What an exciting week here at the Alliance! It opened with a press conference to launch the inaugural Clean Energy Week (be sure to catch the webcast of this event), which the Alliance is spearheading with a number of other clean energy advocates. If you haven't yet caught one of the many presentations, talks, or receptions associated with this event and you happen to be in snowy Washington, I urge you to visit the CEW website and find one that fits your schedule.

FY2011 Federal Budget Proposal: the Details

Also on Monday, the Obama Administration released its FY2011 budget proposal. As I noted in our follow-up press release, the administration's energy efficiency requests were mighty strong, calling for increased funds for energy efficiency projects while the rest of his budget asks remained relatively flat.

Recently, the Alliance, along with the Coca-Cola Foundation and USAID, completed work on the Water for Schools program in South Africa, which repaired water systems and improved water sanitation in seven South African primary schools and their communities.

Not all refrigerators are created equal. Find out how to distinguish between the energy "hogs" and savers, and learn how to cut costs even further with a few simple tips.

Looking Ahead: 2010 and Beyond – The Decade of Energy Efficiency
Kateri Callahan
President, Alliance to Save Energy

Nashville, Tennessee
January 27, 2010

Jan. 20 – Rochester-area high school students and their teachers attended a Student Energy Auditor Training session at RIT.

Energy Efficiency: The Foundation for a Clean Energy Economy
Kateri Callahan
President, Alliance to Save Energy

Webinar
January 25, 2010

With concerns mounting that the Congress may fail to enact climate and energy legislation this year, we are dialing up our advocacy efforts at the Alliance.  We are teaming with more than 30 organizations, interest groups, businesses and associations to create the first-ever Clean Energy Week, which will occur February 1-5 here in Washington, D.C.  

Friends, we will be asking you to join us as we push for the Congress to put legislative action on strong climate and clean energy legislation back where it belongs – on the front burner!  Poll after poll shows that the American people want clean energy legislation; and businesses from coast-to-coast are standing up to say that such legislation is vital not just to the world’s environment, but to our effort to rebuild the economy and enhance our energy security. 

During Clean Energy Week, more than 120 CEOs are coming to D.C. to meet with Members of Congress to urge them to enact meaningful legislation – and the Alliance will be right here with them. 

The Clean Energy Week agenda features a host of informative conferences, workshops, receptions, seminars, briefings, blogs and outreach activities. Contact Sandy Fazeli Fard (sfard@ase.org) for more information about this action-packed week, and be on the lookout for an appeal from me for you to add your voice to the roar for climate and energy legislation that we hope to unleash on the Congress that first week of February!

Mark your calendars for Clean Energy Week (Feb. 1 – 5, 2010), when the Alliance and others host press conferences, workshops, receptions and seminars to raise awareness of clean energy. Want to get involved? Contact Sandy Fazeli Fard).

This year, the energy efficiency community will see one of its stars rise to even greater heights. Dr. Marilyn A. Brown has been nominated by President Obama to join the Tennessee Valley Authority’s (TVA) Board of Directors and will subsequently step down from her position on the Alliance Board of Directors, which she has held since November 1998.

The world owes Dr. Art Rosenfeld more than just a "Job well done!" as he concludes his ten-year tenure as a member of the California Energy Commission. Here, the Alliance pays tribute to the "father of energy efficiency".

These prestigious awards honor those who have demonstrated a commitment to the cause of energy efficiency. Cast your nomination today!

2010 has brought with it changes and new opportunities for the Alliance, and I’d like to highlight a few of those for you.  First, with the start of the new year, we welcome new industry leadership on our Board of Directors as Peter Darbee, the president and CEO of PG&E takes over the gavel from our out-going industry co-chair, Jim Rogers, chairman, president and CEO of Duke Energy.  The Alliance has been blessed over the past several years with incredible leadership and I am certain that the level of excellence will be maintained during Peter’s tenure!

While we are not saying “good-bye” to Jim, as he has agreed to continue to serve as a Board member, I do want to take a moment to thank him, profusely, for his service to the Alliance, its staff, its Associates, its Board and its mission.  Jim’s tenure saw impressive growth in the organization and he also was a key catalyst in the amazing progress that has been made in spreading the awareness and putting in place the policy infrastructure to ensure that energy efficiency truly becomes the “first and best fuel” for powering our economy in the 21st century. Read Kateri's full article.

The Alliance to Save Energy, Schneider-Electric and the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) are pleased to invite you to join us for a special Associate luncheon in Nashville with Congressman Zach Wamp (R-Tenn.), one of Tennessee’s champions of energy efficiency!

The Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) is seeking partners for its Ten Places to Watch in 2010, a campaign which looks at states and cities committed to promoting energy-efficient buildings through code work.

Many consider the results of the UNFCCC’s conference in Copenhagen, Denmark to have fallen short of the world’s expectations. However, it did produce new and unprecedented commitments that may lead to more defined targets and procedures in future conferences. Read the Alliance's overview of what energy efficiency advocates should know about the landmark negotiations.

On December 14, Alliance Associates joined European parliament members and U.S. Secretary of Energy Chu at a COP15 side-event hosted by the Alliance and endorsed by the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), where panelists outlined energy efficiency strategies for climate change mitigation.

Friday, December 11—Today, Kateri Callahan participated as a featured panelist at "Tapping U.S. Technical Capabilities to Enhance Climate Programs," a USAID-sponsored event held inside the UNFCCC conference site, the Bella Center.

December 2009—Looking for an energy-efficient alternative to Christmas lights? Consider a string of light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, which produce light using the movement of electricity along the path of its semiconductor. As the electrons stream across the semiconductor, they create electromagnetic radiation, some of which takes the form of visible light.

