March-April 2005

Conservation Update

Feature Article

Reaching Out to Small School Districts

by Ann Grim, Oregon Department of Energy

The Oregon Department of Energy focused on one small school district in central Oregon that successfully implemented a Resource Conservation Management (RCM) Program to show other small, more sparsely populated districts how they can control energy use and costs. In Oregon, RCM is a low-tech, voluntary, collaborative effort to increase awareness about where and how energy and resources are used in a facility.

From 2002 to 2004, Oregon faced a $900 million statewide budget deficit. Schools statewide, especially those in rural districts, were deeply affected. And beyond the direct effects on education, these schools are often the centers for community activities and must operate longer hours. The RCM program was Crook County School District's chance to offset budget cuts.

Oregon Resource Conservation Management

Resource Conservation Management gives facilities managers more control over operating costs. It helps reduce operating costs, increase efficiency, prepare for deregulated energy purchases, and promote environmentally friendly operations.

An RCM program is a well-coordinated effort to manage the resources and services used, and the waste generated, by a facility. It involves careful tracking of resources and attention to operational efficiency. The program focuses on occupant comfort and cost effectiveness, and ensures that equipment is used only when needed. Operational savings are gained through organization, analysis, and communication.

With a comprehensive RCM program in place, a manager can expect to see quantifiable results in the first one to six months. Most RCM programs save 10%–15% on utility bills after the first year.

RCM strategies have been used in industry and large corporations for many years. As markets become more competitive and public-sector budgets shrink, RCM programs are cropping up in many other types of organizations.

The key elements of a sustained RCM Program are:

• Resource consumption and services are consistently tracked and analyzed.
• Deregulated energy purchases and facility operations are monitored.
• Program components (recycling efforts and facility surveys) are monitored monthly or quarterly.
• Facility operators and occupants attend semiannual or annual awareness training.
• Program status is promoted and communicated through newsletters, bulletin boards, presentations, and reports to facility operators and administrators.
• Efforts (awards, certificates of achievement, acknowledgment in newsletters) are recognized.

Crook County School District

• Obstacles
• Behavioral Changes
• The Future

The prevailing theory about school districts and saving energy is that only the big districts can achieve big energy savings. The reasoning is that small districts operate on a shoestring and don't have the same opportunities or access to the same resources as the larger districts.

The Crook County School District dispelled this theory. During the 2003–2004 school year the district reduced its utility bills by 15% ($95,373). That's a net saving — it spent no money on implementation. The school board was thus able to restore funding for two teaching positions that had been eliminated because of budget cuts.

Deen Hylton, facilities manager of Crook County School District, proposed a volunteer Energy Committee. A staff member from each of the district's seven school buildings and three facility sites would be on the committee, which would meet monthly. He contacted the Oregon Department of Energy Schools Team for assistance, and received the Resource Conservation Management Guidebook and the Utility Manager software program. The software helps facility managers track energy use and compare a month in one year to the same month in previous years.

Crook County School District has bills for both gas and electricity. The Utility Manager software presents the use and billing information so Hylton and his staff can review it effectively. He needed baseline energy usage for each facility. Getting to know the normal patterns of energy usage in facilities is critical. The software also allowed him to see where the highest energy use was and the largest target for potential savings.

Obstacles

Sometimes the simplest realities can complicate an effort. Hylton was last on the list of school officials to receive his utility bills. The utilities sent the bills to the district administration building. (Hylton's office was at the maintenance building.) The bills were often three weeks old by the time they reached his office. He asked the district's gas and electric companies to add the maintenance building address to their mailing lists and installed a simple mail slot in the front door. Now he receives the bills in a much more timely manner so he can enter information into the computer and track problems.

Hylton soon discovered that the heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) controls for the high school, the district's newest building, had a major program error. The building was being heated 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. The staff reprogrammed the HVAC control so the building is heated only when it is occupied. And Crooked River Elementary School had only one temperature sensor that controlled heating and cooling for three separate buildings, even though two of them were unoccupied storage facilities. The district didn't have the budget for a new direct digital control system; it installed two programmable thermostats in the unoccupied buildings so they could be controlled separately.

