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energy savings

5 Energy Trends that will Change the Balance of Power

We no longer fret over taxes on tea, but there’s another American Revolution forming in our great nation today. Like the colonist uprising 241 years ago, it’s fueled by a need to stand up against an outdated system that threatens our way of life.

It’s a battle over the future of American energy and our antiquated electric grid. And it centers around the way consumers, utilities, and investors interact with this vast network of powerlines, substations, and plants.

As Cheryl Roberto, who leads Environmental Defense Fund’s Clean Energy program, notes, “The U.S. is poised to spend around $2 trillion over the next two decades replacing our outdated electric infrastructure.”

That’s a lot of coin and a tremendous opportunity.

We’ve detected five emerging trends that may forever change how we produce and consume electricity. It will be an American approach to energy that wastes less, pollutes less, and, as Cheryl likes to say, “puts customers in the driver’s seat.”

It’s made by, and for, you and me.

Trend #1: Utilities think quality, not quantity

Power companies, like people, respond to incentives. The current regulatory framework in the United States incentivizes utilities to invest more in power stations and infrastructure than in building value for consumers and the environment.

If they are to survive the Revolution, utilities need to re-think the model, and the regulatory framework needs to change to support utility investments in renewable energy and energy savings. It sounds daunting, but it’s already happening in New York State.

Trend #2: Clean energy finance takes hold

While rooftop solar panels are becoming more common, securing financing for these and other energy investments and retrofits can be tough. Clean energy is more than a way for homes and businesses to lower bills and protect the environment; these upgrades also represent a serious investment opportunity.

Today, states are beginning to connect investors with programs such as on-bill repayment for large and small residential projects. Commercial properties are getting in on energy efficiency, too, thanks to the Investor Confidence Project which brings standardization and quantifiable metrics to energy efficiency projects in the commercial building sector.

The result: lower operating costs, higher market value, and a significantly lower carbon footprint.

Trend #3: Everyone gets a stake in the grid

Going back to incentives, energy-savings programs like demand response help consumers adjust their power consumption during peak times by offering a financial reward for doing so. By empowering consumers (forgive the pun) we can use resources far more effectively and efficiently.

Distributed energy is a related concept, calling on smaller-scale clean energy resources such as energy efficiency, energy storage, and local, on-site generation to complement traditional sources. California is at the forefront in this area.

Trend #4: Vastly improved batteries open new doors

Rapid advancements in battery technology are making batteries a surprisingly disruptive – for the better – force in the modern American Revolution. EDF’s Midwest Clean Energy Director Dick Munson reports that improved batteries could put renewable energy sources in the lead.

“When the wind stops blowing or the sun goes behind a cloud, batteries are able to provide back-up power until those resources are back online,” he writes.

Until recently, battery cost was prohibitive, with systems costing as much as $1,500 per kilowatt hour. Today the average is between $500 and $700, and dropping. Bonus: Someone has to build these batteries, and that means jobs. Just ask North Carolina and Illinois.

Trend #5: Coming: Federal policies to support it all

All of these trends are independently worthwhile, but the Clean Power Plan may be the glue that binds them all together. In addition to putting the first-ever limits on power plant emissions, the plan offers states impressive freedom to choose how to meet their emissions goals, and the trends above will play out as states exercise that freedom.

Freedom is the hallmark of any true American Revolution, after all. As is our quest for a stronger, better, and more innovative nation.

To take a page from the classic 1980s cartoon He-Man: Americans can be masters of our energy universe. We…have…the power!

Article by Dan Upham, Editor, Environmental Defense Fund Energy Exchange Blog.

11/05/2014 0 comment

Energy Efficiency

ACEEE State Scorecard: Why Carrots Are Good

written by Elisa Wood

We do not live in a simple world. The US economy, especially, often gets to where it wants to go only by way of rules of the road so complicated that few businesses can operate without attorneys as chauffeurs.

So it’s refreshing when a common sense idea, one that requires no new laws, regulations or codes, appears to have huge influence. Such is the case with the annual state energy efficiency scorecard, created by the Washington, D.C.-based research organization, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

Now in its eighth year, the ACEEE state scorecard ranks states based on their energy efficiency policies, best to worst, and then publicizes the results. The organization released the most recent scorecard last week.

The ACEEE state scorecard plays to the idea that all of us want to be recognized, especially if our jobs come by way of a popular vote. Not surprisingly, elected officials embrace the competition with growing intent.

“More and more governors and state lawmakers understand that they have a choice: Do nothing as costly energy is wasted or take action by creating incentives to waste less energy,” said Maggie Molina, director of ACEEE’s Utilities, State, and Local Policy program.