December 10, 2009 – Pending confirmation from the Senate, a former Alliance Board Member will be tasked with "greening" the Navy. Last week, Jackie Pfannenstiel (pictured), former chair of the California Energy Commission and former Alliance Board Member was nominated by President Obama to serve as Assistant Secretary for Installations and Environment, a civilian leadership position in the Navy Department.

Keynote Remarks, "Energizing Atlanta's Future"
Kateri Callahan
President, Alliance to Save Energy

Atlanta, Georgia
November 16, 2009

December 2, 2009 – Leading industrial companies signed a pledge to reduce energy intensity by 25 percent over 10 years, as part of the U.S. DOE's Save Energy Now LEADER program. Supported by the Alliance, this initiative provides committed companies with the resources they need to meet aggressive energy efficiency targets. 

Join us in Copenhagen where we will host a very important gathering to deliver one simple, strong, and utterly compelling message: widespread deployment of energy efficiency makes it possible for both developing and developed countries to reduce global GHG emissions without wreaking economic havoc. Reception to Follow.

November 16, 2009 – More than a dozen business leaders – including Alliance Board Member Peter Darbee of Associate PG&E Corporation – came together today to form the Electrification Coalition. This nonpartisan, nonprofit organization will promote policies and actions to facilitate the deployment of electric vehicles on a mass scale to combat the economic, environmental and national security vulnerabilities caused by our nation’s dependence on petroleum.

Energy Efficiency Policy in the Obama Administration
Kateri Callahan
President, Alliance to Save Energy

Brussels, Belgium
November 18, 2009

On Thursday, November 19, 2009, the Alliance to Save Energy hosted Financing Energy Efficiency, a webinar featuring Alliance Honorary Vice-Chair Congressman Steve Israel (D-N.Y.) and energy efficiency finance expert Matthew Brown of ConoverBrown LLC. Israel provided an overview of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) bonds, and Brown discussed the current status and prospects for energy efficiency financing mechanisms in the U.S.

November 2, 2009 – This past October the Alliance played a key role in two workshops focusing on efforts to save energy and water in Central American and the Caribbean, where the Alliance is partnering with Econoler International on two projects funded by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), “Energy Efficiency for Caribbean Water and Sanitation Companies,” and “Energy Efficiency in Water Utilities in Central America”. Based on Watergy practices and energy management trainings, these two projects aim to improve supply-side energy efficiency in seven Caribbean countries and reduce energy costs within the water and sanitation sector in three Central American countries.

October 21, 2009 – Alliance Associates, board members and staff got the inside view on pending climate and energy legislation at an EE Policy Perspectives breakfast with Sen. Lisa Murkowski.

By Diana Turner and Lynn Salazar, Shadow Ridge Alternative High School, Hesperia Unified School District
Students identify ways in which their personal use of energy contributes to carbon dioxide emissions. After personal reflection time thinking about how the student uses energy, students get into groups of 3-4 and discuss.

By David Marrett, Murrieta High School, Murrieta Valley Unified School District
Students will practice simple data collection, tabulation, graphing, and analysis through designing a conservation plan. Students will also study the laws of thermodynamics. To do this level at any level requires information on typical energy usages of common appliances. Advanced students are also asked to adjust costs for different rates.

By Stephen Chitraroff, Murrieta Valley High School, Murrieta Valley Unified School District
In this lesson, students will be exposed to a variety of alternative energy sources and will learn how to calculate the equipment needed for an average household. The assignment is completed on a wiki webpage.

Do more with less energy – it’s a simple concept that reaps major benefits. For that reason, energy efficiency should always be part of the solution to energy and environmental challenges, here in the U.S. and abroad.

Coloring the Economy: A Challenge to go Beyond “Green”
Kateri Callahan
President, Alliance to Save Energy

Orlando, Florida
October 7, 2009

Sep. 24, 2009 – Alliance president Kateri Callahan presented Mexico’s president Felipe Calderón with the Alliance’s International Star of Energy Efficiency at a special ceremony in New York City. President Calderón pledged that both CONAVI and INFONAVIT, the agencies who received the award at the Alliance’s annual dinner just days before, will continue his support of energy efficiency in Mexico's low-income housing industry.

Read about the latest California Green Schools successes in Students Leading the Way 2008 – 2009: Energy Savings Success Stories from Southern California.

This chart compares corresponding provisions of the House-passed energy and climate bill, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, with an energy bill that has been reported out of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, the American Clean Energy Leadership Act.

Alliance President, Kateri Callahan

Washington, DC
September 17, 2009

September 27 marked the 90th birthday of the Honorable Charles H. Percy, the Republican senator from Illinois who founded the Alliance to Save Energy in 1976 with Senate colleague Hubert Humphrey (D-Minn.). The Alliance celebrates with a retrospective look at the one of the forefathers of the energy efficiency movement.

On September 11, 2009, 12 Alliance staff joined dozens of volunteers in Southeast Washington, DC, for a day of remembrance and community service led by Alliance Associate Rebuilding Together. Alliance volunteers (back row, l-r) Aleisha Khan, Megan Campion, Dianne Streat, HUD's Ron Sims, Alex Straub, Kateri Callahan, Chris Amos; (front row, l-r): Nils Petermann, John Miller. Not pictured here: Brian Castelli, Vestal Tutterow, Jane Teeling.

Brian T. Castelli
Executive Vice President, Programs

September 14, 2009
Copenhagen, Denmark

Cracking the Code: The Key to Energy Efficiency in Buildings
AlliancePresident, Kateri Callahan

Mexico City, Mexico
August 18, 2009

On August 26, 2009, Gov. Bill Ritter led an exclusive EE Policy Perspectives event for Alliance Associates in Denver, Colo., sponsored by Trane.

Join us on September 25 in Washington D.C. to examine the need and opportunity for U.S. industry to remain competitive globally through smart and sustainable manufacturing. Experts will make the case for a renewed focus on domestic manufacturing and a concerted push for modernization across the industrial sector.

