American Institute of Architects Select Top Ten Green Projects

NREL's Research Support Facility was among the top green buildings cited by the AIA in 2011. Credit: Dennis Schroeder, NREL

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) selected the top ten examples of sustainable architecture and green design solutions on April 14. The new Research Support Facility at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) was among the projects on AIA's Committee on the Environment Top Ten Green Projects list, now in its 15th year. The jury noted that NREL's structure serves as a challenge to the building industry and a blueprint for it to pursue low-energy performance projects. The Green Projects program celebrates projects that result from thoroughly integrated approaches to architecture, natural systems, and technology that include the use of sustainable or renewable construction materials.

Become a fan or link us on Facebook!

As a non-profit, the more fans we have the more options we are offered to promote our efforts.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/EDIN-USVI/197282470297202?sk=wall

DOE and HUD Announce Lenders to Participate in New Pilot Program

April 21, 2011

DOE and HUD Announce Lenders to Participate in New Pilot Program to Help Homeowners Pay for Energy Improvements to their Homes

FHA PowerSaver Program to offer low-cost financing to credit-worthy borrowers

DOE Webinar April 28: Calculating Loads for Heating and Cooling

April 25, 2011

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Building Technologies Program is offering a webinar on Thursday, April 28, 2011, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon Eastern titled "Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Right-Sizing Part 1: Calculating Loads." Register now to attend this free webinar.
Calculating energy requirements for heating and cooling a home is the first critical step in the design process for correctly sizing the HVAC system. Designers use models of electrical loads to help them select the optimal equipment and duct designs to deliver the appropriate volume of conditioned air to rooms of the home.
This webinar, presented by IBACOS—one of DOE’s Building America Research Teams—will highlight the key criteria required to accurately calculate heating and cooling loads. During the webinar, experts will also discuss current industry rules of thumb, perceptions, and barriers to correctly sizing HVAC systems.
Target audiences include residential builders and HVAC design firms, contractors, installers, manufacturers, and distributors.
Learn more about the webinar.
More Progress Alerts

EEWG Meeting Minutes

For those interested, here is a link to the minutes from the April 20th call.  We look forward to updates and additional participation on the numerous action items!  As always, please share comments and input through our various venues!

https://edinenergy.sharefile.com/d/s1aecfe10d8f415ba

EEWG Call Tomorrow at 2:00 AST

Hope to "see" you there.  Highlights will include follow-up from EDIN Workshop on St. Thomas and progress on some of the current action items.

April 20, 2011
2:00 AST
Call in information: By Phone 877-996-4844 Pin# 5621014

Energy Efficiency Programs

I have always been interested in what provokes (or stymies) people into adding energy efficiencies into their lifestyles. I've found that many people just need to be shown the way once or twice and then they form their own habits. One of the surprising methods that successfully engaged people into buying and enjoying energy efficiency measures turns out to be programs by the local utility. When these programs were started in the states during the late 80s and early 90s, many of the program managers thought they would be rebuffed by their customers. After all, it was at the utility that the customers expressed anger for the cost of their energy consumption. However, when the utility approached the small businesses to install more efficient lighting or the larger businesses to install better HVAC systems, the customers believed it was a great idea because they did believe that the utility knew about energy. The utilities would send in local vendors to do the work and soon the local vendors became capable of doing the energy audits and could represent the utility. But the utility was the key. The customer trusted the technology, were grateful the utility sent the vendors and loved it when they could pay for their installation through the utility bill where the savings were garnered. This set up works very well today stateside. I would love to see it applied here in the US Virgin Islands. What do you think?

Another EDIN Workshop is Complete

We covered a lot of ground over the last several days.  The Energy Efficiency Working Group (EEWG) was able to meet in a special break-out session that addressed many concerns and issues facing our progress.  We all left with an action list and will provide a debrief on the next working group call.  A special thank you to all of you that made the effort to attend the Workshop; we made a lot of progress and the future of energy efficiency in the USVI is looking bright.

Green Building Mold Issues

Green Building practices, like LEED, are still so new that many are untested. This article from Lodging Engineer is a wonderful read (for us LEED geeks). The fellows writing it seem well versed and experienced in the field of sick buildings. Mold is the culprit. As they suggest, LEED practices are relatively new or newly applied old ideas. What I love about this article is that the authors cite a right solution (there are more than just theirs, for sure) and not just for how to fix each project (follow mold and moisture level guidelines, duhh), they have correctly assesed how the USGBC (www.usgbc.org) can change the LEED methods to include these mold prevention practices. This article is a perfect criticism because it comes with a solution. That is so rare from critics. Kudos to the group that wrote it. Take a look at the article, linked in this title, and tell us what you think.

HOME ENERGY USE SURVEY HAS MOVED TO BOTTOM OF THE PAGE

Sorry, for the inconvenience, but with the Workshop coming up I don't want to bury the current posts!

