U.S. Department of Energy
Free Resources Available
The 1995 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 represents 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 1995 and include general interest publications, technical reports, conference papers, journal articles, and patents.

The EnergyPubs Disk is produced by NREL and the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's Technical Information Program. It is a compilation of general interest publications produced during fiscal year 1995 on renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Files are in an ASCII format that is compatible with any word processing software. Users are encouraged to pull information from these files for use in their own publications. The catalogue and disk are 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.

California
Evaluation of Innovative Roof System
With a $20,000 loan from the California Energy Commission, the innovative roof system of a new state building in Los Angeles will be evaluated for its widescale potential as an energy-efficient replacement for conventional commercial air conditioning.

The loan from the Commission's Energy Technologies Advancement Program (ETAP) will enable the building lessors to study the performance of the WhiteCap roof and cooling system recently installed on the new Employment Development Department structure in the Crenshaw area.

The WhiteCap roof technology, invented by the Davis Energy Group of Davis, California, uses the roof surface at night to chill water for the next day's cooling needs. The most advanced version uses a shallow water reservoir on the roof to store chilled water to reduce heat gain. An alternative version stores water off the roof, for example in an underground tank, but still uses the roof surface to cool the water. The first WhiteCap research and development project was cofunded by the Commission's ETAP program in 1989/1992.

During the upcoming evaluation, the building lessor, 5401 Associates, L.P. of Santa Monica, will install technical equipment on the WhiteCap system to collect performance data for one full year of operation. Data collected will include actual energy and water use, and indoor and outdoor climate conditions.

The study hopes to "debug" the existing system, if necessary, and gather crucial information that can be shared with other public and private facility managers who may be interested in the WhiteCap system on their next retrofitted or new building.

The Commission's ETAP program was established in 1984 as a result of the Rosenthal/Naylor Act to make energy technologies more efficient and cost-effective and to develop alternative sources of energy.

Contact: Claudia Chandler, (916) 654-4989

New Fuel Technology Aided by State Loan
The state has set its sights on a new fuel technology that would benefit small petroleum producers, with the approval by the California Energy Commission of a $100,000 loan for a Tustin firm.

The Commission's Small Business Energy Loan Program (SBELP) authorized the money for Kaymor Petroleum to purchase and install an internal combustion generator at its facility in West Los Angeles. The company will finance $245,000 to modify the 450 kW machine to run on tail gas, a byproduct of processed natural gas. Tail gas contains heavy hydrocarbons such as propane and butane.

Until recently, Kaymor sold minimally processed gas containing this dilutable byproduct to the Southern California Gas Company. New Air Resources Board rules on natural gas used as transportation fuel now prohibit the sale of gas containing even small amounts of heavy hydrocarbons. The addition of expensive equipment to extract tail gas resulted in cleaner natural gas but created a byproduct with no place to go. While firing up the tail gas generator for self generation, Kaymor will monitor fuel performance and emission reductions from the project.

SBELP loans are low-interest loans to help California small businesses use or demonstrate energy technologies and reduce their energy costs. Firms in sound financial condition may apply for loans from $5,000 to $100,000 at 5 percent interest, with a maximum term of five years. All loans are fully secured. The Energy Commission will provide free technical assistance to qualified applicants.

Contact: Claudia Chandler, (916) 654-4989

Funding for New Energy Technologies
Research by a Santa Clara firm on products that can make homes and commercial buildings more energy-efficient has won funding from the California Energy Commission.

The firm, Alzeta Corporation, will use funds amounting to more than $917,000 for two projects. One undertaking will modify the design and halve the price of a low-emission perforated ceramic fiber (PCF) burner for residential water heaters. The other will integrate a high efficiency, low-emission metal burner into a smaller, less polluting firetube boiler. The new technologies are targeted for use in restaurants, schools, multistory apartment buildings and small commercial structures.

Alzeta Corporation will put up over $715,000 in matching funds to the awards, which are repayable research contracts from the Commission's Energy Technology Advancement Program (ETAP). The amounts "loaned" may be repaid through royalties once the company generates revenues as a result of the cofunded projects. The company projects that the PCF burners will save as much as 80 billion Btus of natural gas per year and reduce nitrogen oxide (NO_x) emissions by up to 150 tons a year.

Alzeta also anticipates that with a low-emission, modified boiler in the market, building managers would favor installing a new system that will increase efficiency by 3 percent to 9 percent. Energy savings from low-emission boilers are estimated at 9.6 trillion Btus of natural gas and as much as 720 tons of NO_x annually.

Contact: John Sullivan, (408) 727-8282

Iowa
Iowa's Pursuit of Energy Efficiency Conference
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) 1996 Iowa Energy Leadership Awards will be presented at Iowa's Pursuit of Energy Efficiency Conference. The DNR is a co-sponsor of this October 15-16, 1996, conference in Des Moines, Iowa, which is presented by the Iowa Association for Energy Efficiency. The conference is a forum for addressing the contributions energy efficiency and renewable energy make to the economic and environmental wellbeing of individuals, businesses, communities, the state, and the U.S.