For the fifth year in a row, the Green Campus Program was featured prominently at the UC/CSU/CCC Sustainability Conference, at which the programmatic End-of-Year meeting was also held.

Built some 2,500 years ago on a seaside cliff in Trincomalee, Sri Lanka, Thiru Koneswaran is the country’s oldest Hindu temple. Razed to the ground by the Portuguese in 1624, it has remained an active place of worship despite its disrepair, and is today in the process of a slow but steady reconstruction.

August 17, 2009. Filmmakers and videographers with a yen to put their work on the map and on the Web: submit a two-minute video illustrating the Drive Smarter Challenge campaign’s gas- and money-saving tips for a chance to win $5,000 or a number of other prices.

(Source) 2009 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry Proceedings (c) 2009, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Washington, D.C. www.aceee.org

On August 4, Associates gathered for an "EE Policy Perspectives" luncheon in in Albany, N.Y., where Alliance Honorary Vice-Chair Congressman Paul Tonko (D) - offered his perspective on climate and energy policy. "We’re finding ourselves in the midst of a new race, a clean, green energy race," he told Associates. "This is our future, this is our opportunity, this is our energy, our economy and our destiny. We will prevail." (Above) Steve Cowell of CSG, Alliance Honorary Vice-Chair Rep. Tonko, Alliance President Kateri Callahan, Alliance Board Member Frank Murray of NYSERDA.

On July 29, 2009 Alliance President Kateri Callahan briefed investors and board members of the Charlotte Regional Partnership on the latest federal and state energy efficient policies and programs.

Alliance President, Kateri Callahan

Charlotte, NC
July 29, 2009

Air-conditioning: such a blessing on a hot summer's day – and such a curse on your monthly utility bill. But it doesn't have to be this way. With the right air conditioning unit and a few good habits, you can stay cool for a lot less this summer.

A partnership of Alliance and several other national organizations (including the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI); the National Association of State Energy Offices (NASEO); ASHRAE; AIA; and the New Buildings Institute) is organizing a broad-based public-private consortium to submit a proposal to DOE for a $1 million, 3-year project to help identify and advance market acceptance of technologies and practices needed to move commercial buildings toward “net-zero energy” performance by 2050.

The Alliance supports robust funding for federal programs that promote energy efficiency, improve our national security, protect the environment, and save Americans money.

From June 21 to 24, Green Campus interns gathered at UC Santa Barbara to attend the 8th annual UC/CSU/CCC Sustainability Conference. For the fifth straight year, interns representing programs at 13 University of California and California State University campuses, as well as Stanford University, came to learn more about state and local sustainability efforts, and to claim awards in the Student Energy Efficiency category.

On Tuesday June 30 Matt Rogers, senior advisor to the U.S. Secretary of Energy for the Recovery Act, joined Alliance co-chair and CEO of Duke Energy Jim Rogers and Kateri Callahan to brief Alliance Associates on timelines and strategy for Department of Energy-funded energy efficiency projects facilitated by the new stimulus bill.

Where: Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
Who: Alliance director of policy, Lowell Ungar
When: June 22, 2009

Water, energy and climate change are pivotal issues in a new project explicitly titled “Climate Change Vulnerability and Infrastructure Investment Assessment and Analysis for Small Scale Water Utilities in the Lake Victoria Basin.” With funding from UN Habitat’s Water and Sanitation Trust Fund, the Alliance will partner with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), Stockholm Environment Institute-US Center (SEI-US) and Climate XL to carry out the project, which is scheduled to last 18 months and encompass water utilities in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

On June 16, 2009 Alliance Associates gathered in the Washington, D.C. offices of the American Gas Association to discuss and gain insight into the current state of federal energy policy.

The Alliance has been working with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on projects under the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate’s Buildings and Appliances Task Force (APP-BATF). One of the Task Force’s goals is to promote high-performance buildings through outreach and training in the use of building simulation tools, and through the promotion of technologies and best practices for net-zero energy buildings, building performance measurement and benchmarking, and market transformation.

What do a Governor, an aquarium, government housing agencies, a public school, and a global technology company all have in common? They are all leaders in energy efficiency! The Alliance to Save Energy congratulates the 2009 Stars of Energy Efficiency Award Winners.

Efficient Enterprises: Powering American Industry is an educational seminar series highlighting specific opportunities to enhance energy efficiency in the U.S. industrial sector and emphasizing energy efficiency as a key issue underpinning the revitalization of the American economy while easing environmental impacts resulting from industrial operations.

Thursday, June 11, 2009 – 11 a.m. PDT, 2 p.m.EDT

With nearly four percent of total U.S. energy use attributable to heat transfer through windows, window upgrades present a substantial opportunity for energy savings. Moderated by the Alliance's Jeff Harris, this webinar will feature speakers representing research, industry and low-income housing and focus on the need for window upgrades, and the opportunities beyond "business as usual" for this market.

The Alliance to Save Energy and the DOE Offer Consumers Smart Energy Tips and Resources to Reduce Home Energy Bills and the Nation’s Energy Use.

• Sugerencias para reducir las facturas de energía de los hogares

As energy efficiency continues to garner support from businesses and governments worldwide, Johnson Controls Inc. and the U.S. Energy Association are honoring those who have dedicated their careers to energy efficiency.

Where: Sofia, Bulgaria
Who: Alliance Ececutive Vice President, Programs and Development Brian Castelli
When: May 23, 2009

The Alliance is set to launch the second year of the Drive $marter Challenge (D$C), a public awareness campaign designed to help consumers reduce their gasoline bills through simple driving and vehicle maintenance tips.