Massachusetts makes no secret of the fact that it keeps coming out on top. For the last four years Massachusetts has been number one. The state unabashedly weaves this success into energy news releases, speeches and interviews. And you can argue that it deserves to trumpet its success – it doesn’t come easily with California just behind, threatening any year to steal the crown.

Massachusetts again ranks as the top state of energy efficiency with California second.

The ACEEE state scorecard also provides a clear look at the laggard states and exposes those that are slipping. Indiana slid down 13 spots in the ranking this year, partly because lawmakers eliminated long-term energy savings goals. Ohio dropped seven spots after freezing and weakening its energy efficiency resource standard.

Overall, though, this year’s scorecard portrays good news for energy efficiency. States saved 24.4 million MWh last year, up 7 percent from 2011. Natural gas savings reached 276 million therms, a 19 percent increase over the 2011 savings reported in the previous ACEEE state scorecard.

Annie Gilleo, ACEEE State Policy Research Analyst, describes the scorecard as “a toolkit that policymakers can use to increase energy savings in their state.” True, and more, it’s a motivator, one that’s all carrot, not stick. Line us up, point to a finish line, blow the whistle and we follow our natural inclination, we run.

The behavioral premise may be simple, but ACEEE’s scoring is not. The organization undertakes an extensive review of publicly available data and then verifies it with state energy offices and public utility commissions. States are scored based on 30 metrics in six policy areas – utility policies and programs, transportation initiatives, building energy codes, combined heat and power development, state government-led initiatives, and state-level appliance standards.

Here are some of highlights from this year’s ACEEE state scorecard.

Massachusetts ranked number one for the 4^th year with 42 points out of 50. California was second with 40.5 points. Although Massachusetts won overall, California did better in certain categories, specifically transportation, building energy codes, state government initiatives, and appliance efficiency standards. Massachusetts, however, did far better in the heavily weighted utility programs category, and also bested California when it comes to combined heat and power.
The Northeast dominated the top slots with Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, Connecticut and New York in the top five
There was a three-way split for the number 3 slot between Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont
Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Kentucky, and Wisconsin won most improved states
The bottom states from last and up were North Dakota, Wyoming, South Dakota, Mississippi, and Alaska.

The full ACEEE state scorecard is available for free download. ACEEE also issues scorecards for cities and countries every other year.

10/29/2014 0 comment

Green Building

Why Don’t Commercial Building Owners Install Modern Controls?

written by Environmental News Network

Commercial buildings use large amounts of electricity and natural gas. Significant reductions in energy use can be achieved by installing new modern systems but this requires a significant capital cost.

It is possible to install modern control systems at much lower cost and these can also significantly reduce energy use, and improve comfort at the same time! A new study by the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory shows that commercial buildings could cut their heating and cooling electricity use by an average of 57 percent with advanced energy-efficiency controls, according to a year-long trial of the controls at malls, grocery stores and other buildings across the country. The study demonstrated higher energy savings than what was predicted in earlier computer simulations by the same researchers.

“We’ve long known that heating and cooling are among the biggest energy consumers in buildings, largely because most buildings don’t use sophisticated controls,” said the study’s lead researcher, engineer Srinivas Katipamula of the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. “But our tests of controls installed at real, working commercial buildings clearly demonstrate how much more energy efficient air-conditioning systems can be.”

This research was supported by DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy and the Bonneville Power Administration.

Sitting on the roofs of many commercial buildings are shiny metal boxes containing heating, cooling, ventilation and air conditioning (also known as HVAC) units. These are pre-made in a factory and have all their components inside a box, leading the industry to call them “packaged” HVAC units. Another kind of commercial HVAC, called air handling units, have long used sophisticated controls to ensure they work as efficiently as possible. But packaged units are often allowed to run for hours on end, even if they aren’t needed, and receive little maintenance.

Article by Roger Greenway

05/27/2014 0 comment

Renewable Energy

High Net-Worth Individuals Getting in on the Solar PPA Game

written by Walter Wang

Investment in solar projects in the United States has largely been the purview of large financial institutions with the tax appetite to utilize the investment tax credit, thus favoring larger solar projects. Now, with innovative financing structures, high net-worth individuals can get in on the game and unrated credit customers with smaller solar projects can save money on future energy costs. A win-win. This week, Conergy a leading global solar photovoltaic downstream company, along with its owner, Kawa Capital Management, Inc. (Kawa) has closed one of the first leveraged tax equity partnership structures with individual investors who could utilize the investment tax credits.

