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Energy efficiency is the avoidance or reduction of energy use through applied practices and technologies. It may be achieved directly at an end-use, or indirectly through related efficiencies (e.g., water efficiency reduces the energy used to pump, heat, and treat the water). By improving energy efficiency, local governments can save money and help protect the quality of the local and global environment. Communities also benefit from increased electric system reliability, economic development, and leadership status in sustainable practices. Read More
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American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
Last week, the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy
(ACEEE) issued a series of seven reports that examine effective programs to boost markets for energy efficient products and services. And on Monday, the Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) called on U.S. industry to help avoid a natural gas crisis this winter by becoming 10 percent more energy efficient. See the ACEEE and ACE press releases at: http://www.aceee.org/press/0307expmar.htm and http://www.ase.org/media/newsrel/natural_gas_industry.htm.
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Better Bricks
BetterBricks is an initiative of the Northwest Energy Efficiency
Alliance. It was established to help commercial building
professionals use energy efficiency as a design tool and financial
strategy. Its Web site features articles on energy effective
design and better building management, as well as success stories,
news, and events.
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Business Energy Analyzer
The Business Energy Analzyer provides an analysis of energy use in businesses, based on the information provided, along with customized energy efficiency improvement recommendations. The calculator prepares a report that shows investments with greatest savings and those with the fastest payback on investment.
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California Power Agency Seeks 4 Megawatts of Solar Power
The State of California wants its state agencies and universities to use more solar power and is using its purchasing power to help make that happen. The California Power Agency (CPA) and the California Department of General Services issued a request for proposals last week for companies to install about 4 megawatts of solar electric systems in, on, or around a number of California facilities. The intent is for private companies to own and install the systems, and for the state to purchase the solar power from each system at a set price over at least a 20-year period. Specifically, the state plans to install 1-megawatt solar power systems at two state prisons in Blythe, two 250-kilowatt systems at state hospitals in Norwalk and Patton, two 250-kilowatt systems on office buildings in Stockton and Santa Rosa, and systems of various sizes at seven university campuses.
If the state receives favorable prices for solar power, it anticipates issuing additional requests for proposals in the near future. California's two-year goal is to install 10 to 20 megawatts of solar power at state facilities, and the state might contract for up to 60 megawatts of solar power by the end of 2007. The CPA is holding a pre-proposal meeting on Thursday, and proposals will be due on June 17th.
California continues to rack up new solar power systems. PowerLight Corporation finished installing a 1.4-megawatt system at Cal State Hayward, which earned the university a $3.4 million rebate check from Pacific Gas and Electric Company. PowerLight also installed a 150-kilowatt system and a 50-kilowatt system at the SANYO North America headquarters in San Diego. And Sharp Electronics Corporation installed a 200-kilowatt system at an office building in Santa Rosa. Sharp claims the building represents Northern California's first "zero energy" commercial real estate complex, combining energy-efficient construction with solar energy to achieve zero net energy consumption.
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Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The Clean Power Campaign was founded in 1990 in Sacramento to promote increased electric system reliance on sustainable use of energy resources.
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Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (CEERE) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst provides economic analyses and technological innovations relating to energy and the environment. The CEERE research program draws on teams that specialize in renewable energy, energy efficiency in buildings, industrial energy efficiency, and environmental technologies.
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Clean Energy Basics
Provides basic information on renewable energy technologies, including specific links for homeowners, small business owners, students, and teachers.
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EERE Building Technologies Program
EERE Building Technologies Program
This new site helps users find a great deal of updated information about energy efficiency technologies for buildings. The "Building Toolbox" section provides step-by-step information on how to implement building energy efficiency projects, from the initial planning phase to operation and maintenance once the project is complete. The site also includes specific energy solutions for 10 different building types, as well as detailed information about the Building Technologies Program.
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EIA's Annual Energy report
The Energy Information Agency of the US Department of Energy estimates that utility demand-side management programs, which
help customers reduce their electrical demand, achieved nearly
25 gigawatts of peak demand reductions in 2001. Although the number
represents a 9 percent increase above 2002 demand reductions, the
overall trend for demand reductions has been dropping since 1996, when
utilities achieved a peak demand reduction of nearly 30 gigawatts. See
the EIA's "Electric Power Annual 2001" at:
<http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epa/epa_sum.html>.
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Emissions Reduction Partnership
Available through the EPA, this site provides information about the SF6 Emission Reduction Partnership for Electric Power Systems, a voluntary program for reducing concentrations of SF6, a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
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Energy Star
This site provides information about ENERGY STAR, a government/industry partnership that helps individuals and businesses use energy more efficiently, making it easy to save money while protecting the environment.
