Source: U.S. Economic Development Administration

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders Applauds Investment to Help Promote Energy Efficiency and Reduce Business Costs

WASHINGTON – Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank today announced a $1 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to the Burlington Electric Department in Burlington, Vermont, to establish the Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund (EE RLF). The EE RLF will make funds available for up to 150 commercial electric users during its first round of capitalization to help them make electrical upgrades to achieve greater energy-efficiency.

“This $1 million Economic Development Administration investment is an example of the Obama administration’s commitment to helping businesses become more energy efficient to lower business costs,” said Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank. “The grant announced today will provide critical funding to commercial electrical users in Burlington to help them make efficiency improvements that will save them money.”
Continue reading U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1 Million to Establish Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund in Burlington, Vermont

Source: Environmental Protection OnLine

EIA has released its Annual Energy Outlook 2013 (AEO2013) Reference case today. The report predicts that the growth in total energy production will exceed the growth of total energy consumption in the U.S. through the year 2040.

“EIA’s updated Reference case shows how evolving consumer preferences, improved technology, and economic changes are pushing the nation toward more domestic energy production, greater vehicle efficiency, greater use of clean energy, and reduced energy imports,” said EIA Administrator Adam Sieminski. “This combination has markedly reduced projected energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.”

Some of the key findings in the case are as follows:
Continue reading EIA Releases U.S. Energy Production Projections

Source: GreenBiz.com
By Lee Ann Head
Published November 28, 2012

For many years, we’ve asked consumers who they most blame for rising energy costs. And for years, respondents have said they most blame either 1) oil companies, or 2) the U.S. government – with utilities much farther down the list. This year, in light of declining natural gas prices, we edited the question, asking who (or what) respondents thought most affects energy costs. With this change, “blame” shifted dramatically to utilities, followed closely by oil companies and the U.S. government.

Most pertinent, however, is who Americans don’t blame – themselves. Only 12 percent blamed energy costs on their own demand, because 80 percent of consumers think they use the same or less energy in their homes than they did five years ago. And we know this simply isn’t true — American residential energy consumption hit record highs last year.
Continue reading What’s really killing energy behavior change?

Source: Energy.Gov

WASHINGTON – As part of the Obama Administration’s all-of-the-above energy strategy, the Energy Department today announced 20 new projects to help states and local governments cut red tape and develop the infrastructure, training and regional planning needed to help meet the demand for alternative fuel cars and trucks, including vehicles that run on natural gas, electricity and propane. These projects build on the important steps the Obama Administration has taken to expand the transportation options available for businesses and communities and improve the fuel efficiency of vehicles in the market today and for years to come.

“Building a clean and secure U.S. transportation system that leverages our domestic energy sources will give American families, businesses and communities more options and reduce fueling costs,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu.  “At the same time, these projects will help lead the way to further reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil and protecting our nation’s air and water.”

Through the Department’s Clean Cities initiative, these projects address a range of community infrastructure and training needs, such as providing safety and technical training for fleet operators, mechanics, first responders and code officials; streamlining permitting and procurement processes; and helping public and private fleets integrate petroleum reduction strategies into their operations.
Continue reading Energy Department Announces New Clean Cities Projects to Diversify U.S. Fuel Economy, Prepare for Advanced Vehicles

Source: GreenBiz.com

Aaron Binkley was sitting down to lunch last December with the property manager of Prologis Inc.’s headquarters at Pier 1 in San Francisco. Binkley, head of Sustainability at Prologis, told the property manager he’d been thinking about upgrading the building’s lighting fixtures to cut down on energy usage in the building.

As the conversation went on, the decided that they should upgrade heating, ventilation, and cooling, and, while they were at it, they would install solar panels, too. By the time they were done with lunch, the two had produced a plan to install an incredibly comprehensive energy efficiency upgrade, and they would soon find the cutting edge financing tool that would make it possible.

Tomorrow, Prologis and the City of San Francisco will announce that the historic property at Pier 1 will be the first commercial building in San Francisco to receive financing for energy efficiency upgrades under Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) bond financing.

Upfront costs often pose the most significant roadblock to property owners seeking to install energy efficient building upgrades. Furthermore, owners may balk at taking on additional debt, and lenders are often reluctant to supply the cash.

