EREN Network News

October 13, 1999

News and Events

• U.S. Army to Install Wind Turbines at Fort Bliss, Texas
• Report Sees Huge Potential for Wind Energy by 2020
• Wind Energy Experiencing Growing Popularity in Colorado
• National Tour of Solar Homes Coming Saturday
• Tucson to Serve as Model for DOE's EnergySmart Schools

Site News

• Clean Energy for the 21st Century

Energy Facts and Tips

• Daylighting Increases Productivity in Schools, Businesses
• Improve Your Home's Energy Efficiency Before Winter Hits

About this Newsletter

News and Events

U.S. Army to Install Wind Turbines at Fort Bliss, Texas
The U.S. Army announced last week that it is seeking industry partners to design, construct and operate wind turbines at Fort Bliss, Texas. The Army will work with DOE, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and the Defense Energy Support Center in pursuing an unspecified amount of wind energy at the site. The wind installation will support President Clinton's "Greening the Government Through Efficient Energy Management" Executive Order, which was issued in June. "President Clinton's Executive Order is good for the Army, good for the environment, and good for our nation," said the Secretary of the Army, Louis Caldera. For more information, see the press release on the U.S. Army Web site.

See also the Executive Order, posted on the Federal Energy Management Program Web site.

Report Sees Huge Potential for Wind Energy by 2020
A report released last week says that wind energy could generate 10 percent of the world's electricity by 2020, creating 1.7 million new jobs worldwide. The report was prepared by BTM Consult, an international wind energy consulting firm, with funding by the European Wind Energy Association, the Danish Forum for Energy and Development, and the environmental group Greenpeace. The report envisions 1.2 million megawatts of wind capacity by 2020, which would produce more electricity than all of Europe consumes today. Yet the growth rates predicted in the report are actually lower than the 40 percent annual growth that wind energy has experienced over the past six years. For more information, see the press release on the American Wind Energy Association's Web site.

See also a summary of the report posted on the Greenpeace Web site.

Wind Energy Experiencing Growing Popularity in Colorado
Fort Collins Utilities in northern Colorado announced last week that five businesses and more than 200 residents have subscribed to its Wind Power Program since the program was expanded in June. Under the expanded program, the utility will purchase half of the electricity generated by five 660-kilowatt wind turbines built by the Platte River Power Authority near Medicine Bow, Wyoming. The utility originally sold power from two 600-kilowatt wind turbines, but expanded the program to meet growing consumer interest in wind energy. For more information, see the Fort Collins Utilities press release.

The Fort Collins news follows similar news from the Public Service Company of Colorado, which has fully subscribed its wind power program and is starting a waiting list of customers. This strong customer demand may lead to further wind energy installations in northern Colorado. A recent report from the Renewable Energy Policy Project (REPP) attributed much of Colorado's wind energy success to grassroots marketing efforts. See the report, "The Grassroots are Greener: A Community-Based Approach to Marketing Green Power," in the New Publications section of the REPP Web site.

National Tour of Solar Homes Coming Saturday
On Saturday, October 16th, the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) will sponsor its annual National Tour of Solar Homes. People throughout the country will open their homes to the public to showcase their use of passive solar heating, solar photovoltaic electric systems, solar hot water systems, and other renewable energy technologies. These homes also incorporate many energy efficiency measures to reduce their energy use. In support of the tour, ASES has beefed up its Web site with detailed state-by-state information on available tours, including contact information. Find out about tours in your area on the ASES Web site.

Tucson to Serve as Model for DOE's EnergySmart Schools
DOE announced last week that it will provide funding to the Tucson Unified School District to develop and demonstrate an innovative model for integrating solar photovoltaic energy systems into school buildings and education programs. The project will include the installation of 4-kilowatt photovoltaic systems at a Tucson middle and high school and the development of a curriculum for "solar learning opportunities." For more information, see the DOE press release.

The project is intended to serve as a model for DOE's EnergySmart Schools program, which is a partnership to reduce energy consumption and costs and increase the use of clean energy technologies in schools throughout the United States. For more information, see the EnergySmart Schools Web site.

Site News

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

Energy Facts and Tips

Daylighting Increases Productivity in Schools, Businesses
Daylighting -- the use of natural sunlight to light the interior of buildings -- has long been recognized as an effective technique for saving energy while creating a more aesthetically pleasing environment. Now recent reports from Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) demonstrate that daylighting also boosts productivity in businesses and classrooms. In a study on 108 stores operated by one chain retailer, daylighting was shown to increase sales by nearly 40 percent. In a separate study of school districts in three states, daylighting was found to increase test performance, typically by 10 to 20 percent. For more information, see the reports on the PG&E Web site.

Improve Your Home's Energy Efficiency Before Winter Hits
If you lack motivation to perform energy efficiency improvements around your home this fall, consider the latest news from DOE's Energy Information Administration (EIA): heating bills are likely to be sharply higher this winter. The impact is expected to be greatest for those using petroleum products, such as fuel oil and propane, who will pay an average of $240 more this winter than last. See the EIA press release.

For general tips on how to save energy at home, visit the Energy Savers Web site on EREN.

If you're ready to take an in-depth look at your home's energy use and suggested improvements, try Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Home Energy Saver Web site.

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