WEST VIRGINIA HOSTS ENERGY EXPO
The West Virginia Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity’s Weatherization Assistance Program, along with the West Virginia Community Action Partnership is planning a one-day Energy Expo, Wednesday, May 26, 2004. The Energy Expo will be held at Tamarack’s Conference Center in Beckley, WV and will be free and open to the public. The Energy Expo will be an excellent opportunity for the public to learn more about energy and to see the energy technologies that will affect their lives in the future. The Energy Expo is an event that will include exhibits, workshops, and demonstrations throughout the day. The Energy Expo is being planned in conjunction with the three day, annual statewide Community Action Partnership and Weatherization Conference.
Exhibits will include wind, solar, and biomass energy, green building, Energy Star appliances, energy efficient heating and cooling systems, indoor air quality, chimney safety, home energy tips, insulation techniques, diagnostic testing, blower door and duct testing demonstrations, hybrid cars, and much more.
AECP members Anthony Cox and Chris Heslep, with Community Housing Partners, will be conducting workshops on the House of Pressure and Dry Spray Insulation Technique, respectively at the Energy Expo. On the preceding day, Tuesday, May 25, at the Weatherization Conference, AECP member Beth Cahall with the Department of Energy will present information on the national Weatherization Program and Billy Weitzenfeld, AECP Executive Director, will also give a presentation on the Weatherization Program.
The Expo has been organized, with help from staff members, by another AECP member, Lisa Kesecker who is with the West Virginia Office of Economic Opportunity.
VIRGINIA FIELD MONITOR RESIGNS POSITION
AECP member John Bodtmann, recently resigned his position as Weatherization Field Monitor with the Department of Housing and Community Development. John worked in this position 4-5 years and previous to this he was the Weatherization Coordinator for Central Virginia Area Agency on Aging, a position he started in 1992. John also served in many official capacities with AECP. He was chair of the Training Committee, AECP Vice-President, a member of the AECP Board of Directors, and even served as President of AECP for a short time.
John was an extremely effective field monitor for the weatherization program. His technical expertise, ability to work with people, thoroughness, training experience and consistent fairness helped programs and the network as a whole to make significant improvements in weatherization services. He will be greatly missed and very difficult to replace. John and his wife, Nancy has relocated to Florida where John hopes to pursue work in a weatherization related field.
GM DELIVERS FIRST FULL SIZE HYBRID
General Motors has developed a Chevrolet Silverado Hybrid Pickup truck that will combine a gas and electric motor and offer 12% improvement in fuel economy. The Silverado will also feature reduced emissions. There will be no reduction in load carrying, towing, and grade climbing capability. The Silverado will feature a powerful 5300 Vortec V-8 and Hydra-Matic 4L60-E four-speed automatic transmission. This truck will be displayed at the West Virginia Energy Expo on May 26, 2004 at the Tamarack Conference Center.
VIRGINIA TECH DESIGNS SLEC FOR AECP
Virginia Tech architecture students have produced eight separate designs for AECP’s proposed Sustainable Living Education Center (SLEC). SLEC is a project that will use a green and energy efficient building as a teaching tool and demonstration facility where the general public can learn about sustainable living practices by interacting with actual systems at work.
The designs that Virginia Tech has produced will put a face on the project and be the first step in our pursuit of funding for the project. AECP will review the designs in early June and make a decision on the one that will best represent our ideas for SLEC.
ENERGY TIP
With hot weather approaching it is a good idea to check the insulation levels in your home. Insulation helps keep homes warm in the winter but also cool in the summer. A well insulated thermal envelope will help to keep your cooling bills low in the warm weather. Check out http://www.ornl.gov/roofs+walls/insulation/ins_01.html for a great insulation fact sheet.