PACE financing is designed to meet these challenges by allowing property owners to pay for the upgrades over the course of up to twenty years through a property tax assessment rather than through a traditional loan.
Continue reading San Francisco company keeps PACE with energy efficiency upgrades

Source: Energy Manager Today.com

This is part of a continuing series on simple, inexpensive energy saving tips to do now that will produce real energy cost savings and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions, suggestions that will not put out your staff, and make you look like a hero.

Electronics

Part 1 discussed the very simple concept of personal computers. Either make sure they are turned off when not in use (nights, weekends) or invest in a system that will keep them in sleep mode when not in use. This leads to the broader point that there are improved technologies in many electronic areas (mainly in keeping equipment in “sleep” mode to be “revived” in a matter of seconds) that can reduce energy usage and costs.

McKinsey & Company developed and updated a graph showing the most cost effective GHG emission reduction strategies – which ones will bring the highest dollar return over its lifetime. The latest published version, Exhibit 7 of “Energy Efficiency: A Compelling Global Resource” (downloadable from its website) shows that the most cost effective greenhouse gas reduction strategy is replacing electronic equipment with less energy intensive models. An easy reference is available: the Energy Star program labels equipment that generally exhibit electricity savings of at least 10 percent compared to standard brands (often as high as about 40 percent). The cost of such equipment is often only slightly higher than non-Energy Star models. Thus, not only is the ROI usually less than one year because of electric bills immediately reduced, but given the product lifetimes, savings can be enormous. Energy Star recommendations are found for a wide range of equipment found in an office or elsewhere, such as PCs, refrigerators, printers, etc. I am typing this article on an Energy Star-labeled laptop computer right now.

Perhaps what is easiest about this energy tip is that this involves no heavy lifting by you, the EHS or sustainability professional, but should be the responsibility of another group: purchasing. Inform them of Energy Star and request a policy to consider Energy Star-labeled equipment for all future purchases. Then your company will lock into real energy cost savings without a big effort. And both you and Purchasing will be seen as helping the company bottom line.

An Additional Tip – for you!

Exhibit 4 of the same McKinsey document contains a graph listing equipment and their average cost per end-use energy savings: which equipment will give you the biggest energy savings given the initial outlay. The most cost effective items are two you use in your home: your water heater and your freezer. So take extra care to purchase Energy Star equipment such as these for your home, to maintain them, and insulate piping well to get your best personal energy savings at home.

Marc Karell is the owner of Climate Change & Environmental Services. CCES can assist you with the technical details of: your emissions inventory; your air permitting status; and whether your facility is subject to air rules such as Title V and/or PSD. We can help you navigate through their complex processes. Read more useful material in the company’s blog: www.CCESworld.com/blog.  CCES has experience in performing site-specific energy audits and recommending proven strategies and technologies to reduce your facility’s energy usage, saving you money with a good ROI and without inconveniencing your staff. See our website: www.CCESworld.com and contact us at karell@CCESworld.com.

Source: Energy Star Small Business Success Stories

Success stories of how small businesses from around the country have succeeded in saving energy and costs can provide valuable insights into new solutions, thought provoking ideas, and encouragement for others. Learning by example can be highly beneficial, and often adds greater understanding of the tips and guides that are provided by ENERGY STAR. These are some of the reasons that the ENERGY STAR Small Business Network has been steadily growing the success story website. This is an effort to recognize success by highlighting the energy programs of a variety of small businesses, as well as an educational tool for firms looking to establish or grow their own energy efforts. A variety of business types are represented from restaurants to car dealerships, offices to food markets, and team efforts or community challenges. Visit the site soon to find additional inspiration.

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Source: Energy Manager Today.com

The Compressed Air and Gas Institute (CAGI) has made available air compressor manufacturers’ performance data. The CAGI Datasheets provide a common basis to compare certain factors — such as energy usage — and help companies select the compressor or dryer best suited to their needs.

From the CAGI Datasheets page, users can views compressor performance data from Atlas Copco, BOGE, CompAir, FS Curtis, Gardner Denver, Ingersoll Rand, Kaeser, Quincy and Sullair, as well as dryer data from Atlas Copco, Domnick Hunter, Ingersoll Rand, Hankison and Zeks.
Continue reading Data Sheets Compare Air Compressor Manufacturers’ Performance