U.S. Department of Energy
Free Resources Available: The 1996 NREL Information Resources Catalogue is intended to inform anyone interested in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies of NREL's outreach activities, including publications and services. The services section of the catalogue presents many ways in which NREL makes information available to the public, including a visitors' center, electronic networks, and information hotlines. Documents listed were published by NREL in fiscal year 1996 and include general interest publications, technical reports, conference papers, journal articles, and patents.

The catalogue is free in limited quantities and can be obtained through the document distribution service at (303) 275-4363 (phone), (303) 275-4053 (fax), or evanss@tcplink.nrel.gov (email).

Contact: Anne Jones, (303) 275-3678

Alaska
AK Warm Software Released
Alaska Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) has just released AKWarm, its new energy-rating software. Years in development, the new Windows-based program allows builders, lenders, energy raters, and weatherization and retrofit contractors to easily calculate heat loss, make energy-use predictions, and generate cost-effective improvement options for single-family or multi-family homes, all with the click of a mouse.

Utilizing specific databases for weather, fuel, utility, and material costs, AKWarm allows energy raters to predict a home's energy rating and show compliance with Alaska's Building Energy Efficiency Standard. Builders can now do energy design and analysis on their own house plans. For lenders, AKWarm helps with government-sponsored Energy Efficient Mortgages (EEMs) by providing an energy-efficiency rating with documentation that is acceptable to VA, FHA, Fannie Mae, and Freddy Mac. Realtors and sellers are able to use AKWarm improvement option reports to provide their customers with the information they need for energy efficiency financing. Weatherization contractors can evaluate efficiency options, adjust costs for individual situations, and view break-even costs to tell how much they can spend on measures and still benefit from savings.

On-screen calculators and input "wizards" make data entry simple and accurate. Drop-down lists of building and insulation materials, windows and doors, and heating and hot water systems allow rapid data entry. Changes to any energy component can be easily modified, and AKWarm can graphically show total energy use and the cost-effectiveness of changes.

The software's design consists of a "calculations module" which accesses information in stored libraries of an attached database file. Currently, the file lists data for 281 locations in Alaska. Since the libraries can be modified, updated, or replaced without affecting the calculations module, AKWarm can be easily kept current and adapted to other locations and climates. The software can run on a laptop PC. Demo disks are available.

Contact: Phil Kaluza, (907) 561-1900

California
Energy Commission's Bright Schools Program Commended by Department of Energy
U.S. DOE has awarded a Certificate of Recognition to the California Energy Commission's Bright Schools Partnership Program for its efforts to help schools cut energy costs. Presented to the Energy Commission as part of the 1996 National Awards for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the certificate recognizes the program for its outstanding contributions in promoting an environmentally sustainable energy future. The reduced energy costs help taxpayers save money and schools reduce waste, freeing up much needed funds for more pressing needs.

In 1996, the Commission loaned more than $1.26 million to school districts willing to improve their energy efficiency. As a result, California schools have saved more than $227,000 a year on their energy bills. Bright Schools successfully fosters cooperation between local, state, and federal governments and private industry. The program benefits California's economy--as many as 100 new jobs can be attributed to Bright Schools energy efficiency projects--and improves environmental quality.

Besides the Energy Commission, other key members of the Bright Schools Partnership Program are the California Conservation Corps, the Department of General Services' Office of Energy Assessments, investor-owned and municipal utility companies, private sector energy service companies, architectural and engineering firms, municipal lease and lending institutions, and professional trade associations.

Contact: Claudia Chandler, (916) 654-4989

Iowa
Federal Energy Management Programs
After achieving energy savings success in Iowa's own public facilities, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is beginning to work with the federal government to achieve similar success in Iowa's federal facilities. Through a contract with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the Iowa DNR is developing and delivering an energy management program specifically for the federal facilities operated in the state. In a pilot project, the DNR is working in partnership with three federal agencies in the state (the Des Moines Post Office, the Bulk Mail Center, and the Veteran's Administration Medical Center in Iowa City) to identify comprehensive energy and water improvements.

The DNR will help the facilities secure financing for these improvements; the financing can be repaid from the energy savings. Financing may come from utilities, energy services companies, or other sources. Following installation, the DNR will assist with the commissioning of projects in the facilities to help ensure that equipment is operating at optimum efficiency. This is possible because of Iowa's 15-year track record in delivering energy efficiency services and commitment to making all facilities in Iowa, operated at taxpayer expense, energy efficient. It is estimated that three-fourths of all federally owned and leased facilities in the state have the potential for energy management improvements, with an investment potential of more than $40 million. With this investment, Iowa's federal facilities alone could save the nation's taxpayers over $6 million annually.

