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ASHRAE Government Affairs Update, 03/07/08
ACEEE Profiles Energy Efficiency Programs from Across U.S.  New York Launches Clean Energy & Workforce Training Initiative European Commission Launches Court Proceedings on Building Energy DOE Releases Representative Average Energy Costs New Mexico Act Requires Utilities to Save Energy  ASHRAE, Others Call on Senate to Pass Tax Package  EPA Seeks Comments on GHG Emissions and Sinks

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ACEEE Profiles Energy Efficiency Programs from Across U.S.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) recently released a report that profiles 90 of America's leading energy efficiency programs. Together, these programs provide a vivid demonstration of how energy efficiency is America's cheapest, fastest, and cleanest new energy resource, says ACEEE.

The 90 programs were selected from across the US as examples of highly successful and effective energy efficiency programs. They cover 20 different categories, ranging from industrial processes to residential lighting. ACEEE says it selected these outstanding programs from a large set of nominations submitted in a national search.

Compendium of Champions: Chronicling Exemplary Energy Efficiency Programs from Across the U.S. summarizes ACEEE's second national review and selection of exemplary energy efficiency programs. As with the first such review completed in 2003, ACEEE recognizes outstanding energy efficiency programs and honors the people and organizations responsible for their successes. In addition to profiles describing each program, the report makes a number of overall observations on the factors that make these exemplary programs stand out.

Programs chosen for honors were deemed to be especially noteworthy for their effectiveness and innovation in helping customers achieve greater levels of energy efficiency in their homes, businesses, and facilities. In doing so, these programs not only reduced customers' energy costs, they also generated broader economic and environmental benefits.

The report, including all the profiles, can be downloaded at http://aceee.org/pubs/u081.htm.

New York Launches Clean Energy & Workforce Training Initiative

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) unveiled a $6-million clean energy workforce training initiative. NYSERDA will invest more than $4 million in a range of clean energy sectors including solar photovoltaic systems, small wind turbines, and biogas energy systems. An additional $2 million is included in the Governor's Executive Budget for developing the solar workforce through programs at community colleges across New York State. The intent of the new efforts is to help develop a workforce that can design, install, and maintain renewable energy systems to ensure the successful implementation and promotion of renewable energy technologies in New York State. New York already has invested nearly $1 million to develop seven accredited solar training centers and continuing education programs across the state. See the NYSERDA press release (http://www.nyserda.org/Press_Releases/2008/PressRelease20082502.asp).

The agency is also seeking to establish a Wind Energy Research and Testing Center in New York. Although still in the preliminary stages of discussion and planning, the center would catalyze and support research in such topics as advanced materials, power electronics, turbine design, wind forecasting, and environmental impact assessment. The proposed Center would also provide resources to test new products while helping to provide a highly skilled workforce to meet the needs of the quickly growing wind power industry.

European Commission Launches Court Proceedings on Building Energy

The European Commission launched court proceedings against Belgium and the United Kingdom for failure to notify adequate national implementing measures as required by the 2002 Energy Performance of Buildings Directive. The goal of the Directive is to reduce energy consumption in buildings and it thus forms an important part of EU legislation aimed at improving overall energy efficiency.

The Commission already sent both Member States a letter of Formal Notice in February 2006, and a Reasoned Opinion in October 2006, requesting them to notify urgently the transposition measures required by the Directive. However, Belgium and the UK have failed to provide information to demonstrate convincingly that they have fully implemented the necessary measures. In particular, the Commission has not received official notification of measures for the implementation by Belgium of: (i) completely specified energy performance requirements for buildings and for inspection requirements for boilers and air conditioning systems; and (ii) a methodology to calculate the energy performance of non-residential buildings and the complete specification of minimum energy performance requirements for existing buildings which undergo major renovations; and for the UK of: (i) implementation of the Directive in Gibraltar; and (ii) provisions related to energy performance certificates, and on the inspection of boilers and air conditioning systems in Northern Ireland.

The Directive requires Member States to establish minimum energy performance standards and energy performance certification schemes for buildings, as well as to ensure that heating and air conditioning installations are regularly inspected to enable performance improvements. The deadline for the implementation of the Directive was January 4, 2006 with derogation possible for certain articles until January 4, 2009.

The building sector is responsible for 40% of Europe's total energy consumption. If implemented in full and on time, the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive could contribute significantly to reducing energy consumption. The buildings sector has a cost-effective energy saving potential of almost 30%. In March 2007 European Heads of State and Government agreed on an energy package stressing the need to increase energy efficiency in the EU so as to save 20% of the EU's energy consumption by 2020, as proposed in the Commission's Energy Efficiency Action Plan of 2006.