Behavioral Changes

The Energy Committee decided that, in addition to the operational changes, behavioral changes would be necessary. Behavioral changes can save 10% by simply increasing awareness of energy use and promoting ideas of turning off equipment that is not in use. The committee set a temperature standard for all school district buildings: 70°F for grades K–3 and 68°F for grades 4–12. Lights and computers would be turned off when they were not needed. Hylton and the committee members walked through each facility after hours to note any equipment or lights that were left on. The committee agreed that staff would need to remove all personal electrical appliances (space heaters, coffeemakers, refrigerators) at the beginning of the following school year. These actions were well received by the staff, who understood the importance of lowering energy use.

Hylton also ensured that when staff members complained of a comfort issue, he and his staff responded promptly. He explained the program to those who complained. When it was determined that the 68°F temperature was too cool for grades 4–12, the district responded by increasing it to 69°F.

Most of the money saved was used to reduce the district's deficit and reinstate and fund the two eliminated teaching positions for the 2003–2004 school year. A small incentive check would go to each facility site, based on the number of employees in the building. Each building's staff could decided how to use their money for an unfunded school need or project. For example, the maintenance building staff bought new tools, one school purchased some hand-held calculators for the students, and another spent the funds on its math and accelerated reading programs. In 2004, the Energy Committee decided the incentive checks would be based on 10% for participation on the Energy Committee, 20% on classroom or site projects related to energy conservation, 30% on electrical savings from turning off lights, computers, etc., and 40% for overall utility savings.

The Future

"We hope to encourage more student activities this year," Hylton noted. "If we can teach the younger kids the importance of energy conservation, in six to eight years it will become a habit."

Last year, Hylton's progress report showed savings of more than $130,000.

Hylton and the Energy Committee are now looking into conservation efforts for other resources — water, sewer and garbage. Water and sewer costs are increasing rapidly, up 40% in the past two years. Some of the growth in costs is attributed to rate changes, but there were some unexplained increases in use. Hylton and staff detected underground water leaks at two school sites that are receiving immediate attention.

If your school district would like assistance, contact the Oregon Department of Energy Schools Team at (800) 221-8035 or (503) 378-4040 in Salem, or read the RCM Guidebook online.

Crook County School District Energy Use

Energy Use Report for Crooked River Elementary
July 2000–June 2001

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State Energy Offices Bulletin

Stories submitted by state energy offices about their projects.

Alaska

Rural Energy Task Force to Address Costs

Governor Frank Murkowski has created the Rural Energy Action Council to help guide Alaska's long-term energy policy. The nine-member task force will make recommendations in several areas: incentives to lower energy delivery costs, regional supply and distribution centers, cooperative fuel purchases, power plant operational efficiencies, consolidation of energy providers, a review of Alaska Energy Authority programs, acceleration of wind turbine generator installations, and energy conservation measures.

The task force is responsible for reviewing and analyzing the state's current and long-term energy needs. It is to deliver its recommendations for a long-term energy plan for Railbelt Alaska by December 31, and to produce similar recommendations for Rural Alaska by March 31, 2006.

"Alaska's economic well-being depends on a reliable, sustainable, and affordable system of power generation, transmission, and distribution, and we face many important decisions on how government can work with the public and private industry toward this goal," Murkowski said.

In making its recommendations for state energy policy, the task force will consider the needs of Railbelt communities, which are served by the state's main power grid, and those of rural Alaskans who live off the grid for reliable sources of affordable energy.

For more information, read the governor's March 7 press release.

Arizona

Governor Requires Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in New State Buildings

On February 5 Governor Janet Napolitano issued Executive Order 2005-05, which requires that all new state-funded buildings be designed and constructed to derive at least 10% of their energy from renewable resources (solar, wind, or thermal energy). These requirements may be met by purchasing renewable energy credits. The order also requires that all new state buildings meet at least the silver standard for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

State agencies must submit annual reports that describe the actions taken to achieve renewable energy and energy efficiency goals, the extent to which the goals have been achieved, and (if goals are not achieved), explanations of the circumstances and assessments of actions that can be taken.

For more information, read the executive order (PDF 278 KB). Download Acrobat Reader.