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Executive Order Launches California's "Hydrogen Highways"
California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed an executive order last week that creates a public and private partnership to build a "hydrogen highway" in the state by 2010. The Hydrogen Highway Network initiative aims to speed the transition to a hydrogen transportation economy in California by building a network of 150 to 200 hydrogen fueling stations throughout the state-roughly one every 20 miles on the state's major highways. The order also calls on the California Environmental Protection Agency to develop a plan by year-end for the state's transition to a hydrogen economy. Thanks to the efforts of California agencies and transit systems, several automakers, and the California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP), 13 hydrogen-fueling stations are already in place in the state, and 17 more are in the planning stages. The CaFCP and others estimate that the full network will cost roughly $90 million, mostly coming from private investment by energy companies, automakers, high-technology firms, and other companies.
As a recent example of such public and private efforts, American Honda Motor Company, Inc. recently delivered two of its FCX fuel-cell vehicles to San Francisco. Honda is leasing the vehicles to the city for a year with an option for a second year, and the city is planning to create a hydrogen-refueling infrastructure to support daily use of the vehicles by city officials. Honda will also start road-testing its latest FCX vehicles on California roads later this month, using its innovative new home-refueling system as a hydrogen source.
The hydrogen highway concept isn't limited to California: the Canadian government plans to build a hydrogen highway in British Columbia from Vancouver to Whistler, about 80 miles north. The Illinois 2 H2 Partnership has also proposed to build a hydrogen highway along Interstate 90, which traverses the state.
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Gridless Urban House project
The Gridless Urban House project, sponsored by the State Energy
Program of the Kansas Corporation Commission, educates citizens about alternative energy solutions that promote energy conservation, energy efficiency, and stunt the growth for energy demand. The Web site
features a slide show tour of a house that boasts the largest solar
electric array in Kansas.
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International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives
ICLEI's mission is to build and serve a worldwide movement of local governments to achieve tangible improvements in global environmental and sustainable development conditions through cumulative local actions.
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Interwest Energy Alliance
Interwest Energy Alliance
<http://www.interwestenergy.org/>
The Interwest Energy Alliance is a newly developed trade association
consisting of members from both industry and environmental
organizations that support state-level public policies to harness the
West's renewable energy and energy efficiency resources. The Alliance
particularly focuses on promoting market-based Renewable Portfolio
Standard policies. Its Web site also features information on the
benefits of renewable energy use in the West.
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Maryland and Hawaii Set New Renewable Energy Requirements
Maryland has become the newest state to enact a requirement for utilities to draw on renewable energy for a set percentage of their electricity supply. The new law—commonly referred to as a "renewable portfolio standard"—requires utilities in Maryland to draw on renewable energy for 7.5 percent of their electricity supplies by 2014. According to MaryPIRG, one of the organizations that advocated the legislation, Maryland is the fifteenth state to implement a renewable portfolio standard. Governor Ehrlich signed the law (SB 869/HB 1308) on May 26th, and also signed a law (HB 1269) expanding the state's "net metering" rules, which allow homeowners and educational institutions to spin their electric meters backwards when feeding power from a solar electric system into the power grid. The new rules allow net metering for wind turbines as well. See the press releases from MaryPIRG and Governor Ehrlich, or go directly to the Maryland General Assembly's complete information about the renewable portfolio standard and net metering laws.
Meanwhile, Hawaii has expanded the requirements of its renewable portfolio standard. The original requirement, set in 2001, required utilities to draw on renewable energy for 9 percent of their electricity sales by 2010; the new law, signed last week by Governor Linda Lingle, escalates that requirement to 15 percent by 2015 and to 20 percent by 2020. See the new law, SB 2474, and for background, see the state's description of its 2001 requirements.
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National Association of Environmental Professionals
The National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP) has issued a
call for papers for its 30th annual conference, "Inspiring Global
Environmental Standards and Ethics," to be held in Alexandria, Virginia,
from April 16-19, 2005. The conference will focus on balancing the needs of
the natural and human environments, and finding solutions that can bridge
competing interests. NAEP has proposed 20 general topics, such as
transportation, sustainability/smart growth, global climate change, energy
issues, and air quality. The deadline for submitting abstracts is August 31, 2004. For instructions on how to submit abstracts, information on conference topics, and other
details, visit: http://www.naep.org/CONFERENCE05/Alexandria.html
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Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance—Local Government Associations
This project provides support for the local government associations in the Northwest states to provide information on energy efficiency to city, town and county officials. It also provides information to encourage communities to adopt energy efficiency policies such as codes or efficient building practices.
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Office of Transportation and Air Quality
The Office of Transportation and Air Quality site provides information about greenhouse gas emissions from highway engines and non-road equipment.
