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.

Leaks, Gaskets, Caulk...

Do you like hands-on projects? Do you want to have an active role in reducing carbon emissions in your community? Then we've got the volunteer opportunity for you! 

Sign up now for our Energy Efficiency Education Program! Volunteers will complete three days of weatherization training, and then be part of dynamic teams that weatherize low-income apartments in Arlington. This is a great way to help your community reduce its carbon footprint and give back to your neighbors!

Trainings are held on Thursday nights: 9/20, 9/27, and 10/4 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Fairlington Community Center.  

The program will cover weatherization, energy efficiency, and water conservation techniques such as sealing leaks around doors and windows with foam adhesive, installing gaskets behind switch plates, installing faucet aerators and low-flow showerheads, reducing water use in toilets, and other techniques. In addition to attending the training sessions, volunteers must commit to a year of community service, at which point they will be certified with master status for energy efficiency education. Training will be conducted by certified professionals in the field.

The Energy Efficiency Education program volunteer commitments include:

1. Attending three training sessions at Fairlington Community Center, 3308 S. Stafford Street, Arlington, VA: Thursday, September 20, 27, and October 4 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
2. Attending at least one hands-on training session to learn weatherizing techniques on either Saturday, October 13 and/or 20. 
3. Committing 60 hours of volunteer service in one year to the program, performing tasks including weatherizing apartments and condominiums, conducting education workshops, assisting with program preparation in the ACE office, and other educational outreach tasks.

The Energy Efficiency Education program partner organizations and agencies include Arlington County, Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment (ACE), Arlingtonians Meeting Emergency Needs (AMEN), and Virginia Cooperative Extension.

If you are interested please fill our our Energy Efficiency Education Program online application.

If you have any questions about this program please contact the ACE Office at: energy@arlingtonenvironment.org 

or 703-228-6406