April 7th and 8th Workshop Agenda

The details of all the events and opportunities surrounding the Workshop are still evolving, but here is a link to the current version of the agenda.  https://edinenergy.sharefile.com/d/s52247bc37a04bc7b

Lodging Option for April 7th and 8th Workshop

I wanted to make you aware that the Emerald Beach Resort (http://www.emeraldbeach.com/) has offered EDIN Workshop attendees a discounted rate.  The core Workshop is scheduled for April 7^th and 8^th with some additional events being discussed before, during and after the main event.  If you will be traveling to STT and need to book a room, please consider staying at the Emerald Beach Resort; they have implemented many green practices, their proximity to the Workshop is ideal for reducing environmental impact, and depending on how many reservations are received they are trying to facilitate transportation to the event.  The resort is near shopping, restaurants, and the airport. (Also, it is a very nice place to stay with a beautiful beach)

If you are already on-island and have associates or business contacts that intend on attending, please forward this e-mail to them.

The reduced rate is:

We could offer you $169 + 18% or just under $200. $199.42

This is compared to a usual $219 base rate.  If you plan on traveling to STT, please let me know as well; I am trying to tally how many rooms will be booked for some other potential hotel benefits.

Thank you for considering this option.

Deliverables Schedule Link (Action Items)

For anyone interested - here's a link to the preliminary high-level list of deliverables (action items) that we are looking for input on.  If there is an area that you are personally interested in, or if you have additional suggestions that you would personally like to particpate in, please feel free to post here or e-mail meehane@hughes.net.

The link to the action-item list is: https://edinenergy.sharefile.com/d/s017746d70a74f8a9

GOVERNOR DE JONGH SIGNS ENERGY CONTRACT

 

            The Virgin Islands government has entered into an agreement with Energy Systems Group (ESG) that will make public facilities more environmentally friendly, energy efficient and cheaper to operate. The first Task Order Schedule (TOS) signed recently by Governor John P. de Jongh, Jr. lays out the energy conservation work to be performed on 11 public schools as a demonstration project for the advancement, development and use of clean energy technologies in the Virgin Islands.

            The Task Order Schedules (TOS), a form of energy saving performance contracts which will allow the government to improve buildings energy consumption and then capture electricity and water savings to repay the investments made in renewable energy generation, and energy and water conservation. The net impact will result in reduced utility costs.

            “We are starting the important work of making our government and public institutions energy efficient, an environmental and economic imperative for our territory. By taking advantage of stimulus funding, we will implement clean technologies and energy efficiency measures that will guide us into the next decade and beyond,” de Jongh said.

           

            This first TOS for the Department of Education will be funded by $6.9 million allotted to the territory through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

            Each project will consist of a two step process, the first, a Letter of Agreement (LOA) which defines the size and scope of the project. The second step, the TOS, a contract consisting of a detailed energy audit and the project implementation plan. 

If you would like to view the VI Daily News Story, please find the link below.

http://virginislandsdailynews.com/news/11-v-i-schools-to-receive-energy-saving-upgrades-1.1099292#axzz1DITsGrrk

What will encourage the public's participation?

During our last EEWG call, the issue of how to engage the public and businesses on specific or general issues, was discussed.  One of our current needs is for as many Home Energy Surveys to be completed as possible, in order to provide an accurate data pool for many of the decisions that need to be made surrounding the EDIN effort.  Several of our group's local business members discussed promoting competitions or drawings with an opportunity for winning prizes if you complete a survey at their location.

What do you think, what are your ideas on completing incremental objectives and encouraging overall engagement in the effort to reduce petroleum use in the USVI?

Building Codes and Other Approaches to Improving Building Energy Efficiency in the VI

We are really hoping to receive ideas and approaches to achieving modifications to new and existing construction that will result in reduced energy use.  Please, share your thoughts.

Energy Efficiency a Booming Biz | Planetizen

Energy Efficiency a Booming Biz Planetizen

Bi-Weekly Meeting Presentations

With our new EEWG meeting format, we have an opportunity each week for any organization interested to provide a five-minute presentation during our bi-weekly meetings.  The topics just need to encompass the realm of modern energy efficiency technologies and products.  The idea is to introduce EEWG group members to concepts that they may not be familiar with or may want to know more about. The presentation format is very relaxed, allowing for questions and discussion about the information provided. 

This is a great opportunity to allow individuals and organizations to make each other aware of what products and services they offer.  We are working on developing a networking system for organizations that support the EDIN effort and also on making a list of these organizations available to the public.  This would allow consumers that are interested to purchase from vendors that support the USVI efforts to reduce petroleum consumption.

If you are interested in presenting at one of our upcoming meetings, please e-mail mquinones@vienergy.org or elena_meehan@sra.com.

Learning More About Residential Energy Efficiency

There was some interest expressed in learning more about residential energy efficiency in response to the poll we posted on the blog.  General Guidance and Financial Assistance were indicated as two areas that more information would be useful in.  We encourage you to post specific questions in response to this post, or to e-mail Miguel Quinones at the Virgin Islands Energy Office: mquinones@vienergy.org for answers to any questions that you do now wish to post to the open forum.

eCycling Your Computer

I thought the following link may be of interest if you are trying to figure out what to do with your old computer.  I have not researched all of the links for applicability to the USVI, but I know that some of the vendors listed as partipants are present on the islands.  If you choose to pursue the possibility of recycling your computer and find the opportunity lacking in your area, this may be another opportunity for improvement that you might participate in. 

http://www.epa.gov/osw/partnerships/plugin/computers.htm