Where: U.S. Energy Association Offices, Washington, D.C.
Who: Alliance President, Kateri Callahan
When: May 12, 2009
Why: "The lack of access to clean energy in South Asia - and often energy in any form - makes life extraordinary difficult for women in the region," explains U.S. Energy Association Senior Program Coordinator Sarah Blanford. Because energy is at a premuium, the need for energy efficiency in the home is especially important to women in South Asia, the majority of whom are the primary caretakers of their home. Ms. Callahan's presentation focused on three areas in which energy efficiency can alleviate household energy consumption: the built environment, household appliances and consumer behavior. Once mastered, these strategies can be transfered to other members of the community as women assume leadership roles in education and public policy advocacy.

On Friday, May 15, Alliance staff on both coasts celebrated Bike to Work Day, a nationwide event that honors the energy-efficient commute of the peddler practiced by millions of Americans each day—including Secretary of Energy Steven Chu, who joined commuters at Freedom Plaza in downtown D.C. to celebrate one of the highlights of national Bike Month.

Since late 2008, representatives of the Alliance's Building Codes Assistance Project have served the City of San Antonio and its Office of Environmental Policy by providing technical assistance to the advisory committees of the Sustainable Buildings Task Force. Charged with developing the city’s new advanced energy codes, the Sustainable Buildings Task Force was formed in response to San Antonio Mayor Hardberger's groundbreaking 2009 Mission Verde initiative, an all out effort to strengthen the city's economy through widespread sustainability efforts built on energy and water efficiency and conservation.

Kateri Callahan welcomes Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) for an exchange of ideas and insight with Alliance Associates at a Policy Perspectives breakfast on Capitol Hill.

April 28 – 29 The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) held a workshop in Reston, Va., to explore foundations for a common smart grid interoperability standard. Attended by more than 450 smart grid experts, the workshop sought to draft a roadmap toward establishing a protocol for the transfer of data between different types of smart grid equipment, possibly labeled 'The Smart Grid Information Exchange’ protocol.

Where: Washington, DC
Who: Alliance President, Kateri Callahan
When: May 5, 2009
Why: Unleashing the power of energy efficiency requires cross-sector collaboration and partnerships strengthened by public and private sector members. Kateri Callahan's presentation to the Honeywell Global Building Solutions Team outlines opportunities for such partnerships with the Alliance, including communications campaigns, policy advocacy coalitions and teams, and market transformation intitiatives.

April 23, 2009 – This week the House Energy and Commerce Committee is holding a marathon set of hearings on the discussion draft of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. The hearings are a chance for members to learn more about the ACES Act, a sweeping piece of legislation that places a cap on carbon emissions and implements a variety of complementary energy policies in one bill.

April 2009 – It goes without saying that every day is Earth Day here at the Alliance. Nevertheless, we welcome the opportunity to join with likeminded Earth advocates everywhere who are celebrating the myriad ways we can care for our planet. This year, the Alliance took the message of energy efficiency to a number of government and community events in order to spread the word about the great and largely untapped potential of this clean, fast and cheap resource.

Where: Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Who: Alliance President, Kateri Callahan
When: April 16-17, 2009
Why: In an increasingly globalized world, the need to maintain dialogue amongst neighboring countries is essential to regional prosperity. At the Fifth Summit of the Americas, leaders in the Americas - including President Obama - have gathered to discuss key issues such as climate and energy. Alliance President Kateri Callahan participated in the II Hemisphere Private Sector Forum, a pre-summit event focusing on sector-led prosperity in this region. Here, Callahan discussed best practices for stimulating energy efficiency projects that lead to greater economic security and economic prosperity through sustainable practices. Her presentation looks at the Alliance's host of Watergy programs in Mexico – energy and water development projects that have translated into substantial financial savings for communities in need.

April 8, 2009: Alliance Board and Associate members gathered at the offices of AT&T for a special EE Policy Perspectives Breakfast with Nancy Sutley, President Obama's appointed chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. Sutley briefed the audience on the administration's environmental priorities, and its plans for investing in a clean and green economy.

Green Campus Multimedia Extravaganza!

To address the challenges that arise from the ever-expanding transportation sectors in developing regions, the Alliance faciliatated a workshop called Policies to Promote Energy Efficiency in Transportation.

The Alliance, in consortium with the International Resources Group (IRG), has been awarded a three-year contract by USAID/Pakistan Mission for the Empower Pakistan – Energy Efficiency and Capacity (EP-EEC) Project.

Where: Beijing, China
Who: Alliance Executive Vice President Brian Castelli; Senior Program Manager, International Team Alexander Filippov; Program Manager, Buildings, Nils Peterman
When: March 27 – 29, 2009
Why: The IGEBC2009 is one of the premier buildings conferences held in China; this year five Chinese ministers made presentations in the opening plenary session. Brian Castelli presented at the IGEBC2009’s U.S. Technology Seminar, jointly organized by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and U.S. Foreign Commercial Service (FCS) in Beijing. The presentation focused on the policies and practical steps to achieve net zero energy building goals in the United States and the importance of such advanced buildings for China’s development. Brian Castelli also participated in a private meeting with U.S. DOE representatives and Vice Minister of Housing, Urban, and Rural Development Qui Baoxing. Vice Minister Qui stressed the need to accelerate the collaboration with the U.S. on energy efficiency issues related to construction and water sectors, and reaffirmed his interest in signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. on the creation of a Center of Excellence in Beijing (the latter project to be run by the Alliance for DOE). The Alliance, in concert with the U.S. DOE (a principal sponsor of IGEBC2009) and the FCS, organized their booth at the U.S. Pavilion of the Expo. In addition, Nils Peterman gave a presentation on the National Fenestration Rating Council’s Windows Collaborative Program in China, which focused on adopting labeling standards for windows.

