Energy Masters - New Year

On December 1 the Energy Masters volunteers completed their first work day for fiscal year 2013.
Six teams with three to four people on each provided energy and water saving services in 16 apartments at Marbella Apartments, a building owned by the Arlington Partnership for Affordable Housing.

Teams consisted of newly trained volunteers and at least one experienced volunteer from last year. In each apartment team members caulked leaks, cleaned refrigerator coils, opened air vent covers and vacuumed out the accumulated dust, installed energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs,
outlet gaskets, and low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators.

The goal of this program is to help low-income apartment residents save at least 10% on their
utility bills and also to improve the efficiency in buildings so that greenhouse gas emissions will be minimized.

Since the program began in the fall of 2011 volunteers have provided energy retrofits in 121 apartments and have installed 812 energy efficient CFL light bulbs, 1,857 outlet gaskets, 186 faucet aerators, 101 low-flow showerheads, and gave out 85 power strips.

Six additional work days are scheduled for 2013 with the goal of providing services in 150 apartment units. Stay tuned for more reports of how much energy residents save as a result of these efforts.

If you would like to become an Energy Master, please contact Jennifer at jabel@vt.edu.