DENVER, April 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Food Bank of the Rockies is looking forward to spending less on energy and more on serving the needy after receiving a free energy upgrade for its headquarters warehouse in northeast Denver.

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The 106,000 square-foot facility recently was equipped with more than $103,000 worth of weatherization improvements through Energy Outreach Colorado's Nonprofit Energy Efficiency Program (NEEP), which provides free energy audits and efficiency upgrades for qualifying nonprofit facilities across the state.  

Energy Outreach, Xcel Energy and the Denver Office of Strategic Partnerships funded the installation of radiant heaters, pipe insulation, air curtains for walk-in coolers, occupancy sensors and faucet aerators.  The facility also was equipped with new refrigerators and merchandisers.

The improvements are projected to save Food Bank of the Rockies about $7,000 annually in energy costs – funds that can be used instead for food and other essentials.

"We were so excited to have the opportunity to upgrade our facility to be more energy efficient," said Kevin Seggelke, president and CEO of Food Bank of the Rockies.  "Because of this generous gift, we'll continue to save money we'd normally spend on energy and be able to provide more food to our neighbors in need year after year. This year alone, that means an extra 28,000 meals!  The savings is significant and we are extremely grateful."

The headquarters facility, built in 1977, serves as a receiving site for manufacturers, retailers, warehouses, government and other sources and as a main distribution hub for most of the hunger relief agencies it serves, including Food Bank of the Rockies' branch food warehouses in Grand Junction and Casper, WY.

EOC established NEEP in 2007 to help nonprofit facilities reduce operating costs and continue to provide vital community services.  NEEP has received funding for other projects from United Power, Tri-State Generation & Transmission Co., EnCana Oil and Gas, Noble Energy and the StePP Foundation.  Since 2007, it has provided 92 nonprofit facilities owned by 53 organizations with free energy audits and efficiency upgrades.

About Energy Outreach Colorado

Energy Outreach Colorado is the only independent, non-profit organization in the state that raises money to help limited income Coloradans afford home energy.  Since 1989, EOC has distributed nearly $123 million to fund energy bill payment assistance and energy efficiency upgrades for affordable housing.  Energy Outreach Colorado relies on private donations, corporate contributions and foundation grants.  It has received top ratings from Charity Navigator for eight consecutive years and is an accredited charity by the Better Business Bureau.  Energy Outreach Colorado, www.EnergyOutreach.org, can be reached at 303-825-8750 or at 225 E. 16th Ave. Ste. 200, Denver, CO  80203-1612.

About Food Bank of the Rockies

Food Bank of the Rockies, a non-profit organization, distributed nearly 36 million pounds of food last year through 800 partner agencies. Those agencies administer 1,100 hunger-relief programs in Northern Colorado, including Metro Denver, and the entire state of Wyoming. Of the 367,000 people served annually, nearly half are children. Since 1978, FBR has provided 392 million pounds of food to our member agencies, which translates to more than 298 million meals for people in need. Food Bank of the Rockies' key programs are Fighting Hunger Feeding Hope, Denver's Table Food Rescue and FBR's Nutrition Network for children and seniors. Food Bank of the Rockies is a member of Feeding America™. For additional information, please visit www.foodbankrockies.org.

SOURCE Energy Outreach Colorado