EREN Network News

June 16, 1999

News and Events

• FutureCar Challenge Proves Fuel-Efficient Technologies
• Study Finds Governments Should Buy Renewable Energy
• New Retail Development to Feature Solar Energy Designs
• New York State Provides $7.3 Million for Energy Projects
• DOE Laboratories Advancing Energy-Efficiency Technologies

Site News

• Silicon Valley Electric Auto Association
• Financing Solutions

Energy Facts and Tips

• U.S. Energy Intensity Decreased in 1998
• Choosing a Room Air Conditioner

About this Newsletter

News and Events

FutureCar Challenge Proves Fuel-Efficient Technologies
Eleven fuel-efficient cars crossed the finish line on June 10th to complete the 1999 FutureCar Challenge. Student teams spent months modifying mid-size family sedans to maximize their fuel efficiencies without compromising safety, comfort, or convenience. The winning team, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, converted a Mercury Sable into a hybrid diesel/electric vehicle, achieving 62.7 miles per gallon in the two-day on-road fuel economy test. For more information, see the DOE press release.

Study Finds Governments Should Buy Renewable Energy
The Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP) recently released a report evaluating the role of governments at all levels in the advancement of renewable energy. The report, "Clean Government: Options for Governments to Buy Renewable Energy" concludes that government procurement can help prepare renewable energy firms for larger consumer markets. The report is timely in light of last week's executive order that encourages federal purchasing of renewable energy. See the "New Publications" section of the REPP Web site.

Also posted at that location is a recent REPP report evaluating the concept of price insurance for green power marketers. The concept is to create insurance policies that would protect green power marketers from some of the financial risks associated with price fluctuations in electricity markets. The insurance policies would initially need to be backed with government funds. The concept was proposed by the Renewable Energy Alliance, a green power marketing trade association. For more information, see the REA Web site.

New Retail Development to Feature Solar Energy Designs
A groundbreaking ceremony was held June 9th for a new retail development that will feature many energy efficiency and solar energy technologies. The BigHorn Improvement Center in Silverthorne, Colorado, will use solar energy for lighting, electrical power, preheating ventilation air, and passive solar heating. The store will supplement the natural sunlight with high-efficiency lighting using automatically controlled dimmers. Once the building is complete, DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will monitor its performance. For more information, see the NREL press release.

New York State Provides $7.3 Million for Energy Projects
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) currently has more than $7.3 million available for a variety of projects that directly or indirectly affect energy use. This includes a $1 million project to develop, improve, or commercialize innovative solar electric or wind products or their manufacturing methods. Much of the remaining $6.3 million in funds is being offered for projects relating to green building designs, advanced transportation technologies, and energy-efficiency technologies. For more information, see the NYSERDA "Opportunities" Web page.

DOE Laboratories Advancing Energy-Efficiency Technologies
Research underway at two DOE laboratories shows promise for advanced energy-efficiency technologies. Ames Laboratory is building a prototype cooling unit based on magnetic-refrigeration technology. The prototype relies on the ability of some materials to heat up when magnetized and cool when removed from a magnetic field. Refrigerators using this technology would not require ozone-harming refrigerants such as chlorofluorocarbons. For more information see the Ames Laboratory press release.

At Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), researchers have developed an energy-efficient engine with no moving parts. The thermoacoustic Stirling heat engine converts heat to acoustic energy with an efficiency of 30 percent. For more information, see the LANL press release.

Site News

Silicon Valley Electric Auto Association
The Silicon Valley (California) chapter is the original chapter of the Electric Auto Association, a national organization that promotes the use of electric vehicles. The site provides information about the chapter, chapter meetings, and their upcoming annual electric car rally. A "For Sale" section, news and information about electric vehicles, and electric vehicle photographs are also available on the site.

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

Financing Solutions
A new feature on the EREN home page is the "Financing Solutions" Web site. The site provides helpful information about financing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Because most or all of the cost of these projects is paid up-front, a good financing mechanism can greatly improve the overall economics of the project. The Web site is divided into audiences ranging from homeowners and small businesses to electric utilities and federal agencies. Choose "Financing" under the "Specialized Resources" section on the EREN home page.

Energy Facts and Tips

U.S. Energy Intensity Decreased in 1998
A recent report from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) found that U.S. energy use decreased 0.3 percent in 1998, despite an inflation-adjusted rise of 3.9 percent in gross domestic product (GDP). This translates into a 4 percent drop in energy intensity, which is defined as energy use per unit of GDP. That makes 1998 the second year in a row in which U.S. energy intensity fell more than 2 percent. Despite the drop in energy use, energy- related carbon emissions remained flat: the reduction in energy use was offset by an 0.7 percent increase in the use of coal for electricity generation. See the ACEEE report.

Choosing a Room Air Conditioner
Room air conditioners can vary greatly in efficiency. Their energy efficiency is measured by the Energy Efficiency Ratio, or EER, which is the ratio of the cooling capacity to the power input. Look for units with EERs of 10 or more.

Choosing the proper size is also important: an undersized unit will not cool your home, and an oversized unit will not dehumidify well. The air-conditioner size calculator on EREN's "Energy Savers" Web site will help you choose the correct unit.

About this Newsletter

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