In this issue

Web site of the month:
CEC Consumer Energy Center

The California Energy Commission promotes wise energy use and renewable energy resources. The CEC's Consumer Energy Center is a useful reference for energy decision-makers in other states. (Photo by California Energy Commission)

One of the mandated duties of the California Energy Commission is to promote energy efficiency and energy conservation programs and regulations; and to develop renewable energy resources and alternative energy technologies. In carrying out that duty, the CEC created a valuable online resource available to consumers everywhere.

The Consumer Energy Center went online in 1995 to offer the public a one-stop Internet site for the latest information about energy resources and how to use them wisely. Most of the information covered on the site can be found elsewhere, but it is logically organized, and clear navigation makes it easy for visitors to quickly find what they need. Concepts are explained in the kind of plain language used by the best customer service representatives.

Good advice knows no borders

While information about state programs and incentives applies only to residents of the Golden State, visitors will find plenty of useful content under the sections for home, work, school, renewable energy, transportation and consumer tips. Choices at Homes is a great resource for answering consumers' questions about all types of home energy use.

California has its own efficiency standards for appliances, and energy prices differ throughout the country, so cost savings may not apply elsewhere. However, equipment comparisons and tips for buying smart and operating appliances efficiently will. The information found in the sections on heating and cooling, construction, lighting, windows and insulation compare options for each application and provide additional links.

More than half of California's estimated 13 million buildings were built before the state established its first energy efficiency standards in 1978, so the tips for saving energy at work will work for your customers, too.

Energy Choices at Work presents ideas that can help key accounts manage energy costs and improve comfort. Enhanced Automation offers a persuasive argument for businesses to invest in energy monitoring equipment. Visitors will find a comparison of technology options and an extensive list of case studies on automation projects. Other pages give an overview of green building and high-performance building and general energy-saving tips.

The work and school sections both tout the advantages of cool roofs, light-colored, low-emissivity roofing material that can provide energy savings in any hot climate. Cool roofs reduce the roof surface temperature by up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, thereby reducing the heat transferred into the building below.

Most of the pages under schools and renewable energy deal with California programs. However, a comprehensive and easy-to-understand guide to biomass, fuel cells, geothermal, hydroelectric, solar cells, solar thermal and wind power can be found at under Renewable Energy Basics. Transportation Choices offers a similar overview of alternative transportation options.

Different kinds of energy tips

The Consumer Energy Center offers one unique feature rarely seen on other energy information sites: Energy Myths. Utility professionals and consumers alike may discover some commonly-held beliefs about energy use are actually fallacies. The page also carries links to Department of Energy fact sheets on wind and solar, and to Urban Legends. This Web site debunks those rumors that seem to constantly be circulating around the water cooler and the Internet.

One of the best pages on the site—and one every business should urge its employees to visit—is The Biggest Waste - Speeding! Driving is an unavoidable fact of life, in California and throughout the West, but speeding is not. Especially in a business that involves lots of field calls, it never hurts to remind employees about the wages of speeding. Beyond its obvious dangers, speeding also has a surprising impact on fuel economy. The Department of Energy estimates that each 5 mph over 60 mph adds about $0.21 to the cost of a gallon of gas (at $3.00 per gallon). Imagine how much a business could save in operating costs if each field employee simply obeyed the speed limit.

Western has many customers in California, so it is worth mentioning the Energy Code Online Training, a resource for builders that must comply with the state's Title 24 requirements. Outside the state, the videos could provide a useful reference to municipalities developing new building codes and to builders interested in energy-efficient construction techniques.