ANNUAL JOHN LANGFORD MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP DEVELOPED

 AECP and the Community Housing Partners Training Center have partnered to offer an annual scholarship in memory of John Langford. John was co-owner of J&J Weatherization and began weatherizing homes in 1978. John was also a national weatherization trainer with expertise in all aspects of energy efficiency. He will be remembered for his work ethic, generous and kind disposition, respect for others and his ability to successfully impart his knowledge of and passion for the weatherization industry to others. John passed away in 2018.

The scholarship will be in the amount of $2,000 and may be used for training costs or toward equipment necessary for weatherization work. Beverly Deel, Energy Auditor with People, Inc. in Abingdon, VA was announced as the winner of the scholarship at the AECP Annual Membership Meeting in Virginia Beach, VA in June of 2019.

AECP HOLDS 16^TH PEER EXCHANGE

 AECP held a Peer Exchange at the Hotel Roanoke in Roanoke, VA on October 8 and 9, 2019. The first day was highlighted by DHCD updates and meetings with the Financial Operations Group and the Technical Assistance Group. Following a buffet breakfast the next morning the attendees were given an opportunity to ask questions and follow up on issues presented the afternoon before. AECP provided a brief history of the organization and this was followed by an update from the Training Center. A utility legislation report came next with a great presentation on the efforts of Weatherizers Without Borders (WWB) to set up a weatherization training center in Argentina. AECP concluded the event with a discussion on the Weatherization Program’s role and significant contribution to solving the climate change crisis.

AECP PERSON OF THE YEAR

 AECP decided to recognize an individual in the network who had gone above and beyond their normal job responsibilities to help make a difference for the program. Meghan McMillen with Community Housing Partners was honored for her consistent help to other programs in the state and to always being available to assist AECP in whatever capacity was needed.

WEATHERIZATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE

AECP has promoted the role of the program in helping to combat global warming and climate change for several years in a wide variety of events and arenas. Weatherization significantly reduces carbon emissions and other forms of air pollution in homes that have been weatherized. There is no other program or activity that is doing this so consistently in every city, town, and county in the nation – over a 40 year period – the way the Weatherization Program has. Because we make homes more energy efficient, less reliant on fossil fuel use, and provide necessary education to our clients on ways they can conserve energy we are a leader in the effort to protect our natural environment. AECP presented information and generated a discussion on this at the AECP annual membership meeting in June of 2019.