Like so many Summit County residents, Mike and Emily Sarges each moved to Breckenridge telling themselves it was just temporary. Twenty years, a few career changes, and two kids later, they can’t imagine living anywhere else. “The community is the best part,” says Mike. “We’re all tight knit, we all have something in common. We feel like we’re part of the social fabric of Breckenridge.” 

That sense of community has led them to give back in meaningful ways, from coaching their sons’ t-ball teams to being stewards of our mountain environment. They first got engaged with HC3 through the composting program. “We haven’t had stinky garbage in a long time,” laughs Emily. Then they learned about HC3’s Solarize Summit program. “Solar was always a goal for us,” explains Mike. “We have so much sunshine, it makes sense to take advantage of that free energy.”  

Through the Solarize program, they also got a home energy audit. They gush about their auditor, who helped them identify opportunities for improving energy efficiency, like insulating the pipes in their crawlspace. HC3’s programs have helped Mike and Emily so much that they’ve successfully convinced several neighbors to participate in them, too. Next, they’re setting their sights on getting rid of all the natural gas appliances in their home – again, with support from HC3.  

To them, HC3 is just as important to the community as the people. “The programs are very recognizable and easy for people to participate in,” explains Emily. “We want to preserve what we have for future generations,” adds Mike. “We want our kids and our kids’ kids to be able to enjoy this place, too.” 

When you support HC3, you help protect our mountain community for future generations.