Congressman Jim Moran, Virginia Democrat, visited a home in Alexandria on April 12 that had been recently weatherized. Weatherization services were provided by Community Housing Partners Corporation (CHPC) under guidelines set by the Virginia Weatherization Assistance Program. CHPC is a non-profit housing corporation that provides Weatherization services in Northern Virginia, as well as in other areas of the state.
Congressman Moran stated, “this local-state-federal partnership brings low-income families in Virginia and across the country life changing assistance. With gas and oil prices going through the roof, people’s wallets are being hit hard as they try to take care of their families. The Virginia Weatherization Assistance Program, operated by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, in conjunction with the Community Housing Partners Corporation cuts through the bureaucratic red tape to help make a difference in the lives of real people in need.”
Once the home is completely weatherized, the occupants are expected to save 26% in their total monthly energy bills. The Weatherization Assistance Program is the U.S. Department of Energy’s core program for reducing energy costs for low-income families through increased home energy efficiency, while ensuring health and safety. Over 2,500 homes were weatherized in Virginia last year.
ACID RAIN
Acid rain is a serious environmental problem that is increasing and is affecting large parts of the United States and Canada. Gaseous and particulate pollutants in the atmosphere – primarily sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) – are the main causes of acid rain. In the US, about 2/3 of all SO2 and ¼ of all NOx comes from electric power generation that relies on burning fossil fuels like coal. Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form acidic compounds. Sunlight increases the rate of most of these reactions. The result is a mild solution of sulfuric and nitric acid that mixes with natural rainfall.
Acid rain penetrates deeply into the fabric of an ecosystem, changing the chemistry of the soil, changing the chemistry of lakes and streams, and reducing dramatically the space where certain plants and animals can live. These changes can take decades or even centuries – especially in the case of acid deposited into soils – to heal.
Acid rain is another by-product of energy use and represents another reason to make changes in order to preserve and protect our environment. Energy conservation, burning natural gas in power plants instead of coal, installing scrubbers in old coal-fired power plants, using more renewable energy resources, and spending more money to restore damaged ecosystems are steps that must be taken as the threat of acid rain increases and continues.
AECP ANNUAL MEETING
AECP will hold its annual membership meeting on June 13, 2005 at the Hilton Hotel in Virginia Beach. The meeting will be from 10-12 and all AECP members are invited to attend.
AECP WORKSHOP
Another AECP workshop on how to obtain a Virginia Contractors license will be held in Charlottesville on June 7 and 8. The first workshop was held in Lynchburg on April 27 and 28. Virginia Weatherization programs will now be required to hold a class A or B license and AECP is offering workshops to help people understand the application process and successfully take the required exam.
FLOYD ART CENTER SPONSORS ART FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS
The Jacksonville Center, home for AECP headquarters, is hosting an exhibit of art comprised from recycled materials. In honor of Earth Day, the exhibit opened on April 22 and will run until early June. The art represented in the exhibit run the gamut from recycled polystyrene, discarded dictionary paper, recycled business envelopes, products from demolitions, discarded building materials, old cardboard, engine parts, and much more. The art is beautiful to look at and exists as a reminder that recycling and re-using materials of all types is a vital and important sustainable activity.
ENERGY TIP
You can reduce your air-conditioning costs by 8% simply by changing the thermostat setting a degree or two. For energy conservation we recommend a summer setting of 78 degrees.