For Immediate Release: May 14, 2020
RICHMOND — Two green building programs are being honored by the Virginia Energy Efficiency Council (VAEEC) for their innovative efforts to drive energy efficiency in schools, libraries, university construction and government buildings.
The programs, led by Henrico County and the University of Virginia, received VAEEC’s fifth Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Awards on May 14 at the VAEEC Spring Forum.
Henrico County has built or renovated 16 government buildings and schools to LEED certification standards since 2011 and is pursuing certification of LEED Silver or higher on six current projects. These efforts have reduced energy use by approximately 30 percent. Henrico County Energy Manager Carrie Webster oversees the program.
UVA’s Delta Force Program is responsible for achieving energy efficiency and savings across the university’s nearly 18 million square feet of building space. Since 2009, UVA has invested $17.4 million in energy projects, for a savings of $28.7 million in energy costs and 180,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions. The program is overseen by Jesse Warren, sustainability program manager for buildings and operations.
“Our goal with these awards is to showcase how energy efficiency can drive local economic growth, create jobs, and reduce utility bills,” said Chelsea Harnish, executive director of the Virginia Energy Efficiency Council (VAEEC). “It’s encouraging to see these programs make such a positive impact on their communities.”
About the Virginia Energy Efficiency Council
The Virginia Energy Efficiency Council is the voice for the energy efficiency industry in the Commonwealth. Founded in 2012, our broad coalition of more than 100 members includes Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, startups, local governments and state agencies. Our goal is to ensure that energy efficiency is an integral part of Virginia’s economy and clean energy future. For more information, please visit vaeec.org.
The Virginia Energy Efficiency Council presented the fourth annual Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership Awards recognizing innovative programs and projects throughout Virginia. Charlottesville nonprofit organization The Thomas Jefferson Foundation was one of the winners.
The Thomas Jefferson Foundation, 2RW Consultants, Inc. and Matthews Development Company, LLC implemented the Monticello Mountaintop project Geothermal-Electric Plant to help restore Monticello.
Read More (CBS19 News)
Christiansburg-based Community Housing Partners has been recognized for two first-place energy efficiency awards. The Virginia Energy Efficiency Council has recognized Community Housing Partners for its work on the Appalachian Power Low-Income Weatherization Program and the low-income Apartments at Kingsridge in Richmond.
Read More (New River Valley News)
Summer is here and with it comes the opening of the Virginia Energy Efficiency Leadership (VEEL) Awards application. Held in conjunction with the VAEEC Fall Forum, the VEEL Awards Luncheon will be held on Thursday, November 14th at the University of Richmond’s Jepson Alumni Center.
2018 VEEL Awards
For the fourth consecutive year, the awards showcase energy efficiency champions across the Commonwealth. These entities are helping businesses, governments, homeowners, and schools save money on energy bills while reducing energy consumption – all while stimulating Virginia’s job growth and our economy.
This year, submissions will be placed into one of six categories. Submitted projects will be sorted based on the sector served: Academic, Commercial, Government, Low-Income, and Residential. Submitted programs will be placed into their own category. Projects can include, but are not limited to, retrofits, new construction, and innovative technologies or products. Past winning programs include Chesterfield County’s Energy Management Program, Columbia Gas of Virginia’s WarmWise Home Audit program, and the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy’s Virginia SAVES program.
2018 Awards Winners
The quick and free online application process opens on Monday, July 15th and will run through Monday, September 16th. Nominate an acquaintance, a colleague, a role model, or yourself! The only criteria are that the project or program is based in Virginia and is reducing energy consumption. Extra points are given for innovation and creativity, the degree of difficulty in overcoming challenges, and scope of work.
Still have questions? To help you submit your application, we have compiled a guidance document, which includes submission requirements, the application of a previous awards winner, the scorecard with rubric, and frequently asked questions.
We look forward to learning about your energy efficiency contributions. Best of luck!
For a recap of our 2018 VEEL Awards, check out this blog post.
