U.S. Department of Energy/National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
Free Resources Available: The 1996 NREL Information Resources Catalogue is intended to inform anyone interested in energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies of NREL's outreach activities, including publications and services. The services section of the catalogue presents many ways in which NREL makes information available to the public, including a visitors' center, electronic networks, and information hotlines. Documents listed were published by NREL in fiscal year 1996 and include general interest publications, technical reports, conference papers, journal articles, and patents.

The catalogue is free in limited quantities and can be obtained through the document distribution service at (303) 275-4363 (phone), (303) 275-4053 (fax), or evanss@tcplink.nrel.gov (email).

Contact: Anne Jones, (303) 275-3678

New Publication Answers Questions on Ash Use
NREL has published a question and answer folder about the uses of municipal waste combustion ash. The folder addresses ash regulations, test methods, and environmental and health issues, with specific references to dioxin and priority metals. The publication identifies demonstration sites and describes the experience of other countries in the productive, safe use of ash.

The folder, Questions and Answers About Waste-to Energy Ash, is the second in a planned series of publications designed by NREL to acquaint municipal officials, waste professionals, and interested parties with the productive use of waste combustion ash.

For a copy of the folder, contact Sally Evans at the NREL Document Distribution Center, 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado, 80401. The telephone number is (303) 275-4363. Ask for the document by name and number (NREL/BR-430-22755).

NREL's other ash-related publications include:

Technology Brief, Why Bury it when You Can Use It?, NREL/BR-430-21437

Technical Report, Utilization of Ash from Municipal Waste Combustion, Phase I, NREL/TP-430-7382 (Honolulu)

Technical Report, The Laconia New Hampshire Bottom Ash Paving Project, NREL/TP-430-20959, 20960, and 20961.

Contact: Patrick Summers, (303) 275-4050

Colorado
Energy Conservation Grants Awarded to Help Colorado Communities
The Governor's Office of Energy Conservation (OEC) announced in April that seven projects in Denver, Fort Collins, Frisco, Grand Junction, and Paonia have been awarded more than $400,000 in grants to provide job opportunities for Colorado's "at-risk" youth. These job opportunities are in areas of energy conservation and encourage young people to work in their neighborhoods.

OEC developed the Youth Energy Program in response to Governor Roy Romer's request to find solutions to end youth violence across the state. Romer refers to the program as a "triple hit"--saving energy, creating jobs, and preventing youth violence. Youth energy projects include low-income residential weatherization, energy-efficient construction, building retrofits, recycling, and source reduction activities.

Since the inception of the Youth Program in 1994, OEC has funded 23 projects in nearly half of Colorado's counties. Community organizations across the state have benefited from nearly $3.4 million to tackle youth violence.

Contact: Melissa A. Petrone, (303) 620-4292

Florida
Florida Expands Its Agricultural Energy Efficiency to Sea Oats and Onions
Sea oats are a critical part of Florida's coastal ecosystem, functioning as natural sand traps and anchors for building sand dunes, which in turn provide protection to beach areas during storms. After a major storm, such as 1995's Hurricane Opal, it can take years for sea oats and other vegetation to grow back to maturity and begin to help in re-establishing protective dunes. Backed by a grant from the Florida Energy Office, Three Rivers Resource, Conservation and Development Council established a hydroponic greenhouse farm and developed a method of rapidly growing sea oats for transplanting in coastal areas. The facility can produce 70,000 sea oat plants ready to transplant every ten weeks. In nature, this same quantity would take more than four years to grow.

Another prime example of a successful public-private partnership, the Santa Rosa County hydroponic farm harvested its first crop in June, 1996. In addition to sea oats, other crops such as sweet onions are being successfully grown at the same accelerated rate. Harvesting began in April 1995 of the Santa Rosa Sweet, Florida's first totally pesticide-free sweet onion. The hydroponic technology allows farmers to grow four crops of the delicious onions a year, making profitable farming feasible even for small landowners and providing the promise of a new agribusiness option to Panhandle farmers.

Contact: John P. Harper, (904) 623-6663

Iowa
Iowa Comparative Risk Assessment Project
The Iowa Comparative Risk Assessment Project has been selected as a winner in the 1997 Ecos Magazine Editor's Choice Awards, coordinated by the Council of State Governments. Only five award winners are selected nationwide. Iowa's project was selected in the category of stakeholder involvement in public policy.

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Western Center for Environmental Decision Making, and the University of Northern Iowa's Center for Energy and Environmental Education in completing the Comparative Risk Assessment Project. The project seeks to identify and rank the risks in the areas of ecosystem health, quality of life, and public health; assess and analyze how energy choices and usage might affect the ranking in each of the three categories; educate the public about the links between the environment, the economy, and energy choices; and make recommendations on how the assessment can be used as a planning tool to formulate cost-effective policies and programs for reducing environmental risks. The two-year project is expected to issue a final report in early 1998.

