 Conservation Update — June-August 1999
U.S. Deparment of Energy State Energy Program
The Strategic Plan will help provide a unified approach among states to increase nationwide adoption of energy efficiency and renewable energy. Such a unified approach allows states opportunities to form partnerships and secure new resources in achieving program goals, while raising awareness of SEP at the state and national levels. The committee expects to have a final draft by September 20, 1999, for review and discussion by the entire SEP family. Between September and next All-States meeting in July 2000, SEP members will have the opportunity to thoroughly review the Strategic Plan before it is finalized. All input will be highly valued.
Arizona The Energy Office won an award for its summer solar energy camp for high school students. The Solar Energy Institute allows students to learn about various renewable energy resources and their link to environmental quality and economic stability. Participants are selected to attend the camp based on their academic excellence and leadership qualities. Students attending the camp have represented the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Massachusetts, Missouri, and New Mexico. Chris Benson, Chair of Interstate Renewable Energy Council's Awards Committee comments, "It's been exciting seeing the increase over the years of applicants for the awards program. All of the nominated programs clearly show that communities are going solar."
"We've been very pleased to see so many schools apply for our innovative award. These school projects are models for schools all across the country," said Vicki Mastaitis, Chair of IREC.
Energy Office Co-Sponsors Photovoltaics Workshop
California The Energy Efficiency Building Standards apply to both residential and non-residential construction and are part of the state's overall Building Codes. The energy codes are revised every three years to capture the benefits of new technology. These improvements are adopted by the California Energy Commission and subsequently approved by the California Building Standards Commission. To make it easier to understand and comply with the new regulations, the Energy Commission also approved three computer programs: CALRES Version 1.34, MICROPAS Version 5.0, and ENERGY PRO Version 2.0. These make it simpler for builders to use a performance-based approach to meeting the standards. Contractors, for example, who want to add more window area to a home than the codes call for can meet a prescribed "energy budget" and still comply with the standards by increasing the amount of insulation in the walls and ceiling or by installing more energy-efficient windows. These steps allow contractors to earn "compliance credits" offsetting the inefficiency of the added glass by improving the energy performance in the overall building. The final result is still reduced energy use and improved comfort. An improvement in the latest residential energy code allows builders to claim this sort of compliance credit for well-designed and properly installed duct systems, and for reducing the amount of air leakage in a house. To earn the greatest energy credits, contractors must have their ducts inspected and diagnostically tested in the field. In non-residential construction, the latest changes in the energy code will result in well-lit office buildings that use new, yet commonly available, lighting technology to improve energy efficiency. Since they were adopted in 1977, the Energy Efficiency Building Standards have saved California an estimated $16 billion in energy costs. Hard copies of the Energy Efficiency Building Standards can be obtained from the Energy Commission's Publications Office in Sacramento at 916-654-5200. The standards and the residential and non-residential compliance manuals also can be downloaded from the Internet at: www.energy.ca.gov/title24.
The Energy Efficiency Hotline operates from 8 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call toll-free from within California a 1-800-772-3300. The direct number is 916-654-5106. Questions about Title 24 can be emailed to: CALLCNTR@energy.state.ca.us
Iowa The Program is expected to facilitate more than $250 million in improvements using private funds, in combination with minimal state and federal financial support. The Program effectively employs a mix of planning and initiative from the public sector and financial support from the private sector in order to identify and implement cost-effective energy-management improvements in Iowa's taxpayer supported facilities. This comprehensive energy-management program uses the energy savings from the installed energy improvements to repay the cost of the financing, making the program "budget neutral." Clients are making these energy investment decisions based upon the technical advice given to them through this program. When these loan payments are completed, clients will then be able to use the additional funds for other mission-critical endeavors. The regional providers for fiscal year 2000 will be:
Web site: www.state.ia.us/dnr/energy
Iowa Continues Support of Biodiesel
Patent Received for Bio Trans
Louisiana The new program, called the Home Energy Loan Program (HELP), will offer the homebuilder and homebuyer two advantageous options: a reduced interest rate on a portion of the house loan or a one-time cash payment. Both the amount eligible for low-interest financing and the amount of the one-time cash payment are determined by a Home Energy Rating that must be performed on all houses participating in the program. The eligible amount is called the energy-efficiency premium and will vary from house to house, based on each home's relative level of energy efficiency. Under the first option, DNR will finance the energy-efficiency premium portion of the house at 2% interest. The homeowner will then realize interest and energy savings over the entire life of the home loan. On a typical house, option one of the HELP program will result in an interest saving over the life of the loan ranging from $3,000 to $20,000. Depending on circumstances, this option can also reduce the required down payment and mortgage insurance premium. The second option is called the HELP Cash-at-Closing Option. Under this option, the homebuyer will actually receive cash from DNR at closing. The cash payment will vary depending on the level of energy efficiency achieved. It can be used for any purpose, including helping to pay the down payment. On a typical home that meets the requirements for the HELP program, the cash at closing will be between $500 and $2,000. The Energy Section of DNR has provided training and education throughout the state to instruct builders in the construction of such homes to facilitate the acceptance of the program. Widespread enthusiasm for the program has been evident by the number or individuals trained. During June alone, 524 builders have attended these workshops. Upon completion of their local education course, builders gain the title of "certified energy rater," which enables them to officially conduct the energy ratings acknowledged by HELP standards.
