It’s Easy Being Green (with Resources from Your Library)

If you’re interested in going green – and potentially saving some green – head to Virginia Beach Public Library (VBPL) for free resources and tools to make your household more energy - efficient. VBPL’s Green Savers project, funded by a $15,000 grant from the Virginia Natural Gas Foundation and secured by the Virginia Beach Library Foundation on behalf of VBPL, includes free programs and energy-saving giveaways, plus do-it-yourself toolkits to borrow from the library.

Programs & Giveaways

VBPL will host a series of Green Savers programs, now through next spring, on topics ranging from electric vehicles (EV) to rain barrels. All Green Savers program attendees receive a home energy supply kit with LED lightbulbs, low-flow shower head, air filter whistle, mini laser thermometer, guidebook and more.

• Efficiency Unveiled, Saturday, Oct. 21, 2 p.m. at the Meyera E. Oberndorf Central Library: Jeremy Kline, deputy director of public works, City of Virginia Beach, shares a historical take on energy efficiency.
• EV Community Charging Plan, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 6 p.m. at Great Neck Area Library, Lori Herrick Borden, energy management administrator, City of Virginia Beach, shares options for supporting EV charging.

Do-it-Yourself Toolkits

VBPL is lending curated do-it-yourself toolkits with guidebooks to help you assess your household’s energy and water usage as well as identify and fix issues to help save on utility bills:

• Kill-A-Watt Electricity kit includes a usage monitor, digital thermometers, plug-in socket power meter, weatherstripping supplies and more.
• Water Conservation kit features a hygrometer (to measure humidity)/indoor thermometer, moisture meter, drip gauge – plus basic tools and plumber’s tape to fix issues you may identify.
• Thermal Camera kit has a thermal imaging camera to help you detect and locate heat patterns and sources you may not otherwise be able to see.

Beginning Monday, Oct. 23, you can find and place a hold on a kit by visiting VBPL's catalog and searching for “Green Savers Toolkit.” You’ll need a VBPL account – free to residents of Virginia and Currituck County, NC.

About Virginia Beach Library Foundation
Virginia Beach Library Foundation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that secures, manages, and invests privately raised funds, gifts, and bequests in support of Virginia Beach Public Library. Visit www.vblibraryfoundation.org for more information.

About Virginia Beach Public Library
Virginia Beach Public Library includes a central library, a joint-use library in partnership with Tidewater Community College, seven area libraries and a public law library. Services include workforce development and job-search support, small business resources, computer and technology classes, early literacy classes and outreach, and local history archives and programs. In addition to books, music, magazines and movies in tangible and digital formats, the library provides online research tools accessible from home or work, and a variety of specialty collections. Visit Libraries.VirginiaBeach.gov for more information.

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