The Department kicked off the project with a series of ten town meetings, which involved communities selected to represent the state's population and geographic diversity. Common concerns discussed by the public included water quality issues, changes in agricultural practices, consumerism/consumption in relation to waste reduction, disposal of toxic wastes, and regulations. In addition, a statewide survey of 1,000 randomly selected Iowans elicited more in-depth responses to questions about the state's environmental challenges.

Contact: Shashi Goel, (515) 281-8518

Kentucky
Kentucky Awarded NICE³ Grant
U.S. DOE announced in April that the Kentucky Division of Energy, in partnership with General Electric Aircraft Engines of Madisonville, received a $425,000 NICE³ grant. NICE³ (National Industrial Competitiveness through Energy, Environment, Economics) is a nationwide, competitive, matching grant program that provides funding to state and industry partnerships for projects that develop and demonstrate advances in energy efficiency and clean production technologies. General Electric will contribute $940,000 to the project. USDOE awarded 13 grants out of 65 total applicants this year.

Through General Electric's project, "Advanced Laser Processing for Energy, Environment, and Economic Benefit," the Madisonville plant will develop improved airfoil drilling processes using advanced lasers. Current drilling techniques are slow, produce substantial chemical waste streams, and lack the precision to optimize engine fuel efficiency during operation.

The advanced laser drilling will produce uniform holes allowing for more fuel-efficient engines, which could translate into an estimated fuel savings of $100 million to U.S. commercial air carriers annually. By replacing the existing drilling processes, waste disposal will no longer be a concern.

Contact: Greg Filburn, (502) 564-7192

Maryland
Maryland Energy Administration Offers AFV Source Book
The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has published a 24-page book containing useful information on alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs). The Chesapeake Bay Alternative Fuel Vehicle SourceBook contains details on the role of AFVs in reducing air pollution as well as U.S. dependence on foreign oil imports. The publication also discusses the Clean Air and Energy Policy Acts and their provisions that state governments and fuel providers include AFVs in their vehicle fleets. The SourceBook includes a detailed map of AFV fueling stations in the Maryland region, information on vehicle manufacturers and conversion shops, and Maryland state tax incentives that promote purchase of AFVs and related fueling infrastructure. The SourceBook is available free of charge.

Contact: Dale Baxter or Betty Stephens, 1-800-72-ENERGY

Maryland Energy Administration is "netted"
Valuable information on the many programs and projects that comprise the Maryland Energy Administration can now be accessed on its Internet home page at http://www. energy.state.md.us. The MEA's bi-monthly bulletin Energy Currents, which provides timely information on energy efficiency and renewable energy activities in the Maryland region, can be found on the home page.

Contact: Susan Sullivan, 1-800-72-ENERGY

Massachusetts
Telecommuting Benefits Massachusetts Businesses
Telecommuting is making a positive impact on the Commonwealth's workers, businesses, and environment. The Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources (DOER) released a report that indicates telecommuting--working at home and using teleconferencing, computers, and the Internet to communicate with the office--increases worker productivity and morale while decreasing overhead costs and job stress.

The division conducted a year-long study in partnership with the Donahue Institute at the University of Massachusetts involving more than 300 participants from 50 companies around the state. Approximately 32% of the companies cited decreases in overhead expenditures and operating costs, while 97% reported improved performances by staff working at home. The study found that telecommuters demonstrated a substantial increase in morale and experienced less stress because they did not have to travel to work. According to the study, time that had been spent commuting is now being used for activities such as exercising, doing housework, and spending time with family. Two-thirds of the telecommuters also agreed that they are now less likely to take sick days.

The environment is another winner in the telecommuting trend. Telecommuters drive less often than their traveling counterparts, thereby consuming less fuel and emitting fewer toxins into the environment. The 124 telecommuting employees surveyed saved an estimated 400,000 driving miles in one year--the equivalent of 18,600 gallons of fuel.

The Massachusetts Telecommuting Initiative Report can be accessed through the Division of Energy Resources' Web site at http://www.magnet.state.ma.us/doer.

Contact: Joyce Golin (617), 727-4732

Mississippi
Motor Challenge Workshop
The Mississippi Department of Economic and Community Development (MDECD) Energy Division; the Southeastern Power Administration, Elberton, GA; and the Southern Mississippi Electric Power Association, Hattlesburg, MS, sponsored a Motor Challenge & Motor Master Software Workshop on April 10 in Jackson. The workshop featured an overview of the benefits of the Motor Challenge Program and a comprehensive presentation of the Motor Master Plus Software and User Guide. The software package is an energy management system tool that simplifies the selection of an efficient motor for a specific application and includes many useful features such as report writing and inventory capabilities. The U.S. Department of Energy is expanding its work in this area and additional software modules are expected.

The workshop also featured a presentation on the Industrial Assessment Center (IAC) located at the Mississippi State University. The IAC performs energy, waste, and productivity assessments for small and medium-sized manufacturing facilities.

