EREN Network News

April 21, 1999

News and Events

• DOE Releases Comprehensive Electricity Competition Plan
• GM, Toyota Collaborate on Vehicles of the Future
• Earth Day Network Launches New Energy Campaign
• Independent Report Confirms DOE Energy Estimates
• DOE, EPA Award Leading Energy Star Companies

Site News

• Weatherization Managers Association Technical Working Group
• Earth Day 1999

Energy Facts and Tips

• U.S. Wind Development: AWEA's Wind Projects Data Base
• Saving Energy While Cooking

About this Newsletter

News and Events

DOE Releases Comprehensive Electricity Competition Plan
U.S. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson released the Administration's comprehensive electricity competition plan on April 15th. The plan includes proposed federal legislation for restructuring the nation's electric utilities to allow competition. Although lower electric bills are a key feature of the plan, the plan also aims to achieve a cleaner electricity supply.

The legislation would create a fund to implement energy efficiency measures and to develop new electricity generation technologies. It would also establish a minimum percentage of electricity generation from non-hydro renewable technologies, starting at current levels and increasing to 7.5 percent by 2010. It would also require all suppliers of electricity to disclose the types of resources used to generate their electricity and the environmental effects of using those resources, including air emissions.

For further information, see the plan and the associated DOE press release

GM, Toyota Collaborate on Vehicles of the Future
General Motors and Toyota announced, on April 19th, a five-year collaboration to speed the development and adoption of electric and hybrid electric vehicle technologies. Joint development work will include a common set of electric traction components, batteries, inductive charging systems, vehicle safety requirements, fuel cells, and the fueling infrastructure required to support large-scale use of these next-generation vehicles.

GM and Toyota both have real-world experience with environmentally friendly advanced vehicles. GM brought the EV1 electric car to market in 1996, and Toyota introduced its Prius hybrid gasoline-electric car in 1997.

"Both companies were on similar paths in research, and we expect that combining our efforts will result in faster breakthroughs that are commercially viable, setting many standards for the future of advanced automobiles," said GM Vice Chairman Harry Pearce.

For more information, see the GM press release or watch the joint GM-Toyota press conference (free media players provided).

Earth Day Network Launches New Energy Campaign
The Earth Day Network, an international organization coordinating Earth Day 2000 events worldwide, launched their "New Energy For a New Era" campaign this week. From now until Earth Day 2000, the campaign will educate young and old alike about energy production and use, and its impacts on human health, air, water, land use and wildlife. The campaign will focus primarily on the use of renewable energy, but also includes energy efficiency technologies. For more information, see the Earth Day Network site.

Independent Report Confirms DOE Energy Estimates
A report issued on April 14th by the independent consulting firm Arthur D. Little confirmed the energy savings and emissions reductions estimates included in DOE's fiscal year 2000 budget request. The report validates DOE's estimates that its energy efficiency and renewable energy (EERE) programs will result in annual carbon reductions of as much as 112 million metric tons, annual energy savings of 6 quadrillion Btu (that's 6 million billion Btu), and annual energy cost savings of $33 billion by 2010.

Six quadrillion Btu is more energy than contained in all of the gasoline used annually in Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Hawaii, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, Washington and the District of Columbia combined. To accomplish these savings, EERE is requesting roughly $1.2 billion in funding for fiscal year 2000. For more information, including the DOE press release, see the EERE page on EREN.

DOE, EPA Award Leading Energy Star Companies
DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) honored many of their Energy Star partners on April 14th with the 1999 Energy Star Awards. The awards acknowledge outstanding public education and promotional efforts that raise consumer awareness of the Energy Star label. The awards included Whirlpool Corporation as Appliance Partner of the Year, Anderson Corporation as National Window Partner of the Year, and Home Depot as Energy Star Window Retailer of the Year. Maytag Appliances received the 1999 Energy Star Appliance Leadership Award, and regional awards went to window manufacturers Soft-Lite LLC and Windowmaster Products. For more information, see the DOE press release.

Site News

Weatherization Managers Association Technical Working Group
The Weatherization Managers Association (WMA) Technical Working Group provides information about DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program for twelve states in the central United States and is supported by DOE's Denver Regional Support Office. The Web site includes information about the WMA; the Weatherization Assistance Program; training; funding opportunities; resources for assistance; services for homeowners, renters and landlords; and contractor and vendor participation.

Earth Day 1999
This EREN page has links to selected sites that provide information about Earth Day, including Web sites that have special resources for teachers and kids. Watch this page for information on Earth Day events relating to energy efficiency and renewable energy.

For this and other recent additions see the EREN Web site.

Energy Facts and Tips

U.S. Wind Development: AWEA's Wind Projects Data Base
The Wind Projects Data Base of the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) provides the big picture on wind energy development in the United States. The site has a clickable U.S. map that shows all the states with existing or planned wind energy projects. From that national perspective, you can burrow down to the state level for more details. See AWEA's Wind Projects Data Base.

Saving Energy While Cooking
Microwave ovens are more than just a time-saver; they also save energy. Because they deliver their energy more efficiently to food than a range or oven, they use less energy. It's even more efficient to boil water for tea in the microwave. Pressure cookers are another way to cook with less energy. There are also several ways to cut your energy use when using your conventional stove. Whenever possible, avoid preheating your oven -- food can often be cooked in the oven as the oven is warming up. When boiling water on the range, cover the pots - this will also make the water boil faster. And if you cook with electricity, turn the burners off several minutes before the food is done. The hot element will continue heating the food as it cools.

For these and other tips, see the Appliances section of the Energy Savers page on EREN.

About this Newsletter

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