ReduceYourUse2010First Choice Power awarded a Brownwood nonprofit its “Reduce Your Use” grant. The $2,000 grant provides funding for energy-efficiency products and services to reduce nonprofits’ energy usage and costs now and in the future.

“These grants enable nonprofits around Texas to decrease their energy use, allowing them to dedicate their time and resources toward the long-term vision of achieving their missions,” said Brian Hayduk, president of First Choice Power.

While 26 nonprofits will receive the grant across Texas, each located in communities served by First Choice Power.

Keep Brownwood Beautiful has been awarded with a 2010 Reduce Your Use Grant. The funds will be used for the development of the Community Plaza located near the Austin Avenue overpass, promoting education and environmentally friendly practices including:

  • Solar lighting
  • Permanent citywide clean-up events, in-town recycling and educational classes about environmental issues;
  • Permeable driveway, parking area and walkways to demonstrate low impact and storm water friendly alternative to asphalt and concrete;
  • Demonstration garden of native and well-adapted plants of this region to teach citizens low water usage gardening techniques;
  • Compost; and
  • Outdoor, hands-on learning environment for schools to use with specific sites developed that enhance curricula such as Waste In Place and Project Learning Tree.

“We are thrilled to have this opportunity from First Choice Power to demonstrate usage and the practicalities of solar lighting options.  The community plaza is a place for all of our community to learn about various environmental issues” said Cary Perrin, Program Coordinator of Keep Brownwood Beautiful.

Perrin said that the solar lights have ordered and will be installed in the community plaza and Brownwood Area Community Garden as soon as they arrive.

See a video of Perrin from the Community Plaza as she explains the plans for the area.

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