Spring Volunteer Spotlight

The Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) and ComEd are no strangers to the Deborah’s Place newsletter. Last June, CNT and ComEd retrofitted light bulbs in the buildings at 1530 N. Sedgwick, replacing the old ones with new, long-lasting energy-efficient bulbs.

Well they’re at it again. This February the Center for Neighborhood Technology’s Energy Saver’s Program joined forces with ComEd Energy to provide and install 39 new energy-efficient refrigerators to the women who live in the Patty Crowley Apartments at 1530 North Sedgwick. Their assistance allows better food storage to women who have experienced homelessness and who are struggling to stay within their budgets. It also helps Deborah’s Place save money on our electric bills – money that can now be spent on vital services for women who need our support.

CNT Energy, founded in 2000 as an offshoot of CNT, is a non-profit organization helping consumers and communities obtain the information and services they need to control energy costs. As part of Chicago’s Preservation Compact, CNT Energy Saver’s Program goal is to promote more livable and sustainable urban communities and create more affordable rental housing units and found that Deborah’s Place had a great opportunity for energy savings. With a service grant from ComEd, CNT Energy went to work to replace the old refrigerators.
“Deborah’s Place is exactly that type of group that we want to partner with because they are providing a great social service,” said Peter Ludwig, a CNT Energy staff member working on the Energy Savers project. “We know that for nonprofit building owners that utility costs are the kind of thing that can eat in to people’s ability to run their organization. If helping DP allows them to put more money into actual programs, we see that as a great benefit to the neighborhood.”

Thank you to CNT Energy and ComEd for investing your time and resources into creating more affordable and efficient housing for Deborah’s Place.