Topics of discussion include: state of the art energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies; using energy management to improve productivity and lower operating costs; meeting customer and end-user needs; tools for assessing energy programs; state and national energy policies and the impact of emerging competition on energy efficiency and renewable energy efforts.

Participants will become energy czars in the "Energy-Environment Simulator," take part in concurrent sessions, hear from Iowa's major players in the utility restructuring debate, listen to the president of a nationally known energy service company and discuss the future of efficiency and renewables in a competitive world.

For general conference information, contact Les Wilson at (515) 271-5070. For registration information, contact Ray Goettig at (319) 388-0607.

Contact: Patti Cale, (515) 281-8665

Kansas
Kansas Adopts Energy Codes
The Kansas Corporation Commission conducted evidentiary hearings on December 12, 1995, to hear arguments for and against replacing then existing building energy standards with the Model Energy Code 1993 (MEC) for residential buildings and ASHRAE/IES 90.189 for commercial buildings.

The Commission then issued an order on January 23, 1996 adopting MEC 93 and ASHRAE/IES 90.189. Orderly and timely implementation of the Commission's order focusing on training and technical assistance for builders, architects, and engineers, as well as other affected groups, will be a critical factor in both achieving implementation and mitigating the risk of future action to repel building energy standards in Kansas. The Commission intends:

1. to implement, with assistance from the U.S. Department of Energy's Denver Support Office, a training program on MEC 93 for the residential building industry;

2. to implement, with assistance from Pacific Northwest Laboratory's Building Standards Program, a training program on ASHRAE 90.1 for the commercial building industry;

3. to provide technical support to all interested parties regarding energy code interpretation and compliance during the first six months of implementation.

To facilitate the implementation of this program, the Commission's energy section applied for and was awarded funding through the USDOE State Energy Program's Special Project Awards. The Commission has been awarded $81,000 which will be utilized for training and technical assistance on the Kansas code program organization and the specific requirements of MEC 93 and ASHRAE/IES 90.189.

Contact: Jim Ploger, (913) 271-3349

New York
Changes Made in New York's Energy Program
With the closing of the New York State Energy Office in April 1995, responsibility for many of its energy programs shifted to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). The new programs, which have been grouped under NYSERDA's Energy Services Unit, complement NYSERDA's existing research and development activities. Major efforts include a comprehensive technical assistance program (FlexTech), products and services to foster energy-efficient purchasing, financial packaging services for the institutional sector, and support for increased use of alternative fuel vehicles.

The FlexTech Program provides businesses, schools, and not-for-profit organizations with detailed on-site feasibility studies of specific energy efficiency measures, energy surveys, technical and economic analyses, commissioning, and design assistance. FlexTech services are cost-shared with customers and delivered through a network of New York State engineering firms.

The Energy Services Unit provides financial packaging services and incentives for institutions to take advantage of performance contracts for capital projects that result in increased energy efficiency. Current activities target school districts and state buildings. New initiatives for hospitals and colleges will commence later this year.

The Energy Services Unit also manages the Energy Efficient Procurement Collaborative, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation which provides federal, state, and local government agencies and other purchasers with easily accessible information about energy-efficient equipment and products. The collaborative published a 140-page directory of data sources to help purchasing officials make equipment purchases based on informed decisions about energy costs, energy efficiency, and performance. A product listing with efficiency levels, manufacturer names, and performance characteristics for over 7,000 electric motors is also available.

For fleet managers interested in acquiring alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) or just exploring the implications of the new technology, the Energy Services Unit offers technical information, technical forums, and vehicle purchase incentives through the Clean Cities Sharing Network.

Contact: Brian Henderson, (518) 862-1090

Oregon
Electric Vehicles Charged Free While Parking in Downtown Portland
Two electric vehicle (EV) charging stations have been installed by the City of Portland in two Smart Park parking garages. Shoppers will be able to conveniently charge their EVs at no cost while they shop, dine or attend events in the downtown area. Normal parking rates will still apply. The electricity to charge EVs will be provided free by the city.

The charging systems were installed as part of Portland's "Clean Cities" activities with support from the Oregon Office of Energy and the U.S. Department of Energy. "Clean Cities" is a national program to encourage the availability and use of alternative vehicle fuels for government and private fleets.

Contact: Curt Nichols, (503) 823-7418

South Carolina
South Carolina Energy Office Honored for Innovative Program
The National Association of State Directors of Administration and General Services (NASDAGS) has recognized the South Carolina Energy Office's Energy Bank Partnership for an honorable mention in its 1996 Outstanding Program awards.

The Energy Bank Partnership helps public agencies make energy-efficient improvements to their facilities by offering energy audits, project financing assistance, project planning, coordination and monitoring of results to verify savings. This program is the key strategy in the energy office's mission to maximize energy efficiency in state agencies and public schools.

