e-FFICIENCY NEWS: April 2006

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Welcome to the Alliance to Save Energy's monthly newsletter e-FFICIENCY NEWS

Chatting with the Alliance About Tax Incentives

Picture of Lowell Ungar Picture of Harry Misuriello On Tuesday, March 28, Alliance Senior Policy Analyst, Lowell Ungar, and Director of Buildings and Utilities, Harry Misuriello, participated in a live chat at washingtonpost.com. The two fielded questions and provided guidance to homeowners and consumers across the U.S. regarding tax credits available under the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Senate Proposes Extending Key Efficiency EPAct Provisions

Since the passage of last year’s Energy Policy Act, critics have raised concerns about the prohibitive nature of time limits imposed on many of the energy tax incentive provisions. Senators Charles Grassley (R – Iowa) and Max Baucus (D – Mont.), the chair and ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee, recently took steps to help quell some of this unrest. The Alternative Energy Extender Act (S. 2401) was introduced on March 13th, 2006 and specifically requests three year extensions – to December 31, 2010 – of the tax incentives for new energy-efficient homes and commercial buildings.

Moving Toward a European Energy Policy

The need for a united energy policy took center stage at the latest European Union (EU) summit held in Brussels March 23 to 24. Following suggestions from a green paper (200 KB PDF) issued in early March, EU leaders formally endorsed a series of steps designed to achieve “sustainable, secure and competitive energy supplies” for the Union. The EU’s new Energy Policy for Europe (EPE) stresses supply issues such as diversification of energy sources and a common policy for external energy suppliers. The EPE also calls for the establishment of an internal market for gas and electricity by 2007, as well as raising renewable energy use to 15% by 2015. It remains to be seen how the EU will balance the competing objectives of the plan, especially the idea of national sovereignty. Evidence suggests an approach that favors “coordination instead of centralization” in the words of German chancellor Angela Merkel.

New Appliance Standards Could Save Billions

A new report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project suggests the potential for big savings from new efficiency appliance standards. In 2005, Congress enacted standards for 15 products as part of the Energy Policy Act. The ACEEE report looks at the financial and energy-saving impacts of regulating15 additional products, including DVD players, pool heaters, hot tubs, walk-in freezers and commercial boilers. All told, recommendations in the report could save American consumers and businesses $54 billion and the equivalent electric capacity of 40 power plants.

Alliance on the Hill

Piture of the U.S. Captiol Building During the past few weeks, the Alliance to Save Energy has been busy working and talking with both House and Senate members on Capitol Hill to advance the case for energy efficiency as the cleanest, quickest and cheapest means for attaining a sustainable, secure energy future. On March 29th, the Alliance and several Associates convened for a breakfast roundtable with 12 members of Congress who are participants in the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus. Discussion topics included implementing and fully appropriating the energy-efficiency provisions of EPAct 2005, extending and possibly expanding the energy-efficiency tax credits in the energy law, and finding ways to reduce our oil dependence in the transportation sector. On April 4th Alliance President Kateri Callahan testified before the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee’s Climate Conference regarding the important role that energy efficiency can play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Karsner Named New Secretary for Energy Efficiency

Picture of Alexander Karsner being sworn in as the new Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Alexander Karsner has been sworn in as the new Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE). Mr. Karsner’s technology background will help him oversee the deployment of President Bush’s recently announced Advanced Energy Initiative as well as the $1.17 billion EERE office. “We are pleased to have someone with Mr. Karsner’s background and experience heading up the EERE,” said Alliance President Kateri Callahan. “We look forward to working with him to increase awareness about the benefits of energy efficiency and to promote clean, energy secure options for our nation’s consumers and businesses.”

100 Top Companies Ranked on Climate

It was Mark Twain who said, “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.” According to a first-of-its-kind report issued by the Ceres investor coalition this may not be the case any longer. The report, Corporate Governance and Climate Change: Making the Connection, analyzed how 100 leading companies in 10 critical business sectors are addressing and meeting the challenges associated with climate change. Leading the list are BP and Dupont who captured the top overall and top U.S. company scores respectively. “We cannot overestimate the importance of responsible leadership and corporate governance when it comes to global warming and climate change. And we are striving to ensure that energy efficiency is a key solution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Kateri Callahan, President of the Alliance to Save Energy.

