Originally published in the Park Bugle, August 2026.
Whether you own an older home, a newer home, or something in between, understanding how your home uses energy can make a big difference in comfort, costs, and long-term planning.
This summer, the St. Anthony Park Community Council (SAPCC) launched a free online Home Energy Course to help homeowners make informed decisions about energy improvements, comfort, and home performance.
Developed with support from a Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Climate Action grant, the self-paced course is available to anyone and covers topics ranging from insulation and air sealing to heating systems, electrification, financing, rebates, and planning home improvements over time.
Unlike many home improvement resources that focus on individual products or upgrades, the course emphasizes viewing a home as an interconnected system.
“A home is not just a furnace, an attic, a water heater, or a set of windows,” said Tim Wulling of Transition Town – ASAP, who led development of the course curriculum. “It is a system. When people understand how the pieces work together, they can make better decisions, avoid costly mistakes, and plan improvements in a way that fits their own home. That’s really what this course is designed to help people do.”
The self-paced course is designed as an introduction to home energy performance, making complex topics approachable without oversimplifying them. Across eight learning modules, participants work through short lessons illustrated with custom graphics, reflection questions, knowledge checks, and quizzes that reinforce key concepts while encouraging homeowners to think about their own homes.
The course was developed with accessibility in mind, recognizing that homeowners come to the topic with different levels of experience. Whether someone is just beginning to explore energy improvements or preparing for a major renovation, the lessons are designed to build confidence one step at a time. Participants can complete the course at their own pace from any computer, tablet, or smartphone.
The result is a practical learning resource designed to help homeowners build confidence and make informed decisions about improving the comfort, efficiency, and long-term performance of their homes.
“This course reflects the kind of practical, neighborhood-based education SAPCC wants to make available to everyone,” said Bobby McPherson, SAPCC’s Associate Director. “We’re excited that the MPCA grant helped us build something residents can use on their own schedule, and we hope it’s the first of many free online learning resources we’ll offer our community.”
The course also fits into SAPCC’s broader climate and community resilience work. Residential energy use is one of the places where individual decisions and collective impact meet. Helping neighbors understand their options can support lower energy bills, more comfortable homes, and better planning for future upgrades.
Wulling said the goal is not to tell people there is one right path, but to help them understand their home well enough to make informed choices.
“My hope is that this course gives people the confidence to ask good questions, make thoughtful decisions, and develop a long-term plan that works for their home,” Wulling said.
The Home Energy Course is absolutely free and available anytime at sapcc.org/hec. Whether you own a century-old house, a newer home, or are simply interested in learning more about how homes use energy, the course offers practical information you can use at your own pace.
As SAPCC celebrates its 50th year of community engagement, the organization hopes this new educational resource will become part of a growing library of online learning opportunities that help neighbors make informed decisions, strengthen their homes, and build a more resilient community.