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U.S. Lead in Mechanical Engineering Basic Research Challenged
Although the United States is among the world's leaders in mechanical engineering basic research, international competition is shrinking that lead, says a new report from the National Research Council. A decline in the number of U.S. citizens seeking advanced mechanical engineering degrees, and questions about whether the nation can continue to attract foreign students, also threaten American dominance in this field.
Mechanical engineering is critical to the design, manufacture, and operation of small and large mechanical systems throughout the U.S. economy. It is often called upon to provide scientific and technological solutions for national problems, playing a key role in the transportation, power generation, advanced manufacturing, and aviation industries, to mention a few.
Much like many other science and engineering disciplines, the field of mechanical engineer¬ing is facing issues of identity and purpose as it continues to expand beyond its traditional core into biology, materials science, and nanotechnology. Concerns about educating students, future employment opportunities, and the fundamental health of the discipline and industry are regular topics of discussion in the mechanical engineering community. Before addressing questions of how mechanical engineering must shift to meet future needs, it is imperative to understand its current health and international standing.
The National Research Council report Benchmarking the Competitiveness of the United States in Mechanical Engineering Basic Research highlights the main findings of a benchmarking exercise to rate the standing of U.S. mechanical engineering basic research relative to other regions or countries, key factors that influence U.S. performance in mechanical engineering research, and near- and longer-term projections of research leadership.
For a copy of the report see: http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=12055.
DOE Announces Solicitation for 2008 Solar America Cities
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the release of a funding opportunity that will create partnerships between DOE and a new round of Solar America Cities. The 2008 Solar America Cities program will fund up to twelve cities that demonstrate their commitment to building a sustainable solar infrastructure.
Subject to negotiation of final terms, DOE will provide up to $2.4 million in financial assistance to the competitively selected, cost-shared, two-year projects. Additionally, DOE will provide up to $3.0 million over two years in hands-on technical assistance from technical and policy experts to help cities integrate solar technologies into city energy planning, zoning, and facilities; to streamline city-level regulations and practices that affect solar adoption by residents and local businesses; and to promote solar technology through outreach, curriculum development, and incentive programs. Including cost share, the value of the awards is expected to be up top $7.8 million.
Solar America Cities have been identified as large cities with high electricity demand, and represent a diverse geography, population, and maturity of solar infrastructure. To be eligible for a Solar America Cities award, cities must have a population of 100,000 or more, as the DOE attempts to promote solar in America’s electricity load centers. The efforts of the Solar America Cities will improve the ability of citizens and businesses to adopt solar technology locally and provide a model that other cities across the country can follow.
The 2007 Solar America Cities are: Ann Arbor, MI; Austin, TX; Berkeley, CA; Boston, MA; Madison, WI; New Orleans, LA; New York, NY; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland, OR; Salt Lake City, UT; San Diego, CA; San Francisco, CA; and Tucson, AZ.
For additional information on applying to become a 2008 Solar America City visit: http://www.eere.energy.gov/solar/solar_america/index.html.
DOE Seeks Energy Entrepreneurs to Work at National Labs
Researchers at DOE's national laboratories may be experts in their field, but they may not be the ideal people to identify the business opportunities in their midst. With that in mind, DOE launched its new Entrepreneur in Residence Program, calling for business people with start-up experience to spend up to one year working directly with technical management and staff at one of three national laboratories: the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, or Sandia National Laboratories. The main intent is to commercialize energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies, so each entrepreneur must be sponsored by an established venture capital firm that has at least $10 million in funds available for energy efficiency and renewable energy technology investment and has an overall fund size of at least $100 million. DOE plans to award grants of $100,000 to help support entrepreneurs in residence at each of the three national laboratories.
The new program seeks to identify promising laboratory technologies that, if commercialized, would contribute to the mission of DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Selected entrepreneurs will conduct technology assessments, evaluate market opportunities, formulate preliminary business cases, and propose business structures for start-up enterprises. The entrepreneurs could also recommend policy and business practice modifications that would help the national laboratories to commercialize their technologies. Applications are due by December 21st. See the DOE press release (http://www.energy.gov/news/5661.htm).
Berkeley Plan Pays Upfront Cost of Solar and Efficiency Improvements
Berkeley California Mayor Tom Bates unveiled an innovative solar and energy efficiency financing plan that could put thousands of solar systems on city homes and businesses. Conceived by Bates’ chief of staff, Cisco DeVries, the plan makes solar more affordable by removing the chief barrier to solar investment: the large upfront cost of panels. Under the plan, a property owner selects a city-approved solar installer who determines a right-sized system for the property. The city pays the solar installer, minus state and federal rebates, and then adds an assessment on the owner’s property tax to pay for the system over the next 20 years. Berkeley officials say that the tax assessment paid by property owners should be the same or less than the money saved on their electricity bill with the solar panels.
The plan has already drawn interest from officials in San Francisco, Santa Cruz, and Santa Monica, as well as the offices of the state attorney general and treasurer. Berkeley officials hope that eventually at least 25% of property owners will take advantage of the solar financing plan. The city already boasts more solar systems per capita — 400 systems are installed on homes and businesses — than any other Northern California city. Berkeley is considering whether to make the financing plan available for other big-ticket energy-saving measures, such as insulation and high-efficiency HVAC systems. The Berkeley City Council will vote on the plan on November 6.
Fifteen States Require Utility Energy Savings Targets
States have accelerated their efforts to reduce energy use by setting mandatory energy savings targets for electric and gas utilities, according to a review released recently by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The report found 15 states with such policies in place, up from five states two years ago.
These targets, dubbed "Energy Efficiency Resource Standards" (EERS), set long-term targets that ramp up to major savings. Utilities can meet the targets by offering programs to help their customers conserve energy, and some states credit savings from combined heat and power plants, transmission and distribution system upgrades, and other measures toward the targets.
ACEEE analysis estimates that EERS requirements now in place could reduce national electricity demand by more than 1% per year by 2013. This would be a significant impact, says ACEEE, given that the Annual Energy Outlook of the Energy Information Administration forecasts that national electricity consumption growth will average only 1.5% per year from now through 2025.
The participating states are: Vermont, New York, Texas, Minnesota, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Colorado, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington.
A summary of the review is available on ACEEE's Web site (http://aceee.org/energy/state/utpolicy.htm).
Representatives Form Green Schools Caucus
A new caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives has been formed to raise awareness and promote the benefits of green schools and their ability to foster learning, protect students’ and teachers’ health, save school districts money, and reduce their impact on the environment. With the support of the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), founding co-chairs Rep. Darlene Hooley, D-Ore., Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, and Rep. Jim Matheson, D-Utah, created the Green Schools Caucus in October.
The goals of the caucus are to raise awareness of the benefits of green schools, lead the policy discussion on the topic in various forums, create legislative opportunities for the collective efforts of the caucus members, and provide members of Congress with constituent outreach resources. Caucus members and their staff will participate in educational programs to learn what is going on nationally and in their districts, including site visits to green schools and educational panels with teachers, architects, and school officials from across the country.
A 2006 study sponsored by the American Federation of Teachers, the American Institute of Architects, the American Lung Association, the Federation of American Scientists and USGBC found that building green would save an average school $100,000 each year in energy costs alone – enough to hire two additional full-time teachers, purchase 5,000 new textbooks, or buy 500 new computers.