The Energy Bank Partnership begins with an energy audit to identify problem areas. Using the audit as a foundation, the energy office works with the agency or school district to develop a comprehensive plan for implementing improvements. The energy office staff also helps the agency or school district partner analyze potential energy and dollar savings and market-proposed projects to key decision-makers. If the agency or school district does not have funding for its project, the Energy Bank Partnership will secure financing through the state treasurer's office, local banks, or other lenders. The goal is to arrange financing that matches payments to energy savings.

Contact: Reneé Daggerhart, (803) 737-8030

Wisconsin
Acid Rain Research Council Celebrates Ten Years

In the ten years since it was created under the state's landmark acid rain law, Wisconsin's Acid Deposition Research Council has directed the spending of more than $15 million for environmental research and monitoring projects. Wisconsin's major energy utilities provided $4 million in funding, while the remaining $11 million was provided by state, federal and private sources. The council's efforts include examining the relationship between acid rain and mercury contamination in fish, wildlife and humans; and monitoring forests, lakes, streams, soils and visibility for various effects of acid rain. As the legislated ten-year funding for the council ended June 30, 1996, past and present council members, environmental activists, researchers and public officials gathered to celebrate the many accomplishments of the last decade and publicly release the council's final biennial report. To continue the scientific data gathering and analysis begun under the council, a new partnership has been formed between Wisconsin utilities, the Electric Power Research Institute, and the State of Wisconsin. The project will initially be funded for one year to continue atmospheric monitoring, lakes monitoring, and research on mercury in loons. For more information about the council or a copy of the report, contact the Wisconsin Energy Bureau, P.O. Box 7868, Madison, WI 53707.

Contact: Jolene Anderson, (608) 266-7375

Affordable Comfort Comes to Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin has been selected as the site of the 1998 Affordable Comfort Conference. This is the premier conference for energy efficiency in existing residential buildings. The six-day conference includes over 200 training sessions on the latest approaches to energy efficiency, as well as the basics for beginners. After being held on the East Coast for many years, the conference made its Midwest debut last March in Chicago. The conference will be held in Chicago again in 1997 (April 2027), before moving to Wisconsin in 1998. The Wisconsin Energy Bureau and the Energy Center of Wisconsin prepared the successful proposal to bring the conference to Wisconsin. Anyone interested in helping to plan for the 1998 conference, being a presenter or sponsor, or exhibiting should contact Norman Bair, Wisconsin Energy Bureau, P.O. Box 7868, Madison, WI 53707.

Contact: Norman Bair, (608) 266-5827

Daylighting to be Promoted in Wisconsin
Daylighting the use of direct, diffuse or reflected natural light in a building to provide full or supplemental light for building interiors is not a new concept. It was a dominant factor in building design until well into the 20th Century. Today, its primary potential is considered to be in commercial and industrial spaces. Although interest in daylighting has increased over the past 15 years, the methods and technologies have been slow to be adopted. Key reasons for this are the classic chicken and egg problem faced by many emerging technologies: no one will build it if there is no demand and no one wants it until they know what it is and can see it operating. To address the barriers, a plan is being developed in Wisconsin that will approach this challenge through five coordinated efforts: training for architects, engineers and building operators; an education and awareness campaign for the public and building lighting decision makers; daylighting demonstrations in both new and retrofitted buildings; design assistance for professionals; and market research and evaluation.

Contact: Don Wichert, (608) 266-7312

Energy Efficiency for Wisconsin Communities
In partnership with the Wisconsin Energy Bureau, the Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation (WECC) is preparing to select three Wisconsin communities where it will implement community-based energy efficiency projects. Funding for the projects comes from the U.S. Department of Energy's Rebuild America program. Under the program, community partnerships will facilitate installation of energy-efficiency measures in the majority of the buildings in the community. WECC will provide marketing services and coordinate the projects in each community. Included will be home energy ratings and alternative financing, targeted marketing to multi-tenant building owners, and incentives and assistance for school and institutional buildings.

Contact: Norman Bair, (608) 266-5827

Lighting Study Shows People Are Key to Making Efficiency Work
After monitoring a variety of lighting controls at 63 offices in the new Business Administration building on the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee campus, researchers at the Energy Center of Wisconsin have concluded that the success of these technologies depends on the habits of the people working under the lights. As the researchers expected, people were more likely to turn off their lights when leaving a room for a long time than if they left for a short time. However, they also found that people who work in offices with occupancy sensors were only about half as likely to turn out the lights when they left. Because people were relying on the sensors, the energy used by the lights left on was greater than the energy saved by the sensors. Four combinations of three lighting technologies controlled the office for most of 1995: occupancy sensors, multilevel lighting and automatic dimmers. The next step in the study is to continue to test the theories about how lighting controls affect the behavior of lighting use by seeing how occupants in individual rooms change their behavior when their controls are changed.

Contact: Scott Pigg, (608) 238-8276, ext. 38

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