Conservation Update — October 1999
U.S. Department of Energy
Publications Available
- Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases 1997 (DOE/EIA-0608-97) reports on actions by electric utilities, manufacturers, landfill methane operators, and other non-utility organizations to reduce, avoid, or sequester greenhouse gas emissions in 1997. More than 150 participants in the Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program reported 1,229 individual projects that reduced or offset emissions by 166 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, an increase of seven percent over the total reductions reported in 1996.
Available from the U.S. Government Printing Office, (202) 512-1800; the National Energy Information Center, EI-30, Room 1E-238 Forrestral Building, USDOE, Washington, DC 20585; (202) 586-8800; and at http://www.eia.doe.gov.
- Partnering for Success: A Review of DOE Technology Transfer Policies and Procedures, prepared by the Department of Energy's Research and Development Council Technology Transfer Working Group. The publication is available on the Internet at http://www.er.doe.gov/production/octr/aeptr/ttwg.htm.
Pollution Prevention Conference will be in November
The Department of Energy 1999 Pollution Prevention Conference is November 15-19 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Co-sponsored by the Department of Energy, Sandia National Laboratories, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Waste-management Education and Research Consortium, the conference includes sessions on pollution prevention activities at DOE sites; implementing pollution prevention during design, cleanup, and tear-down activities; water conservation; reducing air emissions; and energy efficiency. More information is available at:
http://pollutionprevention.sandia.gov/ or
http://p2.sandia.gov or by e-mail at
doep2@sandia.gov.
Arizona
"Building a High Performance Home" Training Held
The Arizona Department of Commerce Energy Office partnered with Arizona Public Service Company to hold a training workshop on "Building a High Performance Home" the week of September 27-October 1, in Phoenix. John Tooley of Advanced Energy Corporation presented the training on applied building science. Advanced Energy's applied building science programs are based on an integrated view of a house system triangle-the thermal envelope, the mechanical system, and the air distribution system. Each of these components interacts with the others and with the occupants, improving occupant health, safety, comfort, building durability, and affordability. The workshop was geared towards builders, key contractors, and realtors.
Contact: Charlie Gohman, (602) 280-1426; charliec@azcommerce.com
Arizona Joins Air Pollution Prevention Forum
In an effort to continue promoting the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency, Energy Director Amanda Ormond has joined the Air Pollution Prevention Forum (APPF). The Forum will examine local and regional barriers to the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency technology, and make program and policy recommendations to overcome barriers. The intent is to expand the use of these technologies to reduce air emissions from energy production that results in haze in the Grand Canyon region. The forum was created by the Western Regional Air Partnership (WRAP). This is a partnership effort of tribal, state, and federal government agencies to promote implementation of the recommendations from the Grand Canyon Visibility Transport Commission (GCVTC). Visit the WRAP Web site at http://www.wrapair.org/.
Contact: Amanda Ormond, (602) 280-1402
Connecticut
Rebuild Proposals Being Solicited from Connecticut Communities
The Connecticut Office of Policy and Management (OPM) announces a competitive solicitation for funding to create new Rebuild America partnerships and/or strengthen existing partnerships with particular emphasis on creating or expanding cooperative linkages between a municipality and its schools. Proposals could encompass building retrofits in existing schools, efficiency in new school construction, educational programs, procurement practices, renewable energy resources, and/or linkages between school facilities and the surrounding community. Ultimately, the emphasis should be achieving the goal of implementing building retrofits in school buildings and/or ensuring that new school construction encompasses all available cost-effective energy efficiency options.
Contact: John Ruckes, (860) 418-6384
Florida
The Investment Initiative for Energy Technologies Brings Energy Efficiency to the Marketplace
The Investment Initiative for Energy Technologies helps Florida companies commercialize energy-related technologies that benefit the state's economy and promote clean and efficient energy practices. The technologies developed in the Investment Initiative are funded based on feasibility, high market potential, and a 12- to 24-month commercialization potential.
