The U.S. Department of Energy has declared October 30 as National Weatherization Day in honor and recognition of the achievements and contributions of the Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP). WAP is the oldest, largest, most comprehensive, and most effective residential energy efficiency program in America. The program is comprised of a national energy efficiency workforce that operates in every town, city, county, and state in the country. The mission of the program is to reduce energy costs for low-income Americans by increasing the energy efficiency of their homes, while ensuring their health and safety. Over 100,000 homes were weatherized nationally and in Virginia over 2,000 homes were provided services last year. These services include heating system safety and efficiency testing, repair, and/or replacement, blower-door directed air sealing, advanced insulation applications, duct system diagnostics and repair, pressure balancing, carbon monoxide testing, moisture control, base load electric measures, water conservation, lighting efficiency, and energy education.
It is well known and documented that WAP is an energy saving program and a health and safety program but it is also a green building and an environmental program as well. The technology that WAP has pioneered and used in its program over the years is the same technology that is driving the green building movement in America. Blower door directed air-sealing, pressure balancing, duct diagnostics, insulation techniques, and indoor air quality measures are WAP technologies that are defining criteria for Energy Star homes, Earth Craft homes, LEED Standards for residential green building certification and paving the way for energy efficient building around the country.
Every weatherized home – on average – reduces carbon dioxide emissions by one metric ton. This means that there is a consistent and daily reduction in the greenhouse gas most responsible for global warming. It also means there is a consistent and daily reduction in air pollution and fine particulate matter that is the result of the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas. This reduction is responsible for saving thousands of lives annually, making our air cleaner to breathe, and protecting our environment and climate for generations to come.
Celebrating Weatherization Day is actually a celebration of responsible stewardship and effective management of the planet we all live on. The program benefits everyone – not just the families who are receiving weatherization services.
AECP’S ENERGY EXPO IS ON SCHEDULE
Mark your calendars and spread the word – AECP’s fifth annual Green Living and Energy Expo will be coming to the Roanoke Civic Center on December 3 and 4, 2004. As in the past this event promises to be an exciting educational opportunity that will inspire, inform and enable the public about important issues that will allow people to make better decisions and smarter choices. All of which will help folks save money, save energy, save on our natural resources, and save the environment.
THE THREATENED RAIN FOREST
- Rain forests, which occupy just 2% of the Earth’s surface, are home to more than 50% of its plant and animal species.
- Of the 8 million square miles of original rain forest, only 3.4 million square miles remain.
- Each minute, an area of tropical forest the size of 18 city blocks is burned or bulldozed.
- Many birds that migrate to the U.S. require winter habitat in Latin America rain forests.
- Rain forests plants are important sources of beneficial drugs.
- Trees provide oxygen and help minimize the emission of carbon dioxide by absorbing this gas as a food source.
RUSSIA VALIDATES KYOTO PROTOCOL
Russia has signed on to the Kyoto Protocol, which means that the greenhouse gas emission caps are now binding because the Protocol required either the U.S. or Russia to be a partner in order to satisfy the charter’s requirement that 55% of global greenhouse emissions be represented. The U.S. has refused to sign the Treaty even though they are responsible for over 36% of global emissions of carbon dioxide. This signifies a huge success for the international fight against climate change.
ENERGY TIP
Consider having a professional energy audit done on your home to determine cost-effective ways to improve the energy performance of your home. It is money well invested!