Colorado

	This exhibit educates visitors about how to care for South Park's abundant natural resources. Credit: Gary Nicholas, Park County

South Park Wetlands Project Promotes Energy and Water Conservation

The Colorado Office of Energy Management and Conservation (OEMC), the Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Wildlife, Park County Commissioners, the United States Forest Service, the Natural Resources Conservation Services, Upper South Platte Watershed group, and private land owners partnered to implement the Wetlands Education Project in South Park, Colorado.

South Park comprises 900 mi² of high-altitude grasslands and wetlands that are surrounded by mountains from which the South Platte River arises. To preserve the area's abundant natural resources, the OEMC and its partners implemented a system of educational exhibits at South Park City Museum in Fairplay. These exhibits feature interpretations of the outstanding interdependent resources of South Park, and educate students and visitors about how to care for wetlands, associated uplands, and cultural resources. Indoor and outdoor exhibits emphasize the importance of preserving natural resources to sustain the character of the area, the quality of life, and the local economy.

Florida

Energy Conservation Program Partners with Green Lodging

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced a partnership between the Energy Conservation Assistance Program and the Green Lodging Certification Program, a certification process that is designed to recognize environmentally friendly lodging. The partnership provides cost-free energy conservation assessments and guidance for Florida hotels that are enrolled in the state's Green Lodging Program.

The voluntary program establishes environmental guidelines for hotels and motels to conserve natural resources and prevent pollution. Hotels and motels reduce costs and earn recognition by investing in simple and innovative green practices that conserve water, save energy, and reduce waste.

For more information, visit the Florida Green Lodging Program Web site.

Florida Study on the Potential for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency

Florida could produce $420 million in tradable renewable energy credits by 2014 according to a new study published in January by the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC). FSEC concludes that the savings potential from renewable energy and energy efficiency is very large:

• 25 trillion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity saved
• 1,700 megawatts (MW) of new generation capacity would be avoided
• Consumer savings of $450 million
• Fuel imports from outside the state would drop by $1.2 billion
• 126,000 new jobs from this activity.

FSEC director James Fenton presented these numbers to the Senate Energy Committee of the Florida Legislature in February, along with business as usual projections for energy consumption. Fenton explained that current projections are for electric utilities to generate 75 billion kWh more in 2014 than they did in 2004, an increase of 32%. However, Fenton says future power consumption could be dramatically reduced within the residential sector, which is responsible for more than half of the total, by aggressively pursuing energy efficiency improvements in homes.

Read the FSEC report titled Potential of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Savings to Impact Florida's Energy Use in 2014.

Governor Bush Breaks Ground on Florida's First Hydrogen Energy Station

Governor Jeb Bush attended the groundbreaking in Orlando for Florida's first ChevronTexaco hydrogen fueling station. He also announced plans for new legislation to move the H2 Florida initiative forward. Under the proposed Hydrogen Energy Technologies Act, Florida will set aside $12.9 million to test and demonstrate the cutting-edge hydrogen technology and provide $2.1 million in new tax incentives for businesses that invest in hydrogen technologies. Participants in the groundbreaking included Ford Motor Company and Progress Energy.

See the press releases from the Progress Energy.

Source: February 23 edition of EERE News.

Homosassa Springs State Park Receives Hydrogen Fuel Cell

Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park moved into the next generation of energy technology with a hydrogen fuel cell system to power the park's Wildlife Encounter Pavilion. The partnership between the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Progress Energy Florida will provide clean energy to the park and expose hundreds of thousands of visitors to the emerging technology.

The fuel cell system will use 5-kilowatt solar panels to split water molecules. This will provide hydrogen and a by-product of only pure oxygen. The fuel cell will convert the hydrogen gas into electricity and provide power for the park's Wildlife Encounter Pavilion.

Homosassa Springs is the most popular park in the region. Its 300,000+ visitors last year had the opportunity to see an underwater manatee observatory, which offers a unique view of Florida's famed sea cows. A new 1,600-foot Wildlife Walk takes visitors along a boardwalk that showcases the natural habitats of bobcats, cougars, otters, bears, and birds.

