SEEDS of Northeastern Pennsylvania

Empowering sustainable living in our communities.

Thanks to donors like you, SEEDS will be able to continue strengthening energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable technologies adoptions in Northeastern Pennsylvania through the programs listed below. Please support this work that is primarily run by volunteers.

Energy Efficiency

Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support (SEEDS) hosts a Home Energy Efficiency Assessment Program, a free, summer-long initiative designed to help homeowners understand their energy use, lower their utility bills, and improve household comfort through personalized, one-on-one energy coaching.

Running from May through the end of August, the program provides residents with individualized support that begins with a conversation. SEEDS staff and volunteers work directly with homeowners to review energy bills, walk through a simple energy efficiency checklist, and identify practical, low-cost actions that can reduce energy waste.

For homeowners who choose to participate further, SEEDS also offers in-home energy efficiency assessments. While these assessments are not professional energy audits, they provide a hands-on walkthrough of the home and result in a clear, written list of energy-saving recommendations tailored to the household.

The assessments focus on everyday factors that affect energy use, including air leaks, insulation basics, moisture control, ventilation, lighting, water use, and household energy habits. Recommendations may include simple fixes such as sealing small air gaps, adjusting thermostat use, or upgrading to more efficient lighting—steps that can add up to meaningful savings over time.

Participation in the program is free, and there is no obligation to make upgrades or purchase services. SEEDS does not sell products or perform repairs.

Renewable Energy

This October we are planning a Solar Bus Tour of homes in our area that have benefited from solar installations. Our volunteers present a DIY Solar Workshop each fall. Through this program, regular people learn, hands-on, how to install solar PV technology while minimizing the cost. SEEDS regularly conducts free solar PV assessments, as well as, hands-on training workshops on solar photovoltaics, solar thermal, and small-scale wind. These trainings provided more than 60 local contractors, residents and business professionals with hands-on installation experience and top of the line training in renewable energy. Your gift will help us educate community members to make an informed choice about when and how to install solar.

BOOK SHARE

Each year, we start with no books on the shelves, and individuals are asked to drop off books to find new homes. 188 volunteers, donating 747 hours of their personal time, then worked over a 5-day period to sort and shelve all the books donated. It is an incredible undertaking and one of the biggest recycling events in our region. Many of the volunteers return year after year. Some of these volunteers include SEEDS Board Members, but most of them are avid readers with a sincere love of books, and recycling.

The books that are donated are then sorted by topic for easy reference, such as arts and crafts, history, business, and a large assortment of non-fiction. The children’s book section is always a popular stop for families looking to expand their children’s library at no cost. At the end of the Book Share, the books not taken are either recycled or shipped to New Legacy Books in New Jersey. New Legacy is a company that resells books to raise funds for non-profits in their community.

If this sounds like an event you can’t miss, mark your calendars as the 2026 event has been set for September 19th and 20th at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. If you have a library of books or just a few to donate, start collecting now! If you would like to make a monetary donation to help support the Book Share or sign up to get updates on next year’s event visit the SEEDS website at www.seedgroup.net.