U.S. Department of Energy
City of Richland, Washington, Becomes Rebuild Partner
The city of Richland, Washington, has joined the USDOE's Rebuild America program as a step toward creating a more efficient future. By becoming a Rebuild America partner, the city has agreed to promote the efficient use of energy through-out its facilities. The city's goals include energy conservation, the efficient use of energy, community leadership, municipal facility improvements, and economic development. To meet those goals, the city will be working with USDOE and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, as well as other future partners.

The Rebuild America program helps community and regional partnerships attain their energy conservation goals in a number of ways. Through Rebuild America, USDOE works with partners to prioritize needs, set goals, develop action plans, and implement those plans.

Richland will target energy efficiency in its own buildings during early program stages; future plans include targeting commercial and industrial customers. A Facility Resource Management Program will be implemented as the program proceeds, as will an enhanced Utility Information Tracking System. The city's ultimate goal is to promote energy conservation and efficient energy use. By joining the Rebuild America program, Richland is one step closer to meeting that goal.

Contact: Chip Larson, (509) 372-4286

Colorado
Transportation Partnerships Grants Awarded
Governor Roy Romer announced that Aurora, Trinidad and Wheat Ridge, Denver International Airport, and Summit and Weld counties have been awarded $200,000 in grants to increase transportation efficiency, save energy, and improve air quality. The Governor's Office of Energy Conservation (OEC) created the Transportation Partnerships grant program to assist Colorado communities in developing innovative approaches to managing transportation demands and addressing associated concerns of air quality and energy efficiency.

Since the program's inception in October 1995, OEC has received requests for more than $2 million and has generated more than $1.1 million to fund 39 projects throughout the state.

OEC is offering up to $200,000 for the next funding cycle, depending on the volume and quality of applications received. The deadline for the next funding cycle is October 31, 1997. Send applications to: OEC, 1675 Broadway, Suite 1300, Denver, CO 80202-4613.

Contact: Jodi Asarch, (303) 620-4292 or 1-800-OEC-6662; or e-mail, oec@csn.net

Connecticut
Connecticut Office of Policy and Management, Energy Unit, to Host Technology Forum
The Connecticut Energy Unit of the Office of Policy and Management is sponsoring a one-day Energy Forum on November 6, 1997. The forum, to be held in North Haven, Conn., features research staff from Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island. Researchers will discuss the latest energy and environmental technologies that are being developed at the lab and how Connecticut industries can incorporate them into their products and processes.

Contact: John Ruckes, (860) 418-6384

Connecticut Issues Grants To Rebuild America Partners As A Result Of Solicitation
Five Connecticut communities are being awarded $150,000 each to assist in implementing their Rebuild America Action Plans. The plans were developed in response to a solicitation announced by the Office of Policy and Management/Energy Unit (OPM) in the fall of 1996. Several communities throughout the state indicated an interest in the program. In January, a workshop was offered to describe the program and to help communities get started on their action plans. Preliminary action plans were due at OPM on April 30. Plans received by the deadline were reviewed thoroughly by OPM staff. Recommendations for making the preliminary plans into complete action plans are being discussed with each of the award winners. Each of the communities will use the OPM award to begin implementing projects. The five communities are Cheshire, Fairfield, Hartford, Stamford, and West Haven.

Contact: John Ruckes, (860) 418-6384

Iowa
Iowa Sponsors Winter Fuels Forum
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is sponsoring the 1997 Iowa Winter Fuels Forum, to be held on Friday, October 17, 1997, in Des Moines. The purpose of the forum is to bring together a group of energy stakeholders, petroleum experts, and department staff to discuss national and Iowa market conditions for heating oil, propane, and natural gas for the upcoming heating season. Industry leaders will have the opportunity for questions, answers, and discussion of their concerns relating to winter fuels. The forum also provides both public and private sector participants the opportunity to discuss market developments and strategies to deal with any kind of anticipated supply disruption should one occur.

Contact: David Downing, (515) 281-4876 or e-mail, ddownin@max.state.ia.us

Governor Hosts Ethanol Coalition Meeting
Governor Terry Branstad will be hosting a meeting of the Governor's Ethanol Coalition on October 30-31 in Des Moines, Iowa. The goal of the Governor's Ethanol Coalition is to increase the use of ethanol-blend fuels while improving the environment and stimulating the national economy. This meeting will feature a presentation of the first annual Governor's Ethanol Coalition Award for Excellence in the Promotion and Development of Ethanol. In addition, the results of an extensive consumer market research effort will be presented.

