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The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service offers a variety of services and publications to promote energy education in urban and rural areas of Georgia. In 2003 alone, energy education conducted by Extension reached nearly 280,000 Georgia consumers. Many of these consumers were educated through programs, presentations, and workshops conducted on a local level by county Extension agents. Publications offered by the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service have also assisted in advancing the cause of energy education. One such publication, "Energy Tips for Homes in Georgia," was first published in 2002 and is available in print and on the UGA College of Family and Consumer Sciences website. It includes information on insulation, weatherization, HVAC systems, hot water heaters, appliances, and lighting. The publication also addresses the special needs of manufactured and historic homes. Shortly after release, "Energy Tips for Homes in Georgia" was translated into Spanish and made available in print and online.
To promote energy efficiency for residential structures in rural Georgia, Extension is collaborating with the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences to develop conservation tools for rural consumers. With materials available in both English and Spanish, the partnership seeks to advocate energy conservation and efficiency in migrant worker settings. The partnership has also made energy assessment guides available to rural households to assist in managing energy and water resources.
Perhaps no better evidence of Extension's commitment to energy education is its leadership role in Energy Star National Energy Education Extension Program. The website of the program, designed and maintained by the University of Georgia, provides a variety of information on Energy Star, a dynamic government/industry partnership that offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions. In addition to explaining the mission of Energy Star and its benefits to consumers, the website goes on to provide information for builders and homeowners, as well as educational resources for extension agents. The website also serves to network the seventeen participating Extension Services, ranging from Alaska to Florida.
Alongside landmark projects such as the Energy Star Program, the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service provides energy education within the framework of its daily operations. Through its network of agents, Extension answers questions and provides services to a public that is becoming increasingly aware of energy concerns. As the public becomes more eager to learn about energy conservation, Extension's role as advocate will only continue to grow, as Georgia's economy, technology, and population expand into the 21st century.
Energy Tips for Homes in Georgia
Recomendaciones Para la Conservación de Energía en los Hogares de Georgia
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