Every community purchase provides a boost to local areas in need of jobs or business opportunity Groundswell guides community members in coordinating their home energy upgrades.

Pooling residents’ purchasing power helps lock in a discounted rate for efficiency services, generates savings for each household budget and lowers families’ energy use.

The initiative makes investing in home energy efficiency simple and affordable.

By engaging as a group, residents lower the cost of investing in efficiency upgrades. In Silver Spring, Maryland, families who coordinated their home energy improvements saved on average 15 percent. Local and Federal tax incentives provided additional savings.

With Groundswell, participants help choose the social impacts they would like their group purchase to createBy vetting local small businesses, Groundswell ensures residents hire contractors that deliver top-quality service. We only work with Building Performance Institute (BPI) certified contractors. 

Impacting the Broader Community

Participants use their strengthened economic power to reinvest in their local communities. Every project is designed to create a unique community benefit. Residents give input into the social impacts they would like their group purchase to create.

The Process

Groundswell

• Partners with neighborhood associations and other community networks to create simple ways for members to participate.
• Organizes individuals into bundled requests across neighborhoods.
• Supports representatives of the purchasing group with the selection of a local business to
• Perform the work based on pricing, quality and their social impact.

Interested in starting a community efficiency project on your street?

To learn more, contact Field Program Manager Ayla Schlosser at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 202.630.9381.