Contact: Sharon Tahtinen, (515) 281-7066, or e-mail, stahtin@max.state.ia.us

Kentucky
Update State and Local Government Building Energy Codes Expenditures To Begin
The Kentucky Division of Energy (KDOE) has received approval to begin expenditures under a unique four-state partnership which successfully applied for a USDOE grant titled Update State and Local Government Building Energy Codes. Kentucky's share of the approximately half million dollars under the grant will total almost $90,000. Tennessee, Georgia, and lead state North Carolina are the other participants.

Kentucky's share of the grant money will be used by the Kentucky Department of Housing, Buildings and Construction and the Southface Energy Institute, Inc. of Atlanta, Georgia. The funds will permit a variety of activities, including: training state and local code enforcement officials; conducting seminars for builders, architects, and others in the building community; simplifying code enforcement documents; and providing resources such as a hotline to answer questions about residential and commercial energy codes.

KDOE developed the background information and completed Kentucky's part of the grant application as an activity under the "Energy Partnerships" element of its State Energy Conservation Program, which seeks to form alliances to promote SEP goals.

Contact: Greg Guess, (502) 564-7192

Mississippi
Energy-Efficient Housing Project
Briarwood Place, an affordable, energy-efficient housing project for low- and moderate-income people, was recently completed in a northeast Mississippi community. The project facilities, a combination of rental housing, single-family homes for elderly and first-time home buyers, and a community center, were built using energy-efficient construction methods.

The rental housing consists of 12, one-story, three-bedroom/two-bathroom brick veneer units built as four-plexes. Housing for elderly home buyers includes four brick veneer houses with two bedrooms and one-and-a-half bathrooms. Eight, three-bedroom/one-and-a-half bathroom homes were constructed for first-time home buyers.

An 1,800-square-foot community center provides a place for adult education courses and community functions. The development will also have a park and walking trail for residents to enjoy.

Financing for Briarwood Place involved both public and private sector money, including special funds available to the Energy Division. This project is one of three being developed under the guidance of the Community Services Division and the Energy Division of the Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development (MDECD) to encourage the use of energy-efficient construction methods and materials in low- and moderate-income housing to lower homeowner utility costs.

This fall, MDECD will host workshops for the home construction industry. The workshops will address energy-efficient construction methods which do not add to overall building costs and will encourage builders to utilize these energy efficiency measures in their buildings.

Contact: Dot Lambert, (601) 359-6600

New York
New York's FlexTech Reaches 200
SYSCO Food Services of Horseheads, New York, is the 200th customer for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority's (NYSERDA) Flexible Technical (FlexTech) Assistance program since NYSERDA acquired the program in 1995. FlexTech assists businesses, schools, and municipalities by identifying cost-effective energy efficiency measures. For this program, NYSERDA contracted with a network of highly qualified firms to provide customized technical assistance services to organizations based on their energy and environmental needs. These services include engineering studies, project commissioning, and performance contracting assistance. Eligible FlexTech customers include industrial and commercial facilities, state and local governments, schools, universities, hospitals, and not-for-profit and private institutions.

To date, 200 customers have taken advantage of NYSERDA's program, including SYSCO Food's distribution facility in Horseheads. Annual energy bills for this facility exceed $300,000, and the energy cost per square foot is higher than any of SYSCO's other facilities. SYSCO Food has such high energy usage because it refrigerates more than 75% of the 102,000 square-foot facility. Initial investigations for the FlexTech study indicate that automated controls on the refrigeration units would provide substantial savings.

An evaluation of the FlexTech program found that every dollar NYSERDA invests through FlexTech leverages $17 in capital investment and $5 in annual energy savings. In 1996, NYSERDA invested $900,000 of USDOE State Energy Program and NYSERDA funds for FlexTech projects. These projects are expected to result in about $15.3 million in capital investment and $4.5 million in annual energy savings. These projects reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide by 400 tons, nitrogen oxide by 180 tons, and carbon dioxide by 100,000 tons.

FlexTech projects are usually delivered on a cost-shared basis with customers, but a variety of funding options are available. Utility partners may provide funds on the customer's behalf, and in some cases, NYSERDA will advance full funding to customers on the expectation that repayment will be made.

Contact: Mark Watson, (518) 862-1090, ext. 3314

Oregon
Office of Energy's Telework Program Receives National Recognition
The Oregon Office of Energy's Telework Program has won two national awards for excellence. The Environmental Protection Agency selected Oregon as the recipient of its "Way to Go" Award for Technology, recognizing Oregon's success in developing an innovative and comprehensive telework information network for employers and employees in Oregon.

