Success Stories

The Hopewell Community Church in Albert County is under the care of Pastor Gordon James, who as a community leader tries to make sure no one is left behind.

“It’s the routine thing that a pastor does, trying to find ways to help the people in need,” says Pastor James “We have so many people who are seniors who are having trouble with energy bills.”

Pastor James learned about the Community Outreach Program while researching rebates for seniors. He made a call to the Program Coordinator at NB Power and soon received 300 free energy efficiency kits.  This allowed Pastor James to show his members how little changes can make a difference.  Pastor James states “There are so many who are still running incandescent lights and wonder why their power bill is high."

His church is one of more than 100 community organizations in New Brunswick already given efficiency kits already through the program. It has allowed church members to bring easy-to-install energy-saving items into homes in the community and show residents how to install and use them.

“If you have to cut something, it’s going to be your internet or power bill and so people get behind on those,” Pastor James explained, “When I showed them some of the other things in the kit, like the outlet seals to stop drafts through the outer wall plug, they were really quite impressed”.

According to Brenda Dykeman, one of the great advantages of home care services is it allows older people to remain in charge of their own lives for as long as possible. Brenda founded Home Care Plus because she understands the importance of this. Today, her local business serves the senior population surrounding Cambridge Narrows.

When Brenda heard about the free energy efficiency kits offered through the Community Outreach Program, she immediately applied on behalf of her community. Once her organization was approved, she was sent 150 kits to distribute to her clients.  “Some homes I go into are drafty with old windows so they can use pretty much everything in the kit,” Brenda explained. “There is something in there for everyone.” She hopes her clients are saving a little bit every month by using the LED lightbulbs and stopping drafts with weatherstripping and outlet covers.

For people on fixed incomes, the kits were a pleasant surprise. “When I opened the kit with one of my 94-year-old clients, he was just thrilled with it, opening everything right away,” Brenda retells. “And for my clients, it’s just as much a wellness check and a way to socialize as it is about energy efficiency.”