EERE Network News
October 11, 2006
News and Events
DOE and EPA Launch the "Change a Light, Change the World" Campaign
If every U.S. household changed a single light bulb to an Energy Star bulb, it would save enough power to light more than 2.5 million homes. That's the impetus behind the annual "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign, launched in October by DOE and the EPA.
White House Honors Federal Agency Teams For Saving Energy
Winners of the 2006 Presidential Awards for Leadership in Federal Energy Management included teams from a Marine Corps Air Station in Arizona; naval facilities in California and Washington; postal facilities in Arizona, California, Hawaii, and Nevada; and the Social Security Administration.
DOE Awards $5 Million for Solid-State Lighting Projects
DOE has announced that four DOE national laboratories will receive a total of $5 million to conduct research in Solid-State Lighting (SSL) nanotechnology. Much of the work will focus on developing energy efficient LEDs and OLEDs.
DOE Proposes New Efficiency Standards for Furnaces and Boilers
New proposed energy efficiency standards for boilers and furnaces were published by DOE on October 6th. The new standards represent an improvement in energy efficiency of one to five percent, depending on the product class. DOE has also proposed new standards for distribution transformers.
Wells Fargo Leaps to Second Spot on EPA's Green Power List
The latest tally of the nation's top green power buyers features several newcomers. Wells Fargo & Company just announced a purchase that put it in second place, while Vail Resorts, the California State University System, Coldwater Creek, and the City of Austin, Texas, have joined the list.
SunEdison to Build an 8-Megawatt Solar Power Plant in Colorado
The largest solar photovoltaic plant in the United States will soon be built in south central Colorado by SunEdison, LLC. Xcel Energy will buy the power and the renewable energy credits from the project. SunEdison is also involved in two large solar power projects in California.
Energy Connections
Lower Fuel Costs to Offer Some Relief this Winter, Says EIA
U.S. households that heat with natural gas will see lower heating bills this winter, according to DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA). The news is also good for propane users, but those relying on fuel oil and electricity for heating will likely have to shell out more this winter.
