Green Iowa AmeriCorps

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The City of Ames is excited to partner with Green Iowa Americorps to provide no-cost energy audits and weatherization services. This program can help save money on your utility bills and maintain a more comfortable home, and is available for all Ames residents.

Sign Up For A Free Energy Audit Here

How it Works

  1. Sign up for a free energy audit.
  2. We will be in touch to schedule the audit. Energy audits evaluate what measures can be taken to make the home more efficient. It will include a blower door test and a walkthrough to identify any leaky areas. 
  3. Depending on the amount of air leakage in your home, we can complete weatherization services at no cost, focused on the three C's of weatherization: Cost, Comfort, and Conservation.
  4. That's it! Participants enjoy a more comfortable home and savings on energy use and utility bills. 

Renting? You are still eligible, we just need your landlord's permission. 

Green Iowa Americorps 101

What is Americorps?

AmeriCorps is the federal agency for national service and volunteerism in the United States. It's an opportunity for adults of all ages and backgrounds to serve their communities and their country through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups. AmeriCorps members address critical needs such as literacy, health, housing, technology, the environment, economic development, and many other fields. It is a chance to apply your skills and energy toward helping others and strengthening the organizations that make a positive difference in Americans’ lives.

What is Green Iowa Americorps?

Green Iowa AmeriCorps is part of the State/National branch of AmeriCorps. This state-wide community service program operates out of the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Energy and Environmental Education. The program was originally founded in 2009 to address sustainable usage of energy resources in several Iowan communities as they struggled to rebuild from the devastating floods of 2008. Since then, Green Iowa AmeriCorps has been an active community partner and has expanded to many communities across the state.

Green Iowa AmeriCorps vision is to mobilize AmeriCorps members to engage communities in environmental stewardship efforts, neighborhood revitalization projects, and boots-on-the-ground resources for energy efficiency services through Home Energy Audits and Energy Saver Kits.

Members are placed with one of our partnered host sites in communities across Iowa to further the mission work of both Green Iowa AmeriCorps and the host organization. Members help to provide practical solutions to community needs focusing on things like energy efficiency education and home audits, volunteer engagement, environmental stewardship, community de/construction projects, and much more!

Green Iowa's Focus Areas

  • Environmental Education
  • Community Outreach
  • Energy Efficiency Services
  • Climate Action Planning & Greenhouse Gas Inventory
  • Waste Auditing & Reduction
  • Tree Planting
  • Water Quality
  • Workforce Development

What does Green Iowa do in Ames?

Energy Audits

Our energy audits consist of two parts: the initial walk through and the blower door test. During the initial walkthrough members will identify areas where air may be leaking in and perform initial safety checks. The blower door is specialized equipment that allows us to measure the level of air infiltration by surveying the extent of air leaks in the home. Air infiltration raises the price of utility bills due to its impact on heating and cooling systems.

While the blower door test is running, members will walk through the home and search for areas where energy loss might be occurring. Depending on the amount of air leakage in your home, Green Iowa AmeriCorps Members can also complete weatherization services to help seal up the air leakages in your home.

Weatherization

Depending on the results of the initial Home Energy Audit, Green Iowa AmeriCorps members may proceed with weatherization services to address problem areas.
The program offers a few services to help reduce air infiltration and make efficient improvements in your home. Each home is different, but services are always provided at no cost to you. 
  • Windows: Permanent solutions such as caulking and sealing around the window frame. Seasonal (temporary) solutions include rope caulking.
  • Doors: Installing weather stripping, door sweeps, caulking.
  • Attic Access: Insulating attic access door, seal perimeter with foam tape, ensure a tight seal with a latch lock or weight.
  • Outlets: Insulating outlets and light switches with foam gaskets.
  • Rim Joints: Sealing the area where the foundation meets the house frame with friction-fit rigid foam and caulk.
  • Ducts: Sealing duct joints with HVAC tape and/or mastic
  • Water Pipes: Insulating hot and cold-water pipes with foam sleeves to reduce conductive heat loss.
  • Efficiency Improvements: Installing Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and low-flow sink & shower aerators

Outreach

  • Green Iowa members plan and participate in community outreach projects to engage volunteers and do meaningful, impactful work in the communities they serve. Volunteer engagement is a key component of the service work members complete throughout their service terms.
  • City of Ames Green Iowa members assist in planning and staffing at various City sustainability events, and environmental education events including EcoFair, Rummage RAMPage, and the Farmer’s Market.

For more information about The City's partnership with Green Iowa, email or call us at amesgreeniowa@cityofames.org or 515-239-5155.

blower door

Blower door test

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gas detector

Natural gas leak detector

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Tabling

Tabling at an ISU event on campus

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