Like the wind and sun, the Investment Initiative is designed to be sustainable. The program's $4 million is replenished through a four percent royalty-type charge on the gross sales of the energy products developed. The fees are used to fund more bright solutions for Florida.
To allow greater flexibility, the application process is continuous -- no deadlines to meet. Each company's proposal covers the technical, marketing, and business/financial aspect of the product. So far, five companies have been funded and are well on their way to getting their products into the marketplace.
For immediate access to the program guidelines, visit http://technology.ksc.nasa.gov/TRDA.
Contact: Dave Kershaw, (407) 269-6330
Energy Office Awards Waste-to-Fuel Grant
The Materials Recycling of Orlando, Inc., has been awarded a grant from the Florida Energy Office to recycle organic materials. The recycled materials are diverted from a waste stream and ground into "hog fuel" (wood chips). The hog fuel is used to fire boilers, which generate steam to the tune of 1.5 megawatts of electricity. The electricity is used to operate the facility, with excess power scheduled to be sold to the local utility.
Contact: James Meade, (407) 380-0088
Iowa
Educational Open House Features Anaerobic Digestion and Methane Recovery System
About 100 people participated in an educational open house at SWIne USA Sow Site #1, a 4,800-sow, farrow-to-wean facility, on September 21, 1999. SWIne USA hosted the event to unveil its recently completed anaerobic digestion and methane recovery system. The system fuels a 100-kW engine generator that produces electricity to power the swine production facility. Forty to sixty percent of the farm's electrical demand can be offset by the methane recovery system. Waste heat from the generator is used to heat the anaerobic digester. In addition to providing renewable energy benefits, the system produces a biologically stable effluent, limits odor, and reduces methane emissions.
Design, construction, and installation costs for this system totaled approximately $546,000. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Iowa Department of Economic Development, and USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service provided partial funding for this demonstration project. SWIne USA is an AgSTAR Charter Farm and received technical assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency AgSTAR program as in-kind support.
Contact: Alison Kovac, (515) 281-8094; akovac@max.state.is.us
Web site: www.state.ia.us/dnr/energy
Kentucky
Workshop Promotes Affordable, Energy-Efficient Housing Construction
The Kentucky Division of Energy cosponsored with the Kentucky Housing Corporation a five-part workshop on energy-efficient construction as part of the 1999 Governor's Housing Conference October 14-15. Covering the latest developments in energy-efficient construction practices from nationally recognized experts, the workshop included sessions on complying with Kentucky's residential energy codes; incorporating the most cost-effective techniques and materials to build better-than-code houses; and building more affordable, environmentally friendly houses. Workshop leaders included Jeff Tiller and Mike Barcik, from Southface Energy Institute, and John Bower, of the Healthy House Institute. KDOE will host a series of nine one-day workshops covering the construction of high performance houses. The workshops, tentatively scheduled to begin in January or February, will be conducted by Southface Energy Institute.
Contact: Greg Guess, (502) 564-7192
Program Offers Funding to Schools and Hospitals
More than $900,000 is now available for hospitals and schools that want to save energy. The money comes from the new funding cycle of the Kentucky Division of Energy's Institutional Conservation Program (ICP). The 50-50 matching grant program offers funding for technical assistance studies (TAs) and energy conservation measures (ECMs). Funding is available for public and private non-profit schools and hospitals.
The TA grants provide the institution with a comprehensive planning document that identifies operations and maintenance changes that have an immediate payback and determines energy conservation measures that have a longer payback. The ECM grants provide for the design, acquisition and installation of major building improvements recommended in the TA.
The Kentucky Division of Energy (KDOE) is now accepting applications for TAs and ECMs. The deadlines for applications are February 15, 2000, for TAs and March 15, 2000, for ECMs.
The KDOE has scheduled two public meetings in November to discuss ICP guidelines and the application process. School and hospital administrators, architects and professional engineers are encouraged to attend one of these two meetings.