"We are excited to have Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park on the cutting edge of hydrogen energy technology," said Florida State Parks Director Mike Bullock. "Showcasing this new technology augments the diverse experiences already offered to the millions of visitors to Florida's state parks."

Florida's state park system is one of the largest in the country — 158 parks span more than 730,000 acres and 108 miles of sandy white beach. Over the past five years, Florida added eight new parks — more than 203,000 acres — and increased visitor attendance by 5 million.

Illinois

	Wind turbines such as these at Mendota Hills will provide at least 75% of the renewable energy to Illinois by 2012. Credit: Melodie Keefe Design

Governor Blagojevich Proposes Sustainable Energy Plan

On February 11, 2005, Governor Rod Blagojevich asked the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to approve the Illinois Sustainable Energy Plan. The commission will consider both a Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard and an Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard as parts of this plan.

The proposed Renewable Portfolio Standard would require electric utilities or other electricity suppliers to provide 2% renewable energy to their Illinois customers by 2006. This percentage would increase 1% annually to 8% by 2012. This would mean that nearly 4,000 megawatts of power be generated by renewable sources by 2012, enough to serve nearly 1 million households. At least 75% of this energy would be generated by wind power.

The Energy Efficiency Portfolio Standard proposal includes an energy efficiency procurement requirement; competitive procurement to meet the goals of the standard, and requires Illinois electric utilities and alternative retail electric suppliers to make available a portion of the Energy Efficiency and Demand Response plans necessary to meet this standard to equal $10 million annually to support energy efficiency programs.

For more information, read the entire Sustainable Energy Plan (PDF 47 KB). Download Acrobat Reader.

Kentucky

	Griffin Industries, a biodiesel production company near Covington, received the 2005 Shining Star Award for Biodiesel Production in Kentucky. Credit: Griffin Industries

Biodiesel Successes Featured at Showcase

On February 8, the second annual Kentucky Biodiesel Showcase was held in Frankfort at the Capital Plaza Holiday Inn. About 150 people attended the event, which promoted the statewide and nationwide use of biodiesel, and honored leaders in the industry with awards. Kentucky's extensive access to feedstocks, producers, and distributors puts it in a unique position to capitalize on biodiesel's potential.

Biodiesel use in Kentucky has increased 1,100% since 2002. Plants, storage, and distribution sites for biodiesel are increasing, and make the Commonwealth one of the country's leaders in biodiesel use.

Ten Kentucky school systems run more than 600 buses on biodiesel. Murray State University and the University of Kentucky use biodiesel in their fleets. Mammoth Cave National Park uses biodiesel in all its heavy equipment, lawn tractors, and ferry boats. This equipment uses more than 10,000 gallons annually.

For more information on the Kentucky Biodiesel Showcase, read Biodiesel in Kentucky.

Governor Fletcher Unveils Comprehensive Energy Plan

On February 7, Governor Fletcher announced a comprehensive energy strategy. "This new energy plan reflects the principles I laid out with the formation of the energy task force: maintain Kentucky's low cost energy, responsibly develop Kentucky's energy resources and preserve Kentucky's commitment to our environment," he stated. "As we implement our comprehensive energy plan, which includes greater use of clean coal technology, biofuels, and energy efficiency, Kentucky will be well-positioned to continue to lead the nation in affordable energy while we become better stewards of the environment."

Governor Fletcher signed several executive orders that immediately put into effect several important elements of the plan. His energy strategy outlines ways to improve energy efficiency, use more renewable energy, maintain the state's low electric rates, and promote growth in the coal and natural gas industries.

The governor recommended that the Commonwealth develop an aggressive utility savings initiative throughout state government and implement procurement policies that encourage the purchase of energy efficient products, encourage high-performance design for newly constructed state-funded buildings, and examine state building codes to determine whether enhanced energy efficiency gains are possible through progressive policy. Kentucky's ENERGY STAR® program is a frontrunner among the southeastern states.

The governor's plan also supports the use of renewable fuels. He calls for a 10% ethanol blend (E10) and gasoline and a 2% blend of biodiesel (B2) in the state's fleet and encourages Kentucky's post-secondary institutions to do the same, and supports the design of a policy to promote a 20% blend of biodiesel in the public school bus fleet.

