News release
Running a non-profit community center out of a facility built nearly 60 years ago presents unique operational challenges, oftentimes equating to wasted resources. After years of excessively high energy bills, the historic Hall Neighborhood House on Bridgeport’s East Side has been able to cut approximately $15,000 in annual operational expenses by making energy efficiency upgrades. Those cost savings can be redirected into the facility’s daycare, pre-school, after-school care, adult and senior programs.
United Illuminating (UI), a subsidiary of AVANGRID, Inc, provided technical assistance to help Hall tap available resources through the Energize Connecticut initiative to update lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. The Hall received over $50,000 in gas and electric incentives from the Small Business Energy Advantage program and also qualified for $100,000 in zero percent financing offered through the program. The energy savings achieved each month will offset the monthly zero percent loan installment.
“Any change that helps us run more cost effectively is appreciated by our donors; we are responsible to them and to the community we serve to direct funds to programs, not to unnecessary maintenance,” said Hall Executive Director Robert Dzurenda. “Better lighting is great for educational areas and the gymnasium but it also provides improved safety and security, particular with so much foot traffic in and out of the building at night.”
During the upgrade process, Hall took the opportunity to educate its student communities, integrating lessons as changes were made. After school students learned about technology, the benefits of energy cost savings and being socially responsible through energy conservation.
“Maintaining efficiency is essential for the cost-conscious operations of any non profit,” said Dennis O’Connor, Small Business program administrator at UI. “The custom energy solutions we offer are intended to make necessary improvements to aging facilities, updating the building and creating real long-term cost savings. Equipment upgrades help reduce operating costs and will ultimately help Hall Neighborhood House better serve the community.”
The building, which was constructed in 1957, can now better serve the community that has come to depend on it as a major resource center. Roughly 290 pre-school students, 300 after school students and 50 seniors use the facilities each day, making Hall Neighborhood House not only a community home, but a resource center for those residents who would otherwise have no resource for their child’s education or care.
The installation and upgrades were done when rooms were not being used, minimizing the impact the construction work had on day-to-day schedules and students’ lives. In addition to energy savings and increased safety, the upgrades helped improve the building’s overall look as well. Their next step, according to administration, is to assess the viability of installing solar panels at Hall.
About Hall Neighborhood House
In 1886, a group of community minded women started an organization to help young migrant families adjust to life in the industrious and growing community of Bridgeport, CT. One of the founders, Sarah Hall, donated her home as a residence for young women. The women of “Hall Home” received training and job placement assistance in the domestic and industrial sectors of the community. During the turn of the century, Hall House expanded into two residences in downtown Bridgeport and began offering nursery and day-care services. Hall House continued to expand and in 1957 became what in now known as Hall Neighborhood House.
There are two good American stories here. First, United Illuminating (UI), helping Hall Neighborhood House to cut energy costs to be redirected into the facility’s daycare, pre-school, after-school care, adult and senior programs. Hall Neighborhood House does much more than what is listed in this article, particularly with indoor basketball court where girls and boys practice and have basketball games all year long but especially during the winter and they are of all school grades.
The concept of a group of community minded women started in 1886 an organization to help young migrant families adjust to life in the industrious and growing community of Bridgeport, CT. Think about this, these migrant families received training and job placement assistance in the domestic and industrial sectors of the community. That is the American way but now we have President Trump changing the way young migrant families can inner America.