Volunteers for Energy (VfE) is a volunteer-based technical assistance program that is operated by the Roanoke Valley-Allegany Regional Commission. We help large and small businesses, industries, governmental agencies and non-profit organizations to reduce energy costs, adopt sustainable practices and become more economically competitive through energy efficiency and waste reduction.

Our services are provided by engineers, scientists, construction specialists, architects and other professionals. Some of our volunteers are retirees and all have specialized training or expertise.

The energy management recommendations that we provide to clients are based on a return-on-investment (ROI) model and include estimated implementation costs and savings. These recommendations address low and no-cost energy saving opportunities as well as longer-term options that can provide significant savings within a pay-back period that is acceptable to you.

VfE’s services are offered to clients at no cost. We are a pilot outreach program funded by a grant from the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy.

VfE’s Services

We provide you with the following services:

Our assessment provides you with preliminary information and recommendations including ROI and technical data that can assist you with budgeting and with obtaining more in-depth information including proposals and estimates from contractors.

• An audit of your organization’s utility use including comparison to regional benchmarks and rate review.
• An on-site assessment of your facility including, but not limited to:
  • Building envelope (the exterior shell of the building which helps to maintain the interior environment) including wall and roof insulation, air infiltration and the energy efficiency of windows and doors.
  • Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system(s) including age, operation and maintenance practices, equipment specifications and efficiency rating (SEER/EER), types of thermostats and comfort issues.
  • Efficiency and effectiveness of interior and exterior lighting including lighting level appropriateness, lighting equipment by type and efficiency, use of occupancy sensors, lighting policy, vending machine lighting, type and number of EXIT signs, and controls for interior and exterior lighting.
  • Water use and efficiency opportunities including use of interior fixtures and exterior water use for landscaping and irrigation.
  • Water heaters and chillers/fountains including age, size, type, efficiency ratings, settings, and line insulation.
  • Office equipment (computers, monitors, printers and copiers) and other equipment that uses “sleep” or standby mode including age, use patterns and purchase policies.
  • Specialized equipment used for manufacturing and other business purposes including dryers, boilers, motors and compressed air.

Our assessments also address sustainable practices that can help you to reduce costs and the use of resources. Assessment of sustainable practices typically includes:

• Employer policies as well as employee participation levels in cost-saving practices such as recycling.
• Fleet management issues, if applicable.
• Commuter/employee transportation and parking issues , including the use of carpooling and mass transit, and the need for and cost of employee parking.
• Waste management practices including recycling and other options for reducing the waste stream.

We can also provide you with information about opportunities to obtain green certification related to your energy-reduction, cost-saving and sustainable practices and information about using sustainable practices and/or green certification to market your organization.

Our assessors generally work in teams of at least two – more if the client’s facility is large or the assessment will be complex in other ways. Team members are assigned according to their expertise, the goals of the client and the requirements of the assessment process.

The team leader will serve as your key contact with VfE. We will ask you to assign someone with in-depth knowledge of your physical plant as VfE’s key contact, typically the facility or operations manager or maintenance supervisor.

The timeframe for our services – from start to finish – varies from client to client. We will proceed as quickly as possible but the timeframe will be influenced by the number of clients we are working with at a given time (if there is a waiting list) as well as the complexity of the assessment and how readily we are able to obtain from you information required to conduct the assessment.

VfE’s assessment process is comprised of several steps:

1. Pre-assessment screening and interview: VfE will conduct a pre-assessment interview with a knowledgeable member of your staff, usually by telephone. Background information will be collected during this interview. In addition, VfE will request copies of your utility bills (electricity, natural gas and/or oil) for the most recent 12 months which, in addition to costs, need to include energy usage in kilowatts, kilowatt hours, therms or other energy units. Since this information is key to VfE’s assessment preparation, we will need to receive it in advance of our site visit.
   
   
2. Site visit: Next, the VfE team will conduct a walk-through of your facility. This typically will require from three to five hours unless your facility is exceptionally large. (Occasionally, a follow-up visit is needed.)

   VfE prefers to initiate the site visit by meeting with your key management and facility staff. At that time, your energy efficiency goals and the information required for an effective and efficient assessment will be reviewed.

   The walk-through follows during which our assessors must be accompanied by at least one member of your staff, hopefully someone very familiar with the physical plant. In addition, assessors are required to abide by VfE’s – and your – safety requirements.

   During the walk-through, assessors will obtain technical and other information about your facility’s systems and sustainable practices. Assessors also may take photos to use in the report. At the end of the walk-through, any additional information assessors need to complete the assessment and prepare the report will be identified and an estimated timeframe for submittal of the information to VfE will be established.

3. The compilation of VfE’s confidential report to you is the next step. It occurs after assessors have processed the data and information collected. This step is often the most time-consuming in the assessment process.

   The report that will be submitted to you will include the following:

   • An executive summary with recommendations ranked according to cost-effectiveness and pay-back period.
   • Background information about your organization and an overview of your facility’s structure(s).
   • Detailed assessment findings and energy-efficiency recommendations that are ranked based on cost-effectiveness and ROI.
   • Recommendations that address sustainable practices including waste reduction and recycling; transportation issues such as commuter/employee transportation and parking and, if applicable, fleet management; and enhancement of employee support for energy efficiency policies and practices.
   • Technical information from the assessment that supports recommendations including assumptions and calculations used to determine estimated costs, savings and pay-back period.
   
   
4. Presentation of the report is the next step. The report is saved as a .pdf file and can be emailed to you. Frequently, the team leader will make a presentation to you and your staff.
   
   
5. As the final step, VfE will follow-up with you at six, 12 and 18 months, as required by our grant funding, to inquire what actions you have taken to implement our recommendations.

Working toward a sustainable economy and healthy environment by helping Roanoke Valley –Alleghany businesses, industries, institutions, and governmental entities reduce energy usage, eliminate waste and manage natural resources efficiently.