For more information, read the entire Energy Plan (PDF 2.31 MB). Download Acrobat Reader.

Maine

Governor Baldacci Encourages Mainers to Install Solar Equipment

The Baldacci administration wants to jump start a solar energy industry in Maine. His goal is to cover 50,000 roofs with panels that use the sun to heat water or produce electricity. Following the lead of 26 other states, the administration would use rebates, sales tax exemptions, and tax credits to create incentives for home and small-business owners to buy solar products.

The rebates would come from a charge that electricity customers already pay on their monthly bills. For example, home or business owners who buy a photovoltaic system that has an installed cost of $30,000 could cut that price by $8,500 with rebates and sales tax exemptions. That price buys a system with an energy output rated at 3 kilowatts, enough to provide roughly 60% of the power for a typical home in Portland.

The administration needs to overcome preconceptions that Maine's cold climate is a bad place to invest in solar energy. But the solar resource in the Northeast is considerable, as evidenced by aggressive incentive programs in New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts, which are drawing solar investment there.

Maryland

Maryland Energy Administration Accepts Applications for Solar Energy Grants

The Maryland Energy Administration is now accepting applications for solar energy grants under the new Solar Energy Grant Program. The grants are available to residential, business, and local government entities and can be used to offset a portion of the cost of either photovoltaic (solar electricity generation) or solar water heating projects. A limited number of grants will be provided for solar water heating and photovoltaic solar energy for those who are accepted into the program and comply with all program requirements and procedures.

The grants are for 20% of the system cost in three categories: Solar Water Heating, Residential Photovoltaic Solar, and Nonresidential Photovoltaic Solar.

For more information on solar energy opportunities, visit the Maryland Energy Administration's Solar Grant Web page.

Nebraska

An Energy-Efficient Affordable House under Construction in Nebraska

A unique home is going up in Lincoln, Nebraska. From the outside, it looks much like neighboring homes. But this 1,248 ft² home is being used as an on-site training facility and laboratory for a framing demonstration of Optimum Value Engineering techniques and proper installation methods for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning equipment. It is designed to maximize energy efficiency and green building techniques and materials, and its energy use will be monitored for up to a year to evaluate the building techniques.

Through the U.S. Department of Energy's Building America program and the Consortium for Advanced Residential Buildings, Steven Winter Associates is helping the Nebraska Energy Office design and test a prototype home that will benchmark energy-efficient, affordable housing in Nebraska.

New York

New York State Funds Wind and Hydropower Projects

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) announced in February that it selected five power generation producers to provide renewable power for the first phase of the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard Program. Two are wind facilities: the 300-megawatt (MW) Flat Rock Wind Project near Lowville in Lewis County, about 25 miles southeast of Watertown, and the 7.5-MW Atlantic City Wind Farm (also called the Jersey-Atlantic Wind Farm) in New Jersey. The other three projects are recent upgrades of hydropower projects owned by Brascan Power: the 17-MW Browns Falls hydropower plant and the 6.1-MW Higley hydropower plant (both in St. Lawrence County), and the 56-MW Spier Falls hydroelectric plant in Saratoga County. In 2006, NYSERDA expects to pay $15.7 million for the renewable energy attributes of the power generated by the five projects, estimated at 700,000 megawatt-hours.

For more information, read the press release from NYSERDA.

Olean Family YMCA Receives Incentives for Energy Efficiency Upgrades

The Olean Family YMCA has partnered with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to implement a series of energy-efficient upgrades at its newly remodeled facility. The measures are projected to save the YMCA more than $2,000 per year in energy costs.

The energy-efficient measures incorporated into the project include high-efficiency lighting and motors, room occupancy sensors, a high-efficiency HVAC unit with a heat recovery wheel, a dehumidification unit for the swimming pool, and carbon dioxide ventilation controls.

Oregon

Oregon Promotes High Performance Schools Program

The Oregon Department of Energy encourages school districts to build new schools that are energy and resource efficient, provide improved comfort, and create a healthy environment for students and staff. The department's High Performance School Program helps with the cost and the technical expertise to build a high performance school. Special funding is available for approximately 20 new schools that commit to design a high performance school. The department also offers its Business Energy Tax Credit Pass-through Option Program. The school district can transfer its tax credit eligibility for building an energy-efficient school to a private sector business partner in exchange for a cash payment that can help defer project costs.