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Pew Center on Global Climate Change
The objective of the Pew Center on Global Climate Change is to educate the public and key policy makers about the causes and potential consequences of climate change, and to encourage the domestic and international community to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
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Planet Energy - The Renewable Energy Trail
Planet Energy is a site designed to teach children about renewable energy technologies. Developed by the United Kindgom Department of Trade and Industy, the site provides information and resources for two separate audiences: children and their teachers.
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State Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs
State Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs
The Association for Better Insulation has launched this Web site that
lists by state the rebates and tax incentives for upgrading insulation
to DOE-recommended levels of insulation.
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The Clean Air Technology Center
The Clean Air Technology Center (CATC) serves as a resource on all areas of emerging and existing air pollution prevention and control technologies, and provides public access to data and information on their use, effectiveness, and cost.
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U.S. Global Change Research Information Office
U.S. Global Change Research Information Office offers access to data and information on global change research, adaptation and mitigation strategies and technologies, and global change related educational resources.
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 | Tools |
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Business Energy Checkup
Business Energy Checkup helps identify energy efficiency measures in commercial buildings and compares the benefits and costs of a wide range of energy efficiency options. The program takes the user through the five stages of the U.S. EPA's ENERGY STAR® Buildings program.
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Canadian Climate Change Calculator
This tool calculates personal greenhouse gas emissions and lists mitigation strategies. Using a graphical example of a Canadian community, the user answers a series of questions on home heating and cooling, appliances, transportation, and recreation activities. Available online or as a downloadable file.
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DOE Kicks Off New "Smart Energy Campaign"
Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham said on July 9th that all Americans should practice smart energy use, and he launched a new DOE public awareness campaign to educate businesses, homeowners, and consumers on ways they can cut energy bills. The Smart Energy Campaign emphasizes DOE's new Energysavers.gov Web site and features a series of public service announcements and a four-city Smart Energy Tour led by Secretary Abraham. The tour began on July 9th at Long Island City, New York, and wound through Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Columbus, Ohio; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on July 10th. The campaign will be supported by electric utilities through announcements inserted into utility bills, and DOE is encouraging state governors and the media to support the campaign. DOE will also hold a series of regional summits on energy use, with the first to take place in Atlanta. For information on the energy tour, visit the web site.
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Energy Calculator
This tool, provided by the US EPA’s Energy Star program, allows the user to calculate energy savings of Energy Star-labeled products. Consumers are asked to choose a specific type of home or office appliance and enter the amount of energy it currently uses (this amount can also be automatically filled in if you’re not sure). The website will then calculate energy savings, as well as showing the additional investment for an Energy Star product, lifetime savings, net savings, annual costs. It also demonstrates the years in which annual maintenance and energy savings pay back the initial investment, and approximate equivalence in carbon emissions of removing cars from the road for a year.
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Energy Design Tools
This website contains software developed by the UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture. All the software can be downloaded for free, and the site encourages sharing these tools with others. Available software includes: Climate Consultant, which graphically displays climate data in dozens of ways; Solar 5.7, which displays 3-D plots of hourly energy performance for the whole building or for any of 16 different components; and Energy Economics Primer, which aids in evaluating building energy decisions using Life-Cycle Cost Analysis, Net Benefit/Savings-To Investment Ratio, Internal Rate of Return, Discounted Payback; among others.
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ENERGY STAR Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator
The ENERGY STAR Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator addresses three
key questions about such projects: How much new energy efficiency equipment can be purchased from the anticipated energy cost savings?
Should the purchase be financed now or is it better to wait and use cash from a future budget?
Is money being lost by waiting for a lower interest rate?
Using graphs and tables, the calculator is written so that managers who are not financial specialists can use it to make informed decisions, yet it is
sophisticated enough to satisfy financial decision makers. Organizations that already have rated their buildings with ENERGY STAR’s benchmarking tool can use the calculator’s detailed approach to determine potential savings and costs of delay. For those who have not benchmarked their buildings, the calculator also provides a simplified approach that provides a first approximation of how much new energy efficiency equipment could be installed without increasing existing capital or operating budgets.
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ENERGY STAR Offers Roof Energy Cost Savings Calculator
Building owners, architects, and others considering the use of solar
reflective, or "cool" roofing now can estimate the energy savings
associated with various roofing types using an online calculator developed
recently for the ENERGY STAR program. Designed to showcase the benefits of ENERGY STAR-labeled roof products, the Roofing Comparison Calculator will estimate energy cost savings for air-conditioned residential, office, or commercial buildings with at least 3,000 square feet of roof area and heated by either natural gas or an electric heat pump.
The new online calculator provides estimates of building-specific energy
savings by taking site- and structure-specific factors into account. Helped
along by multiple-choice questions, users provide basic information about
the building, including the amount of insulation in the roof, the efficiency of the air-conditioning and heating systems, the cost of natural gas and electricity, the existing roof type and the proposed new roof type, and geographic location. The tool then calculates the net energy savings
that would result from a different type of roofing, taking into account
potential increased heating costs along with reduced cooling costs.
