News

Headlines

• Geothermal Workshops to focus on technologies
• "Operation Change Out" Spurs Efficient Lighting at Military Bases
• UC Davis extension offers energy resource management certificate
• Green building course to be held at eco-resort
• SEPA report offers ways utilities can help simplify solar
• Western governors' recommendations to spur energy-efficient building 
• Green power financial opportunities available on EERE Web site

Geothermal workshops to focus on technologies

Western and the U.S. DOE GeoPowering the West initiative are conducting two geothermal technology workshops. They are patterned after three successful events held in Bismarck, N.D.; Redwood Falls, Minn.; and Sioux Falls, S.D.; which focused on geothermal heat pumps.  These two workshops include information on geothermal power and other power resource options to help utilities plan their resource portfolios.

The workshops are sponsored by American Public Power Association, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association and the Utility Geothermal Working Group.  The workshops’ major supporters include the Colorado Governor’s Energy Office, Snohomish Public Utility District and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association.  They will be held June 10-11 at Tri-State G&T’s office in Westminster, Colo., and August 11-12 at SNOPUD’s offices in Everett, Wash.

The workshop agenda is tailored to utility professionals who are interested in learning about geothermal technologies—including heat pumps and geothermal power production—who want to compare resource options and who want to improve on existing programs.

Registration fees are $90 for one day or $130 for two days.  Reduced rates are available for members or customers of sponsoring organizations.  The fee covers workshop materials, meals and refreshments.  Continuing education credits are available.  There are also a limited number of display tables available.  For more information, contact Guy Nelson 541-994-4670.

"Operation Change Out" Spurs Efficient Lighting at Military Bases

 In honor of Earth Day, DOE and the U.S. Department of Defense launched a new Energy Star campaign called "Operation Change Out," which will challenge military bases across the country to install Energy Star-qualified compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) in their on-base housing.

There are more than 200 military facilities located across the United States, and changing one incandescent light bulb to a CFL in every on-base housing unit could prevent the emissions of more than 95 million pounds of carbon dioxide and would cut nearly $7 million in energy costs over the lifetime of the bulbs. See the DOE press release. 

UC Davis extension offers energy resource management certificate

Businesses have discovered that sustainable energy management can lead to cost savings, and a new, online certificate program developed by the University of California, Davis, Extension is training professionals to implement those strategies.

The Certificate Program in Energy Resource Management is for professional engineers, construction planners and designers, facility or plant managers, energy analysts, architects, agency managers and others who wish to expand their expertise in this critical area. The curriculum addresses the entire range of issues involved in understanding and managing energy in any industry, from heavy to light energy users. Because the course is online, busy professionals can learn at their own pace and schedule.

To enroll or find out more information, contact UC Davis Extension, toll free, at 800-752-0881.

Green building course to be held at eco-resort

 Colorado State University's Institute for the Built Environment will teach its sustainable building course May 21-31 at the award-winning eco-tourist resort of Maho Bay on St. John, US Virgin Islands. Students and professionals in interior design, construction management, landscape architecture, architecture, engineering and related disciplines will benefit from this introduction to "green" building technologies and methods.

The course will focus on the major components of sustainable design and construction, energy, healthy buildings, natural resources and other environmental issues. Program participants will gain knowledge about best sustainable practices through experiential learning at an internationally-acclaimed eco-tourism demonstration site. For more information, contact Shannon Carlson.

SEPA report offers ways utilities can help simplify solar

A recently-released industry report, Residential Photovoltaic Metering & Interconnection Study: Utility Perspectives and Practices, establishes a baseline of utility practices related to residential grid-connected solar photovoltaics.

Solar Electric Power Association based the report on a national survey of the electric utility industry’s current practices related to grid-connected photovoltaic installations. Interstate Renewable Energy Council collaborated with SEPA on developing and conducting the survey of 63 U.S. utilities representing a cross-section of utility types and geographic diversity.

The report is a proactive look at lessons learned with a the aim of developing best practices to help make solar more practical and profitable in today’s shifting energy landscape. Streamlining the processes for distributed hookups will save consumers and utilities time and resources, according to the study.

Western governors' recommendations to spur energy-efficient building

 The Western Governors' Association has issued recommended policies and best practices for energy-efficient building that could dramatically reduce the demand for energy and water while providing a boost to the region's economy.

The recommendations included in the WGA report, Building an Energy-Efficient Future, were developed by stakeholders participating in a workshop last year. Participants included representatives of building industries, utilities, public interest groups, all levels of government and energy service companies.

The comprehensive set of recommendations could help the region achieve a 30-percent improvement over current International Energy Conservation Codes. Experts in the field advised the governors that implementing "best practices" over the next 15 years could reduce the need to build new powerplants in the West by 48,000 megawatts, save 1.8 trillion gallons of water and create a net regional economic gain of $53 billion. 

Green power financial opportunities available on EERE Web site

The U.S. DOE EERE Green Power Network now posts solicitations for renewable energy generation, renewable energy certificates and green power on its Web site. Visitors can also sign up to receive e-mail updates about new green power RFPs. The RFPs and solicitations are from private organizations and are not endorsed by the Green Power Network.

E-mail your announcements to the Energy Services Web master. 

Go to Energy Services Bulletin.