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March 10, 1999

News and Events

Site News

Energy Facts and Tips

About this Newsletter

News and Events

DOE Announces $1.5 Billion in Energy-Saving Contracts
DOE announced March 1st that it had awarded $1.5 billion in contracts to nine companies for energy saving improvements to U.S. federal facilities. The contracts apply to the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions of the country and include a range of technologies, from efficient lighting to renewable energy. These so-called Super Energy Saving Performance Contracts (Super ESPCs) cost the government little or nothing up front; instead, the contractors are paid a percentage of the energy savings. For more information, see the DOE press release.


NASA to Save Millions Through New Energy-Saving Project
The National Aeronautic and Space Administration's (NASA) facilities in Houston will soon benefit from the largest project yet performed under a Super ESPC. Honeywell, Inc., will make an initial investment of about $20 million to install energy efficient lighting and compressed air systems, reduce water consumption, and improve air conditioning controls at the Houston facilities. NASA will save about $2 million in energy costs each year. For more information, see the news release on DOE's Golden Field Office Web site.

For more information about ESPCs and Super ESPCs, see EREN's Federal Energy Management Program site.


Dedication of First Solar School Installation in Ohio
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held March 8th for the first photovoltaic solar power installation on an Ohio school. The 2-kilowatt solar electric system provides power to Bluffsview Elementary School in Worthington, Ohio. DOE, the Foundation for Environmental Education, American Electric Power (AEP), and British Petroleum are leading an effort to install from 100 to 200 solar energy systems on Ohio schools. The installations will play a role in the President's Million Solar Roofs Initiative. AEP is supporting the effort as a participant in the Energy Smart Schools partnership. See the DOE press release.

For more information about Energy Smart Schools, see the Web site.


Central Indiana Joins Clean Cities Program
On March 4th, the Central Indiana Clean Cities Alliance (CICCA) was designated as the 68th member of DOE's Clean Cities Program. CICCA serves an eight-county area in central Indiana, surrounding the city of Indianapolis. The Clean Cities Program promotes the use of alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles at the local level, thereby helping to create a sustainable, nationwide alternative fuels market. There are currently more than 800 alternative fuel vehicles in central Indiana, mostly powered by either compressed natural gas or ethanol. CICCA participants expect to acquire an additional 400 alternative fuel vehicles over the next three years. For more information, see the DOE press release.

For more information about the Clean Cities Program, see the Web site.


DOE Funds New Research for Fuel Cells and Engines
DOE has awarded a total of $70 million to 16 firms for research and development (R&D) in advanced fuel cells and high-efficiency automotive engines. The firms are expected to contribute an additional $46 million in cost sharing. The fuel cell R&D will attempt to overcome technical barriers for the use of proton-exchange-membrane fuel cells, which can provide energy for both vehicles and buildings. The engine R&D will investigate new engine technologies, including compression-ignition and spark-ignition direct-injection engines. The research will help advance the goals of the Partnership for a New Generation of Vehicles (PNGV). See the DOE press release.

For more information about the PNGV, see the Web site.


NREL Sets New Efficiency Record for Thin-Film Solar Cells
Researchers at DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have achieved a new efficiency record for thin-film photovoltaic solar cells. Thin-film solar cells aim to achieve low costs by mounting thin films of the costly semiconductor material onto an inexpensive backing. The trade-off is that they typically operate at a lower efficiency than standard crystalline solar cells.

The efficiency of a solar cell is the percentage of available sunlight converted into electricity. The measurement of 18.8 percent efficiency for the prototype solar cell topped the previous record by more than 1 percent. For more information, see the NREL press release.


Site News

Deadline Extended on Customer Evaluation Survey.
Are you a frequent user of the EREN Web site? If you are, we need to hear from you, so we're extending the deadline to fill out our online survey. But do it now; the survey will only be available for a limited time!

Our survey form asks 10 simple questions with radio-button and check-box responses. Space is also provided for you to write in your recommendations. All answers are confidential and will not be used for any purpose other than our internal evaluation of the Web site.


Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing
The Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) is described as "a public/private initiative that links key agencies of the federal government with leaders from the home building, product manufacturing, insurance, financial and regulatory communities in a unique partnership focused on technological innovation in the American housing industry." The Web site includes information about the PATH initiative and partnerships (in which the DOE participates), publications, press releases and media resources, an online discussion forum, a list of housing projects that use innovative technologies, and a "technology inventory" of information on innovations in the housing industry.

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


Energy Facts and Tips

International Petroleum Statistics
DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently released the International Petroleum Statistics Report, dated February 1999. The report includes detailed country-by- country reports of oil production, demand, imports, and stocks.

It also includes historical data to 1970, which shows U.S. oil demand growing from less than 15 million barrels per day in 1970 to nearly 19 million barrels per day in 1997. During that time, U.S. crude oil production dropped from 9.6 million barrels of oil per day to less than 6.5 million barrels of oil per day. See the report on the EIA's Web site.


Saving Energy in the Laundry Room
If you're considering buying a new washing machine, take a good look at the new front-loading (also called horizontal- axis) washing machines. Once available only as European imports, these high-tech washers are now being sold by major U.S. appliance manufacturers. They use only a few gallons of water per load, saving hot water costs, and feature a high-speed spin cycle that cuts dryer time. Look for washers with the DOE/EPA Energy Star label. For more information, see the Energy Star Web site.

To save even more energy (and money), consider a low-tech solution to clothes drying: the clothes line. Try running your dryer for only 15 minutes or so to fluff the wrinkles out of your clothes, then hang them on the line to finish drying.

About this Newsletter

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