Wonderful news! EcoAction Arlington is pleased to share that the Arlington Energy Masters, the corps of volunteers who make energy and water saving improvements in affordable housing units in Arlington, has been selected as one of winners of’ Washingtonian magazine’s Green Giant award. The Green Giant’ award recognizes “those who protect our environment and who teach others the importance of eco-friendly living.”
The Energy Masters program was started in 2011 by Virginia Cooperative Extension, EcoAction Arlington, and Arlingtonians Meetings Emergency Needs.’ Volunteers are trained with comprehensive energy efficiency training and subsequently utilize their knowledge to perform weatherization and retrofits of apartments units, as well as educational outreach for residents in affordable public housing units and complexes. Taught by certified industry professionals, the training program covers building science principles, ways to improve energy efficiency, and water conservation techniques.
Since its inception, the partners have trained 56 volunteers who have made energy and water improvements in 201 apartments, with the goal of completing at least 50 more by the end of the fiscal year in June. Volunteers replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent ones and install outlet gaskets, low-flow showerheads, faucet aerators, and power strips, caulk leaks, and clean refrigerator coils.
The program’ helps low-income residents reduce their utility bills while also reducing the greenhouse gas emissions released from multi-family properties. The energy and water-saving improvements have already started to pay off, with one building where the volunteers worked last May reporting a 5% average decrease in residents’ utility bills.
Interested in becoming an Energy Master volunteer? Submit your contact information today and we’ll let you know when the training dates for Fall 2013 have been set. In the meantime, learn more about the Energy Masters training program and it’s impact.
Here is what a couple of volunteer trainees had to say about the program:
‘œI learned a great deal from the training provided by EcoAction Arlington and Conway Energy. ‘ Most importantly, I learned numerous ways to make my home more energy efficient.’
Janine Bergin, Arlington, VA
‘œThe Energy Efficiency Education program was a great introduction to the energy efficiency, building science, and weatherization fields. Implementing projects in the local community was a rewarding way to utilize the knowledge and skills we gained in the training sessions.’
Chris Wagner, Washington D.C.
