Pocono Environmental Education Center Joins KEEA To Tout Benefits Of Energy Efficiency

The Pocono Environmental Education Center in Dingmans Ferry, Pike County Thursday hosted a tour of its campus for local elected officials and business leaders to showcase energy efficiency upgrades and retrofits which have resulted in multiple benefits for the Center and local community.

PEEC has capitalized on the Pennsylvania Act 129 energy efficiency programs to deploy innovative technologies in its facilities, which save both energy and money.

The Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance participated in the day’s events to highlight the importance of Act 129 policies for businesses and organizations such as PEEC across the state.

“Act 129 is an example of smart policy that has created local jobs that can’t be outsourced, while helping organizations like PEEC save money that can then be invested in the programs they offer to the thousands of children that visit every year,” said Julian Boggs, Policy Director for the Keystone Energy Efficiency Alliance, a 50-member Pennsylvania trade association.

Act 129 is Pennsylvania’s cornerstone energy efficiency law, enacted by the General Assembly in 2008 with broad, bipartisan support. The energy efficiency retrofits and upgrades made by PEEC throughout its campus were possible because Act 129 makes the up-front costs of energy efficiency projects affordable.

All Pennsylvanians benefit from the energy cost-savings enabled by Act 129, from residential customers to large manufacturers.
“PEEC strives to be the most energy efficient and environmentally friendly facility of its kind, but we also need to be cost-effective to be a sustainable organization,” said Jeff Rosalsky, Executive Director at PEEC. “We are grateful that organizations like the Sustainable Energy Fund and programs like Act 129 exist so that we have the opportunity to save on energy costs and then reinvest in those savings into PEEC educational programs for the 25,000 students that visit every year."

PEEC’s Visitor Activity Center was designed and built in 2004 by Wilkes-Barre based architecture firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson using recycled materials and energy-efficient insulation, as well as passive heating and ventilation designs to reduce heating and cooling costs.

Additional energy efficiency and conservation design elements include maximization of daylight, motion-controlled lighting sensors and radiant floor heating. PEEC facilities throughout the campus have also been designed to maximize energy efficiency, including recent upgrades to the cabins where students and visitors stay during their educational programs.

“At Bohlin Cywinski Jackson, we have always believed that energy efficiency, conservation of natural resources and occupant well-being are vital components to successful building design and function,” remarked architect Allen Kachel. “The PEEC Visitor Activity Center is not only a preeminent model for sustainable design, but more importantly, it is a physical teaching tool for the people using the building while delivering maximum performance and energy savings for the client."

Energy efficiency programs and projects are critical tools used by businesses and consumers to save energy costs, and are also a powerful job creation engine.

According to a recent U.S. Department of Energy report, 62,341 Pennsylvanians are employed within the energy efficiency industry- a significant increase in recent years, spurred by Act 129.

The PEEC tour was attended by Pike County Commissioners Matthew Osterberg and Steve Guccini. Representatives of Senators John Blake (D-Lackawanna) and Mario Scavello (R-Monroe) were in attendance, as well as staff from Rep. Maureen Madden’s (D-Monroe) office.
Click Here to learn more about the PEEC Visitors Center building and its energy efficiency benefits.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Pocono Environmental Education Center website.