Educating the community about ways to save money and energy is the goal of a series of workshops being hosted by the University of the Virgin Islands – Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (UVICELL) Center. The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) workshops are designed to promote energy efficiency and encourage the use of renewable energy.
The first workshop in the series, Energy Efficiency for Residential Consumers, is scheduled for 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6. Workshops will be held at the UVICELL Center on the St. Thomas campus and at the UVICELL Center in Frederiksted, St. Croix. The workshop for home use will be followed by a workshop designed specifically for the business community. The EERE workshop for Commercial Users will be held 6 – 9 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 11, at the UVICELL Center on their respective island.
“With the rising cost of oil and gas nationwide, and the fact that the territory relies so heavily on oil and a sole source energy provider, Virgin Island consumers and businesses alike need to understand the effects of energy consumption,” said Ilene Garner, UVICELL director. “These workshops are designed to give residents and businesses the tools and information they need to reduce their energy costs and increase their energy efficiency.”
Participants will understand the factors behind high energy consumption in their households or businesses, learn strategies to mitigate the related fuel surcharge, and gain valuable information transitioning to renewable energy technology.
The free educational workshops are made possible from funding received through the Energy Office Discretionary Grant Program (Grant Number DE-EE000223), under the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
Participants are urged to bring a copy of their most recent WAPA bill for a chance to obtain a free energy monitor, which can be used to track energy consumption and savings. For more information on the upcoming workshop or a complete list of workshops, call 693-1100 or visit UVICELL online at http://cell.uvi.edu.