AECP is a 501©6 non-profit corporation that advocates for low-income energy users, energy conservation programs, renewable energy programs, and the advancement of green building principles. AECP is a membership-based organization. AECP has a long history of effective legislative advocacy.• AECP was formed in 1992 as a volunteer resource, whose membership consisted of Weatherization programs from a
round the state of Virginia, to fill voids in services caused by a dramatic reduction in Virginia Weatherization State administrative staff. For the next several years AECP focused on three main areas of endeavor – Training, Education, and Funding.
• AECP sponsored, developed, and implemented over 25 statewide weatherization trainings that covered all areas of energy conservation skills and helped bring about a more professional and standardized approach to weatherization applications.
• AECP helped educate legislators, housing programs, energy professionals, and private contractors on low-income consumer energy issues through its testimony, presentations, and advocacy of energy conservation before such groups as the Virginia Housing Study Commission, the Energy Preparedness Sub-committee, the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission, the Governor’s Housing Conference, the National Affordable Comfort conference, the Virginia Legislative Task Force on Electric Restructuring, and national Department of Energy conferences. AECP also produced and directed an 18-minute video entitled “The Virginia Weatherization Story”, that has been used nationally to educate people about the structure and success of the Weatherization program.
• In the mid-nineties AECP worked diligently with the Virginia General Assembly to produce legislation that required 15% of all Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds, which were allocated to the state of Virginia, be transferred to the Virginia Weatherization Program. This legislation has resulted in significant additional funding (millions of dollars annually) for weatherization services and created an opportunity for thousands of additional homes to be weatherized. AECP was also responsible for creating a line item in the State budget, which brought hundreds of thousands of dollars into the Weatherization program.
• In 1999, AECP made the decision to expand its efforts to “provide, promote, and advocate energy conservation” by hiring a full-time executive director and opening an office in Christiansburg, Virginia. The mission was to continue to work with the Weatherization program but also broaden its efforts in energy conservation education and advocacy. This included educating and promoting topics such as renewable energy, green building, water conservation, and sustainability in general.
• In 2001 AECP produced and directed a 10 minute video entitled “Carbon Monoxide: The Silent Killer” which has been sold and distributed all over the United States.
• AECP has conducted twelve annual Green Living and Energy Expos, which have been efforts to educate the general public about the importance of living more sustainable lifestyles. The first Expo was held in 2000 at Virginia Tech and the most recent was held at the Roanoke Civic Center.
• Beginning in 1998 AECP has been an active advocate for low-income consumers in the deregulation of the electric utility industry in Virginia and has submitted three proposals for legislative consideration.
• AECP has continued to work with the State Weatherization office and the Virginia Weatherization network in conducting workshops and seminars geared towards improving program’s service delivery capability.
• In 2004 AECP moved its office from Christiansburg to the Jacksonville center in Floyd, VA.
2. The Association of Energy Conservation Professionals/Educational Service (AECP/ES) is a 501©3 non-profit energy education organization. Our educational service conducts an annual Green Living and Energy Expo, manages a Sustainable Living Education Center (SLEC), and conducts trainings, seminars, and presentations on the importance of energy conservation and efficiency.