Eligible schools can use the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification standard or design a LEED-like schools by including an eco-charette, energy modeling, and commissioning.

All participants must facilitate information sharing and decision making among the school district's construction managers, architects, engineers, and the community; submit to a technical review of all schematic design and construction documents; verify energy modeling results; and use the department's knowledge of all financial resources.

South Carolina

	IdleAire provides electrical service for each parking space. The heating, cooling, and ventilation unit is connected to the service delivery module via a flexible, reinforced, concentric hose, which also houses the delivery mechanisms for the communications and entertainment packages. All TSE services are independently controlled by each driver. Credit: IdleAire Technologies Corporation

Anderson County Harbors Fewer Idling Trucks

South Carolina's first Truck Stop Electrification (TSE) site opened in October 2004 at the Anderson Auto Truck Plaza in Anderson County, off Interstate 85 at Highway 81.

TSE eliminates or greatly reduces prolonged idling by long haul trucks by providing electrical "shore" power for cab heating and air conditioning, by powering in-cab equipment such as TVs or engine block heaters, and powering trailer refrigeration units (reefers) carried by about 18% of long haul trucks. It saves fuel and money, improves energy security, reduces the emissions of harmful air pollutants, improves the lifestyle and work environment of truck drivers, and helps reduce noise and odors associated with idling.

A U.S. Department of Energy grant was combined with private funding to install IdleAire Technologies Corporation's Truck Stop Electrification at 159 truck parking spaces along the I-85 corridor in South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. Each TSE location is expected to remove more than 1,600 tonnes of emissions annually. Fuel saved at the three locations is expected to be nearly 2.4 million gallons annually.

Filling Up with E85

The South Carolina Energy Office, in partnership with the Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition, promoted the first public E85 fueling station in Columbia last October, by holding an "E85 for 85 Cents" promotion. The Gervais Street Exxon station sold more than 1,800 gallons of E85 fuel during the day-long event.

E85 is made of 85% ethanol fuel mixed with 15% gasoline. Vehicles that can use ethanol or E85 are called Flexible Fuel Vehicles (FFVs), and include the 2002-2004 Ford Taurus, 2003-2005 Chevrolet Tahoe, and the 2003-2005 Chrysler Sebring Sedan. FFVs are usually the same price as conventional model vehicles, and now some manufacturers offer the flexible fuel capacity as an option. Since E85 is a cleaner burning fuel, oil changes are needed less frequently, which is an additional benefit.

The Budget and Control Board's State Fleet Management currently has 778 FFVs in its fleet; there are 1,784 FFVs in state government. To further the use of E85, the energy office and the Palmetto State Clean Fuels Coalition are working to open accessibility to four more stations in Columbia and four in Greenville by Spring 2005.

	The 172,000-ft2 West Quad dormitory at USC includes three, four-story buildings with the latest technology and environmental features for conserving water and energy and creating a healthier, greener environment for the 500 undergraduate students who call it home. Credit: University of South Carolina

The Greening of South Carolina

The South Carolina Energy Office and its allies are working to green South Carolina.

The latest projects and results include the formal execution of Endorser Agreements for the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Program by the Appalachian Council of Governments and the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce — the first such results achieved by any state. Additionally, the South Carolina Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council is nearing legal formation. The energy office has taken a leadership role in implementing the EarthCraft House pilot project, in partnership with the Greenville and Charleston Home Builders Associations and Southface Energy Institute, in Greenville and Charleston.

The number of LEED accredited professionals in South Carolina has increased threefold, from 39 to 124. The LEED and EarthCraft House programs represent design and construction practices that significantly reduce the negative impact of buildings on the environment and occupants. They also put into place systems that promote energy efficiency. And the energy office is promoting and helping to implement solar water heating systems in the EarthCraft House projects.

