General Frequently Asked Questions:
Who organizes the training and how is it funded?
The Energy Masters program is managed jointly by EcoAction Arlington and the Virginia Cooperative Extension. Funding is provided by Arlington County through a federal grant and the City of Alexandria.
Do I need to be an Arlington resident to volunteer?
No, you do not need to reside in Arlington County or the City of Alexandria to volunteer. We encourage residents in the D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area to volunteer.
Can I still participate as a volunteer if English is not my first language?
We greatly encourage bilingual speakers of all languages to apply as it greatly helps our communication efforts to meet the needs of our diverse, local community. In order to complete our training, however, you will need to read and understand English.
How long is the training?
Our training consists of six classroom sessions and one Saturday hands-on work day. The classroom sessions are typically held on Saturday mornings starting in October. We ask that volunteers miss no more than one training session.
What is covered in the training?
Our training classes cover a wide variety of topics in energy and water efficiency. Sessions cover basic building science, tenant education and an overview of what local municipalities are doing regarding energy use and affordable housing. Volunteers also learn how to do specific energy and water efficiency improvements in apartments and many will use this knowledge to do upgrades in their own homes.
What are the volunteer opportunities available after I complete the training?
Typically, we organize a series of work days where volunteers complete energy and water efficiency upgrades for residents living in affordable housing communities in Arlington and Alexandria. We also offer various education programs for volunteers to share their energy and water efficiency knowledge with the community. We typically require adult volunteers to commit to 25 hours of volunteer service, but will be flexible if circumstances regarding the pandemic and social distancing become prohibitive.
How does the program work for students?
High school students 16 years and older are welcome to apply. We request student volunteers commit to 20 hours of volunteer service. We can work with students, especially during uncertain situations due to community illness.
Frequently Asked Questions Specific to COVID-19
Will the training sessions be held in person or virtually?
While our hope is that the COVID-19 pandemic situation continues to improve, we realize that we need to have a plan in place to deliver our content virtually. Much of the content for our training sessions has been adapted for either in-person or virtual delivery.
What volunteer opportunities will there be following the training?
Typically, starting with the hands-on training session in October, volunteers work in one affordable housing building once a month to do energy efficiency improvements. Energy Masters are also involved in education and outreach opportunities throughout the year to educate tenants in the housing communities we serve as well as programs and events for the general public.
At this time, we plan to work in affordable housing apartments this winter in either vacant or occupied units depending on the safety protocols and comfort levels of our housing partners. Recognizing there is some uncertainty in what will be possible, we are exploring several contingency options
Once we determine where our work locations will be and what work we will be doing, we will set a schedule and communicate that to volunteers to plan accordingly. For safety purposes, please know we may have to adjust the schedule for 2022-2023 to accommodate the latest guidelines issued by the Commonwealth of Virginia and/or the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
Is there a required number of volunteer hours this year?
Typically, once the training is complete, we request adult volunteers give back 25 hours of community service and 20 hours for student volunteers. As our volunteer opportunities may look different this winter and spring, we are flexible on that requirement.
I’d like to volunteer, but cannot afford the registration fee. Do you offer waivers?
We offer both reduced fees and fee waivers for both the registration fee and background check, depending on your ability to pay. Please email volunteer@ecactionarlington.org and amy@ecoactionarlington.org to request a waiver. There are more details on costs in the next question.
What are the total costs to participate?
The training fee for a non-early bird registrant is $75, which covers the costs of books, supplies, and a t-shirt. Early-bird registrants who register prior to September 9th will be charged $60 for registration. Additionally, volunteers who are at least 18 years old will be subject to an additional $16 charge to cover a required background check. As mentioned in the previous question, we offer need-based waivers upon request. The registration deadline is September 30th.
How will I receive course materials for the training?
For each trainee, we provide a textbook which is used for required reading ahead of some training sessions. We also provide Energy Masters t-shirts that volunteers wear during work days and events. Volunteers will be able to pick up textbooks at designated dates and locations prior to the start of the training. Volunteers will be able to pick up their Energy Masters shirt at our first available work day. If onsite work days are not available, both t-shirts and books will be distributed at a pickup site announced prior to training.
Will the training be offered in another language besides English? Unfortunately, at this time, we can only offer the training in English. However, we greatly encourage bilingual speakers of all languages to apply as it greatly helps our communication efforts to meet the needs of our diverse, local community.