On March 30, ten AEE-NCC volunteers gave their most valuable asset - their time - to help a low-income housing complex reduce their energy burden. The Volunteer Day was the first ever for the AEE-NCC LowER (Low-income Energy Reduction) program. The program was started in January 2001 to provide volunteer energy audits and weatherization projects by AEE members and guests. The idea for the program came from the simplest of places - the electric utility bill. "I remember opening up my Virginia Power electric invoice and seeing a request for donations to help low-income families pay their bills," said Eric Oliver, NCC President and founder of the program. "I thought, sure, I could send in $10 to help someone pay their bill, or I can spend some time, and help them reduce their energy bill every month." The resource of AEE members was the perfect vehicle for helping this part of the community that needed help the most. Recent studies have shown that the average family spends 4% of their income on energy, and the average low-income family spends 14%. Several years ago the DOE Weatherization program started off with volunteer efforts, and over the years it has developed into funded, professional programs. The LowER program is an effort to bring some of the volunteerism back into low-income weatherization.

Larry Good stacks up pipe
insulation for the volunteers

The March 30th Volunteer day was held at Jubilee Housing, a complex of eight buildings providing discount-rate apartments to low-income residents in Washington, DC. A warm, sunny spring day greeted the volunteers, who were put immediately to work installing pipe insulation on uncovered hot water pipes.

The surprise of the day came when Jeff Deem, AEE-NCC Vice President of Operations, pulled up in his pick-up hauling a flat bed with half a dozen boxes of pipe insulation, donated by his company, Altus Mechanical, and by BWI Insulation. In teams of three, the volunteers spent several hours installing pipe insulation over heating and domestic hot water pipes in several buildings. In addition to the pipe Bob Gilbert of Washington Power and Light donated insulation, several LED exit signs and T8 lamps.

Delivery of donated pipe insulation
from Altus Mechanical and BWI Insulation

AEE-NCC would like to thank all of the volunteers who made this Volunteer Day a success; including NCC President Eric Oliver, NCC Vice-President Jeff Deem, NCC Community Services Chairman Craig Sutton, AEE Director of International Development Larry Good, NCC members Kevin Chisolm, Mike Opitz, and Tom Varghese, and guests Stacy Angel and Sasha Varghese.

 

 

Jim Knight, director of Jubilee Housing, was extremely thankful of the effort provided, and we all look forward to our next Volunteer Day. If your chapter is interested in setting up a program similar to the NCC LowER program, contact AEE-NCC at 703-255-6610.