In January of this year, President Obama instilled hope in job seekers in the energy field – including those from the Alliance’s Green Campus Program – with the following words:

"First we must take bold action to create a new American energy economy that creates millions of jobs for our people. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan ... places a down payment on this economy...It will put 460,000 Americans to work with clean energy investments and double the capacity to generate alternative energy over the next three years. It will lay down 3,000 miles of transmission lines to deliver this energy to every corner of our country."

A new study by the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) entitled Energy Efficiency in Appalachia has found that implementing energy-efficiency measures in Appalachia has the potential to help create tens of thousands of jobs and save billions in energy costs to Appalachian consumers over the next 20 years. Conducted for ARC by the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA), the report also finds that a bold energy efficiency initiative could cut projected energy use in the Region by up to 24 percent by the year 2030.

Shelton Group – architects of the famed series of consumer opinion surveys – has just released Utility Pulse, a survey that investigates consumer attitudes towards demand-side management (DSM) programs.  A must-have for any company wanting to tap into the fast-growing market of energy-efficient products and services and conservation programs, the study provides insight into the consumer appeal of DSM strategies such as energy management rate plans and conservations drives.

Where: Washington, DC
Who: Alliance Executive Vice President of Programs and Development Brian Castelli
When: March 16, 2009
Why: Castelli’s presentation, titled Smart Grid and Achieving Efficient Energy Distribution, gives an overview of Smart Grid, which provides the opportunity to achieve energy efficiency on both sides of the meter, thereby allowing a utility to generate and transmit more efficiently while also allowing the consumer to respond directly to price signals. There are six main benefits to having a Smart Grid in place, in that it allows for: enhanced customer service; improved operational efficiency; enhanced demand response and load control; direct feedback to customers about their energy usage, which leads to improved customer behavior; stronger support of new utility business models; and better integration of intermittent renewable energy and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles into the overall electric system.

What: National Association of Counties’ (NACo) 2009 Legislative Conference
Where: Washington, DC
Who: Alliance Executive Vice President, Programs and Development Brian Castelli
When: March 7, 2009
Why: With new funds in the pipeline and a new administration at the helm, communities nationwide are looking for ways to align their strategies for development with the tone and tenor of Washington. In order to help counties better understand the new mechanisms for addressing their energy needs, Brian spoke to NACo’s Energy Subcommittee about the opportunities for clean energy activities in the 2009 American Recover and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). He outlined the main recipients of ARRA funding for energy efficiency (which include state energy offices and local governments), as well as how those funds will be allocated, how interested organizations should apply for those funds, and what activities are eligible for funding.

Where: Washington, DC
Who: Alliance President, Kateri Callahan
When: March 5, 2009
Why: Attended by Approximately 300 key White House and congressional policy makers and their staff, related think-tanks and science and technology-based academic organizations, this event was intended to provide a platform for key U.S. opinion leaders and technological experts to discuss global climate change and the preservation of the natural environment, and to inform key U.S. policy makers of the latest technologies for the realization of a low-carbon, energy-saving society. Kateri spoke on the panel, Conserving Energy through Policy, Technology and Lifestyle, describing the ways in which good policy, market transformation and smart consumer campaigns are necessary to nurture an energy-efficient lifestyle, and one that is aware of energy efficiency and conservation as a solution to global climate change.

Where: Dallas, Texas
Who: Alliance President, Kateri Callahan
When: March 2, 2009
Why: The 2009 American Recover and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) promises substantial funding for energy efficiency programs – to the tune of $26 billion – and many in the business of energy efficiency such as TAC are looking for ways to access its funding. In order to educate its employees and partners on the impact of the ARRA, TAC presented an educational webinar in which Callahan addressed the stimulus package, the Obama administration's impact on energy policies, and the role TAC can play in delivering energy related projects.

Where: Washington, DC
Who: Panel: among others, Alliance President, Kateri Callahan; Carlos Martin, Ph.D., Assistant Staff Vice President, National Home Builders Association; Andrew Goldberg, Senior Director of Federal Affairs, The American Institute of Architects; Dave Parker, President, American Gas Association
When: February 27, 2009
Why: The panel discussed how producing and consuming energy more efficiently is an integral component of a sound and comprehensive energy policy. However, many are not fully aware of what is already being done and what it takes to make even greater improvements. What steps are utilities, municipalities, and those who design and construct our buildings and homes taking to increase energy efficiency? What are the regulatory, legal, and economic impediments they face in achieving this goal?

February 5, 2009 – This week, executives from the American Public Power Association (APPA), the Large Public Power Council (LPPC), and the Alliance to Save Energy convened to launch the Clean and Efficient Energy Program (CEEP) for public power, a three-year, nationwide initiative promoting investment in energy efficiency and clean energy by publicly-owned utilities.

Where: Las Vegas, NV
Who: Alliance President, Kateri Callahan
When: February 25-27, 2009
Why: There are many opportunities to interlace energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energy (RE) in policy and the marketplace. In her presentation, Kateri discussed the historical partnership of EE and RE, from their pivotal role in the energy legislation of the past decade, to their essential support of many clean energy policies and programs undertaken by state and local authorities, utility companies and businesses. Given the ‘green’ tenor of the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the partnership between EE and RE will only grow stronger, making these two clean fuels the building blocks of a green economy.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) extends, expands, and simplifies the federal income tax credits for homeowners who make energy efficiency home improvements.

At the 2009 Green Campus Energy Efficiency Summit, held this year at UC Irvine from January 24 – 26, nearly 60 Green Campus Interns joined over 40 Green Campus stakeholders for three days of energy efficiency activities and discussions.

The Alliance extends a hearty congratulations to its Board Treasurer Rob Pratt, who is embarking on an exciting new adventure in his career. Pratt will be leaving the Henry P. Kendall Foundation where he was senior vice president in order to launch a new company dedicated to helping colleges and universities in Massachusetts and soon New England become leaders in the nation's green movement.

