A Triple-Win Opportunity:

Laurium, MI: New Power Tour launched a weatherization program early this year, a unique combination of private, public and NGOs.

River Valley Bank seeded the startup, which enabled volunteers from the Kiwanis Club of the Copper Country to work with students from Horizons Alternative School in Mohawk.

An MTU Enterprise, ETEC (Efficiency Through Engineering and Construction) participated as well. This gave the high school students the chance to:
a) learn life-long skill sets for tightening up their future residences;
b) receive mentorship from college students to further their education; and
c) aid the elderly in saving money on their heat and electrical bills.

Worthy of mention is the satisfaction and sense of efficacy that service-learning builds immediately when making a positive difference in another's life.
Many thanks to Little Brothers - Friends of the Elderly for providing the referrals.

This fall, MTU and New Power Tour received funding through the Ford C3 Challenge grant to expand the program to thirty homes and added the participation of Bridge School in Hancock.