Energy Efficiency
Less energy, same service
A Watt Saved is a Watt Earned
• “There’s no cheaper, cleaner power than the power
that you don’t have to produce” –Gary Zarker
End Use/ Least-Cost Thinking
• Most people don’t demand kilowatt-hours
of electricity or barrels of oil, but rather the
end-use services they provide—lighting,
air-conditioning, mobility…
• Traditionally, electric companies have been
in the business of supplying electrons from
giant, centralized systems to gain
economies of scale.
• Many have realized that it is more profitable
to help their customers save electricity than
to sell them more of it (thus losing
economies of scale).
Energy Policy Act of 2003
• Requires a 20% reduction in federal building
energy use by 2013.
• Adds funding for energy efficient programs for
public buildings.
• Increases fuel efficiency standards for federal
vehicles.
• Authorizes $3.4B for each fiscal year through
2006 for the Low Income Housing Assistance
Program.
• Expands the energy star program.
• Establishes new efficiency standards for
commercial and consumer products.
Tunneling Through The Cost
Barrier
• By the time the design for most human
artifacts is completed but before they have
actually been built, about 80-90 percent of
their lifecycle costs have already been
committed.1
Effective Designs Are Not
Optimized in a Vacuum
• Designs in nature are optimized in
coevolution with the ecosystem.
• For the same reason, an engineer cannot
design an optimal fan except as a part of an
optimal cooling system which in turn is a
function of the building it is in (optimally
designed considering the neighborhood,
culture, climate…)
Start Downstream to Turn
Compounding Losses into
Savings.
• Manufacturing carpet requires melting bitumen by
means of a hot oil pumping loop.
• Engineers optimize pipe size in isolation by
comparing the extra cost of a fatter pipe with the
energy it can save through less pumping.
• Redesigning this pumping loop cut Interface’s
power requirements from 70.8 to 5.3 kW
(substituting 7 for 95 horsepower pump: a 92%
energy reduction), cost less to build, and worked
better in every way.
Principles applied to gain the
efficiency
• Big Pipes (fat, short and straight), small
pumps (not the other way around)
• Lay the pipes first, then the equipment (not
the other way around)
Benefits
Counted
•92% less pumping
energy
•Lower capital costs
•70kW less heat loss
from pipes
Not counted
•Less space, weight,
noise
•Easier maintenance
•Longer equipment life
Why This Matters
• Motors use 3/5 of the world’s electricity.
• Pumping is the biggest use of motors.
• Most of the motor’s energy is spent fighting
friction.
• Saving one unit of friction in the pipe saves
10 units of fuel at the power plant.
• Almost every energy-using system has been
mis-designed in the same way.2
Tunneling Through The Cost
Barrier, Revisited
$
MC
Cost
barrier
MB
Cummulative
Energy savings
Energy loss or
Energy Saving?
Energy loss or Potential Saving?
• Typical industrial pumping system contains so
many compounding losses that about 100 energy
units of fossil fuel will deliver only ten energy
units of flow out of the pipe.
-OR• Saving one unit of energy furthest downstream
(reducing friction in the pipes) avoids enough
compounding losses to save ten units of fuel, cost,
and pollution back at the power plant.
Downstream First
• This compounding effect enables each
successive component, as you go back
upstream, to become smaller, simpler and
cheaper.
• Downstream savings merit the greatest
emphasis because they reduce both energy
and capital costs.
Do things in the Right Order
…so as to maximize their favorable
interactions.
• E.g. Retrofitting lighting and AC
– Do lights first
– Require a smaller AC
New Construction
• Government Use
• The federal government is the single largest
user of energy.