The Clean and Efficient Energy Program for public power (CEEP) is a new 3-year nationwide initiative promoting investment in energy efficiency and clean energy by publicly-owned utilities.

Session 2: APEC Peer Review on Energy Efficiency
Where: Tokyo, Japan
Who: Brian Castelli, Executive Vice President, Programs and Development
When: February 18-19, 2009
Why: Speaking to participants of the Asia Pacific Research Center's Peer Review on Energy Efficiency, Castelli offered a status update on energy efficiency in the U.S., and the ways that energy efficiency programs are financed, monitored and measured there. After briefing the audience on the history of energy legislation in the U.S., Castelli introduced them to the energy efficiency provisions of the recently passed American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

A summary based on H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, as signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009. Updated 02-25-2009

A coalition of businesses, utilities, low income groups, and energy efficiency organizations has reviewed the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis of the economic recovery bill¹ with respect to projected spend out rates for the $14.2B in energy efficiency spending proposed in the Senate and the $18.5B in the House version. This coalition believes strongly that the CBO analysis is flawed because it did not incorporate important realities associated with the existing energy efficiency programs and infrastructure.

The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) today released a Request for Proposals (RFP) asking cities and counties in the Southeast to compete for up to $500,000 to create and implement a community energy alliance. Largely based on efforts underway in Cambridge, Mass.; Cincinnati, Ohio; New York, N.Y.; and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the RFP is open to cities and counties in SEEA’s 11-state region of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

February 4, 2009 – The Alliance is pleased to be partnering with Building Operating Management magazine on a Special Report in the April of 2009 edition. Produced by the editors of Building Operating Management and and based on interviews with buildings experts at the Alliance, this Special Report will be read by 73,000 building owners and facility executives who are responsible for more than four million of the nation's commercial and institutional properties.

On January 29, Alliance Honorary Chairman Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) brought energy efficiency and economic policy to the forefront in the first EE Policy Perspectives of the new year. Alliance Associates listened as the Senator gave an inside view to the hotbed of activity surrounding the stimulus package, which contains billions for energy efficiency.

February 4, 2009 – The Alliance has organized the Workshop on Policies that Promote Energy Efficiency in Transport on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Energy Working Group to take place on March 24 and 25 at the APEC Secretariat offices in Singapore. At its core is an Alliance report produced for APEC which surveyed many of the policies that promote energy-efficient transportation systems in APEC economies. The workshop also will address how robust planning and government policies can optimize both operational and transportation efficiency, resulting in reduced air pollution, emissions, energy waste and dependence on oil imports.

Where: Washington, DC
Who: Alliance President, Kateri Callahan
When: February 2, 2009
Why: Policy makers and others have come to understand the power of energy efficiency implementation as an economic development tool and stimulus. The result is likely billions in clean energy investments by the federal government that will be utilized by state and local governments, non-profit energy organizations, and others. In her presentation, Kateri focused on the efforts of the Alliance to Save Energy and others to grow energy efficiency implementation programs – buildings, products, and services – and deliver greater economic vitality to the nation.

Responsible for 1/3 of the energy consumed in the U.S. annually, the industrial sector has a number of new and existing standards by which to regulate their operations. In this three-part series, eNews will explore standards that save energy and money and decrease carbon emissions. Part II of this series looks at an existing voluntary standard known as ANSI/MSE 2000 – A Management System for Energy.

There's no doubt about it: energy efficiency is a hot topic, and ready for deployment. To meet this opportunity head-on the Alliance has compiled an impressive to-do list for 2009. Here are a few of the programmatic highlights we'll be pursuing in the coming year. We welcome your involvement, so please get in touch if any of these activities are compatible with the mission of your organization or business.

A comparison of H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), as signed by President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009, with the version that passed the House on January 28, 2009 and the version that passed the Senate on February 10, 2009. Updated 2-25-09

A longtime believer in the power of numbers, the Alliance would like to invite interested Associates to join us along with several other leading organizations in an effort to help the Department of Energy (DOE) achieve net-zero energy performance in commercial buildings.

Reducing energy consumption while maintaining robust and effective transportation systems requires policies for improving vehicle efficiency and the efficiency in the larger transport system. How can APEC economies use their experiences to further success in the realm of transportation energy efficiency?

To find out, join international experts in energy efficiency, transportation and their related policies in a two-day discussion about approaches to find out at the upcoming Policies to Promote Energy Efficiency in Transport workshop!

Get ready for the second annual Energy Efficiency Global Forum & Exposition (EE Global). At the core of EE Global is its stellar roster of speakers whose clear voices and strong leadership are truly inspiring.

To introduce you to these EE Global’s ’Voices’, we’ve produced a podcast series of interviews with participants from almost every one of EE Global’s 24 Executive Dialogue sessions. Conducting these interviews are Alliance staff, who bring their expertise to these lively discussions.

The Alliance is pleased to announce that its 2009 Board of Directors will feature a number of new faces, as well as new positions for existing members.

More and more, organizations and businesses are discovering they can play a key role in achieving energy savings through state and local level policy advocacy of building codes. To assist such cross-sector efforts, the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) has launched a new campaign called the Fifty State Strategy that aims to manage the opportunity as well as the resources for best practices on policy and implementation.

How can transportation professionals explain complex technical issues to laypersons?

The Transportation Research Board (TRB), a nonprofit whose mission is to provide leadership in transportation innovation and progress through research and information exchange, might recommend studying the Alliance’s Drive $marter Challenge (D$C) campaign for advice.

