 Conservation Update — March 1999
U.S. Department of Energy
U.S. DOE/Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Because of concerns with the growing threat of global climate change from increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the United States and other countries are implementing, by themselves or in cooperation with one or more other nations, climate change mitigation projects. These projects will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or sequester carbon and may also result in non-GHG benefits and costs (i.e., other environmental and socioeconomic benefits and costs). Monitoring, evaluating, reporting, verifying, and certifying (MERVC) guidelines are needed for these projects in order to accurately determine their impact on GHG and other attributes. Implementation of standardized guidelines is also intended to: (1) increase the reliability of data for estimating GHG benefits; (2) provide real-time data so that programs and plans can be revised mid-course; (3) introduce consistency and transparency across project types and reporters; (4) enhance the credibility of the projects with stakeholders; (5) reduce costs by providing an international, industry consensus approach and methodologies; and (6) reduce financing costs, allowing project bundling and pooled project financing. Guidelines for the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, Verification, and Certification of Forestry Projects for Climate Change Mitigation covers the following items: (1) a description of three methods (modeling, remote sensing, and field/site measurement) for evaluating changes in the carbon stock; (2) an explanation of key issues influencing the establishment of a credible baseline (free riders) and the calculation of changes to the carbon stock (project leakage, positive project spillover, and market transformation); (3) a process for verifying and certifying project impacts based on an interpretation of the Kyoto Protocol; (4) a discussion of the importance and value of including environmental and socioeconomic impacts in the evaluation of forestry projects; (5) reporting forms for estimation of changes in carbon stock (Appendix A), for monitoring and evaluation of these changes (Appendix B), and for verification (Appendix C); and (6) Quality Assurance Guidelines that require evaluators and verifiers to indicate specifically how key methodological issues are addressed. Guidelines for the Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting, Verification, and Certification of Energy-Efficiency Projects for Climate Change Mitigation covers the following items: (1) a description of seven methods (engineering methods, basic statistical models, multivariate statistical models, end-use metering, short-term monitoring, and integrative methods) for evaluating energy savings; (2) an explanation of key issues influencing the establishment of a credible baseline (free riders) and the calculation of gross energy savings (positive project spillover and market transformation); (3) a process for verifying and certifying project impacts, based on an interpretation of the Kyoto Protocol; (4) a discussion of the importance and value of including environmental and socioeconomic impacts in the evaluation of energy-efficiency projects; (5) reporting forms for estimation of gross and net energy savings and emission reductions (Appendix A), for monitoring and evaluation of these savings (Appendix B), and for verification (Appendix C); and (6) Quality Assurance Guidelines that require evaluators and verifiers to indicate specifically how key methodological issues are addressed. The next phase of this work will be to develop a procedural handbook providing information on how one can complete the monitoring, evaluation, and verification forms contained in these reports. Next, testing the usefulness of these guidelines in the real world is planned. This work was supported by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract No. DE-AC03-76SF00098. Contact: Ed Vine, (510) 486-6047, or send email.
Arizona Three actions were taken to reduce utility costs resulting from lighting: (1) converted incandescent exterior lighting by the apartment entry walls and by the back patios to compact fluorescent technologies, (2) converted exterior parking lot lighting from incandescent to high pressure sodium technology, and (3) converted the kitchen light fixtures to more efficient fluorescent lighting. In addition to lighting projects, the ductwork of the heating and cooling equipment in each apartment was tested. Any leaks found in the ductwork were sealed. The final measure was to install shade screens on all east-, west-, and south-facing windows. The Energy Office will be working with the owner and residents to track their utility bill savings. It is estimated that these measures will save the owner and the residents over $20,000 a year. Contact: Jim Westberg, (602) 280-1434, or send email.
Photovoltaic Design and Installation Workshops Held: 30 people attended a second PV Design and Installation workshop in the Tucson area. The March 1-6 workshop attracted 15 people from the federal sector who received scholarships from the Energy Office. At the conclusion of the weeklong classroom session, participants installed three PV-powered evaporative coolers on outdoor ramadas at the Desert Sonoran Museum. The 15 government employees represented various agencies including Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Postal Service, Prescott National Forest, Tonto National Forest, Organ Pipe National Monument, Davis Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson Veteran's Hospital, Chiricahua National Monument, Arizona National Guard, and Western Area Power Administration. For information on future photovoltaic workshops, contact Jim Arwood at (602) 280-1409 or send email. Contact: Gloria Castro, (602) 280-1402.
Florida Auto class entries included cars, trucks, and motorcycles from around the country designed to use non-polluting alternative energy power sources, including hydrogen, electricity, and sunshine. The vehicles, built by high school and college students, private individuals, entrepreneurs, and major auto corporations, each raced in one of seven classes. Contact: Bill Young, (407) 638-1458.
Iowa This is the first time these services have been provided to the Housing Department. The total estimated cost of the project is $78,000 with $18,000 in estimated annual savings. This project will increase comfort in the units and reduce their energy use and the federal funds used for utility costs. The utility company and A-TEC, a private company that specializes in residential energy efficiency, will aid the program in making improvements. Future goals for the program include getting local businesses involved by demonstrating the success of the housing program. Rebuild Des Moines hopes other Iowa communities will follow the idea to improve public housing through energy-efficient methods.
Contact: Kimberly Baxter, (515) 281-6486, send email,
Illinois "It is important that we continue to explore alternative sources of energy in the State of Illinois," Ryan said. "This investment in the development and use of renewable energy will reduce our dependence on more conventional power sources." The program is administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affairs. There is currently $3.9 million available for rebates and grants. To be eligible for the program, the applicant must be a customer of an investor-owned gas or electric utility; a municipal gas or electric utility; or an electric cooperative that is assessed by the Renewable Energy Resources Trust fund. In addition to solar and wind energy projects, funding may be awarded to photovoltaic systems, dedicated crops grown for energy production, organic waste biomass, and hydropower that does not involve new construction or significant expansion of hydropower dams. Rebates up to $5,000 are available for solar thermal energy and photovoltaic systems. Cost-sharing grants are available to eligible applicants for larger projects in accordance with program guidelines. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis. Contact: Illinois Department of Commerce and Community Affair's Bureau of Energy and Recycling, (217) 785-2800.
Kentucky Contact: Greg Filburn, (502) 564-7192.
Louisiana Over the course of our two year-grant, the program will endeavor to identify and develop partnerships with similarly interested parties, identify and develop resources to assist these partners in meeting their goals, target specific areas of need in the community, and evaluate and review the results. In January, the State Energy Office sponsored the Motor Challenge Conference hosted by the Louisiana Rural Water Association. Guest speaker Don Casada of Oak Ridge National Laboratories introduced the newly developed "Pumping System Assessment Tool" software program. By utilizing this technology, water and wastewater facility personnel can make informed decisions regarding the efficient operation of their pumping and distribution systems. This spring, the State Energy Office will be launching the new "Student Building Efficiency Program" in at least three universities. Patterned after the Department of Energy-funded Rebuild America program, and authored by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories, this innovative course will provide students with the tools necessary to conduct on-site energy audits. Utilizing the FEDS 4.0 software, a comprehensive analysis, along with suggestions for energy savings, provides valuable information to decision makers. Chip Larson of Pacific Northwest National Laboratories will be providing the State Energy Office and Louisiana universities with specialized training and ongoing support to help ensure the success of this program. These services and others will be provided to the communities around the state free-of-charge. Contact: Tim Wright, (504) 342-1399.
CONSERVATION UPDATE is a free monthly publication prepared by the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet, Division of Energy, with funding from the United States Department of Energy, to facilitate the transfer of current State Energy Program (SEP) and technical information among the states and territories. Please submit short articles that describe successful programs, solicit ideas, share reports, studies or evaluations, or announce new publications, personnel changes, office address changes, conferences, seminars and workshops. Submittals are due by the seventh of each month. Please send submittals, address corrections, or name changes to: CONSERVATION UPDATE, Division of Energy, 663 Teton Trail, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, phone (502) 564-7192, facsimile (502) 564-7484, email landry@nrepc.nr.state.ky.us. Past issues are available upon request. For more information, contact Karen W. Landry, Editor, or John M. Stapleton, Director.
Visit the Division's Web site at http://www.nr.state.ky.us/nrepc/dnr/energy/dnrdoe.html
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