CANTON - St. Lawrence University has partnered with the AmeriCorps Campus Compact Campus Climate Action Corps (CCAC) program to host a Climate Action Leader on campus.

Evelyn Laferriere, a Clarkson University alum, will be working with Michael Iversen (SLU Director of Sustainability and Energy Management), on various projects on campus and in the Canton community through July 31st.

One of the main goals of the CCAC program is to lower energy use and energy costs for low-income households.

Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) Energy Navigator Volunteer Program, in conjunction with the North Country Regional Clean Energy Hub, has trained Evelyn, two SLU students, and two community members in home energy efficiency.

Nick Hamilton-Honey, the North Country Energy Navigator Program Coordinator, trained this third class of Navigators in November and December 2023.

Training is held four times a year and registration is open to all residents of the North Country, please visit the CCE of St. Lawrence County website for more information.

According to CCE’s Energy Navigator Job Description, “Energy Navigators are concerned and capable residents who help their friends, neighbors and other community members learn about ways they can reduce their energy use and energy bills and use renewable forms of energy to heat and power their homes.

In particular, Navigators focus on programs that cover costs of energy efficiency, renewable heating and solar for households with limited income. Navigators provide one-on-one advising to interested residents, including doing walkthrough home visits with hands-on demonstrations of energy-saving strategies.”

As part of the CCAC program, Evelyn and the two SLU students have a goal of reaching 50 households in the Canton community. This includes in person visits, conversations at tabling events and other presentations, as well as phone calls and Zoom meetings.

To learn more about Energy Navigators, requesting a home visit or presentation, or becoming a volunteer, contact Nick Hamilton-Honey at 315-379-9192 ext. 230 or nh327@cornell.edu.