Last year, Cathy Clites and her three-generational family of nine were the winners of a nationwide home energy efficiency makeover contest, part of an Alliance-led campaign sponsored by NBC Universal's SCI FI Channel, among others. Many home improvements later - including a recent installation of energy-efficient windows - the family learned the impressive specifics of their energy savings: a 36% increase in energy efficiency.

Where: Los Angeles, Calif.
Who: Alliance President, Kateri Callahan
When: January 14, 2009
Why: Attended by media, diplomats, academics, business and regulatory leaders, Australia Week forum, Facing Our Future the Challenge of Water and Energy, looks at the growing importance and value of water both as a consumable resource essential to sustained life and as a renewable energy source. At this event, Callahan moderated the panel, Energy Generation and Renewable Energy, during which leaders from the private, public and academic sectors discussed the imperative shift toward clean energy, and the ways to make this happen at a global level.

On Friday, December 19, Kateri Callahan, president, Alliance to Save Energy, participated in a news conference at the National Press Club with Tom Kuhn, president, Edison Electric Institute; Peter Lehner, executive director, Natural Resource Defense Council; and Reid Detchon, executive director, Energy Future Coalition, to present a package of proposals for stimulating the U.S. economy and creating green jobs while making the nation more energy efficient.

Where: Baltimore, MD
Who: Alliance Executive Vice President, Programs and Development Brian Castelli
When: December 10 & 11, 2008
Why: The 2009 American Recover and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) promises substantial funding for energy efficiency programs – to the tune of $26 billion – and many in the business of energy efficiency such as TAC are looking for ways to access its funding. In order to educate its employees and partners on the impact of the ARRA, TAC presented an educational webinar in which Callahan addressed the stimulus package, the Obama administration's impact on energy policies, and the role TAC can play in delivering energy related projects.

December 10, 2008 – How important is energy - particularly energy efficiency - to the mechanisms of an economic stimulus package? Very important, asserts Alliance’s Vice-President for Policy and Research Joe Loper, who testified before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources this week. Among the recommendations in Loper's testimony is a call for more than $15 billion in energy efficiency investments.

Where: Poznan, Poland
When: December 7, 2008
Why: Buildings are responsible for 40% of global energy consumption, and represent a huge GHG emissions reduction potential. A significant part of the emission savings can follow relatively quickly from identifying and implementing energy efficiency measures. Yet this is not always such a straightforward area for public and private action. How can we move faster from talking to acting, and unlock this enormous emissions savings potential?

Where: Golden, Colo.
When:  December 1 – 2, 2008
Why: This trip marked the first gathering of Rep. Steve Israel’s Energy Cabinet. Participants received a tour of the facilities, in which the Department of Energy conducts research and development of renewable fuels and electricity.

Where: Boston, Ma.
When: November 19, 2008
Why: According to the Energy Information Administration, the carbon dioxide emissions of the U.S. building sector are almost equal to the total CO2 emissions of India and Japan combined.

Where: Tokyo, Japan
When: November 17, 2008
Why: There are efforts in the U.S. to promote a new, low-carbon society. How is this happening, and what other efforts are needed to change lifestyles in U.S.?

Where: Carlsbad, Calif.
When: November 14, 2008
Why: More than 40 leaders in industry, finance, research, and policy convened at La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, Calif., to discuss critical issues and opportunities for the HVAC&R industry, including climate change, energy efficiency, refrigerants and pending federal legislation.

In 2007, deregulation laws allowed French citizens to chose their own electricty supplier. Alliance Associate and energy efficiency advocate Electricité de France (EDF) responded to this altered market landscape with an attractive package called Bleu Ciel™, which offers customers a way to track and improve their energy savings through a variety of services.

The Alliance campaign the Drive Smarter Challenge was recently honored with four marketing and communications awards for campaign excellence. Having convinced countless Americans to reduce their vehicle miles traveled by following simple driving and car maintenance tips, the campaign is gassing up for more work next year, when it will continue to message fuel-efficiency across the country.

The recently-released Dingell-Boucher Discussion Draft resurrects the issue of climate change legislation for the new 111th Congress, recalling such matters as the price of carbon, and - of particular interest to the Alliance - provisions for energy efficiency.

Here, the Alliance gives a first impression of this climate discussion draft, and offers a detailed summary of the drafts's potential for instigating real change on the Hill and beyond. An updated side-by-side comparison of various climate bills is coming soon.

Recently, Exelon, the nation’s largest electric and gas utility, presented Exelon 2020: a Low-Carbon Roadmap, a comprehensive environmental plan to reduce, offset or displace 15 million metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually by 2020. This amount is more than the company’s annual footprint, and the equivalent of taking three million cars off the road. The Alliance spoke with Exelon Chairman, President and CEO John W. Rowe about his company’s strategy for moving forward with the aggressive measures of Exelon 2020.

CSIS Event, October, 22, 2008 – As part of its series of discussions on energy and national security, the Center for Strategic and International Studies held a panel discussion on the role of energy efficiency in climate legislation. Joe Loper, Senior Vice President for Policy and Research at the Alliance to Save Energy, led off the discussion with an overview of the opportunities and challenges of using energy efficiency to reduce the cost of compliance with federal climate legislation.

Alliance president Kateri Callahan with Congressman Steve Israel and National Grid’s Ed Carr at a special Associates breakfast in New York where the Congressman discussed the importance of good energy policy in today’s volatile financial climate and what we might expect in the 111th Congress.

On October 8, Executive VP of Programs and Development Brian Castelli addressed attendants of the Plumbing Manufactures Institute at their 2008 Fall Meeting in Arlington, Va.

October 17 – This morning I had the great honor of moderating an international panel at the World Leadership Conference in Pittsburgh, PA, hosted by the International Women’s Forum.

NASCAR Angels TV show crew chief Rick Hunter walks viewers through the Alliance to Save Energy's Drive $marter Challenge savings calculator, which demonstrates how many hundreds of dollars viewers can save with their specific vehicle by taking six driving and maintenance actions.