• Energy costs can be up to ten percent of the
government’s operating budget
• State and local governments spend up to 11
billion dollars annually on fixed-site energy
costs
• Office Buildings and Retail
• Retail and office buildings account for thirty-five
percent of energy use and sixty percent of annual
electricity use
• Thirty-seven percent of total energy costs in retail
buildings is lighting
• Office equipment make up sixteen percent of the
total energy used by an office building
Building to Increase Energy
Efficiency
• Instead of viewing a potential new building
as a collection of parts, using wholebuilding design is the best way to achieve
maximum energy efficiency.
Materials to Achieve Energy
Efficiency
• HVAC—Natural gaspowered absorption
chillers/heaters;
radiant floor heating;
passive solar heating
• Daylighting
• Biodegradable
materials, sustainably
harvested wood, low
water use equipment
• Window Glazing,
compact fluorescent
lighting
• Building-integrated
photovoltaic panels
• Fuel Cells
• Insulation
Costs
• Most estimates in building a “green” building is
five to ten percent more than a regular building
• The Cambria Office building in Pennsylvania cost
an estimated $93 per square foot.
• Additional costs to the Lockheed Building 157
was $2 million.
• The ING Bank put its “green” costs at $700,000.
Benefits
• In general, a 40-50% reduction in energy costs can
be expected.
• Lockheed Building 157 experienced annual
savings of $500,000.
• ING Bank yielded savings of $2.6 million in the
first year.
• In addition, both companies reported absenteeism
down by 15%
• In some cases, retail stores have reported up to a
25% increase in sales in daylit portions of stores.
• By optimizing a building’s standard
components such as the site, windows,
walls, floors, and mechanical and electrical
systems, one can substantially reduce
energy use and costs without a drastic
increase in construction costs
Energy Efficient Solutions
– can reduce the energy bill for many homeowners
and businesses by 20 to 30 percent.
eesi@eesi.org
http://www.eesi.org/publications/Fact%20Sheets/EEREB
udget2004.htm
Purchase Annual Bill
Energy Efficiency Upgrade
Fluorescent Lamps & Fixtures
Duct sealing
ENERGY STAR® Clothes washer
ENERGY STAR® Programmable
Thermostat
Water Heater Tank Wrap (R-12)
ENERGY STAR® Refrigerator
ENERGY STAR® Heat Pump
ENERGY STAR® Dishwasher
Air sealing to 0.5 air changes per
hour
Increase wall and attic insulation
Total
Simple
Rate of
Payback (yrs) Return
2.5
41%
2.6
41%
2.9
37%
3.7
30%
Price1
$200
$250
$194
$107
Savings2
$80
$95
$66
$29
$85
$97
$692
$29
$522
$23
$23
$126
$5
$38
3.7
4.2
5.5
5.5
13.7
28%
27%
19%
18%
9%
$1,784
$3,960
$111
$597
16.1
6.6
8%
16%
Energy Efficiency
• The largest energy savings to date have been
accomplished by energy efficiency standards and
by targeted incentives for products currently
available in the marketplace.
• For example, appliance efficiency standards
adopted to date will cut U.S. electric peak demand
in 2020 by 120,000 MW, or over 12%, while
saving some $200 billion
Energy Efficiency
• Applies to everything from the building envelope, which
includes energy efficient windows, insulation,
foundation, and the roof, to appliances, lights, and airconditioning systems.
• It also applies to space heating and cooling systems,
which are aided through the use of automated controls,
ventilation, improved duct systems, and other advanced
technologies.
• Energy efficiency can also apply to water heating when
combined with water-efficient appliances and fixtures
that will save water, energy, and money.
http://www.nrel.gov/buildings/pv/h_energy_solar.html
Thermal Envelope
• A house's thermal envelope includes its
roof, walls, floors, windows and doors; in
other words, every item that separates the
inside from the outside.
Insulation
• Insulation is measured in terms of its resistance to heat loss or
"R-value." Twice the R-value means half the heat loss, so higher
R-values are generally desirable.
• Never compress insulation as this reduces the air spaces that
keep the warmth in.
• Walls and Floors: In addition to your attic, insulating
under the floor, around hot water pipes and heating
ducts, and in crawl spaces will make a big difference
in your energy bills.
