As we all shift our routines in an effort to stay safe and healthy in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Metropolitan Energy Center is exploring ways to adjust to the new normal. We want you to know we share the collective confusion and frustration of our friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Please remember we are all in this together. Be patient, be kind. And if you need us, we’ll be here, because we have been for over 35 years.

What We’re Doing

As the situation evolves, we are continually adjusting our response. At this time, our dedicated staff are working from home, in consideration of the CDC recommendations and in compliance with the KC Metro stay-at-home order, effective Tuesday, March 25. We are finding innovative ways to support our communities and continue our technical support for regional alternative fuels and energy efficiency advancements.

Staff can best be reached by email, though phone calls are still welcome and will be routed to the appropriate staff as soon as possible on the day the calls are received.

For scheduled meetings and events:

  • All in-person meetings and events for the next 8 weeks are postponed, moved online, or cancelled.
  • Scheduled conference calls will go on and will now offer a web connection in case you are unable to join through a phone connection.

For projects and project deliverables:

  • Staff are conducting a COVID-19 risk assessment for all ongoing projects. If you are involved in a project and believe restrictions due to the crisis present a risk to you meeting your objectives, please notify your MEC staff contact immediately.

Hidden Costs and Silver Linings

This pandemic is something new for nearly all of us. Some Americans—those 75 and older—will remember the polio epidemic of the 1940s and 1950s. But for most of us, this means making changes in the ways we work, live and travel that we’ve never experienced before.

If there’s any sort of silver lining to this situation, it’s that finding new ways to work and move in the next months may lead to longer-term solutions that can improve health outcomes for everyone. COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, and good respiratory health is critical—now, in dealing with this disease, and for our community’s overall health in the future. MEC has worked for decades to cut toxic emissions with energy efficiency, cleaner fuels, intelligent transportation and building systems, and a cleaner, more efficient freight network. This work continues, with our diverse community and stakeholders in mind, and is more critical today than at any other point in history.

What You Can Do

#StayHomeKC. On March 21, elected officials in Jackson, Johnson and Wyandotte counties and the city of Kansas City, Missouri, announced a 30-day stay-at-home order. Other counties in the region have enacted various restrictions to help slow the spread of COVID-19. State and local guidelines are changing rapidly as more cases are confirmed.

For the latest information, check your local health department or city/county websites.

If you should venture away from home, please remember: exhaust irritates lungs. For the sake of those experiencing respiratory difficulty, turn off your engine if you will be waiting for a friend carpooling with you, for car-side delivery service, etc.

Take advantage of your reduced commute time to get outdoors more. Biking, walking and hiking can be done alone, with your pets, or in small groups adhering to social distancing practices.

Some outdoor volunteering opportunities may continue, in small groups adhering to social distancing practices, especially orgs doing wildland management, gardening and cultivation, tree planting, and the like. Carefully evaluate your host’s safety and health policies and practices before signing up. Due to the stay-at-home order, many of these events may be cancelled as well, so contact your host to confirm before showing up.

If you’re a volunteer and miss in-person group volunteering events, stay engaged through GlobalGiving. GlobalGiving’s virtual skilled volunteering platform, GlobalGivingTime, can match you with interesting opportunities from vetted nonprofits around the world, from the convenience of your desk.

Stay Informed

Metro KC officials are keeping PrepareMetroKC.org updated as new information becomes available.

As you know, this situation is continually shifting. We will monitor developments to adhere to federal, state and local advisories, and support the region’s efforts to protect the health and safety of the public.

After two months of crowdfunding, we were able to reach our goal to re-open Project Living Proof. A special thank you to Posty Cards for their additional $500 donation (total $1,000 donation)that put us over our $10,000 goal. In total, we were able to raise $10,575 that will be used to complete several renovation projects and set the model demonstration home up for future improvements.

Even now, preparations are being made for our grand re-opening party that is set for Friday, December 4th at Project Living Proof. We are planning a low key evening to help thank ever Friend of PLP that helped make its re-opening a possibility. Please stay tuned to your email for more.

Local electric utility Kansas City Power & Light has plugged into Project Living Proof’s (PLP) crowdfunding campaign in a big way. The utility has agreed to donate $2,500 to help PLP reach its $10,000 goal.

Since the early beginnings of the home, KCP&L has been an earnest partner with Metropolitan Energy Center. Whether it was helping to retrofit the demonstration home, helping homeowners with home energy rebates or sharing the SmartGrid program with the community, KCP&L and MEC have worked together on several occasions to educate homeowners about the benefits of energy efficiency.

The donation brings PLP to within $1,100 of its monetary goal. After the goal is reached, Metropolitan Energy Center will not only throw a grand re-opening party but also work to complete the original vision for the demonstration home.

If you would like to help KCP&L, MEC and the many friends of PLP reach its monetary goal, please click here to donate.

Take a look at a few people who have been inspired by Project Living Proof and what a tour of the building has meant in their lives.

PLP-Rachel-Testimonial from hiram williams on Vimeo. PLP-Jim-Testimonial from hiram williams on Vimeo.
Twana Hall-Scott testimonial: The power of leveraging PLP for real estate professionals Lisa Hummel explains how PLP helped her make the right decisions

MGE:LG_LogoMGE / Laclede has turned up the proverbial gas on all Project Living Proof supporters. The gas company is offering to match any donation to PLP up to $2,500. For example, if you donate $25 they will match your $25 contribution and PLP benefits with a $50 donation. You give $50, MGE will give $50, PLP will get $100 and so on and so forth.

Metropolitan Energy Center thanks MGE/Laclede and all of the donors who have given their time and money to support Project Living Proof. This one-of-a-kind demonstration home may have to close its doors without community support.

There’s not been a better time to give. Please give today and be a friend of Project Living Proof.

Metropolitan Energy Center is launching a Crowdfunding Campaign to Re-Open Project Living Proof!

Over the past year and a half PLP has been closed due to a series of unfortunate circumstances, including a water main break.  We are now ready to re-open PLP to fulfill its purpose of being an energy efficiency home model, cultural center, and a Kansas City treasure!

We thank the following donors who have allowed us to recognize them as Friends of PLP:

Bob Housh Gerald Schechter Margaret Richcreek Laura Lombardi
Susan Brown Kate Corwin Jennifer Gunby Amanda Wilson
Hiram Williams Warren Adams-Leavitt Kelly Gilbert Sandi Garrison
See more Friends

 

Project Living Proof frequently asked questions (FAQ).

See our crowdfunding press release.

See testimonials from people who have experienced PLP: Rachel MacNair | Jim Rice

Please help Project Living Proof Re-Open!  Donate today!

Perks (limited number): Purses | Wine