Contact: Kim Baxter, (515) 281-6486

Kentucky
Training For State Building Managers
The Kentucky Division of Energy has been asked by the state's Department for Facilities Management to implement an energy efficiency training program for operational and maintenance personnel in state-owned buildings. The Kentucky legislature approved an Energy Efficiency Program for State Government Buildings in 1996 that calls for the implementation of low-cost or no-cost measures. Many of these measures can be accomplished by building operators. The Division of Energy is developing an energy training manual and procedures for building operators to provide them the necessary information. The division will also develop outreach materials for distribution to all state employees. A series of training sessions, which will be open to local and state government personnel, will be conducted during 1997.

Contact: John M. Stapleton, (502) 564-7192

North Carolina
North Carolina Studies Use of Hay and Grass for Energy
The North Carolina Energy Division is studying the use of certain strains of hays and grasses as possible sources of energy for hog and poultry farmers. The energy project is part of efforts by the Energy Division to help farmers reduce their operating costs while relieving them of solid waste problems associated with large husbandry operations. In North Carolina, the country's leading hog producer, efforts have intensified to find ways to rid farming communities of solid wastes while simultaneously finding alternative forms of biomass energy. On a large number of farms, lagoon effluent is pumped to nearby fields, where the rich supply of nutrients yields an abundance of hays and grasses used for feed. The growth is so prolific that farmers often find the market overwhelmed by a glut of feed. The Energy Division study seeks to identify a method to produce energy or feed from the hay resource which will help North Carolina's hog farmers deal with their waste management problems.

Contact: Eric Soderberg, (919) 733-1897

Tennessee
State Building Energy Management Committee Plans to Host Meeting with Neighboring States
For the past three years, the Tennessee Department of General Services, State Building Energy Management Committee, has been defining and planning strategies to provide more energy-efficient and cost-saving measures in Tennessee's state-owned buildings. These meetings have evolved from informational project update sessions attended by administrators from whom nods of approval were sought, to interactive and eagerly anticipated exchanges of beneficial information. The same administrators attend, but the tone and format is charged with excitement at the seemingly endless prospect of new technologies and opportunities and the potential impact of such issues as deregulation and performance contracting. Members have been joined by facility management representatives of the State Board of Regents; the Departments of Environment and Conservation, Corrections, the Military, and Education; and employee liaisons from all other state departments.

Now meeting quarterly to accommodate the many interested attendees, the State Building Energy Management Committee is preparing to host a spring or summer 1997 meeting to include energy management administrators from surrounding and other nearby states. The topics will most likely include establishing performance contracting as an effective option and a panel discussion to feature how other states are meeting building energy management objectives in a government setting of aging buildings and tight budgets.

Building energy management administrators from other state government offices are encouraged to contact Mary Charlotte Hall at 615-741-9358 to discuss participation. It is not required that a state be contiguous to Tennessee. "If you are willing to travel, we are willing to share ideas and strategies. We are hoping to hear from you soon so that we can plan an informative meeting."

Contact: Mary Charlotte Hall, (615) 741-9358

Utah
New Home Energy Rating System and Mortgage Program
Lt. Governor Olene Walker announced in March a new energy program that can rate the energy efficiency of Utah homes. The program uses a nationally recognized, market-driven home energy rating system to rate the efficiency of new and existing homes. It is sponsored by the Utah Office of Energy Services and Energy Rated Homes of Utah and endorsed by the Utah Homebuilders Association.

The program allows home buyers, sellers, builders, and lenders to request home energy ratings from independent raters. The system assigns a rating of one to five stars to a new or existing single- or multi-family home. New homes meeting minimum standards of Utah's current model energy code usually receive a four-star rating. This voluntary program benefits home buyers because it lets them know whether a home they are considering buying is energy efficient. Homeowners who invest in an energy-efficient, five-star home will save on their utility bills for as long as they own the home. These five-star homes also have higher resale values and are healthier and more comfortable for occupants.

Home builders, realtors, and lending institutions also benefit from the rating system. Builders profit from the added value of the home as well as gain a marketing edge and increased quality control. Lending institutions can qualify customers for energy-efficient mortgages due to a higher loan-to-income ratio, and realtors list homes with higher sales prices and have larger pools of eligible buyers. Five-star energy-rated homes usually have advanced air-sealing techniques to reduce infiltration of outside air, high-efficiency condensing furnaces that use direct outside combustion air, and air conditioners with seasonal energy-efficiency ratings of 12.0 or higher. These homes also feature ceilings insulated to R-38 and special raised-heel trusses for better attic insulation with walls insulated to R-26. Many of the homes include low-e coatings on the windows to retain heat during cold weather. For lighting, homes may incorporate compact fluorescents, electronic ballasts, and T-8 lamps in the fluorescent fixtures.

Contact: Linda Neilson, (801) 538-8659

Wisconsin
Two State Government Programs Receive National Energy Awards
Two innovative energy programs, both carried out by the state Department of Administration on state office buildings, received national recognition recently at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The Wisconsin Energy Initiative and the State Daylighting Retrofit Demonstration Program received Special Recognition awards from the National Awards Program for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, a program of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Wisconsin Energy Initiative was conceived in 1990 when Governor Tommy Thompson directed the DOA to develop a partnership with the private sector to increase energy efficiency in the state's 6,000 buildings. The plan included a goal of reducing electricity consumption by 20% by the year 2000 and reducing overall energy use by 15%.