• Patch cracks and insulate in heated basements.
• If unheated: seal spaces around heating vents and
other openings to the heated part of the house (but
be careful not to block vents that allow moisture to
escape!).
• Before you remove old insulation, check to make sure it's not
asbestos.
Leaks and Drafts
• The potential energy savings draft reduction may
range from 5% to 30% per year, and the home is
generally much more comfortable afterwards.
• Just the gaps around windows and doors in an
average American house are the equivalent of a 3
foot by 3 foot hole in the wall!
Attics
• Start by making sure your attic is well insulated. This
step alone can save 20-35% in heating costs and up
to 35% on air-conditioning costs.
• Seal holes with caulk or compressed fiberglass
insulation.
• Adding roof vents (otherwise your attic will trap hot
air in the summer).
• Weather-strip or caulk around doors and windows.
Seal leaks
• Around electric switches and outlets. And choose vinyl or
wood frames instead of aluminum framing.
• Stop air from escaping under outside doors with easy-toinstall "sweeps" or "shoes.“
• Seal gaps around loose window panes with window
putty.
• Weatherization reduces an average home's
energy costs by $218 a year. For every dollar spent, weatherization
returns $1.40 in energy savings over the life of the measures.
Curtains and Drapes
• An effective way to shield out the sun during
the summer, especially if they are lined with a
white backing.
For keeping warm during the winter months,
consider installing storm windows or new doublepane windows.
U-level
• The National Fenestration Rating Council
(NFRC) label. It should be 0.35 or lower.
• Choose high-efficiency options: such as
windows with low-e coatings or argon filling.
• These can greatly reduce the tremendous
amount of heat that escapes through typical
single-pane windows.
Cool Savings: The Super-Efficient
Refrigerator
• Refrigerators commonly account for as much as 20%
of household electricity use.
• A coalition of electric utilities and environmental
organizations recently challenged American
manufacturers to design a super efficient refrigerator
that minimized the use of ozone-depleting CFCs.
They succeeded. That means if you're in the market
for a new refrigerator in the next few years, you may
be able to choose one that uses as much as 30%
less energy than competing models and contains
90% fewer ozone depleting materials.
A Bright Idea: The Compact
Fluorescent
• Fit in most household fixtures and give off the
same warm, steady light as incandescents, but
use only a quarter of the energy!
• Compact fluorescents are initially more
expensive, but each bulb lasts 10X as long as
incandescent, and saves as much as $30 - $40
in energy costs over its life.
•
Energy for lighting accounts for about 10% of your electric bill
Shop for Efficiency
• One of the best ways you can help change
the way America uses energy is by being an
energy-smart consumer.
• When it's time to retire an old appliance, you
can typically replace it with a new model that
uses only half the energy.
• Even though high efficiency models may cost
extra, most will more than make up the
difference in energy savings over their
lifetime.
Appliances
• If you live in a typical U.S. home, your appliances are
responsible for about 20% of your energy bills.
Refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, dryers,
dishwashers, and ranges and ovens are the primary energyusing appliances in most households (hot water heaters are
discussed in the Water Heating section). Taking steps to
save energy while using these appliances, and replacing
old inefficient appliances with modern ones, can save you
money.
Look for energy-saving features.
• Labels on most major household appliances tell you how
the energy costs for a particular model compare to those
for similar models.
• Air conditioners - An "EER" rating of 12 is good, 14 or
more is excellent. Consider your specific needs:
appropriate size and model of appliance, oversized air
conditioner or water heater = wasting energy and money.
• An air-dry setting can cut the energy use of a dishwasher
by 40%
• Clothes washers w/ adjustable water levels & dryers with
moisture sensors & cool-down cycles also save energy.
ENERGY STAR
• A government-backed program
• Protect the environment through
superior energy efficiency.
