Energy Smart Colorado
Energy Smart Colorado transforms the local energy efficiency market and stimulates home and business energy improvements through access to information, capital and a skilled workforce.
Message from Leadership
In 2025, Energy Smart Colorado successfully implemented the first year of a Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). The three-year award aims to build a sufficient workforce, address high energy costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions for households across the rural, mountain region of Colorado. In conjunction with utility partnerships, the EECBG funding is bringing down the cost of assessments and offsetting energy efficiency improvement costs for low-to-moderate income (LMI) households across western and central Colorado.
As we reflect on the original goals of an EECBG award that founded the Energy Smart program 15 years ago, we continue to fulfill its intention, “to fundamentally and permanently transform the demand for weatherization and energy retrofits while fostering job growth and energy conservation by directly addressing rural community barriers including lack of access to information about the viability of retrofits, financing mechanisms that work, and workers skilled in green retrofit techniques.” That focus continues through our collaboration with 11 sustainability organizations who are serving residents and businesses in 20 Colorado counties. This brief report reflects the achievements not just for 2025, but across the past 15 years.
— KASEY PROVORSE, Executive Director2025 Highlights
(as tracked by ESC Rebate Applications)
Workforce Development
In 2025, ESC provided $28,350 in reimbursements to 41 contractors, analysts and program managers for training, certifications, stipends, and energy testing equipment purchases, resulting in…
with renewed annual certifications
Since Energy Smart’s Inception in 2010…
Equivalent to removing 8,788 cars from the road
Since 2010, ESC has provided over $151,500 to contractors and program managers,
How We Are Funded
Energy Smart Colorado’s work is supported through a combination of federal funding, utility contracts, grants, member partnership contributions, and individual donations.
This includes support from the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG), which is helping to expand access to home energy assessments, energy efficiency upgrades, workforce development, and community outreach across the rural, mountain region of Colorado.
Community Engagement
Energy Smart Colorado is committed to ensuring that energy efficiency services are available to all communities. Through targeted outreach, approachable messaging, and a focus on dual-language resources, ESC dedicated its marketing in 2025 to reducing barriers to participation.
These efforts are helping to ensure that low- to moderate-income (LMI) households and historically underserved community groups can access energy savings, improve home comfort, and benefit from available programs. As a result, 330 assessments were delivered – nearly one-half of the energy assessments performed in 2025 – to LMI households.
Partners & Acknowledgments
Energy Smart Colorado works in close partnership with local governments, utilities, nonprofits, and contractors throughout its service territory. These partnerships strengthen program delivery, improve access to energy savings, and ensure services are responsive to local community goals and initiatives.
We recognize and thank the sustainability organizations, utility partners, and funders who generously contributed to and partnered with Energy Smart Colorado in 2025:
Our Mission
Making energy improvements simple and affordable for Colorado residents.
Who We Are
Energy Smart Colorado (ESC) began in 2010 as a federally funded program to promote energy efficiency in the central mountain region. Eagle County, Pitkin County and Gunnison County worked successfully with community-based nonprofits to make energy improvements simple and affordable for their residents and businesses.
In 2014, the Energy Smart program incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Today, ESC represents a network of 11 community partners working across 20 Colorado counties whose collective goal is to make energy efficiency improvements simple and affordable while advancing community climate action goals.
Energy Smart Colorado assists rural communities, consisting of non-profit entities, government agencies and utility providers, in developing and implementing energy efficiency and electrification programs. These programs help residents and businesses save money, decrease energy dependency, and reduce carbon emissions while also supporting local economic development. The network works on the idea of Collective Impact and that by working together and sharing resources, the group can have a larger impact.
In January 2025, ESC was recognized as Partner of the Year by Yampa Valley Sustainability Council (now Western Resilience Center)
What We Do
For Your Home: Energy Assessments
Energy Smart Colorado helps homeowners understand how their homes use energy and where improvements can be made. Through professional home energy assessments, residents receive a detailed evaluation of their home’s performance, along with personalized recommendations to improve comfort, safety, and efficiency. Energy Advisors guide participants through next steps and help prioritize cost effective improvement projects.
For Your Home: Retrofits, Rebates & Financing
Energy Smart Colorado connects residents with financial resources to make energy improvements more accessible. This includes rebates, incentives, on-bill repayment programs and financing options that help reduce upfront costs for retrofits including air sealing, insulation, and electrification. Participants receive guidance on available incentives and support navigating the process, making it easier to complete recommended upgrades and maximize savings.
For Your Business: Assessments, Rebates & Financing
Energy Smart Colorado supports local businesses in reducing energy use and operating costs through tailored energy assessments and access to financial incentives. Business owners receive expert guidance on efficiency opportunities and connections to funding sources that support upgrades. These services help strengthen local economies by reducing overhead costs while improving building performance, reducing operating costs, and decreasing carbon emissions.
Workforce Development & Contractor Engagement
Energy Smart Colorado invests in building a skilled local workforce to support energy efficiency projects across its service area. Through training, resources, and partnerships, ESC supports building analysts and contractors in delivering high-quality services while fostering sustainable clean energy careers. These efforts help strengthen the local energy efficiency economy while ensuring communities have access to qualified professionals to complete energy efficiency and electrification upgrades.
Our Territory
Through a network of local partners, Energy Smart Colorado serves rural and mountain communities across 20 counties. Through ESC’s community partners, residents and businesses are provided with energy assessments, direct install measures, advising on energy efficiency improvement recommendations, electrification opportunities, access to financing (including grants, rebates and loans), and connections to local contractors to complete retrofit projects.
Together, We’re Building a More Energy-Smart Colorado
Energy Smart Colorado remains committed to making energy improvements simple, affordable, and accessible for households and businesses across rural and mountain Colorado.