Wisconsin Gov. Signs Sweeping Energy Bill

name A new energy law recently signed by Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle (D) promises to reinvent how the state thinks about energy savings and efficiency. The Energy Efficiency and Renewables Act focuses on three areas: increasing the use of renewable energy in Wisconsin, promoting renewable and energy-efficient technologies, and bolstering the state’s energy-efficiency programs. For example, the law updates state building codes and requires Wisconsin utilities to produce 10 percent of their output from renewables by 2015 – an effort that would supply 850,000 homes with power each year and decrease CO2 emissions by more than 5.5 million tons.

Tax Breaks for Commercial Buildings

With national utility rates expected to rise on average by over 5% in coming months, commercial building owners need every advantage at their disposal to manage energy costs. The Alliance to Save Energy, the Maryland Energy Administration and ACEEE are organizing a one-day workshop April 26th, 2006 designed for Mid-Atlantic commercial building owners and facility managers to instruct and illustrate opportunities for tax incentives available under the new energy law. Experts from the Department of Energy, Environmental Protection Agency and industry will discuss tax advantages for commercial lighting, building envelope, HVAC, as well as other energy-efficiency programs that leverage provisions in EPAct 2005.

Alliance Unveils Success with Watergy Program at World Water Forum

Picture of Flag of Mexico The 4th World Water Forum, the single largest event addressing global water policy and sustainable development, convened in Mexico City March 16 to 22. At the event, the Alliance to Save Energy unveiled a model to demonstrate energy-efficient water treatment and supply technologies for water utilities. The model will be displayed throughout Mexico to build awareness about the many available water treatment, delivery and supply solutions. The booth was launched in a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Assistant Administrator for USAID-Washington's Bureau of Economic Growth, Agriculture and Trade, an event that was filmed for television. Alliance Mexico Watergy Staff Members, Arturo Pedraza and Leonel Ochoa, successfully organized a 12-company partnership to build and demonstrate the model. The Alliance display at the event also included information on the Alliance to Save Energy's Watergy™ program and shared a case study of performance contracting for a municipal water utility in South Africa. See this article in pictures.

Saving Energy One Soft Drink at a Time

Many schools, businesses and government facilities are finding new and innovative ways to reduce energy consumption and cut utility costs. Consider that the average vending machine consumes about $300 of electricity per year. The EPA’s ENERGY STAR program qualifies vending units that are 40% more energy-efficient than standard models. These units can save 1,600 kWh/year, or nearly $150 annually on utility bills. Another company, USA Technologies, has developed the VendingMiser, a small, motion-sensitive device which attaches to any conventional vending machine and cuts electricity costs by 30 percent or more and can help machines perform to ENERGY STAR specification levels. The Orange County, Florida school district recently ordered 1000 VendingMiser units – a move that could save the district over $100,000 a year.

Honeywell’s High-Tech Experience

Honeywell Logo Located in the shadow of the U.S. Capitol, Honeywell’s state-of-the-art office facilities in Washington, DC are an interactive example of the company’s commitment to building a safer, more secure and more energy-efficient world. To illustrate this belief, Honeywell has installed an impressive corporate briefing exhibit they call the ‘Honeywell Technology Experience’. This winding, multi-media museum of “everything Honeywell” includes technology and product displays, an interactive cityscape, a 20-foot retracting theater wall, and a full-size Primus Epic Flight Simulator.

EPA Presents ENERGY STAR Awards

Energy Star logo Congratulations to this year’s EPA Energy Star Partner of the Year Award winners. A total of 67 businesses and organizations were recognized for individual achievements in energy savings as well as efforts to help consumers save money and energy. Last year the ENERGY STAR program was responsible for $12 billion in overall energy savings. Of special note are Alliance Associates 3M, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, OSRAM Sylvania, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison, Frito-Lay, Lithonia Lighting, National Grid, Whirlpool Corporation, The Home Depot, Austin Energy, and the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy.

EE etc . . .

Get ready for the Alliance's next Great Energy Efficiency Debate scheduled for Tuesday, May 23rd, 2006. Representatives from business, government, media, transportation, the utility sector and more will convene on Capitol Hill to ask questions, share ideas, and discuss solutions about the energy issues facing our country today. Space is limited so register online today!

The Alliance is pleased to welcome five new Associates this month:

Save the Date for the U.S. – India Energy Efficiency Technology Cooperation Conference to be hosted in New Delhi, India May 2 to 3, 2006. The two-day conference is part of the U.S. – India Energy Dialogue and will highlight building and industrial energy efficiency technology in India. For more information contact Younes Masiky at younes.masiky@ee.doe.gov.