• Last year alone, Americans, with the
help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough
energy to power 20 million homes and
avoid greenhouse gas emissions
equivalent to those from 18 million cars
- all while saving $9 billion.
Energy Star new homes are designed to save 30% of
HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and hot
water. These two end uses typically make up around
60% of the total bill, so the Energy Star new home will
save about 20% of the total bill. These homes have no
restrictions, or rules about the appliances and gadgets
that the owners can bring in, so there are no savings in
these areas.
Energy Star new homes are designed to save 30% of
HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) and hot
water. These two end uses typically make up around
60% of the total bill, so the Energy Star new home will
save about 20% of the total bill. These homes have no
restrictions, or rules about the appliances and gadgets
that the owners can bring in, so there are no savings in
these areas.
If you were to retrofit an existing home with the
equivalent measures used in an Energy Star new home
by making HVAC and hot water improvements and
bringing in efficient appliances, you conceivably could
realize greater savings than an Energy Star New Home,
depending on the quality of your retrofit job.
Retrofits on existing housing are generally more
expensive than incorporating the same efficiency
measure into the construction of a new home, and they
may not work as well, depending on the quality of work.
Visit our Home Energy Advisor to see the potential
savings from retrofiting your house...
http://hes.lbl.gov/hes/answerdesk_dat.html
Energy Efficient Choices
• Can save families about a third on their energy bill
with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions,
without sacrificing features, style or comfort.
• If looking for new household products, look for
ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR. They
meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the
EPA and US Department of Energy.
The typical household spends $1,400 a year on
energy bills. With ENERGY STAR, you can save
up to 30% or more than $400 per year.
Small Things = Big Savings
•
•
•
•
Switch off unused lights
choose the right appliance for the job
clean the lint filter in your dryer after every use.
Keep heating and air conditioning systems properly maintained
and tuned. This includes changing air filters and keeping air
conditioner coils clean and straight.
• programmable thermostats can reduce the energy used for air conditioning or heating by 5 to 30%. I
• install low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators,
• wash full loads in your dishwasher and use short cycles for all
but the dirtiest dishes
(3) Wrap your water heater in a water heater blanket,
especially if it's located in an unheated part of the
house. Also insulate hot water pipes leaving the heater.
Set the temperature at 120 degrees for normal use; for
dishwashers without temperature boosters, set the
water heater at 140 degrees. (4) Save water and the
energy needed to heat water.
(c ) set the appropriate water level for different size
loads in your clothes washer, wash in cold water when
practical, and always rinse in cold. (5) Set the
temperature of your refrigerator at 38 to 42 degrees
Fahrenheit; your freezer should be set at 0-5 degrees
Fahrenheit. Use the power-saver switch if your
refrigerator has one and make sure the door seals
tightly.
http://www.nrdc.org/air/energy/ghome.as
When buying or replacing products or appliances
for your home, look for the EPA ENERGY STAR®
label — the national symbol for energy efficiency
Landscaping
Utility Incentives
• Rebates, grants, or other financial assistance are offered
by an energy utility for the design and purchase of
certain energy-efficient systems and equipment.
These financing mechanisms are not mutually exclusive,
i.e., an organization may use several of them in various
combinations. The most appropriate set of options will
depend on the type of organization (public or private),
size and complexity of a project, internal capital
constraints, in-house expertise, and other factors.
Market Incentives
• 1.5 cent/kw-hour tax credit. The federal government
and states have been active in developing market
incentives for renewable generation:
Production tax credits were created by the Energy
Policy Act of 1992. For every kilowatt-hour of electricity
produced from wind, closed-loop biomass, and poultry
waste, generators receive a 1.5 cent/kilowatt-hour tax
credit.
Renewable Portfolio Standards require a certain
percentage of a utility's electricity sales or generating
capacity to be produced from renewable resources. Each
state defines "qualifying renewables" to suit its
particular situation.