To date, about 46 million square feet of state facilities have been audited, with three million square feet remaining. Three years into the project, state buildings consume 21% less energy than they did in 1973, even though square footage has increased by 27%. The State Daylighting Retrofit Demonstration Program demonstrated the cost effectiveness and use of active daylighting technologies in the Department of Administration Building on E. Wilson St. in Madison. The demonstration installation was purposely located in the area that houses the state design engineers and state architects so they could become familiar with the design, installation, commissioning, and benefits of daylighting and incorporate daylighting into the specifications for major state construction projects. This demonstration would familiarize the entire design community with daylighting design and familiarize the construction industry with installation and commissioning.

Contact: Jim Mapp, (608) 266-8020

Milwaukee Named Energy Star Pilot
Milwaukee residents who are in the market for new home appliances will soon receive a little help in their searches for energy-efficient models. Milwaukee is one of six U.S. cities to test a new labeling program for energy-efficient home appliances. U.S. DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will work with Wisconsin Electric Power Co. to introduce a new labeling guide for the most efficient household appliances. The Energy Star program was initiated several years ago to help consumers identify (and encourage manufacturers to produce) energy-efficient computers and other office equipment. The first appliances to get the new labels will be refrigerators, room air conditioners, and dishwashers. Refrigerators must be 20% more efficient than the minimum efficiency set by the federal standard. Room air conditioners must be 15% more efficient than the federal minimum standard, and dishwashers must be 13% more efficient. Several major appliance distributors, such as Montgomery Ward and Circuit City, will be participating in the Energy Star label pilot along with many smaller distributors. The pilot program is expected to last up to six months and then go nationwide this spring.

Contact: Jim Mapp, (608) 266-8020

Twelve New Partners Join Industry Partnership Program
Twelve new companies have signed on to Governor Thompson's Industry Partnership Program, Wisconsin's state Climate Wise Program. Climate Wise is a national voluntary program sponsored by the U.S. DOE and U.S. EPA to help industries save energy and reduce pollution. Wisconsin now has 21 Climate Wise partners across the state, one of the largest concentrations of Climate Wise companies in the nation. The newest 12 companies to sign up have already implemented many energy efficiency and pollution prevention projects. Repap Wisconsin, Inc., employs 1,200 people and produces 500,000 tons of premium coated paper annually. Repap is a leader in producing premium coated paper using recycled fiber sources and is a charter member of the Pollution Prevention Partnership and the Responsible Power Management program. Serigraph Inc., is one of the world's largest industrial screen printers employing 2,000 people in West Bend. Serigraph has implemented many energy efficiency and pollution prevention projects over the years including installation of high efficiency lighting under EPA's Green Lights program. This project reduced energy consumption by 580,000 kilowatt hours per year.

Contact: Jolene Anderson, (608) 266-7375

Rebuild Wisconsin Selects Community Projects
The Wisconsin Energy Bureau, working with the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation, has selected the first two communities for its Rebuild Wisconsin community-based conservation program. Rebuild Wisconsin is the state's version of the EPA's nationwide program, Rebuild America. The goal of Rebuild Wisconsin is to demonstrate that total community involvement can be an effective way to improve energy efficiency throughout a community, improve the quality of life, and promote local economic development. Rebuild Wisconsin will have a special emphasis on multi-family rental property, historically a difficult sector to affect. Rental property owners often do not pay the utility bills and probably purchased the least expensive appliances when furnishing the property. The renters pay the higher utility bills but cannot purchase more efficient furnaces, boilers, water heaters, or refrigerators. Two other features distinguish the Rebuild Wisconsin program. First is local government leadership in demonstrating the importance of energy efficiency to the community. Second is the concept of total community involvement. An advisory group, made up of community members, helps design the most appropriate program for the community.

Contact: Shelley Moore, (608) 266-5549

Wisconsin Enacts New Commercial Building Energy Code
Wisconsin is ready to adopt the first comprehensive revision of the commercial building code since 1986. The new code, to be implemented April 1, 1997, will encourage the use of newer, energy-efficient lighting technologies and new high-efficiency window systems and provide for trade-offs in energy efficiency between roofs, windows, and opaque wall areas. Approximately 7,000 commercial buildings per year will be affected by the code. Wisconsin has long been a leader in promoting energy efficiency in buildings and was one of the first states in the nation to develop a commercial building code in 1979. New commercial buildings and buildings undergoing major modifications in Wisconsin are required to meet energy efficiency standards set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). ASHRAE upgrades its energy efficiency guidelines as technology and energy costs change.

Contact: Jim Mapp, (608) 266-8020

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 www.nr.state.ky.us/nrepc/dnr/energy/dnrdoe.html

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