Contact: Gayle Sims, (601) 359-6600

Mississippi Hospitality Environmental Partnership
The MDECD Energy Division has entered into a joint agreement with the Environmental Resource Center of the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to assist two major hospitality providers in Mississippi with environmental and energy conservation activities.

The purpose of the project is to provide the Harvey Hotel in Jackson, MS, and Casino Magic in Bay St. Louis, MS, with assistance in reducing solid waste, reducing energy and water consumption, purchasing more products made from recycled materials, and increasing the environmental awareness of the hotel and guests. The Energy Division will provide in-kind services in the form of outreach information on energy consumption and cost avoidance. The Division's engineering and technical assistance staff will also provide HVAC, lighting, and other mechanical systems analyses to define opportunities available to the hotels.

It is hoped that this project will lead other hospitality businesses in Mississippi to take similar actions.

Contact: Bob Smire, (601) 359-6600

North Carolina
Energy Division Conducts Alternative Fuel Vehicles Conference and Exhibition
State energy officials are conducting the 1997 alternative fuel vehicle conference and exhibition in Charlotte August 26-28. Called "Putting the Pieces Together," the conference provides the latest information and network opportunities for public and private fleet management professionals, transit and government officials, and the public. Conference officials are providing education on current issues dealing with transportation, alternative fuel vehicles, and the infrastructure needed for AFVs. Information will be available on the latest AFVs that major car manufacturers are producing. Conference officials are sponsoring tours of AFV facilities and an exhibition of vehicles and exhibit items. AFVs will be available for rides and drive tests.

Contact: Al Ebron, (919) 733-1892

Oregon

Low-Income Weatherization Efforts Boosted by Free Windows
The Oregon Office of Energy has distributed nearly 400 energy-efficient windows to low-income agencies, including Community Action Teams and Habitat for Humanity in Oregon. The windows, part of a court settlement between the Federal Trade Commission and Insulate Industries, Inc., of Auburn, Washington, are being installed in low-income housing across the state.

The Office of Energy worked through the Oregon Department of Housing and Community Services and local offices of Habitat for Humanity to identify areas of need. The windows were then distributed on a first-come, first-served basis with the recipients being able to custom order sizes and configurations. The windows were fabricated by Insulate Industries and then shipped to Oregon for distribution to the various agencies.

Contact: Steve Sautter, (503) 378-8278

Oregon Office of Energy Provides On-Line Energy Information
Oregonians seeking information on a wide variety of energy-related topics now have another data source--the Oregon Office of Energy's Web site. Located at http://www.cbs.state.or.us/external/ooe, the Web site provides information ranging from the cleanup of nuclear waste at Hanford and Trojan to Oregon's energy loan and tax credit programs.

This new Internet source is another way the Office of Energy can inform citizens about its programs that help the state save energy, use renewable resources, and clean up radioactive waste.

Contact: Steve Sautter, (503) 378-8278

South Carolina
Berkeley County Becomes South Carolina's First Local Rebuild America Partner
In its efforts to make wise investments in buildings through energy efficiency, Berkeley County has joined the South Carolina Budget and Control Board Energy Office to become the state's first local government Rebuild America partner. By becoming a local Rebuild America partner, Berkeley County has agreed to promote growth and job creation in the community, save money, and protect the environment.

Rebuild America is a voluntary program of community and regional partnerships. Partners, such as the South Carolina Energy Office, work with the U.S. Department of Energy to develop programs that identify and achieve cost-effective investments in local government buildings, public housing, commercial buildings, and multifamily residential buildings through improved energy efficiency. These programs, funded by the local partner through a variety of means, are based on the unique needs and priorities of that community, providing community leaders with a high level of flexibility in their program design.

Berkeley County will be one of hundreds of Rebuild America partners nationwide renovating billions of square feet of building space and achieving comprehensive and lasting savings--100 trillion Btus annually by the year 2000--enough energy to power the entire United States for 11 hours.

The South Carolina Energy Office encourages local governments throughout the state to join in this effort. When local partners join Rebuild America,they become part of a national movement toward energy efficiency and community revitalization.

Contact: Reneé Daggerhart, (803) 737-8030

CONSERVATION UPDATE is a free monthly publication prepared by the Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet, Division of Energy, with funding from the United States Department of Energy, to facilitate the transfer of current State Energy Program (SEP) and technical information among the states and territories. Please submit short articles that describe successful programs, solicit ideas, share reports, studies or evaluations, or announce new publications, personnel changes, office address changes, conferences, seminars and workshops. Submittals are due by the seventh of each month. Please send submittals, address corrections, or name changes to: CONSERVATION UPDATE, Division of Energy, 663 Teton Trail, Frankfort, Kentucky 40601, phone (502) 564-7192, facsimile (502) 564-7484, email: landry@nrepc.nr.state.ky.us. Past issues are available upon request. For more information, contact Karen W. Landry, Editor, or John M. Stapleton, Director.

Visit the Division's Web site at www.nr.state.ky.us/nrepc/dnr/energy/dnrdoe.html

SearchWebmaster

U.S. Department of Energy