Public Benefits Funds
• are created through the collection of a minimal fee
per kWh of electricity purchased.
• The funds can be applied to green power research,
development, demonstration, and project
development in the state. These funds, are found
primarily in states that have restructured their
electric markets in order to assure continued
support of renewables, energy efficiency, and lowincome support programs.
Net-Metering Rules
• Allow electricity consumers to get credits or
deductions for excess electricity generated
on-site. In essence, electricity is allowed to
flow both to and from the electric grid.
Some states restrict eligibility to particular
customer classes.
Corporate tax incentives
• allow corporations to receive credits or deductions
ranging from 10 percent to 35 percent against the cost
of equipment or installation to promote renewable
energy equipment. In some cases, the incentive
decreases over time.
Property tax incentives
• typically follow one of three basic structures:
exemptions, exclusions, and credits. The majority
of the property tax provisions for renewable
energy follow a model that omits the added value
of the renewable device from the valuation of the
property for taxation purposes. Property taxes are
collected locally, so some states allow the local
authorities the option of providing a property tax
incentive for renewable energy devices.
Grant programs
• are offered in some states to encourage the
use and development of renewable energy
technologies. Most of these grant programs
offer support for a broad range of renewable
energy technologies, while some focus on
promoting a particular type of renewable
energy technology.
Rebate programs
• are offered at the state, local, and utility levels to
promote the installation of renewable energy
equipment. Most rebate programs are available from
state agencies and municipally owned utilities, and
support solar water heating and/or photovoltaic
systems. Eligible sectors usually include residents and
businesses, although some programs are available to
industry, institutions, and government agencies as well.
Rebates typically range from $150 to $4000. In some
cases, rebate programs are combined with low or nointerest loans.
Loan programs
• offer financing for the purchase of renewable
energy equipment. Utility loan programs for
renewables are offered primarily by municipally
owned utilities. State governments also offer loans
to assist in the purchase of renewable energy
equipment. A broad range of renewable energy
technologies is eligible. In many states, loans are
available to residential, commercial, industrial,
transportation, public, and nonprofit sectors.
Direct equipment sales
• are offered by a few utilities. The utilities sell
renewable energy equipment to their
customers as part of a buy-down, low-income
assistance, lease, or remote power program.
Mainstay Energy Rewards Program - Green Tag Purchase
Program Last DSIRE Review: 09/16/2003
Incentive Type: Production Incentive
Eligible Technologies: Solar Thermal Electric, Photovoltaics,
Wind, Biomass, Geothermal Electric, Small Hydroelectric,
Renewable Fuels
Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Residential
Amount: $1-$100 per MWh total production; Varies by
technology and contract length
Terms: Any size system, grid tied, new renewable (1/1/99 or
later)
Website: http://www.mainstayenergy.com/
Summary:
Mainstay Energy is a private company offering customers who
install, or have installed, renewable energy systems the
opportunity to sell the green tags (also known as renewable
energy credits, or RECs) associated with the energy generated by
these systems.
The GREEN TAG is a set of environmental benefits
resulting from not generating the same electricity from
fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas. The renewable
electricity offsets non-green power that would otherwise
have been generated and delivered to the power
grid. The green tag also represents the fact that the
renewable energy was generated with better emissions,
or pollution, characteristics, than normal electricity.
For example, 1,000 megawatt hours (MWh) generated
at an average US power plant will result in the release
of approximately 700 tons of CO2, 4 tons of sulfur
dioxide, 2 tons of nitrous oxides, and additional
amounts of carbon monoxide, mercury, and other
pollutants. All of these emissions are detrimental to the
air, water, climate of the earth. The same 1,000 MWh
from wind or solar generation produces no emissions.
