WASHINGTON, PA (Aug. 27, 2018) — Washington & Jefferson College (W&J) has received a $13,400 grant from West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF) to support the W&J Living Energy Laboratory, a new program that will leverage W&J’s energy-efficient facilities to demonstrate sustainable policies, tools, and practices.
In addition to serving W&J students, faculty, and staff, the program will be free and open to the public, with a focus on serving local school students, residents, business owners, elected officials, and others interested in learning about residential and commercial energy efficiency and sustainability.
“We are thrilled to receive this grant, and are looking forward to this partnership between W&J College and West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund,” said W&J President Dr. John C. Knapp. “This will be an excellent opportunity for the College to connect with the community in a way that is meaningful for the community and the environment.”
The W&J Living Energy Laboratory will consist of an interactive tour around W&J’s campus that highlights the ways in which the College is working to reduce its benchmark 16,945 metric tons of carbon produced per year. The tour will include, but not be limited to, a technical discussion of the College’s solar array, a review of the key features included in the design of the College’s LEED Silver Certified Swanson Science Center, and an explanation of the College’s other energy-saving programs.
“We’re really excited about the funding from West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund,” said Corey Young, Director of W&J’s Center for Energy Policy and Management (CEPM). “It will give W&J the opportunity to provide education and resources to the local community and public officials in addition to our own students, faculty, and staff on measures that can be taken to conserve energy.”
Tours will be scheduled throughout the 2018-19 academic year, and will be advertised to the public as they become available.
CEPM staff hopes that the use of W&J’s campus as a Living Energy Laboratory will serve as a model that can be adapted and replicated at other institutions of higher education, municipalities, and public/private firms. The information shared during the Living Energy Laboratory will be delivered in such a way to emphasize the use of “tools/technologies” and “policies/programs” to help individuals and organizations become more responsible energy consumers.
Joel Morrison, The WPPSEF Fund Administrator, stated that “The Fund looks forward to working with W&J’s Center for Energy Policy and Management to raise the level of awareness of sustainable energy in western Pennsylvania. The Living Energy Laboratory and associated interactive tour will showcase W&J’s commitment to deploying sustainable energy technologies.”
About Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, located in Washington, Pa., is a selective liberal arts college founded in 1781. Committed to providing each of its students with the highest-quality undergraduate education available, W&J offers a traditional arts and sciences curriculum emphasizing interdisciplinary study and independent study work. For more information about W&J, visit washjeff.dev, or call 888-W-AND-JAY.
About the West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF)
The West Penn Power Sustainable Energy Fund (WPPSEF) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that invests in the deployment of sustainable energy technologies that benefit West Penn Power ratepayers in Pennsylvania. WPPSEF investments are focused in three broad categories:
- Deployment of sustainable and clean energy technologies;
- Deployment of energy efficiency and conservation technologies; and
- Facilitating economic development, environmental betterment, and public education as they relate to sustainable energy deployment in the WPP service region.
Visit http://www.wppsef.org for further information. YouTube – Listen to what out project partners have to say about us.