For the first time, guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPC) can be used in conjunction with the ICP grants.
ICP grant money comes from the Kentucky Energy Assistance Fund. Since the program's inception in 1978, more than $21 million has been awarded. Participating institutions have saved an average of 25% on their annual energy costs.
Contact: Eddie Riddle, (502) 564-7192
Maryland
Maryland's Solar Roofs Program Continues to Grow
Maryland was the first state in the country to have a working Solar Roofs Program in place. Both the residential and school programs are underway for their second year with a goal of 20 roofs. A curriculum package for each participating school will be included for students, who will monitor and analyze the daily and cumulative electricity production from the sun's energy. Maryland's net-metering law passed for residential application in 1997 and was extended to schools this year. Two publications are available for information on Maryland's solar program: Maryland Solar Schools Program Plan and the Mid-Atlantic Region Consumer's Guide to Buying a Solar Electric System. For copies, send email to ssullivan@energy.state.md.us
Contact: Jonathon Cross, 1-800-72-ENERGY; jcross@energy.state.md.us
AFV Program Creating Viable Infrastructure
Maryland's Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Program is making good strides toward building a viable infrastructure for AFV owners. First, magnetic card readers and related software are being installed at 10 public and semi-public access compressed natural gas refueling (CNG) stations in central Maryland. This will allow more operators of CNG vehicles access to fuel regardless of station ownership and possibly motivate more Maryland citizens to purchase CNG vehicles.
Second, the Maryland Energy Administration, through its Maryland Energy Institute, has developed a curriculum of inexpensive, noncredit courses for AFV technicians. Course work is modeled after the U.S. Department of Energy-sponsored National Alternative Fuels Training Program at West Virginia University. The curriculum is receiving excellent response.
Last, Maryland's Department of Transportation (MDOT) established and funded the Advanced Technology Vehicle Program in High Mileage/High Fuel Use Applications for NOx Emission Reductions Program ("The Taxi Project") through an agreement with the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments. It is designed to help Maryland's transportation program conform with the state's air quality plan by targeting vehicles that operate at least 45,000 miles a year or use 3,000 gallons of fuel each year. The program will provide negotiated incentives to firms that purchase OEM vehicles as Low Emission Vehicles or lower. It will also leverage MDOT funds with other financial benefits such as Maryland and federal alternative fuel tax incentives.
Contact: Dale Baxter, 1-800-ENERGY; dbaxter@energy.state.md.us
South Carolina
Rebuild South Carolina Partners Complete Projects
Three Rebuild South Carolina Partners recently completed energy projects that were financed by South Carolina Energy Office ConserFund loans. ConserFunds loans provide Rebuild South Carolina partners low-interest loans to finance energy projects that produce energy savings to repay the loan.
Kershaw County School District retrofitted lighting systems to add energy-efficient T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts in 17 schools. They also modified mechanical systems to provide more adequate and efficient equipment, and upgraded and expanded the energy management and control systems to provide for more effective control of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment in four schools. The annual energy cost savings for the project are estimated at $123,000. The ConserFund loan covered about 24 percent of a larger overall project proposed and implemented by Strategic Resource Solutions.
Lexington School District Two upgraded and expanded the energy management systems at four schools to provide for more effective control of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment, and upgraded their energy management and control systems throughout the district to make them Y2K compliant. The annual energy cost savings for the project are estimated at $127,000. The project was proposed and implemented by Landis & Staefa.
The Town of Ware Shoals made energy retrofits in the Town Hall. The retrofits included the addition of new lighting fixtures with energy saving T-8 lamps and electronic ballasts and the replacement of the existing mechanical system with more energy-efficient equipment monitored with programmable controls. The annual energy cost savings for the project are estimated at $4,300.
ConserFund loans are available for energy-efficiency improvements in public and private, non-profit facilities. A separate fund, EnerFund, is available to businesses for energy efficiency improvements and recycling market-development projects.
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