Mainstay Energy has services for selling green tags from small and
medium scale renewable facilities, which help bring revenues back to the
owners of those installations. This encourages further development of
renewable installations and technologies. The electricity generated by the
renewable project is consumed onsite or sold (via net metering) separately
from the green tags. No environmental claims can be made for this power
because the green tag now represents the entire package of
environmental benefits associated with these specific megawatt
hours. For example, a renewable energy installation which has sold its
green tags may not claim to be "renewable powered". However, it could
use language describing itself as "hosting renewable energy."
These green tags will be brought to market as Green-e* certified
products. Through the Mainstay Energy Rewards Program, participating
customers receive regular, recurring payments.
The amount of the payments depends on the type of renewable energy
technology, the production of electricity by that system, and the length of
the contract period. Mainstay offers 3-, 5-, and 10-year purchase
contracts. The longer the contract period, the greater the incentive
payment on a $/kWh basis. Typical payments, which are made quarterly,
are as follows:
- Solar PV: 2¢/kWh - 5¢/kWh (estimated $50 - $250/year for residential
systems, $300 - $3000/year for commercial)
- Wind: 0.2¢/kWh - 1.5¢/kWh
- Biomass/biofuel electric: 0.1¢/kWh - $1¢/kWh
-
Geothermal/Low-impact hydro: 0.2¢/kWh - 1¢/kWh
There is a $100 Certification Fee to get started with Mainstay Rewards.
This fee does not need to be paid in cash; the fee may be paid with
future green tag sales. However, this fee is generally waived for
participants who opt for the 10-year contract.
The requirements are:
1. The system must be grid-connected, but does not need to be a net
"exporter" of electricity;
2. This incentive is available in addition to any net metering agreement
with the utility;
3. The system owner must still have title to the green tags, or renewable
energy credits. They cannot have been sold or transferred to any other
entity;
4. The system must be a new renewable, which in most states means
powered up on or after 1/1/1999 (Texas September 1999). This date is
different in some states, see the Mainstay Energy web site for
exceptions;
5. The system generation must be metered separately for any systems
over 10kW. For systems under 10kW, separate metering is not necessary.
Payments are made based on estimated production.
Mainstay Energy is the first company in the U.S. to purchase green tags
from small-scale renewable producers on a national scale. The Mainstay
Rewards Program currently has about 200 participants -- both
commercial and residential.
Contact: Hoyt Hudson
Mainstay Energy
161 E. Chicago Ave.
Suite 41B
Chicago, IL 60611-2624
Phone: (877) 473-3682
Fax: (312) 896-1515
E-Mail: hoyt.hudson@mainstayenergy.com
Web site: http://www.mainstayenergy.com/index.php
Solar and Wind-Powered Energy Systems Exemption Last DSIRE
Review: 07/17/2003
Incentive Type: Property Tax Exemption
Eligible Technologies: Solar Water Heat, Solar Space Heat, Solar
Thermal Electric, Solar Thermal Process Heat, Photovoltaics, Wind,
Biomass
Applicable Sectors: Residential
Amount: 100%
Max. Limit: None
Terms: N/A
Website: http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us/re_incentives.htm
Authority 1: Texas Statutes and Codes 1C@11.27
Date Enacted: 1981
Summary:
The Texas property tax exemption allows an exemption from taxation of
the amount of the appraised value of the property that arises from the
installation or construction of a solar or wind-powered energy device that
is primarily for the production and distribution of energy for on-site use.
Contact: Pam Groce
Comptroller of Public Accounts
State Energy Conservation Office
111 East 17th Street, Room 1114
Austin, TX 78774
Phone: (512) 463-1889
Fax: (512) 475-2569
E-Mail: pam.groce@cpa.state.tx.us
Web site: http://www.seco.cpa.state.tx.us
Net Metering Last DSIRE Review: 05/13/2003
Incentive Type: Net Metering Rules
Eligible Technologies: Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal
Electric, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy
Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Industrial, Residential
Limit on System Size: 50 kW
Limit on Overall Enrollment: None
Treatment of Net Excess: Purchase not to exceed avoided cost
Utilities Involved: Applies to all PTB REPs, TDUs, and integrated IOUs that have not unbundled
in accordance with Public Utility Regulatory Act § 39.051. Does not apply to municipal utilities,
river authorities, or electric coops.
Authority 1: PUC Substantive Rule § 25.242(h)(4)
Date Enacted: 9/23/85
Expiration Date: None
Summary:
Texas' net metering rule (i.e., Arrangements Between Qualifying Facilities and Electric Utilities §
25.242(h)(4)) was established by the Public Utility Commission of Texas to promote small wind
power and photovoltaic generation in the state. The order requires certain utilities to offer a net
metering option to qualified facilities of 50 kW or less that use renewable resources. The rule
applies to all Texas price-to-beat retail electric providers (PTB REPs), transmission & distribution
utilities (TDUs), and integrated investor-owned utilities that have not unbundled in accordance
with Public Utility Regulatory Act § 39.051. This rule does not apply to municipal utilities, river
authorities, or electric cooperatives. For customers of qualifying utilities, the utility must install a
single meter that can read electric flow in both directions. There is no statewide limit on the
number of customers or total capacity under the net metering program.
San Antonio City Public Service - Distributed Generation Program Last DSIRE Review:
05/05/2003
Incentive Type: Net Metering Rules
Eligible Technologies: Photovoltaics, Landfill Gas, Wind, Biomass, Hydroelectric, Geothermal
Electric, Tidal Energy, Wave Energy
Applicable Sectors: Commercial, Residential
Limit on System Size: 25 kW
Limit on Overall Enrollment: None
Treatment of Net Excess: 1.65 cents per kilowatt-hour (kwh) during non-summer months and
2.02 cents per kwh from June through September
Website: http://www.citypublicservice.com/
for_business/products/distributed_generation.asp
Authority 1: Rider E5 - Customer-Owned Distributed Generation Renewable Energy Service
Application
Effective Date: Spring 2002
Summary:
CPS' distributed generation rate allows customers who produce energy at their home or
business to receive credit for any excess electricity they put back into the CPS power
grid. To qualify, CPS electric customers must own and operate on-site DG facilities and
produce up to 25 kilowatts (kw) or 25 kilovolt amperes (kva) to be compensated for the
excess electricity they generate.
The electrical generation equipment must be powered by renewable energy sources:
- The sun (directly or indirectly)
- Moving water (waves, tides or hydroelectric facilities)
- Wind
- Geothermal sources
- Biomass and/or biomass-based waste products (including landfill gas)
If the customer uses more energy than their DG system produces,
the additional electricity consumed is billed at regular CPS rates.
Any excess energy produced in the month and put back into the
CPS grid earns credit based on seasonal avoided energy costs.
Electricity put back into the CPS grid earns credits of 1.65 cents
per kilowatt-hour (kwh) during non-summer months and 2.02
cents per kwh from June through September. The credit appears on
the following month's bill.
Customers are responsible for:
- The costs of interconnection with CPS and system protection facilities.
CPS must make sure energy flowing from DG customers' equipment is
compatible with the electric system.
- The costs of any additional equipment such as a distribution
transformer, service line and/or meter facilities required for the
interconnection with CPS.
Customers interested in taking advantage of the DG rate must fill out an
application. All customer equipment -- up to the service point -- will be
inspected by the City of San Antonio to ensure compliance with City of
San Antonio codes.
For more information, please visit the CPS Distributed Generation website
or call (210) 353-2815.
Contact: Karma Nilsson
City Public Service
7000 San Pedro
San Antonio, TX 78216-6208
Phone: (210) 353-2815
E-Mail: KLNilsson@cps-satx.com
Web site: http://www.citypublicservice.com
Rural Development grant funds could be used to pay up to 25 percent of
the eligible project costs. Applications for renewable energy systems
were allowed for a minimum grant request of $10,000, but no more than
$500,000. Applications for energy efficiency improvements were allowed
for a minimum grant request of $10,000, but no more than $250,000.
