POWERGRAMS

33 Jimmy Harmon got more than he bargained for when he decided to make a house energy-efficient at the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch. The staff he directs in Camp Hill cares for children in Tallapoosa, Lee and Chambers counties by removing them from bad situations and providing a stable home life. "One of the big misconceptions is that our kids are juvenile delinquents, and that's not true," Harmon said. "They are girls in bad situations and we want to get them out before they make poor choices. We want to be proactive rather than reactive." The Girls Ranch has three houses that are home to 17 girls. Each home has host parents, who concentrate on quality care and healthy family dynamics, and Harmon says it's working. He is a believer in the importance of education, but also emphasizes a strong work ethic. When the girls return from school each day, they take care of animals and work in the garden. The average GPA on the ranch is 3.3. When Harmon was hired in 2014, he was tasked with rebuilding the ranch. He reviewed everything from programs to infrastructure, and found the houses at the ranch needed a lot of help to be more comfortable and energy-efficient. "Our homes were built in 1973 by volunteers. There is no insulation, the ductwork needed replaced and windows were old," said Harmon. "We quickly realized it was a big project." Harmon found out about the Efficiency Forward grants offered by the Alabama Business Charitable (ABC) Trust Fund and decided to apply. Part of the grant process is identifying the needs of each nonprofit to ensure they efficiently use the money. Harmon worked with Eastern Division Market Specialists Trey Caton and Larry Lisenbee to identify the Newman Home as the least energy-efficient. The Newman Home houses 12 people – the host parents, their three children and seven girls. The home has three heating and cooling units, one of which Caton determined needed replacing immediately. In addition, the home had leaky and separated ductwork. The Efficiency Forward grant paid for a new heat pump, as well as to seal the ductwork and add insulation. "The ranch plays such a big, charitable role in the community that we work in, and they are truly saving the lives of these young women," Caton said. "It's a joy to be part of a team that will give to an organization that's as important to its community as they are." Marshall Griffin, business office manager in Alexander City and Dadeville, echoed Caton's thoughts. Ranch Blessing BY ERIN SEARSON GRANT BOOSTS HOME EFFICIENCY, LOWERS BILLS COMMUNITY Photography by Wynter Byrd A school bus brings students back home to the Tallapoosa County Girls Ranch near Camp Hill. An Efficiency Forward grant paid for a new heat pump.

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