Welcome to the Alliance to Save Energy's monthly newsletter e-FFICIENCY NEWS
NPC Study Backs Broader Energy-Efficiency Proposals
 The National Petroleum Council (NPC) has completed its report and assessment on the future of U.S. oil and natural gas supply. The 400+ page study titled "Facing the Hard Truths About Energy" was delivered to the Department of Energy on July 18 and calls for aggressive policies to moderate a projected 50-60 percent growth in energy demand by 2030. Among its suggestions, the petroleum council recommends increasing vehicle fuel economy standards, improving energy efficiency in U.S. buildings, and adopting polices to price carbon. The report is the product of more than a year's work by analysts and executives from the nation's leading oil and gas companies, as well as the Alliance to Save Energy and other leading energy, environmental, and consumer organizations.
For a full copy of the report and the executive summary, go to, www.npc.org.
Back to Top
Florida Governor Signs Executive Order Hat Trick
 Florida Governor Charlie Crist (R) recently signed three comprehensive and far-ranging executive orders (EOs) that aggressively expand the state's energy policy and seek to immediately reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Crist also signed partnership agreements with Germany and the United Kingdom establishing climate friendly commerce, technology and policy arrangements. More
Back to Top
Aloha, Climate Change
 Hawaiians are intimately connected to the Earth's climate, and based on a recently passed law, they want to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Global Warming Solutions Act, which took effect July 1, mandates state policies to lower greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2020. A 10-member task force comprised of business leaders, government agencies, environmentalist, and academics will develop a practical, cost-effective plan (including any proposed regulations) for accomplishing the reduction. Meanwhile, the state department of tourism is charged with cataloguing all sources of GHGs on the islands. The legislation makes Hawaii only the second US state to place caps on GHGs.
Back to Top
Overdue DOE Procurement Guidance Released
 The Department of Energy, this month, issued guidance for federal procurement policies on energy-efficient equipment that could save taxpayers millions of dollars per year and significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The proposed rules would clarify requirements for federal agencies (mandated by EPAct 2005) to purchase only ENERGY STAR and FEMP-designated energy-efficient products. The new guidance applies to all equipment and appliances installed in new construction as well as leased buildings, including military housing.
Back to Top
Energy Efficiency and the New Energy Economy
 The Western Governors' Association hosted an energy-efficiency workshop this month to identify strategies and develop recommendations for states and communities to improve the status of their building codes by at least 30 percent. Colorado Governor Bill Ritter (D) launched the event calling energy efficiency the first, best strategy for addressing climate change and the richest source of new energy in this country. The workshop was attended by more than 150 leading policymakers, utility commissioners, builders and advocacy groups.
Back to Top
U.S. Mayors Leading the Way in Reducing Energy and Emissions
According to a new survey, our nation's cities are taking the initiative to implement energy-efficient practices and actions aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The survey, released by the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Climate Protection Center, shows local governments are acting independently and finding innovative ways to reduce energy.
Actions by mayors include the installation of energy-efficient lighting for streetlights, traffic signals and in public buildings and parks; running city fleets on hybrid-electric and alternative technologies; raising sustainability criteria for city buildings; and encouraging Congress to create a grant program for cities that conduct green projects.
Back to Top
Enter to Win a Free Home Makeover
 The Alliance to Save Energy, the Edison Electric Institute (EEI) and the SCI FI Channel are offering energy conscious consumers a free energy-efficiency home makeover. The Eureka $mart House Energy Efficiency Contest, part of the 6° of Energy Efficiency Challenge, encourages participants to make their homes "smarter" through low-cost or no-cost energy-efficiency upgrades. To enter the contest visit the SCI FI website.
Back to Top
Plugging In for the Environment and Energy Security
 In the most comprehensive environmental assessment of electric transportation to date, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) have examined the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air quality impacts of widespread deployment of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). The study finds that greater use of PHEVs can result in the equivalent GHG reduction of removing 82.5 million cars from the road and reduce oil consumption by 3-4 million barrels per day in 2050.
Back to Top
Around the Alliance
The Alliance to Save Energy was pleased to be invited to author a chapter for the soon to be published Presidential Climate Action Plan (PCAP) report. The report is a series of recommendations to the next President of the United States including guidelines detailing how to address climate change, energy stability and national security. Led by the University of Colorado, PCAP includes input and contributions from leading representatives from academia, the sciences, business, and environmental and advocacy groups. The Alliance chapter discusses federal energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
September 20th, 2007 will mark the 15th Annual Evening with the Stars of Energy Efficiency Awards Dinner. Join the Alliance for this historical evening as we celebrate our 30th anniversary and honor this year's award recipients.
Registration for the Energy Efficiency Global Forum and Exposition (EE Global) is now available online. Over 150 confirmed speakers to date. Log on today and register for the only energy-efficiency event you will need to attend in 2007!
The Alliance would like to welcome the following new Associates this month:
Congressional Quarterly: www.cq.com
Salt River Project: www.srpnet.com
DMJM Harris: www.dmjmharris.com
July's employee of the month award goes to Lowell Ungar, the Alliance's Senior Policy Analyst. Lowell logged long hours this month working to ensure that the strongest possible energy-efficiency provisions were included in both the Senate energy bill and the energy legislation considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Thanks again for all the hard work, Lowell. Keep it up.
Back to Top
Upcoming Events
Rising oil prices and growing concerns about global warming have revived efforts around the world to improve energy efficiency. The Energy Efficiency Management Conference is a two-day event scheduled for July 23-24 in Singapore designed to exchange information, explore solutions, and discover trends and financing opportunities for energy-efficiency projects across the globe.
 GovEnergy 2007 , August 5-8 in New Orleans, Louisiana, is celebrating its 10th year as the federal government's premier energy-efficiency workshop and exposition. Sign up now for over 80 training and workshop sessions, education credits, a trade show featuring 140 exhibitors, technical tours and more!
 The International Energy Program Evaluation Conference(IEPEC) is a biennial conference for energy program implementers, evaluators, federal and state agency representatives, and academic researchers. The IEPEC presents the latest information on market assessments, emerging technologies, and alternatives to traditional centralized supply-side options. Register online and join the IEPEC on August 14-16 in Chicago, Illinois.
How can your company lower its carbon footprint? Attend the 5th Annual Corporate Climate Response event in Chicago, Illinois, September 25-26 to hear top industry speakers discuss the latest updates on national climate policy, solutions for reducing corporate carbon emissions and the impact state actions are having on US corporations.
Back to Top
|
