l July 197~ RAIN Page 15 The Commullity Action Congress has approved $3 million for the start-up of a National Center for Appropriate Technology as part of the 1976 Community Services Administration budget. The goal of the project is to support research and demonstration projects and other assistance in areas such as: ■ low-cost, energy efficient housing . ■ energy conservation and decentralized ene,rgy production ■ community-oriented agricuhure and food programs ■ improved nutrition and health serviGes • ' ■ community economic development The project developed in reaction to the failure of the federal and most state governments to develop energy technologies that are environmentally sound, appropriate to the needs of local communities and affordable by poor people. It is expected that the first projects to be developed by the center ;will include home weatheriza6on techniques such as inexpensive building repairs, adding insulation, installing small wood stoves and low-cost window solar heaters for supplemental heating, and inexpensive methods for building and repairing clothing and bedding. Other projects to assist.the poor to become self-reliant as well as to develop energy solutions,, such as urban gardens, rooftop farming, greenhouses and cooperative community businesses will be given priority. The organization will be overseen by a Board of Directors , composed of elected representatives from each of the CSA Federal regions, along with representatives of various sciences who are e,xperienced in appropriate technology and various minority and environmental constituencies. The Center is to include a technical group-electrical, materials, industrial and mechanical engineers; a biologist; agronomist; architect; regional economist; community development specialist; and a • generalist. They .will be responsible for assessing grant proposals, consulting and liaison with local groups, and research and development. Ten regional "extension workers" will survey local problems and resources and assist the development of regional networks and training local people in new energy technologies. A central library with hotline access, and an information program producing films, videotapes, training n:ianuals and reports will make the information developed more widely available. The majority of the 40% of the Center's budget allocated for grants is projected for community groups-particular!): -i ~ \\ ( \ ' ' .:?: Center for Appropriate Technology CAP agencies-and a. t. researchers working in conjunction with them on projects with direct impact on the poor. _It looks like it will be several months, at minimum, before NCA:T will be set up to accept grant applications, but1:he awareness that some support.and assistance may soon be available has already· catalyzed many local and regional groups into initiating ac- . tivities themselves. The Oregon CAP agencies, for example, have formed an energy committee, headed by Jim Long (from Washington County Community Action) to develop and coordinate CAP energy programs in the state. Local group's initial efforts will be to find out needs- both unique ones and ones whose solµtion can be shared with others, as well as to ferret out local people with a.t. expertise and community groups interested in ,apply'ing new techniques. Mechanisms are being de~eloped to get and kee-p these people in touch, to figure out what local resources are available to enact new programs, and what things are possible only with outside funding from sources such as NCAT. Much input is needed to _achieve the best results from the NCAT project-recommendations for good board members, good people applying for positions working with the Center, thoughtful input in shaping Center policies and organization, and initiative in developing local and regional programs to complement and parallel the good work being attempted by the Center. • ,-A consortium of a.t. groups in New England has already proposed funding a series of regional R&D networks instead of the facility planned in Montana because of the greater cost effectiveness, ability to augment budgets with local funds, and greater knowledge of local conditions and resources. Such proposals, along with ones to experiment with a whole range of regional networks-based in universities, centered on existing a.t. networks, utilizing the Community Action structure, utilizing existing information networks such as WORKBOOK, LION, ASE, RAIN, or AERO-need careful consideration, as it can clearly be shown that such subcontracting of furrctions can perform far better for substantially lower cost. For more information on NCAT's development, write Richar~ M. Saul, Ro'om 500-A, Community Services Administration, 1200 19th Street N.W., B-Bldg., Washington, DC 20506, or Jack Hershey, University City Science Center, 3508 Science Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104. (TB)
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