Energy Resource Guide for Virginia

Agricultural producers must consider alternative energy for their farms. FarmWise: Agriculture Energy provides you with references to the AgSTAR Program sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The ATTRA, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service's website, offers a discussion on anaerobic digestion of animal wastes.

Also discover options for recovering beneficial products from dairy manure in the Dairy Waste Anaerobic Digestion Handbook. Websites for energy estimators will calculate estimates of diesel fuel use and costs in the production of key crops for your farm.

Not only will you find information on alternative energy but also information on livestock production facilities, greenhouse operations, and wineries.

Transportation experts are developing alternative fuels and hybrid vehicles. Within TravelWise: Transforming Transportation, you will find a list of hybrid-car dealers, information on fuel performance, and an explanation of vehicle tax credits.

The Virginia Energy Savers Handbook also offers tips for reducing transportation energy use and expenses.

Transportation Energy resources

The Business & Industry Energy Management section of the guide includes the energy audit workbook and energy solutions database, significant tools in implementing energy cost-saving solutions.

Whether you utilize the resources from Alliance to Save Energy, Energy Information Administration, Energy Star, National Association of Manufacturers, Energy Services Tools developed by Washington State University, or the U.S. Department of Energy your company will expand its thinking on energy options.

This section of the guide also links you to the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

• Efficiency and Innovation in U.S. Manufacturing Energy Use (pdf) responds to the rising energy costs and concerns of manufacturing. A 37-page report published by the National Association of Manufacturers.
• Energy Audit Workbook provides documents useful for an energy audit published the Washington State University.
• Energy Efficiency Pays: A Guide for the Small Business Owner (pdf) instructs small business owners on multiple methods for saving money and is published by American Public Power Association and the Association of Small Business Development Centers.
• Energy Solutions Databaseoffers heating and cooling system calculator, an energy solutions database, and utility options as well as an opportunity to Ask the Experts.Review the question on using a cheap 250 hp motor or upgrades for an 8' x 8' walk-in freezer.
• Energy Information Administration includes an array of reports and analyses for commercial buildings, residential end-use electricity consumption, and forecasts.
• Energy Management lists numerous tools for energy management and provides a diagram to assist in navigating Energy Star's Guidelines for Energy Management.
• Energy Policy Act of 2005 lists the Table of Contents and connects you to each part of the Act.
• Energy Security for the 21st Century offers the complete listing of speeches, policy, and legislative announcements.
• Industrial Technologies Program: Save Energy Now helps "American businesses, factories, and manufacturing facilities save energy."
• Resources, published by Alliance to Save Energy, provides a listing of publications on issues related to industrial energy efficiency, regulations, policies, codes, and standards.
• Virginia Energy Patterns and Trends, managed by Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research, presents information from a variety of sources related to energy production, distribution, and use within the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Renewable energy has everyone's attention.

Visit the National Biodiesel Board's website to read the latest information on biodiesel fuel.

Review the Renewable Energy page to gather details on converting biomass into valuable fuels or to research ethanol production.

Discover the facts on other forms of renewable energy by visiting the hydrogen, hydropower, methane, solar, and wind energy pages.

Virginia's middle school students are responsible for understanding energy concepts as part of the Virginia Standards of Learning. The Energy & the Middle School Student section of the guide provides both students and teachers with resources to assist them in reaching this goal.

Students will enjoy exploring the Energy Hog Challenge sponsored by Alliance to Save Energy and the Virginia Department of Mines, Minerals, and Energy. Educators will want to use the Alternative Fuels Data Center to find activities, curricula suggestions, and workbooks on fuels and vehicles.

There also are new ideas for science projects, information about renewable energy, and even get instructions on how to build a renewable energy project.