Several LEED buildings and EarthCraft Houses, all with ENERGY STAR® equipment, will soon be operational. One, the West Quad Dormitory at the University of South Carolina, welcomed new students last fall and held its grand opening ceremony in November. Additionally, SCEO continues to assist in workshops to educate architects, engineers, contractors, and codes officials on LEED and the EarthCraft House.

Texas

Laredo Independent School District’s Clean School Bus Initiative

The Texas State Energy Conservation, in partnership with the Laredo Independent School District, was awarded $555,000 to implement the EPA's Clean School Bus Program by retrofitting 73 school bus engines for cleaner diesel engines. The district will also purchase 5 large passenger clean diesel buses by the 2006 school year.

The Laredo Independent School District's Clean School Bus initiative seeks to reduce children's exposure to harmful emissions from diesel buses. The project will implement several clean fuel technologies that meet the 2004 federal emissions standards. The district will implement a program that will cover the 2-year period of the grant to retrofit and upgrade the bus fleet to the cleaner burning Texas Low Emission Diesel diesel fuel. This will help the Laredo area remain in attainment of air pollution standards.

During the first year, a vendor will reflash (install particulate matter traps) to the electronic control modules and install the retrofits in 50 buses; the remaining 23 buses will be retrofitted during the second year. The Laredo Independent School District Transportation Department will track mileage and fuel consumption and keep maintenance and logs for each retrofitted bus.

Wisconsin

ENERGY STAR® Homes Program Recognizes Building Professionals

Fourteen builders, contractors, and other Wisconsin building professionals were honored during the New Construction Awards Banquet, sponsored by Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes, for their roles in building some of the most comfortable, durable, safe, and energy-efficient homes in the country.

Winners were selected for their excellence in upholding the standards of the Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes Program. The categories were Excellence in Building Air Tightness, Excellence in Technology Adoption, Excellence in Creative Advertising, System Built Builder/Dealer of the Year in Building Excellence, and Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes- Consultant of the Year.

The Wisconsin ENERGY STAR Homes Program is part of Focus on Energy, Wisconsin's statewide energy efficiency initiative. Partners work to promote and build homes that incorporate innovative building materials and practices and exceed nationally recognized building standards. Homes built under the program are, on average, up to 25% more energy efficient than homes built to Wisconsin's Uniform Dwelling Code. More than 350 builders in the program have built more than 3,600 Wisconsin ENERGY STAR homes.

Milwaukee’s Urban Ecology Center Installs Renewable Energy System

The Urban Ecology Center in Milwaukee has installed an 8-kilowatt grid-connected solar electric system that is expected to generate 9,629 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity each year.

"As electricity prices continue to rise and the costs of renewable energy systems fall, a growing number of Wisconsin residents and businesses use renewable energy systems to reduce their utility bills and keep our air and water cleaner for future generations," said Don Wichert, program director for Focus on Energy's Renewable Energy program.

Wisconsin's Focus on Energy's Renewable Energy Program has made the sun, wind, water, and organic materials a bigger part of Wisconsin's energy mix and has helped ensure that residents and businesses have reliable and affordable sources of energy. Between April 2002 and December 2004, 228 renewable energy projects were completed with the assistance of the Renewable Energy Program.

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State Energy Information

New state Web sites and publications, and DOE pubs dealing with energy efficiency and renewable energy in the states.

Builders Guide to Residential Foundation Insulation
(PDF 3.93 MB)
The Kansas Corporation Commission publishes this report for builders; 16 pp.; October, 1999.

California Builder Energy Code Training
(PDF 11.29 MB)
The Building Industry Institute publishes this report for builders; 88 pp.; January, 2002.

Making Wise Decisions as You Install Your SolarPower System
(PDF 44 KB)
The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Program publishes this fact sheet; 4 pp.; January, 2005.

Public Buildings Manual — A State Guide to Financing, Benchmarking, Retro-Commissioning, and Combined Heat and Power
(PDF 354 KB)
The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) publishes this report, which is prepared in conjunction with DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the National Association of Energy Service Companies; 26 pp.; September, 2004.

Survey of Commercial New Construction Activities in New Hampshire
(PDF 260 KB)
The New Hampshire Commercial ConstructionStudy Group publishes this report for builders; 73 pp.; May, 2005.