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Energy Star Quiz
The Energy Star Quiz provides information to help consumers quickly and easily identify lighting products, appliances, home office equipment, home theater/consumer electronics, and a range of other products that save energy, money, and help to protect the environment.
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EPA Awards Energy-Efficient Businesses and Congregations
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) honored energy-efficient small businesses and congregations, as well as the leaders in its Combined Heat and Power Partnership, in ceremonies in late April and on May 13th.
Thirteen small businesses and congregations earned Energy Star awards in late April for their contributions to energy efficiency. Institutions and organizations that promote energy efficiency among small commercial facilities also earned awards. The businesses included an inn, a grocery, a building materials supplier, and a non-profit corporation. The energy efficiency upgrades generally included energy-efficient lighting and heating and cooling systems, as well as insulating and sealing air leaks.
Last week, the EPA presented two awards and three certificates of recognition to companies that have installed combined heat and power systems at their facilities. BP Solvay Polyethylene North America won for a gas turbine system with heat recovery that operates at an estimated efficiency of 78 percent, and Calpine Corporation won for a combustion system with heat recovery that operates at 72 percent efficiency.
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Home Improvement Toolbox with Energy Star
This calculator can help users save energy and money when remodeling, repairing or improving their homes.
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Personal CO2 Calculation
This site provides a worksheet to determine yearly direct personal carbon dioxide emissions. The results include an annual personal carbon dioxide emissions chart and a per capita chart compared with other industrialized countries. Suggestions on reducing emissions while saving money are also provided.
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Rebuild America 2002 - Local Government Results: Bergen County, NJ
Through its Energy Conservation initiatve, Rebuild Bergen County has supported a number of significant building retrofits and has offered all municipalities, school districts, water or wastewater treatment plants and commerical or industrial businesses free energy audits.
Total energy savings from the projects has surpassed $1.2 million a year. The projects include improvements to two county buildings, two county county special services facilities, a sewage treatment plant and several municipal and school buildings.
More than 3 million square feet of local governmentbuilidng spacein Bergen County has benefitted from energy retrofits since Rebuild Bergen County became a community partnership in 1996.
The Bergen County Improvement Authority provided financing, while energy service company Metro Energy Solutions provided much of the initiative and expertise.
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Rebuild America 2002 - Local Governments
A very active market sector is that of state and local government. More than 6 billion square feet of building space fall under the purview of state and local governments. State energy officials play a central role in the Rebuild America network as advocates, advisers and project developers.
State and local governments have been wrestling with budget squeezes, including some severe deficits. As a result, many states have a stronger motivation to save money on energy through heightened efficiency. States are also resorting to more use of performance contracts, which rely on reductions in energy expenses to cover the costs of building upgrades, leaving the state budget untouched.
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Rebuild America 2002: Energy Smart Schools
In The Dalles, Oregon, the old middle school was falling apart. Literally. It had cracks in the walls, and much of it was condemned and closed, having been damaged by a landslide. So the school district formed Rebuild The Dalles Schools and built a new school.
While the new school was under construction, a nearby vacant grocery strore was converted into makeshift classrooms. Studetns not using those rooms were in mobile modular classrooms at other school sites, and school offices and classes also were located in such temporary places as a school gymnasium.
The middle school virtually went from worst to first. All kinds of energy-savings measures went into the new state of the art building, from the use of groundwater in temperature control to various manipulations of natural light. Completed in August 2002, the new school was designed to have energy expenses about 45 percent below those of a conventional replacement building.
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Rebuild America 2002: State and Local Governemnt Results in Texas
In urbanized counties of Texas, air pollution is a chronic problem and a violation of federal regulations. State lawmakers in 2001 passed Senate Bill 5 (SB5) to require energy-efficiency measures as a basic strategy fro reducing pollution. To provide expert assistance to the 38 affected counteis and their political subdivisions, the Texas Energy Partnership was formed as a joint effort of the State Energy Conservation Office, Rebuild America, and the Energy Star Program.
SB5 efforts are in their early stages, but they are showing results. More than 175 political subdivisions have formally adopted the mandated goal of reducing local-government electricityconsumption by 5 percent each year over five years. Ambitious energy-saving plans have been devised and implemented in one jurisidction after another.
Early numbers appear better than expected. Data collected for a first formal report by the State Energy Conservation Office indicate many local governments have been exceeding the first-year target for cuts in their electricity consumption. A lot of people can breathe easier because of that.
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SafeClimate Carbon Dioxide Footprint Calculator
The SafeClimate tool calculates emissions from hom | | |
