Energy Office Sets Workshops for Builders, Bankers The Virgin Islands Energy Office is holding Developers Incentives Workshops to help developers, builders, architects and bankers develop practices to cut energy consumption in new and renovated buildings.
The workshops will be presented by JDM Associates, a sustainability consultant company, with offices in Washington D.C. and St. Thomas. The workshops will include discussions on what it means to have a Green Building, new technologies in energy efficiency, tax credits/incentives, mortgages for Green Buildings, and the financial aspects of renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The first workshop is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 21, and from 9 a.m. to noon, Oct. 22, at the Windward Passage Hotel on St. Thomas. The second workshop will be on St. Croix from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Oct. 28; and from 9 a.m. to noon, Oct. 29, at the Cardiac Care Center at the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital on St. Croix.
The workshops are part of the observance of October as Energy Awareness Month as proclaimed by President Barack Obama. The national theme for the month is A Sustainable Energy Future; Putting All the Pieces Together
For more information or to register for the free workshop call the Virgin Islands Energy Office, a division of the Governor’s Office, at 773-1082 on St. Croix, and 774-3320 on St. Thomas and St. John.
Energy Office Rebate Program Information Available The Virgin Islands Energy Office, using funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, has an expanded rebate program for energy efficiency items and alternative energy systems.
Detailed information about the programs is now available on its Web site at www.vienergy.org. The information will also be available at public outreaches during the next couple of weeks. The outreaches include on St. Thomas, Crown Bay Center, 3 to 8 p .m. on October 23; and at Tutu Park Mall 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on October 24. On St. Croix the VIEO staff will be handing out information about the rebate programs as well as energy conservation tips at the Sunny Isles amphitheater between10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Oct. 17; and at Kmart West on October from 1-4 p.m., Oct. 23.
In the new program, made possible by what is commonly known as the Stimulus Act, the number of eligible energy efficiency items qualifying for rebates has been increased, and in some cases limits have been raised. In the new program residents can receive rebates on all Energy Star products that they purchase in the territory. As long as the product has been approved by the EPA as an Energy Star product, residents can bring in a proof of purchase to VIEO and receive rebate forms.
In the alternative energy area, the program will again cover more items than the traditional VIEO program. Rebates will be offered for such solar system components as batteries and charge controllers. Wind turbine towers will also be covered.
VIEO spokesperson Don Buchanan said, “This program is very attractive and the Energy Office urges residents to take part. However, residents should take time to get the right information. In the rolling out of the program many possibilities were discussed and some residents might have the wrong idea about how and to whom rebates are available.” He added that the Energy Office staff made the program as attractive to residents as possible while conforming to federal regulations on how the funds could be spent.
For more information, residents can call or visit the Energy Office at No. 45 Mars Hill in Frederiksted (773-1082) or on St. Thomas (774-3320) at the Cyril E. King Airport.
