contact info so that we can send you volunteer opportunity emails. You can denote which type of volunteer opportunity you wish to participate in as well as what days work best for you.
Step 2: Schedule a Workday
Click the button below to access our weekly volunteer opportunities calendar on SignUp.com and fill a spot for the day that works for you (no need to register an account).
Before you begin work:
The Operations Coordinator will send you a waiver form online so that you sign it easily from your computer or smart mobile device. You should also read our Preparation & Client Communication page on what to expect, what to bring and wear, and communication protocols.
For more information about being a volunteer or for any other operations related inquiries, please contact our ESN Operations Coordinator, at volunteer@energysaversnetwork.org or call 828-585-4492 x2 to leave a voice message and someone will get back to you.
Please Note: In response to COVID-19, our Clients and our Volunteers/Staff are all required to wear masks and wash hands often. Social distancing is not possible in certain situtations. If you do not feel comfortable on the work site, you can leave at any time, no excuses needed.
Click on any image below to learn more about our various volunteer opportunities.
Worksite Volunteer
Worksite volunteers perform energy-saving upgrades in groups Tuesdays through Saturdays for clients in and around Buncombe County. In addition to connecting with great people and learning helpful energy-saving measures, like changing lightbulbs, weatherstripping doors, and insulating water heaters, worksite volunteers also help alleviate the energy burden of some of the most vulnerable populations in WNC. Worksite volunteers can sign up for as many or as few projects as they want. We announce our upcoming workdays by email, but you can also check our online volunteer calendar to sign up. Click the orange Sign Up button on the volunteer page above.
Building Storm Windows
One of the measures we provide our clients is custom measured and built interior storm windows. Many clients, especially in mobile homes, have leaky single-pane windows without a storm window. Our solution fits in the window frame next to the existing window can cut drafts and reduce heat loss out of a window by more than 50%. Our on-site teams identify opportunities for this solution and then we schedule window workdays where a separate group of people get together and build the windows. It’s a lot of fun! Currently, we are having window workshops on most Thursdays from 7-9 PM. Look for window workshops announcements on our weekly email or on the online calendar. Our workshop takes place at the 12 Baskets Cafe located on 610 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806. 12 Baskets Cafe and Asheville Poverty Initiative, another fantastic non-profit in our area is very kind to offer us to use their space for our volunteer workshop.
Client Recruitment
There are thousands of families in WNC in need of energy assistance. Our client recruitment volunteers help us connect with area residents, verify their eligibility, and forward that information on to our scheduling coordinator. During the winter, we have also had volunteers meet with potential clients at Eblen Charities, a local nonprofit that assists area residents with their energy bills. We are urgently in need of Spanish-speaking volunteers who can assist with client recruitment and community outreach. If helping with client recruitment sounds interesting, contact our volunteer coordinator, Yulia Shaffer at yulia@energysaversnetwork.org or Hannah Egan, our Outreach Coordinator at hannah@greenbuilt.org.
Team Leaders
Team leaders are skilled volunteers who have worked with us on a number of projects and have decided to “go to the next level”. Team leaders guide less experienced volunteers on workdays, coordinate with the client, assure project supplies make it to the site, gather required client paperwork, help educate the client on energy efficient behaviors, and provide overall leadership for the team. The first step is to volunteer several times with us and then discuss what is involved with other team leaders or Yulia.
Group/Corporate Volunteers
We are always interested in groups of volunteers who want to work together as a team. It requires coordination, so if your school, church, business, or other organization wants to organize a workday project, we will help you plan it! Contact Yulia Shaffer at yulia@energysaversnetwork.com.
We are delighted for you to join our network of dedicated like-minded volunteers leading the movement addressing climate change, justice, equity and energy burden problems, by providing hands-on solutions to low-income households in Buncombe County and installing free energy-efficiency upgrades in their homes.