The first project to utilize this innovative financing structure happens to also be Palo Alto’s second largest solar roof system. The system, installed at the Oshman Family JCC (OFJCC) in a partnership with THiNKnrg is a 397.5 kW system. Encompassing 1,840 solar panels spread across the rooftops of 12 buildings, the project is expected to save $26,000 in the first year and an estimated $1.5 million in energy savings over the 20 year PPA. The solar energy system will supply approximately 20 percent of the OFJCC’s energy needs. In addition to its financial savings, the OFJCC will reduce its carbon footprint by more than 3,000 tons of CO2 during the 20-year lease, which is the equivalent to planting 68 acres trees.

According to Anthony Fotopoulos, CEO, Conergy Americas, “Combining individual investor appetite for investment tax credits alongside debt from specialized financial institutions like Kawa in this new structure allows Conergy to uniquely finance projects that previously were too small for typical tax equity investors, or didn’t fit usual tax equity requirements. Solar projects that were previously considered un-financeable, can now be financed.” Fotopoulos further noted, “There’s no reason any building or land should be prevented from having solar on it should they want it.”

02/26/2014 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Article Distinguishes Green “Tech” IP and Green “Non-Tech” IP

written by Walter Wang

A recent article written by Jonathan M.W.W. Chu and published in the Washington and Lee Journal of Energy, Climate, and the Environment takes another look at the role of intellectual property in green technology innovation.

Entitled “Developing and Diffusing Green Technologies: The Impact of Intellectual Property

11/15/2013 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Solar Heats Up in the Southeast

written by Walter Wang

Despite strong sun and plenty of public support for the idea of energy self-reliance, the American southeast has not traditionally been a hot spot of solar adoption. That looks to be changing. With solar’s low cost now making it a real competitor with traditional fossil power, local citizens are increasingly calling on state leaders to put more of their homegrown sunshine to

10/28/2013 1 comment

Energy Efficiency

Court Orders Lighting Co. to Pay $21 Million for Consumer Redress

written by Walter Wang

A previous post discussed a recent court decision giving the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) a big win and holding that Lights of America (LOA) violated Section 5 of the FTC Act by making false claims about LED lamps replacing certain wattage incandescent lamps and about the lifetime of the company’s LED lamps.

10/14/2013 0 comment

Renewable Energy

Ikea to Sell Home Solar Panels in All British Stores Within a Year

written by Yale Environment 360

The Swedish furniture retailer Ikea will begin selling residential solar panels in its 17 UK stores within the next 10 months. The basic package’s $9,500 price tag will include 18 panels, installation, design consultation, energy monitoring, and maintenance.

With energy savings and current green energy

10/01/2013 0 comment

Energy Efficiency Renewable Energy

St. Paul Port Authority Can Now Issue Bonds to Finance PACE Projects

written by Walter Wang

A little-known statewide program to promote energy efficiency in large commercial and industrial buildings will be funded with $10 million in revenue bonds through the St. Paul Port Authority, a leader in energy savings programs.

The St. Paul City Council on Wednesday gave the

08/23/2013 0 comment

Energy Efficiency Green Building

New Technology Makes “Smart Windows” Even Smarter

written by Walter Wang

“Smart windows”, made out of “smart glass” allow users to control the amount of light let in and ultimately save costs for heating, air-conditioning, and lighting.

Improving on this technology, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National

08/15/2013 1 comment

Renewable Energy

Demand Response Programs Saved Crucial Electricity During Heat Wave

written by Yale Environment 360

As electricity producers struggled to supply power during last week’s heat wave along the U.S. East Coast, so-called “demand response” programs — which enable power companies to remotely reduce power usage in participating businesses and homes — were vital in avoiding blackouts, utility officials said.

07/23/2013 0 comment

Energy Efficiency

Energy Costs: How Come Granny is Still in Her Chair?

written by Elisa Wood

Granny was thrown out of her wheelchair and off a cliff in one of the most controversial ads of the 2012 US presidential election. Whether you love or hate the clip, which went after Republicans on Medicare, it shows the emotional tenor we bring to the debate over health care costs.

06/17/2013 1 comment

Energy Efficiency

Food and Sleep for Energy Auditors?

written by Elisa Wood

The US faces a bit of a math problem when it comes to making its buildings more energy efficient. If every energy auditor worked around the clock, it would take 22 years to analyze all buildings.

And of course the audit is only step one.

“At that point we wouldn’t have saved a single

06/12/2013 0 comment

Energy Efficiency Green Building

Green Enough for New York City?

written by Walter Wang

When New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg leaves office in January, green building advocates lose a strong ally. But they are determined to make sure his shoes are filled to their liking.

To that end, a coalition of environmental and real estate interests are asking candidates to endorse

06/04/2013 0 comment

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