Beautiful fall weather and the smiles of 61 homeowners welcomed volunteers Saturday, Oct. 22, during the first Energy Makeover Day sponsored by Central Rural Electric Cooperative, a Smart Energy Source partner.

In the first event of its kind for the Energy Makeover program, more than 150 volunteers from12 Stillwater and Perkins churches and CREC spread out across central Payne County to make energy efficiency improvements at 61 homes in one day. Teams of volunteers caulked windows, weather stripped doors, replaced inefficient incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), insulated wall switch and socket plates and checked water heater temperatures.

The goals of the event were to spread the word about the value of making simple, inexpensive home energy efficiency improvements and give area churches an opportunity to reach out in fellowship and caring to their neighbors in and around Stillwater.

Participating Stillwater churches included Community of Christ, Eagle Heights Baptist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Hillcrest Baptist Church in partnership with Cowboys for Compassion, Life Church, Lost Creek United Methodist Church, New Covenant Fellowship, Solid Rock Church and University Heights Baptist Church. Perkins churches included Eden Chapel United Methodist Church and Immanuel Baptist Church.

In addition, 10 CREC employee volunteers and spouses also did work at homes while other employee volunteers prepared food for a celebration cookout at the cooperative following the day’s work. All energy efficiency supplies and required tools were provided by CREC, which also conducted weatherization training for all volunteers.

Started three years ago by CREC, the Energy Makeover program began as a way to partner with churches to provide energy efficiency assistance at individual homes. This year, the program’s organizers realized that much more work could be done, and many more homeowners reached, with a larger pool of workers.

The Energy Makeover Day was also an opportunity to introduce participants to the Smart Energy Source partnership and the campaign Building Our Energy Future Together. Energy audit and efficiency initiatives will be an important part of the Smart Energy Source partnership, which includes the City of Stillwater, Oklahoma State University and the engineering firm C.H. Guernsey & Co.

For more information, visit www.theenergymakeover.coop and watch for announcements about more Energy Makeover Days in CREC’s service area. Learn more about Smart Energy Source at www.BuildingOurEnergyFutureTogether.com.