State Energy Web Sites

Flex Your Power's e-Newswire — California's Energy Efficiency Resource

Flex Your Power publishes this electronic newsletter as part of the Flex Your Power campaign, which promotes energy efficiency among California businesses, residents, and institutions

Green Energy Ohio

This Web site describes efforts to green Ohio

Power Naturally

New York Energy $martSM program supports extensive wind resource prospecting efforts to identify promising new sites for wind development. These sites have the potential to satisfy increasing consumer demand for green energy and various green energy purchase mandates in neighboring states

New State Publications

Buildings

Energy Performance Tune-Up: Tips for Arkansas Builders on Building Better Performing New Homes
(PDF 911 KB)
The Arkansas Energy Office publishes this report for builders; 103 pp.; June, 2001.

Energy Tips at Home
(PDF 116 KB)
The Oregon Department of Energy publishes this fact sheet for consumers; 2 pp.; November, 2003.

Energy Tips at Work
(PDF 100 KB)
The Oregon Department of Energy publishes this fact sheet for consumers; 2 pp.; November, 2003.

Energy-Efficient Mortgages
(PDF 30 KB)
The Kansas Energy Office publishes this fact sheet for consumers; 2 pp.; January, 2000.

Energy-Efficient Windows
(PDF 84 KB)
The Kansas Energy Office publishes this fact sheet for consumers; 8 pp.; January, 2005.

LED Lighting Systems
(PDF 528 KB)
California's Flex Your Power, which is published with support from the California Energy Commission, republished this product guide for light-emitting diodes, which was written and originally published by the National Lighting Product Information Program. The document includes a glossary of lighting terms; 23 pp.; May, 2003.

Residential Foundation Insulation
(PDF 675 KB)
The Kansas Energy Office publishes this fact sheet for consumers; 5 pp.; January, 2000.

Residential Insulation
(PDF 315 KB)
The Kansas Energy Office publishes this fact sheet for consumers; 8 pp.; January, 2000.

Selecting a Home Cooling System
(PDF 87 KB)
The Kansas Energy Office publishes this fact sheet for consumers; 8 pp.; January, 2000.

Selecting a Home Heating System
(PDF 148 KB)
The Kansas Energy Office publishes this fact sheet for consumers; 8 pp.; January, 2000.

Tips for Purchasing an Energy-Efficient Home
(PDF 326 KB)
The Kansas Energy Office publishes this fact sheet for consumers; 6 pp.; January, 2002.

Policy, Planning, and Energy Security

Kentucky's Energy Opportunities for Our Future — A Comprehensive Energy Strategy
(PDF 2.08 MB)
The Kentucky Governor's Office publishes this strategic energy plan for the state; 44 pp.; February, 2005.

Oregon Strategy for Greenhouse Gas Reductions
(PDF 303 KB)
The Oregon Governor's Office publishes this report, which was written by the Governor's Advisory Group on Global Warming; 45 pp.; December, 2004.

DOE Publications on State-Related Topics

Buildings

Massachusetts Commercial Energy Code
(PDF 150 KB)
DOE's Building Energy Codes Program publishes this case study, which highlights the Massachusetts experience with energy codes; 4 pp.; October, 2001.

Electric Power and Renewable Energy

State Wind Working Group Handbook
(PDF 11.04 MB)
The U.S. Department of Energy's Wind and Hydropower Technologies group publishes this book; 351 pp.; August, 2003.

Industry

Chemicals BestPractices Plant-Wide Assessment Case Study Formosa Plastics Corporation: Plant-Wide Assessment of Texas Plant Identifies Opportunities for Improving Process Efficiency and Reducing Energy Costs
(PDF 103 KB)
The U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Program publishes this fact sheet; 4 pp.; January, 2005.

PCS Nitrogen: Combustion Fan System Optimization Improves Performance and Saves Energy at a Chemical Plant
(PDF 728 KB)
The U.S. Department of Energy's BestPractices Program publishes this fact sheet; 4 pp.; January, 2005.

Transportation

Missouri Department of Transportation Turns EPAct Credits into Biodiesel
(PDF 405 KB)
The U.S. Department of Energy's EPAct initiative publishes this fact sheet; 4 pp.; January, 2005.