The Virginia Wind Energy Collaborative (VWEC) installed a wind anemometer at the AECP office located at the Jacksonville Center in Floyd, VA. The installation was part of VWEC’s State Based Anemometer Loan Program (SBALP), which is designed to empower landowners and generate interest and investment in wind energy through the loan of meteorological towers. These towers measure wind speed and direction and provide data that will determine if the site has sufficient wind resources to support a wind power system. AECP is interested in installing a working wind system that can be used as a teaching tool and demonstration for interested members of the general public. AECP is also using the wind anemometer to provide information about wind energy and create interest in wind as a clean and renewable source of energy. For further information on VWEC and SBALP call 540-568-8754 or visit their website at http://www.jmu.edu/vwec
AECP APPLIES FOR GRANT TO ACQUIRE WIND ENERGY SYSTEM
AECP has applied for a grant through the Virginia Small Wind Incentive Program to purchase and install a small wind power system at its office in Floyd. AECP is interested in a 500 watt to 1 KW system that would help to reduce its electric bill but primarily would be used as a teaching tool for people interested in learning more about small residential wind energy systems. AECP continues to believe that the best educational impact is achieved through providing interactive, hands on opportunities to view actual systems and technology at work.
AECP MOVES FORWARD WITH PLANS TO DEVELOP ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTER
AECP, in partnership with Bob Rogers and his firm Architectural Alternatives, is working with Robert Schubert, Associate Dean in the Virginia Tech Dept. of Architecture, to design a building that will be used as an education center to promote sustainable living practices – particularly those related to residential energy conservation and efficiency. The center will be built on to the back of the existing AECP office. Professor Schubert is enlisting the assistance of an Environmental Design class that he is teaching. The students will create designs for this building based on criteria developed in a meeting with AECP and Architectural Alternatives. A conceptual design is the first step in the development of the project and will enable AECP to begin to seek funding for this project. A group of ten students and three faculty members met with Billy Weitzenfeld and Bob Rogers on Friday March 19 to view the site and brainstorm ideas regarding the proposed project.
AECP PARTICIPATES IN REACH PROJECT
AECP is contracting with Community Housing Partners to provide energy education to low-income weatherization clients as part of the REACh Project. REACh, which stands for the Residential Energy Assistance Challenge, is a program administered by the Department of Housing and Community Development and is designed to find ways to help improve the quality of services offered by the Virginia Weatherization Program. AECP will be providing energy education sessions with clients who have had their homes weatherized. AECP will also be involved in installing and downloading information from Data Loggers that will measure run-time cycles on heating systems before and after weatheriztion measures are applied to eligible households.
AECP HOSTS US GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL MEETING
AECP will be hosting a United States Green Building Council (USGBC) meeting at the AECP office on March 23 at 6:00 p.m. All AECP members are invited to attend. AECP has been involved from the beginning in efforts to establish a southwest Virginia USGBC chapter. The USGBC is a national education organization that promotes green building technology and practice. The USGBC also sponsors the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) accreditation, which AECP is currently studying for. LEED is a professional accreditation that certifies that the person has passed a very rigid examination in green and sustainable design, practice, and technology.
ENERGY TIP
Install a rain barrel under a gutter downspout and use the collected rainwater for watering plants.