CEC provides energy efficiency & green building solutions to homes and buildings in the NY Metro Area. The not-for-profit Community Environmental Center (CEC) was founded in 1994 by Richard M. Cherry to address the housing and energy efficiency needs of low- and middle-income communities. The buildings in these neighborhoods were frequently run-down and unsafe. Residents spent their wages heating poorly insulated rooms in winter or cooling them in summer. Boilers and furnaces often did not function properly, and the resulting damage to the environment was immense. Since 1994, CEC has grown into the largest not-for-profit energy-conservation organization in New York State and holds the states largest contract for weatherization assistance services. Through weatherization CEC has helped over 300,000 people save more than $270 million in utility costs and prevented the emission of over 750,000 tons of carbon dioxide. Today CEC is a leader in the burgeoning energy-efficiency field. The company is a major provider of consulting and technical services for green buildings. CEC has expanded its programs to include green jobs training for the new green economy, the salvaging and reuse of building materials, and educating young people about their role in the future of the planet. With skill, dedication, and foresight, and commitment to environmentally sound public policy, CEC is in a unique position to fulfill that goal.