As evidenced through the ardent support received thus far, this program has proven to be extremely successful and well needed. For further information on this program, visit our Web site at: www.dnr.state.la.us/SEC/EXECDIV/TECHASMT/ENERGY.
Tennessee The five winners include energy education projects from Chimneyrock Elementary School in Cordova; Lincoln Magnet School in Jackson; Mitchell Neilson Elementary School in Murfreesboro; McDonald School in Mohawk; and Brighton High School in Brighton. State level winners were forwarded to the national competition in Washington, where a total of 97 projects from 27 states were judged. Four of the five Tennessee projects submitted to nationals won second place in four categories. Lincoln Magnet School received second place Elementary Rookie School of the Year. Mitchell Neilson received second place Elementary School of the Year. Second place Junior School of the Year went to McDonald School, and Brighton High School received second place Senior School of the Year. In announcing the national awards, NEED Executive Director Paul Donovan said, "The Tennessee schools involved in TEEN programs continue to show how successful an energy education initiative can be when state and local interests come together for the benefit of school children and teachers."
TEEN announced the state's national winners on Monday, May 10 at the Energy Education Awards Luncheon at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville. The four schools that won on the national level will send representatives to Washington to receive their awards on Monday, June 28.
Utah
Utah's five awards include the following: Cunningham Ranch wildlife facility, located in the Book Cliffs north of Cisco, will receive remote renewable energy funds to design and install a photovoltaic system. The facility is primarily used as an education center, and opportunities for teaching sustainability will increase as a direct result of this award. Other funds will be used for developing an action plan designed to coordinate the funding and technical energy expertise needed for the National Park Service to comply with federal energy conservation and renewable energy mandates. Funds have also been granted to improve the competitiveness of Utah's industries by improving their energy efficiency and productivity. Under this grant, Utah's industrial energy needs will be assessed, and new energy technologies, products, and services will be matched to meet those needs. Funding mechanisms will be created to provide the needed resources to Utah industries.
And finally, in conjunction with the Salt Lake Clean Cities Coalition, funds have been awarded for three special projects: (1) the "greening" of the Salt Lake City Airport through installation of a major public/private CNG refueling station for the convenience of the airport fleet, tenant fleets, and private fleets that daily access the airport; (2) the repowering of two existing gasoline-fueled school buses with Deere CNG engines and eight Bluebird CNG buses in the Jordan School District; (3) and the replacement of 15 gasoline-powered vehicles in the Flower Patch company fleet with 15 dedicated CNG cargo vans. The fleet will now operate 100 percent on alternative fuels.
Virgin Islands Although the turnout was low, the VIEO gained great insight on new program ideas and existing program and formed potential partnerships with organizations in the community. Subsequent to the town meetings, evaluation forms and letters of thanks were sent to attendees. The feedback from the evaluations was all positive and encouraging. Residents expressed the need for more topic-oriented meetings and more visibility of the VIEO in the community (especially on St. Thomas), and also gave suggestions on how VIEO could better assist the community.
The VIEO has taken into consideration all comments and suggestions and intends to them to better promote energy efficiency and conservation in the Territory.
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
Search Webmaster
U.S. Department of Energy
|