The Association for Commuter Transportation (ACT) has awarded the Office of Energy its Outstanding Service Award. This award recognizes Oregon's role in developing a Manager's Telework Kit to help meet the needs of commuters. Oregon, in partnership with the states of Washington, Arizona, and California, developed the kit. It includes a video and guidebook to help managers deal with telework issues and develop successful telework programs. This collaboration has also produced an Introduction to Telework Kit, a guidebook, and a Telework Training Kit.

The telework program provides employers and employees information, materials, and assistance to promote and develop telework in Oregon. Telework is working at home, a satellite office, or telework center near home one or more days a week and helps reduce traffic congestion and air pollution. The Office of Energy also administers the Business Energy Tax Credit program--an incentive to help Oregon employers start telework programs.

Contact: Kathy King, (503) 378-5584

South Carolina
Report Released On Energy Consumption In SC Schools and Agencies
Public schools, state colleges and universities, and state agencies spent more than $141 million last year on energy for their buildings, according to Energy Use in South Carolina's Public Facilities, Fiscal Year 1996, recently released by the South Carolina Energy Office. This report summarizes energy consumption and cost data for most public school districts, state agencies, and state-owned higher education institutions in South Carolina. It is required by the South Carolina Energy Conservation and Efficiency Act of 1992.

The document is a summary of the information provided by 153 entities. Institution-specific information is used by the institutions themselves and by the Energy Office in providing assistance to public entities to help them reduce their energy costs. An important result of the energy consumption reporting process is that it provides necessary information for institutions to use in saving energy and developing energy conservation plans and goals.

According to the report, electricity bills accounted for 85% of the public building energy costs. Natural gas accounted for 12.5% of energy expenditures. State agencies and colleges and universities paid lower prices for electricity and natural gas than did school districts.

Copies of the full report are available on the South Carolina Energy Office home page at http://www.state.sc.us/energy/, or may be obtained by calling the South Carolina Energy Office.

Contact: Reneé Daggerhart, (803) 737-8035

Alternative Transportation Fuels in South Carolina
The passage of the Energy Policy Act of 1992 (EPACT92) gave a needed boost to alternative fuels programs in the United States by requiring state fleets to purchase or convert a certain number of alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) each year. Beginning in 1993, the South Carolina Energy Office and other state agencies began acquiring AFVs for demonstration within state government.

The state now owns 13 compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion vehicles, three original equipment manufactured CNG cars, and four propane conversion vehicles. South Carolina will purchase 15 AFVs in the next fiscal year in order to keep up with EPACT92. Given the high cost and limited range of electric vehicles (EVs) and the lack of fueling sites for grain-based fuels like ethanol and methanol, South Carolina has limited most of its AFVs to those that run on propane and CNG.

The Energy Office has also taken an active role in securing grant funding for institutions interested in acquiring and using AFV technology. York Technical College, for example, purchased several EVs through a grant administered by the Energy Office. These vehicles are used for demonstrations and school-related activities. Under the terms of the grant, York Tech will also work to develop an AFV maintenance and repair course for public and private mechanics. In addition, Greenville will convert four diesel dump trucks to CNG and train personnel in the repair and maintenance of the vehicles. This project is funded under a separate grant.

Although South Carolina is in full compliance with EPACT92, a lack of an AFV refueling infrastructure and other obstacles hinder acceptance of AFVs in the public sector. To address these obstacles, the Energy Office intends to develop, in conjunction with State Fleet Management, a planning model which would encompass AFV purchases, infrastructure, incentives, and data tracking. Both agencies hope to have a working model by the end of the year.

Contact: Reneé Daggerhart, (803) 737-8035

Virgin Islands
VIEO Energy-Efficient and Solar Recreational Lighting Project
Ball fields throughout the Virgin Islands will undergo a long-awaited improvement--the installation of energy-efficient and solar recreational lighting. For many years, ball fields have lacked adequate lighting, prohibiting the use of the fields after sunset. Thanks to a grant made possible by the Virgin Islands Energy Office (VIEO), family and social events that once centered around sports activities, providing safe outlets for young and old alike, can again be enjoyed after the sun goes down.

The VIEO, together with the Department of Housing Parks and Recreation, is providing the technical and administrative assistance necessary to complete the project. The engineering firm of Kunde, Sprecher, & Associates, Inc., has completed the design phase of the project. The engineering report submitted by the firm to the VIEO details the power requirements of the sites and also includes industry design standards, layout recommendations, equipment recommendations, as well as an implementation plan. Once the implementation phase begins, both solar and energy-efficient lighting will be placed in designated ball fields, volleyball and basketball courts, and playgrounds on St. Croix, St. Thomas, and St. John.

Contact: Harold Brown, (340) 772-2616, ext. 232

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

SearchWebmaster

U.S. Department of Energy