Eligible projects included those that derive energy from a wind, solar,
biomass, or geothermal source, or hydrogen derived from biomass or
water using wind, solar, or geothermal energy sources.
Contact: Information Specialist - RBS
United States Department of Agriculture
Rural Business-Cooperative Service
USDA/RBS, Room 5045-S, Mail Stop 3201
1400 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20250-3201
Phone: (202) 690-4730
Fax: (202) 690-4737
E-Mail: webmaster@rurdev.usda.gov
Web site: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs
April 01, 2004
DOE Awards $128.2 Million to Weatherize Homes in 30 States and
the Navajo Nation
Secretary of Energy Spencer Abraham announced on April 1st the award
of $128.2 million to 30 states, plus the Navajo Nation, to improve the
energy efficiency of the homes of low-income families. Such families
spend an average of 14 percent of their income on energy, compared
with 3.5 percent for the average U.S. family.
The program is delivered through the states and 970 local agencies, and
gives priority to low-income households with elderly members, people
with disabilities, and children. The funding for DOE's Weatherization
Assistance Program in fiscal year 2004 is $227 million, which is expected
to cover the weatherization of about 94,450 homes. President Bush has
requested $291.2 million for the program in fiscal year 2005. See the
Weatherization Assistance Program Web site.
http://www.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=6779
Austin Energy green power sales #1 in the country; price is also lowest in
U.S.
Austin Energy sold more than 289 million kilowatt-hours of
renewable energy last year, significantly more than second place Portland
General Electric with 188.6 million kWh and more than twice that of third
ranked Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) which had 143.1
million kWh in green power sales.
Last year, the Austin Independent School District became the largest
subscriber of renewable energy by a school district in the nation and the
largest subscriber to Austin Energy's GreenChoice program subscribing
for 45 million kWh of green power annually. Also last year, Concordia
University in Austin became the first college in the nation to subscribe to
100% of its annual electricity needs from green power.
Current subscriptions to GreenChoice total almost 370-million kWh with
287 businesses and 7,200 residential customers participating. Forty-one
Austin companies subscribe to 1 million kWh or more of green power and
257 companies subscribe to green power for 100% of their power needs.
In fact, Austin Energy has more companies that qualify for a U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency green power recognition program than
are currently enrolled in the program nationwide.
Austin Energy was also one of the first utilities in the nation to provide a
fixed cost component in its green power program as a hedge against the
rising fossil fuels costs. GreenChoice subscribers see the fuel charge on
their utility bill replaced by a GreenChoice charge that stays fixed for the
10-year life of our green power contracts. Last year, the Austin City
Council approved the purchase of an additional 93 megawatts of windgenerated electricity, almost doubling Austin Energy's existing 101 MW of
renewable energy.
http://www.treia.org/news.php?anchorat=100#gohere
With the success thus far of the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard
(RPS) requiring the installation of 2,000 megawatts of new renewable
energy capacity by 2009, Texas has shown how a well crafted statewide
policy can get results. While our construction of over 1,000 of those
megawatts of capacity by the end of 2003 is impressive, as a percentage
of overall statewide electric demand (over 60,000 MW at peak), we’ve
barely scratched the surface. And several other states have now made
percentage commitments that significantly exceed our modest 3%
beginning.
The time has come to expand our energy base. During this time of
celebrating Texas independence, let us resolve as Texans to encourage
our leaders to commit to the expansion of our Renewable Portfolio
Standard to no less than 10% at the earliest possible date. TREIA’s
analysis shows that achieving 20% renewables by 2020 is eminently
doable, and for the health of our state – highly desirable.
The Rocky Mountain Institute
http://www.rmi.org
Natural Capitalism
http://www.natcap.org/
Department of Energy
http://www.eere.energy.gov/
Sustainable Buildings Industry Council
http://www.sbicouncil.org/