Watts in Your Hands?
About the Project
A Youth-Led Energy Efficiency Initiative in Hudson, NY
Watts in Your Hands? is a community project focused on making energy efficiency simple, affordable, and accessible. Led by Fathema Rahman (Workforce Development Coordinator, The Spark of Hudson), local high school students, and supported by Partners for Climate Action, the initiative centers on sustainability, leadership, and community action — connecting local residents to the resources and energy incentives they may qualify for.
To address energy loss in homes, the team partnered with Clean Energy Hub, a NYSERDA-supported program that helps Hudson residents conduct energy assessments on their homes. Throughout the planning process, Clean Energy Hub provided guidance, education, and energy-efficiency starter kits to make sustainable living accessible and impactful.
Why We Did It
Buildings are major contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, and everyday routines — running the dishwasher, heating, leaving lights on — waste energy when systems aren't optimized. Fortunately, small, cost-effective changes can make a real difference. The workshop focused on practical, low-barrier strategies residents could put to use right away:
Using LED bulbs instead of incandescent lighting
Sealing air leaks around doors and windows
Insulating pipes and attics
Understanding how to read energy bills and supplier rates
The Role of Youth Leadership
At the heart of Watts in Your Hands? is a belief that young people are leaders now — not leaders-in-waiting. Eight students from Hudson High School came together to design materials, plan the workshop, and collaborate with community partners, all to benefit their neighbors and environment.
Energy efficiency is a mindset, not just a checklist — understanding how small actions ripple through the larger system, and knowing how to optimize the energy that powers daily life. Ultimately, it's about caring for neighbors, homes, and the planet. Watts in Your Hands? marks a step toward a more sustainable Hudson, driven by the next generation of leaders.
What We Did
Hosted a community workshop welcoming over 25 individuals of all ages
Distributed 100+ energy-saving guidebooks to workshop attendees and the wider community
Gathered live poll data from participants during the workshop and incorporated the results directly into the guidebook
Partnered with Clean Energy Hub for expert guidance, education, and energy-efficiency starter kits
Designed and led by 8 Hudson High School students, from workshop materials to community outreach
What Participants Are Saying
"I live by a field and the wind somehow finds a way to sneak into my room. Winters especially are really hard, but I can't afford to replace my windows. I didn't know insulation kits really existed." —
- Workshop Participant
"Before this workshop, I didn't know that so many different things went into my energy bill."
- Hudson Resident
"I'm not a tool person, but this was easy. I needed my own scissors, and that was it."
- Workshop Participant
“It's crazy, up to this point in my life, I only ever looked at the number on my energy bill going up or down, and never really thought about what I could do about it. Helping put together this workshop and guidebook had me not just asking questions, but seeking out solutions too.”
- Fathema Rahman, Workforce Development Manager, The Spark of Hudson
