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

Industry Leader Interview: Rep. Steve Israel

e-FFICIENCY NEWS: You were one of the chief architects of the Center Aisle Caucus - whose main goal seems to be bipartisan cooperation and governing. In light of the current political climate in Washington and the many proposals surfacing that address energy issues, is this caucus working with the Congress to craft meaningful energy policies and, if so, is sufficient funding being authorized and/or appropriated to support the initiatives?

Israel: My goal has been framing energy as a national security issue and this seems to be a goal which members from both sides of the aisle can get behind. The Center Aisle Caucus will focus on this issue because energy independence isn't a Democratic or Republican issue, but a national security imperative. In addition to the Center Aisle Caucus, I've formed a bi-partisan Defense Energy Working Group with my colleague Rep. Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD). The working group is founded on the premise that the military's dependence on energy is a national security vulnerability and it identifies challenges associated with this dependence and recommends solutions. Read the full interview ...

The End of Inefficient Incandescents?

Energy-efficiency advocates and Alliance Associate Philips Lighting Company, the world's largest manufacturer of light bulbs and lighting products, have announced an agreement to phase out incandescent light bulbs by 2016. The proposed "soft ban" seeks to dramatically reduce the energy use of lighting products through both voluntary and regulatory policies.

The new Lighting Efficiency Coalition, which includes Philips, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Earth Day Network, Californians Against Waste, and the Alliance, promotes substituting inefficient incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), energy saving halogens, and light emitting diodes (LEDs). More ...

Maryland Paves the Way for Cleaner Cars

The Maryland House and Senate have approved a bill designed to reduce emissions by 30% on all cars sold in the state by 2016. The measure, which Governor O'Malley has pledged to sign, would make Maryland the 11th state to follow California's stricter air pollution standards. Under an amendment to the 1977 Clean Air Act, California is allowed to regulate auto emissions, which other states are allowed to adopt. These standards are up to 15 percent tougher than federal limits on smog-forming pollutants and require new cars to emit, on average, one-third fewer greenhouse gases (GHG) within a decade. Analysts predict this new law will result in 4.4 million fewer tons of GHG per year by 2020.

Western Coalition Agrees on Greenhouse Gas Cuts

Governors from five western states have signed an agreement to collectively cut their states' greenhouse gas emissions. The governors of Arizona, California, New Mexico, Oregon and Washington recently established the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative - promising to set regional targets within six months for lower emissions and a year after that to devise a regional carbon cap and trade system.

DOE Report Encourages Greater Utility Energy Efficiency

In accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Department of Energy (DOE) has submitted its report and recommendations to Congress on state and regional utility policies that promote energy-efficiency programs. Working with the National Council on Electricity Policy and with help from the Alliance to Save Energy, the DOE concluded that state and regional policies should implement and utilize low-cost energy efficiency programs to meet energy demand and enhance system reliability. The report also presents 10 recommendations that could increase delivery of energy efficiency by electric and gas utilities.

Proposed Energy Facelift for Federal Buildings

The United States federal government is the single largest consumer, and the single largest waster, of energy in the world. On March 28, 2007 Alliance President Kateri Callahan testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on a new measure, The Public Buildings Cost Reduction Act (S. 992), that would accelerate efforts to improve the energy efficiency of federal buildings managed by the General Services Administration. Among the efficiency-boosting measures that could be undertaken are improvements in building insulation, updating heating and cooling systems, and installation of energy efficient lights.

New Programs Focus on 'Documenting' Energy Efficiency

This Earth Day, April 22, the Documentary Channel is launching a new block of programming called EarthView. Airing every Sunday night at 7pm, EarthView documentaries will explore environmental issues such as energy conservation, natural habitats and global warming. More...

Guidelines Released for Commercial Building Tax Deductions

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, at the request of the Treasury Department, had released guidance for modeling and inspecting energy-efficient property in commercial buildings necessary to claim federal tax deductions granted in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. These detailed requirements outline many of the technical aspects on how to calculate energy savings, how to inspect commercial buildings, and what is required to qualify for total and partial credits.

Gas and Electric Take a Stand on Climate Change

The American Gas Association (AGA) and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) recently released formal climate change principles in an effort to help guide their industries' engagement in the public debate over U.S. policy to address this issue. Both groups stressed the importance of technology and energy efficiency in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For more about the gas and electric industry's commitment to combating climate change, visit the EEI and AGA websites.

Efficiency Enters Film Festival

Documentary Channel, in partnership with ENERGY STAR, the Alliance to Save Energy and Art Center College of Design in Los Angeles, has completed production of a documentary short called "emPOWERed". The film, narrated by Ashley Judd, is a window into the efforts of visionary individuals - a home-builder affected by hurricane Katrina, a school administrator in Oregon, an environmentally-conscious church minister - to reduce energy consumption and positively effect climate change one act at a time.

The film is set to enter the festival circuit this spring, and will premiere on Documentary Channel before the end of the year.

Get Smart About Energy During EE Week

Now in its 3rd year, EE Week (www.eeweek.org) is the largest organized environmental education event in U.S. history. It increases the educational impact of Earth Day by creating a full week of educational preparation, learning, and activities to teach students, educators, and families how to reduce energy consumption in their schools and homes. Over 3 million students and 100,000 educators are anticipated to participate in the program, culminating in over 5,000 Earth Day service projects and 50 million hours of learning by April 22, 2007.

EE etc . . .

Mark your calendars for the 2007 Energy-Saving and Environmental Protection Exhibition. Hosted June 10-13 in Beijing, China, this international exposition and forum will gather Europe and Asia's leading industry professionals, government authorities, academics and members of the press to exhibit advanced energy-saving technologies and share information on the future of energy efficiency and conservation.

The Energy Efficiency Finance Forum is the premier event in the country for corporate leaders, investors, regulators, and efficiency advocates interested in the fast growing sector of energy-efficiency investment. Hosted April 12-13 by ACEEE, New Energy Capital, and Financial Research Associates, LLC at the Helmsley Hotel in New York City, the conference will feature many giants in the clean energy investment community, including Alliance Board and Associate members.

Save the date for the North Carolina Summit on Energy Efficiency , a one-day conference in Raleigh, North Carolina on April 16. Discuss and learn about opportunities for energy efficiency, share information and build consumer awareness in the state. Speakers include state and national leaders, utility representatives, regulators, industry representatives and government experts.

Is today's energy crisis all hype? Has the potential of energy efficiency reached its peak? Will climate policy bankrupt our economy? These and other myths concerning the relationship between energy and American society are examined in the new book, Energy and American Society - Thirteen Myths, co-edited by Alliance board member Dr. Marilyn Brown.

Around the Alliance

March's employee of the month award goes to an individual who holds an important and sometimes overlooked position. Lorna McDaid , the Alliance's Senior Accountant, is responsible for keeping the lights running, the bills paid and the auditors content. We would like to give Lorna a big thanks for her hard work, extra effort and especially her patience and winning attitude.

The Alliance is hiring! We are currently seeking a Senior Development Associate to assist the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations. Primary responsibilities include fundraising and grant-writing activities as well as research on potential donors and proposal coordination.

We are also looking for a Policy Manager to conduct direct congressional advocacy, track energy issues, analyze energy-efficiency policy and programs, and recommend short and long-term policy objectives for the Alliance to Save Energy. For more information and application instructions, visit the Jobs section of the Alliance website. No calls please.

e-FFICIENCY NEWS: April 2007

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