Reaching Floridians: Building Energy Awareness Through Extension
By Lesly Jerome
University of Florida Center for Land Use Efficiency.
Across Florida, county Extension agents are helping residents save energy, lower water use, and strengthen community well-being. The REACH Program, which stands for Resources for Efficiency, Affordability, and Community Health, supports this work through statewide efforts that bring energy education and practical tools directly into local communities.
The program aims to equip county Extension agents with expertise and resources to foster energy-efficient practices, reduce costs, and enhance community well-being. Through strategic partnerships with the University of Florida and Florida A&M University, REACH reflects a collaborative approach to achieving statewide energy goals. It brings together the experience of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the Florida Energy Extension Coalition, and local partners such as the Community Weatherization Coalition to ensure that every county has access to quality training and support.
This year, REACH entered a major implementation phase. Materials have now been delivered to fifteen participating counties, representing nearly seven million Floridians. Each county received Energy and Water Efficiency Workshop Kits designed to support agents as they deliver hands-on programs that help residents save on utility costs. The kits include items such as LED bulbs, faucet aerators, leak detection tabs, and door sweeps, which are practical tools that residents can use to make immediate improvements in their homes. Agents have also participated in both online and hands-on training to strengthen their understanding of household water use and to prepare them for leading workshops on home energy and water efficiency and conservation. Additional sessions will continue to build skills and competency to help support energy programs at the county level.
Counties also received Home Energy and Water Efficiency Library Backpacks, which are available for residents to check out through their local library
systems or Extension offices. Each backpack includes devices such as Kill-A-Watt meters, a combined hygrometer and thermometer, and a Home Energy and Water Evaluation Guide. The guide helps residents learn about home energy and water use while assessing their own homes. While the workshops introduce broad concepts about how energy and water flow through a home, the backpacks are designed to help participants apply that knowledge in their own living spaces.
Across participating counties, agents are already incorporating these materials into their Extension work. Some are hosting community programs in partnership with libraries and neighborhood groups, while others are introducing the materials through existing healthy homes or family and consumer sciences programming. Early feedback has been positive. Agents report that the kits provide a clear way to engage residents and demonstrate results that participants can see and feel.
The collaborative framework has also strengthened coordination between UF and FAMU Extension programs. By sharing training materials, evaluation tools, and outreach strategies, the REACH network is building a statewide foundation for sustained community engagement on energy and water issues.
Through this work, REACH demonstrates the capacity of Extension to connect research and education with the daily realities faced by Florida households. The program supports the mission of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service and aligns with the goals of the Association of Natural Resource Extension Professionals by advancing environmental stewardship, affordability, and community resilience.
The statewide rollout of REACH is more than a delivery effort. It represents a coordinated movement to help Floridians understand and manage their home systems more effectively through education, access, and collaboration.
For more information about the REACH Program, visit the Center for Land Use Efficiency website.
