| Energy Services Bulletin, December 2005 |
Energy shorts
More consumers want green power, says NREL A recent report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory stated that more electricity customers are demanding energy generated from renewable resources, driving more U.S. utilities to offer green power marketing programs. The number of residential customers in the country purchasing environmentally friendly power from suppliers has more than doubled in the past five years, according to Green Power Marketing in the U.S.: A Status Report, Eighth Edition. As of the end of 2004, more than 330,000 customers in the United States, including about 8,100 commercial and industrial customers, bought 1.8 billion kWh of green power. C&I customers drove the largest increase in market growth—30 percent in 2004—seeing renewables as a hedge against rising energy costs. Several government agencies, universities and private companies such as Johnson & Johnson Corp. and FedEx Kinko's, are among the top green power users in terms of annual MWh purchased. Many companies participate in the EPA Green Power Partnership program, which encourages companies to buy power from renewable resources. The report concluded that green power's strong market growth is providing an important stimulus for renewable energy development. More than 50 percent of the nation's electricity customers now have the option of buying green power, either directly from their utility or through renewable energy certificates. University of Colorado wins 2005 Solar Decathlon The Department of Energy named the University of Colorado as the overall winner of the 2005 Solar Decathlon on October 14 in Washington, D.C. The Colorado team earned 853 points of a possible 1,100, operating its house under cloudy skies throughout the week. The team took first place in the Documentation and Communication contests and drove the farthest in an electric car: 318.8 miles. Cornell University placed second with 826 points and won the Comfort Zone and Hot Water competitions. California Polytechnic State University finished third with 809 points after winning in both Appliances and Lighting. Despite taking an early lead by winning the Architecture and Dwelling contests, the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University ended up in fourth place with 784 points. The 2005 Solar Decathlon challenged 18 collegiate teams from 13 states, Puerto Rico, Canada and Spain to design, build and operate the most attractive and energy-efficient solar-powered home. Consumers, businesses get energy-saving tips from DOE The Department of Energy and the Alliance to Save Energy unveiled a series of radio public service announcements to provide consumers with easy tips to save energy and gasoline. English and Spanish versions of these PSAs are being distributed to nearly 4,500 radio stations across the country. The radio spots will complement DOE's ongoing Energy Hog campaign, carried out in partnership with ASE, the Ad Council, the Home Depot and the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association. DOE is set to move the Energy Hog campaign into the next phase with ads in newspapers and magazines, as well as on billboards all over the country. Top DOE leaders are also traveling the country to discuss how U.S. families can save money and energy this winter. Manufacturers, retailers and utilities can assist the DOE's education effort by reprinting and distributing the Energy $avers Guide. Industry and the Federal government are getting guidance as well. DOE is sending teams of energy efficiency experts to 200 of America's most energy-intensive factories and Federal facilities to help improve their efficiency by 10 percent. Through this effort, DOE hopes to create momentum to significantly improve industrial energy practices. With 100 representatives from states, Million Solar Roofs partnerships and industry groups looking on, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council announced the five winners of their 2005 Innovation Awards at the Oct. 8 annual meeting. This year's winners are:
In addition, IREC presented four Special Recognition Awards to Russel Smith from the Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association, Trudy Forsyth from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Kirk Laflin from the Partnership for Environmental Technology Education, and Mary Spruill from the National Energy Education Development Project. Queen Elizabeth to install earth energy system They're changing the HVAC system at Buckingham Palace. By installing a geothermal heat pump at her official residence, Queen Elizabeth is showing her green leadership and leading the trend among British celebrities to adopt sustainable technology. Officials say that the £50,000 cost of drilling a vertical borehole under a four-acre lake on the palace grounds, plus additional funds to convert the palace's existing heating system, should be recouped in seven years. The system will save public funds, as tax money pays for all the Queen's utility bills at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. The queen ordered a small trial in 2002 to use heat pumps in a new art gallery built to mark her golden jubilee. Sources say the results were so impressive that she decided to expand the green heat system to replace conventional space conditioning for the formal area of the palace. Others following the Queen's example include Sir Elton John, Sir Richard Branson of Virgin Airlines and Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen who is installing a borehole at a property he is renovating in Belgrave Square, close to Buckingham Palace. Plans are underway to install small hydro generators on the Thames River for Windsor Castle. Another hydro facility at Balmoral Castle in Scotland is expected to generate enough power for the residence and surplus electricity for 1,000 local homes.
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