Howard Brooks has been the CEO of the Energy Resource Center for the past 15 years.
During his tenure, ERC, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has grown from one office (in Colorado Springs) and 15 employees to five offices across the state employing 120 people.
The work provides free energy-efficiency upgrades, including furnaces, insulation, refrigerators and water heaters, to lower-income households. Collectively, ERC saves clients approximately $300,000 in utility bills annually, allowing them to better afford other life essentials such as food and medication.
The work also preserves the environment by sealing homes, which reduces the carbon footprint of each household served. Annually, these weatherization measures prevent 3.4 million pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere across the 27 counties served.
In March, Howard is retiring. Before ERC, he worked at Pikes Peak United Way for eight years. This combined community service of more than 20 years has created a significant impact on the well-being of many organizations and people in the Pikes Peak region.
In addition to this notable achievement, he quietly supports and mentors many local community members, serves on local boards of directors for nonprofits and generally moves with benevolence, care and compassion for people and the planet.
ERC saves clients approximately $300,000 in utility bills annually.
Howard will be missed at ERC and as a local leader. However, his loved ones believe he has plenty of new ventures and adventures waiting for him in the next chapter. Watch for Howard, a Westside resident, on local trails riding his bike, running and hiking.
Tell us about yourself.
Completing the Colorado 14er quest was fun. My wife, Dale, and I have a Sprinter van for travel and camping. We enjoy hiking, hut ski trips and being outdoors. I am doing triathlons and painting in my spare time.
Tell us about your organization and how it helps the environment.
The Energy Resource Center makes homes energy-efficient for families in need. We provide no-cost insulation and air sealing, as well as heating appliance repairs and replacements.
Why is this work important?
Our poorest neighbors tend to live in the least energy-efficient homes, so they have high energy bills. They often must skip meals or medications to keep the lights and heat on. Their inefficient homes are also severely polluting the atmosphere.
What is the Pikes Peak region doing well regarding the environment and sustainability?
The ERC started in El Paso County in the 1970s, and has now expanded to serve more than half of Colorado families. Colorado Springs Utilities is also a leader in helping low-income families in its service territory.
Where does our region need to improve?
Let’s adopt the most recent building codes for efficiency. It is easier and cheaper to build homes efficiently and much more expensive to retrofit them later.