With the theme, “Visions for Sustainability and Climate Change”, the conference was attended by over 500 international energy industry professionals keen to learn more about carbon reduction and sustainable business practices.

At the University of California-Irvine, Alliance to Save Energy Green Campus Interns and volunteers continue their award-winning Fume Hood Use campaign, also known as “Shut the Sash.”

Students monitor energy usage of the laboratory equipment by measuring the distance by which fume hoods are left open when not in use. With 1,041 fume hoods all over campus, each using about 3.5 times as much energy as a house, UC Irvine has some major energy vampires.  Using a collaborative approach that educates teaching assistants and lab users, the campus has saved over 80,000 lbs of CO2 and $13,000 every quarter since the fall of 2005 through their Fume Hood Use campaign alone.

On Thursday, September 25, 2008, at the Russell Senate Office Building in Washington, D.C., the Alliance assembled ten thought leaders hailing from various sectors and industries who offered their views on how best to conceive a "new energy world order" – one that begins with energy efficiency as the first resource of choice. Though their methods and motivations differed, each of the keynote speakers has excelled at implementing energy efficiency as the quickest, cleanest, and cheapest energy resource available, and the most cost-effective solution to climate change.

Presenting to an audience of over 200 people, the keynote speakers gave insight to the ways in which energy efficiency is transforming the business sector, influencing public policy, and helping to mitigate carbon emissions worldwide. Presentations and pictures from the event are now available.

The Alliance is pleased to introduce a new series of state policy briefs on energy efficiency entitled State Energy Efficiency Policies: Options and Lessons Learned.

The policy briefs are specifically designed to provide state officials and those who track and analyze state legislation with a concise review of the policy options available to state governments for promoting energy efficiency. The series will also highlight “lessons learned” taken from the experiences state governments have had with these policies.

The first of 12 briefs to be released over the coming weeks, Funding Mechanisms for Energy Efficiency, explores the four major ways in which states can fund energy efficiency programs.

Sept. 23, 2009: Alliance President Kateri Callahan urged the Senate to approve long-awaited and urgently-needed energy efficiency tax incentives for U.S. consumers and businesses, which the Senate later did by a vote of 93-2.  The provisions are included in a bipartisan, substitute amendment, introduced by Senators Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), amending H.R. 6049 that was scheduled for debate by the Senate today.

It’s a hot topic with questions soon to be answered in the post-election fall-out: What is the energy outlook for the next Administration and Congress? Can we expect another monumental energy act to continue the deeds of EISA 2007? When will we see substantial growth in the ‘green collar’ workforce? What role will technology play in new energy policies? And – important to the Alliance to Save Energy and its allies – how and when will the government ‘ramp up’ its energy efficiency programs, which currently receive only about $3-4 billion a year?

The Alliance Applauds Chevron’s New Energy Efficiency Campaign

The Alliance to Save Energy congratulates Chevron on its recent launch of the “Will You Join Us” Campaign, which engages consumers in an important discussion about energy consumption and efficiency.

The newly updated “Will You Join Us” website houses an interactive “Energy Generator” so users can gauge the personal and aggregate impact of using less energy.  The “MPG Optimizer” shows users how they can drive smarter and save gas by taking simple actions. Read More...

On Sept. 15, 2008, Alliance Executive Vice-President Brian Castelli participated in a panel discussion about energy options for Ukraine, hosted by the Washington Group, in conjunction with the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council, and the Ukrainian American Environmental Association.

Watch video from the event

Read about the latest California Green Schools successes in Students Leading the Way 2007-2008: Energy Savings Success Stories from Southern California.

“It is critical for the future of our country that we embrace energy efficiency and make it a key part of our strategy going forward,” said Alliance Co-Chair Jim Rogers during the Economic Town Hall on August 26 at the 2008 Democratic National Convention.

Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2008 – Representatives from approximately 50 organizations and all levels of government were on hand in Little Rock to hear the Alliance’s Honorary Chair, Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), discuss the future of energy and climate change policy as well as the role of energy efficiency in shaping those policies. The event, sponsored by Trane, was one of a regular series of events for Alliance Associates.

Sultana, Desert Trails High Schools, Hesperia School District Honored for Saving Schools $660,000 with Energy Efficiency

Alliance to Save Energy Green Schools Program Award Highlights Student Leadership, Initiatives in Making Schools More Energy Efficient

From the Hesperia Star, by Beau Yarbrough - March 7, 2008

In this lesson students are introduced to concepts such as electromagnetic radiation and the greenhouse effect. In addition, students gain an understanding of the correlation between burning fossil fuels and greenhouse gas concentrations in the Earth’s atmosphere, and how energy conservation can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In this lesson students learn about electrical energy, and the difference between common items that use electricity, and those that do not. In understanding how and when energy is used, students gain awareness of ways to save energy.

In this lesson students work together to identify items that use electricity, and the role they play in every day life. Students conclude by illustrating these objects, while simultaneously practicing their pronunciation to build phonemic awareness.

Washington, DC, August 2008— The National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing (NASCAR) and the Alliance to Save Energy have teamed up in a number of ways to "drive forward" the Alliance's Drive $marter Challenge campaign designed to save drivers hundreds of dollars on gasoline and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

July 29, 2008 – The Alliance to Save Energy supports the critical energy efficiency provisions and extensions of the federal efficiency tax provisions that are included in S. 3335, the Jobs, Energy, Families & disaster Relief Act of 2008, which will be considered by the Senate this week. A key vote is expected in the Senate tomorrow which will determine whether the tax incentives will be approved by the Senate before the August recess.

Today, Alliance President Kateri Callahan participated in a press conference, called by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, to discuss the need for and benefit to the American people of passage of such legislation: