Got the power? Cut the bill

Special to the Review

March 01, 2009 11:08 pm

— Business owners and government entities looking to be a little more energy efficient can find some help this week.
Trinity Valley Community College is partnering with the Athens Chamber of Commerce and several other groups to present an Energy Efficiency Workshop.
The workshop is designed to teach community leaders about funding available to integrate energy efficient technologies in existing or new buildings.
The workshop will target decision-makers and facility directors from cities, counties, municipalities, hospitals, colleges, libraries and school districts as well as commercial builders. Local government energy plans and funding opportunities specific to East Texas will also be discussed.
The workshop will be split into two pieces. The first will be presented by Texas A&M University and is set for 8:30-11:30 at TVCC’s Pirtle Administration Building, Room 237. The workshop is on March 4 from 8:30-11:30 a.m. and costs $20, including CEUs.
During the first segment, titled Comprehensive Community Based Workshop, participants will learn the value of energy management as the first step toward energy planning, meeting the energy reduction goals legislated in Senate Bill 12, how to establish energy use baseline, and create an energy management plan.
The second part of the workshop will be the afternoon of March 4. The afternoon workshop will be held at a construction site just northeast of Edom.
After a lunch break, those attending the workshop will travel to Edom from 1:30-4:30 p.m. for Architectural Construction’s free Building with Alternative Energy Systems Workshop. The second workshop session will get an “in-the-field” look and study of the following energy systems: Gridwall, an R-35 insulated concrete form; geothermal heat/air; photovoltaic cells; and water catchment systems.
Participants from A&M’s workshop, as well as business and home owners are invited. Because this workshop will be held at a construction site, it is limited to the first 20 registrants. Confirmation and a map will be sent prior to the workshop.
Dr. Jerry King, vice president of instruction at TVCC, said he learned of the workshops at an East Texas Workforce Board meeting after hearing a presentation on the Rebuild America-Rural Community Building Initiative funded by the Texas State Energy Conservation Office and U.S. Dept. of Energy.
The Workforce Board is a partner in this Initiative to integrate energy efficiency technologies into education, workforce and construction/retrofit.
King said he immediately saw how the workshop could help those in the Athens area.
“The idea is to teach government entities, businesses and others to be more efficient. That is one of our goals at this college is trying to figure out ways to be more efficient. So it will help us too,” said King.
To register for Texas A&M’s morning workshop, contact TVCC’s Community Services Department or A Circle of Ten. A separate registration for the Building with Alternative Energy Systems Workshop is required through A Circle of Ten.
Contact C10 at (903) 541-0013 or circleof10@circleof10.org for a registration form or more information. TVCC can be contacted at 903-675-6212 or www.tvcc.edu/communityservices.
Details on each workshop and registration forms are available at www.etvv.org.