• New guide is primer on pumping system efficiency
  
• Biodiesel fueling stations spread through Colorado
  
• ACORE publishes renewable energy finance directory
  
• Riverside Public Utilities programs win PR awards
  
• Bacon Elementary wins Wirth Chair environmental award
  
  
  

New guide is primer on pumping system efficiency

Since pumping systems account for nearly 20 percent of the world's energy used by electric motors, they offer tremendous opportunities for energy savings. Users can realize those savings with Variable Speed Pumping: A Guide to Successful Applications, now available through the U.S. DOE Industrial Technologies Program.

Produced in collaboration with the Hydraulic Institute and Europump, the guide targets plant owners and designers as well as pump, motor and drive manufacturers and distributors. The material addresses both new and retrofit installations.

Various types of pumps and variable speed and variable frequency drives for multiple applications are outlined in the 150-plus page guide. System and performance curves, control principles, selection process, financial justification, tables, illustrations, color photographs, case studies and flow charts have been included to help clarify the appropriate specification methodology.

The cost for Variable Speed Pumping: A Guide To Successful Applications is $95. A free copy of a 16-page Executive Summary of the Variable Speed Pumping Guide can be downloaded at the Office of Industrial Technologies Web site.

Biodiesel fueling stations spread through Colorado

Denver (Colorado) Mayor John Hickenlooper and Blue Sun Biodiesel announced the opening of 10 new Colorado B20 (20 percent biodiesel-80 percent diesel) biodiesel stations in May.

The simultaneous grand openings were marked with a celebration at Offen Petroleum, Denver's first biodiesel fueling station and the largest biodiesel-exclusive station in the country, according to the promoters. Hickenlooper, who presided over the ceremony, explained that biodiesel has the potential to improve Denver's air quality while creating new jobs and income for Colorado's rural communities. "We get both benefits from a single effort," said the mayor.

The city and county of Denver launched an eight-month pilot program in April, to run 60 public work trucks running on B20 biodiesel fuel. The program will evaluate biodiesel's effects on vehicle performance, fuel economy and emissions for consideration as a long-term option for Denver's municipal fleet.

With the opening of the new stations, diesel vehicles will be able to fill up with cleaner burning fuel at 13 retail locations: Offen Petroleum in Denver, Bartkus Oil and a RTD fueling site in Boulder, Shoco Oil in Commerce City, Heartland Town and Country in Fort Morgan, Acorn Petroleum in Pueblo, Acorn Petroleum in Colorado Springs, Ampride 1 in Sterling, Brennen Oil in Durango, Catherine store in Carbondale, Cox Oil Company in Greeley, LaSalle Oil in LaSalle and Poudre Valley Co-op in Fort Collins.

ACORE publishes renewable energy finance directory

The American Council on Renewable Energy released a draft of its soon-to-be-published North American Renewable Energy Finance Directory at its June 23 finance conference in New York.

The directory is designed to assist project developers and entrepreneurs seeking capital and investors looking for financing vehicles. It will contain information on sources of finance for renewable energy and energy efficiency in the United States. Information for each funding source includes program terms, sectors served and contact information. Project debt, project equity, mezzanine financing and venture capital are among other topics covered in depth. In addition, the matrix includes Federal agencies, state and local agencies and foundations.

Michael Eckhart, ACORE President, stated that the directory will fill a need in the renewable energy sector for a comprehensive listing of financing sources. He added that renewable energy is one of the economy's fastest growing sectors, pointing to more than $15 billion dollars of new projects in 2003 and a growth rate of more than 25 percent per year for the last five years.

ACORE is accepting additions at its Web site.

Riverside Public Utilities programs win PR awards

The California Inland Empire Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America recently honored the City of Riverside Public Utilities Department for several public information programs.

CIEC-PRSA's highest honor, the Polaris Award, went to RPU's Green Power and Tree Power campaigns. The Green Power campaign successfully developed customer awareness and support for the utility's increasing use of renewable wind, water, solar, landfill gas and geothermal energy resources.

RPU's Tree Power campaign encouraged Riverside residents and businesses to plant more than 20,000 shade trees that when mature could potentially reduce the need for electricity to cool homes by 1.5 million kilowatthours each year.

The utility's innovative use of the back of every customer's monthly utility bill to deliver key information about resource conservation programs, energy rebates, water and power upgrade projects, and community promotions received a Capella Award in the Special Communications category from CIEC-PRSA.

"We give a very high priority to effectively and frequently communicating with our customers about what we are doing and our plans for the future," RPU Deputy Director David Wright commented on the utility's promotion strategy. "To be recognized by the Inland Empire's top public relations professionals is an honor."

Bacon Elementary wins Wirth Chair environmental award

At a March awards luncheon, a group of Fort Collins, Colo., students were named Environmental Ambassadors of the Year by the Wirth Chair in Environmental and Community Development at the Graduate School of Public Affairs, at the University of Colorado, Denver. The annual awards honor group and individual contributions to advancing sustainable development strategies, policies and programs.

The students of Bacon Elementary participated in a class to learn about their new state-of-the-art, energy-efficient building and then gave tours to the public while explaining how a number of sustainable systems work. The students and staff received a plaque and a $2,000 scholarship.

Poudre School District is nationally recognized for the sustainable design guidelines used to design Bacon Elementary, which opened in August 2003. The guidelines aim to enhance student performance and attendance; teach principles of sustainable design; harmonize with the natural landscape; provide higher quality lighting; consume less energy; conserve materials and natural resources; and enhance indoor environmental quality.

Established in 1993, the Chair recognizes the honorable Timothy E. Wirth, former United States Senator from Colorado and current president of the United Nations Foundation.