Successful energy efficiency workshops held by VIEO at UVI

As part of the Green Buildings Program, the Virgin Islands Energy Office hosted the first set of energy efficiency training sessions at the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) STT and STX campuses the week of May 23rd. The training was a collaborative effort between the VIEO Green Buildings Program and our EDIN partners through the Department of Energy (DOE) Technical Assistance Program. More than 40 residents with various professional backgrounds took the opportunity to participate in the two day sessions which were separated into segments that covered the latest information about Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting, air conditioning in hot and humid climates, and operations & maintenance (O & M) practices.

The LED lighting session was presented by Jeff McCullough, a senior research engineer from DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory located in Richland, Washington. LED’s are becoming more popular as they can reduce energy consumption, lower utility bills and if properly selected they last a lot longer than traditional systems. Jeff’s enthusiasm permeated to the groups who were anxious to dispel all the misconceptions and doubts about this new lighting source. The most important takeaway from the presentation was the significance of evaluating each lighting case in detail before choosing a lighting system. The materials from this session are available for download clicking on this link.

Mr. McCullough was followed by Miguel Quiñones, program specialist for VIEO. Mr. Quiñones’ O & M presentation was segmented to include overviews of ASHRAE’s Standard 100-2006 and USGBC’s Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings Rating System. The first portion on Standard 100-2006 was intended to help residents reduce operational costs by implementing energy efficient maintenance programs. Later, the LEED presentation expanded the boundaries of the project and considered additional sustainability issues like product purchases, cleaning, transportation and several others.

The third session was comprised of a full day on air conditioning, presented by Lew Harriman a world-renowned expert working with Mason-Grant Consulting. Mr. Harriman possesses more than 35 years of experience researching and resolving problems related to humidity and moisture in buildings and industrial processes. He eloquently explained how the weather of the U.S. Virgin Islands calls for a different air conditioning approach, as the largest part of the load comes from dehumidifying rather than cooling spaces. The discussion included information on how overcooled surfaces and unsealed buildings combine to promote mold growth.

The Virgin Islands Energy Office will host similar trainings in the future in order to address energy related concerns consistent with the government’s goal to reduce energy consumption generated from fossil fuels 60% by 2025.