DOE Releases Representative Average Energy Costs

The Department of Energy (DOE) is forecasting the representative average unit costs of five residential energy sources for the year 2008 pursuant to the Energy Policy and Conservation Act. The five sources are electricity, natural gas, No. 2 heating oil, propane, and kerosene. T he Energy Policy and Conservation Act (Act) requires that DOE prescribe test procedures for the determination of the estimated annual operating costs or other measures of energy consumption for certain consumer products. The Act requires that the estimated annual operating costs of a covered product be calculated from measurements of energy use in a representative average use cycle or period of use and from representative average unit costs of the energy needed to operate such product during such cycle. The section further requires that DOE provide information to manufacturers regarding the representative average unit costs of energy. This cost information should be used by manufacturers to meet their obligations under section 323(c) of the Act. Most notably, these costs are used to comply with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requirements for labeling.

DOE last published representative average unit costs of residential energy for use in the Energy Conservation Program for Consumer Products Other Than Automobiles on March 21, 2007 (72 FR 13268). Effective April 2, 2008, the cost figures published on March 21, 2007, will be superseded by the cost figures set forth in this notice.

Representative Average Unit Costs of Energy for Five Residential Energy Sources (2008)

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Short-Term Energy Outlook (January 2008) and Monthly Energy Review (December 2007)

For a copy of the notice (73 FR 11406) see http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr.

New Mexico Act Requires Utilities to Save Energy

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson signed a bill that requires the state's electric and natural gas utilities to provide their customers with cost-effective energy efficiency resources. By 2014, the state's electric utilities must achieve energy efficiency gains equal to 5% of their total sales in 2005, increasing to 10% of their 2005 sales by 2020. The utilities could achieve these gains through such efforts as a rebate program for energy efficient appliances, home weatherization programs, or programs to give away or discount compact fluorescent light bulbs.

To help the utilities meet their goals, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission must identify and remove disincentives and barriers to such energy efficiency programs, including one key item: the commission must provide public utilities an opportunity to earn a profit on their energy efficiency programs. The new act allows utilities to recover their costs and any commission-approved incentives through either an increase in base rates or a special fee added to utility bills. The act also provides a mechanism for utilities to fall short of their goals, requiring them to justify the shortfall, to set new goals, and to gain commission approval for lowering the goals. See the governor's press release (http://www.governor.state.nm.us/press/2008/feb/022708_01.pdf).

ASHRAE, Others Call on Senate to Pass Tax Package

A coalition of more than 100 business, trade and advocacy groups called on the U.S. Senate to pass bipartisan legislation as soon as possible that extends renewable energy and efficiency tax credits that have already expired or will expire at the end of this year. The tax incentives would strengthen the renewable energy industry and expand the market for energy-efficient products, which ultimately would reduce residential and commercial energy costs, generate new domestic jobs, and boost a flagging economy, according to the coalition.

The business-consumer coalition includes 47 manufacturers, including Dow Chemical, DuPont, Owens Corning and Whirlpool; eight retailers, including Best Buy, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Wal-Mart; 23 trade associations, including the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, the National Association of Homebuilders and the National Small Business Association; 25 advocacy groups, including Environment America, Natural Resources Defense Council, Sierra Club and Union of Concerned Scientists; and 10 utilities, including Constellation Energy, Exelon and Florida Power & Light. (For a complete list of the 114 coalition members, go to http://www.aceee.org/press/0803tax.htm)

Historically, Congress has extended clean energy tax incentives in only two-year increments, creating a boom-bust cycle that impedes industry development. The ideal Senate tax incentive package, the coalition said, would extend incentives for wind, solar and biomass for a number of years to provide the stability financial investors need to back new projects.

In addition to extending tax credits for renewable energy sources, the coalition urges the Senate to extend tax incentives for constructing energy-efficient buildings, investing in solar electric systems, installing efficient home heating and cooling equipment, manufacturing efficient home appliances, and retrofitting existing homes to save energy.

EPA Seeks Comments on GHG Emissions and Sinks

The Draft Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2006 is available for public review. Annual U.S. emissions for the period of time from 1990 through 2006 are summarized and presented by source category and sector. The inventory contains estimates of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), hydrofluorocarbons (HFC), perfluorocarbons (PFC), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) emissions. The inventory also includes estimates of carbon fluxes in U.S. agricultural and forest lands. The technical approach used in this report to estimate emissions and sinks for greenhouse gases is consistent with the methodologies recommended by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and reported in a format consistent with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) reporting guidelines. The Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2006 is the latest in a series of annual U.S. submissions to the Secretariat of the UNFCCC.

The draft report can be obtained by visiting the U.S. EPA's Climate Change Site at: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/usinventoryreport.html.