Two Million Smart Grid Meters Installed Nationwide, new milestone, Anounces Chu

Over 180,000 in Ohio Will Help Consumers Save Money, Reduce Their Energy Use

At an event today at Battelle headquarters in Columbus, Ohio, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced that two million smart grid meters have been installed acrosss the country, helping to reduce energy costs for families and businesses. As a result of funding from the Recovery Act, smart grid technology is speeding the modernization of the nation’s electrical grid, helping to reduce the amount of time needed to respond to energy distruptions and enable consumers to monitor their energy consumption and costs.  So far, more than 180,000 smart meters have been installed in Ohio.

“As a result of an unprecedented investment from the Recovery Act, smart meters are being installed in Ohio and across the country to create a more reliable, modern electrical grid and give consumers the ability to monitor and control their energy use,” said Secretary Chu. “Smart Grid technologies will give consumers choice and promote energy savings, increase energy efficiency, and foster the growth of renewable energy resources.”

An analysis by the Electric Power Research Institute estimates that the implementation of smart grid technologies could reduce electricity use by more than 4 percent annually by 2030. That would mean a savings of $20.4 billion for businesses and consumers around the country each year, and more than $700 million for Ohio alone — or $61 in annual utility savings for every man, woman and child in Ohio.

Battelle is collaborating with American Electric Power (AEP) on the Ohio gridSMART demonstration project to upgrade the electric grid in northeast central Ohio. At Battelle, Secretary Chu toured the smart grid technology suite and saw firsthand how Battelle energy technology experts are translating basic and applied energy R&D into innovative commercial solutions, products, and services for the nation’s electric grid. These efforts will improve grid reliability, increase grid efficiency, lower consumer energy consumption and costs, reduce peak demand, and significantly reduce carbon emissions.

State Dept funds Peace Corps energy/climate efforts

In support of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA), the Department of State will provide $1 million to fund Peace Corps volunteer efforts that increase rural access to energy, mitigate the effects of climate change, and support the use of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies in Central and South American communities.

“I am pleased that the Peace Corps will play an active role in ECPA,” said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams. “Peace Corps volunteers have been innovators at the grassroots level for nearly 50 years. This agreement will provide the support for our volunteers to work with international experts and local organizations, businesses, and community members on the ground to create efficient and green solutions to energy challenges in the Americas.”

Under the partnership, Peace Corps volunteers will work with members of local communities to build infrastructure to support environmentally-friendly energy and educate communities on climate change and energy conservation. Volunteers will train host-country citizens to install, operate, and maintain energy-efficient technology including the use of alternative fuels, biodigesters, solar water heaters, photovoltaic devices, solar and fuel-efficient stoves, and wind or mini hydroelectric power generation. These efforts will make clean energy more accessible to rural communities, reduce carbon emissions, improve public health, and provide opportunities for individuals and small businesses to generate income.

In April 2009, at the Fifth Summit of the Americas, President Obama invited all countries in the Western Hemisphere to join ECPA to promote collaboration on renewable energy, energy efficiency, cleaner fossil fuels, and energy poverty. Peace Corps’ initial ECPA-related efforts will be implemented in Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Guyana, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, and Suriname.

As Peace Corps approaches its 50th anniversary, its service legacy continues to promote peace and friendship around the world with 7,671 volunteers serving in 77 host countries. Historically, nearly 200,000 Americans have served with the Peace Corps to promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of 139 host countries.

Source: IAP

New Material for More Efficient Inverters

A new material is set to make the frequency inverters used with large electric motors more efficient and powerful. Together with several partners, researchers from Siemens Corporate Technology (CT) and experts for large electrical drives at Siemens Industry Drive Technologies are studying how the semiconductor silicon carbide can be used as a diode material in place of pure silicon. Such an approach will reduce inverter energy losses by as much as 15%. The recently launched research project is receiving approximately €1.7 million in funding from the German Ministry of Education and Research.
Large machines such as pipeline pumps and compressors for natural gas liquefaction systems and ship propulsion systems are currently powered almost exclusively by electric motors that are operated at variable speeds. These motors require frequency i nverters that convert the normal European power line frequency of 50 Hz into a variable frequency that ranges from zero to approximately 200 Hz. The inverters function much like a dimmer for controlling the brightness of a light source.

 
The MV-SiC research project seeks to substantially increase the efficiency of these inverters. This is to be accomplished by new types of diode modules based on the semiconducting material silicon carbide (SiC). Along with improved efficiency, the researchers also believe that use of the SiC diodes will enhance the reliability and safety of the inverters. Siemens is carrying out pioneering work in the project, as comparable SiC high-voltage diodes operating in the medium-voltage range have not been used anywhere in the world to date.

 
The MV-SiC project was launched in June 2010 and will run until April 2013. It is part of the “Power Electronics for Improved Energy Efficiency” initiative, which in turn is a component of the German government’s High-Tech Strategy and the “Information and Communication Technology 2020” (ICT 2020) program. One of the goals of the latter is to achieve greater energy efficiency and reduce pollutant emissions through the application of new developments in power electronics systems. Along with Siemens, ICT participants include The Technical University of Dresden, Infineon, Curamik Electronics, and SiCED Electronics Development.

Source: Siemens

DOE Announces New Opportunities to Improve Commercial Building Energy Efficiency

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)  announced support for energy-saving commercial building projects as part of an ongoing effort by DOE to improve the energy efficiency of buildings in the United States. With money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, DOE’s national laboratories will select and fund technical experts to provide technical guidance to commercial building owners and operators.  The goal of this Commercial Building Partnerships (CBP) initiative is to increase the energy efficiency of selected new and existing buildings.

DOE’s CBP initiative will foster collaborative relationships among the owners and operators of commercial buildings, researchers from DOE national laboratories and private-sector technical experts. Building owners receive technical expertise on how to design, build and maintain low-energy buildings that can reduce energy use and lower energy bills across their building portfolios. These collaborations help to move energy-saving strategies into the marketplace quickly and cost-effectively. Each of the CBP building projects will be documented in publicly available case studies that will provide detailed energy use data and best practices to other building operators across the country.

Three DOE national laboratories are managing this new effort: the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colo., the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, Calif., and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland, Wash.

“CBP participants will create buildings with measured energy savings of at least 50 percent for new construction and 30 percent for existing buildings,” said Paul Torcellini, group manager for commercial building research at NREL. “This initiative is unique because it demonstrates that it’s cost-effective to make buildings more energy efficient, and that energy-efficient buildings are easy to replicate.”

Applicants can apply through the laboratories for the following two initiatives:

Call for Energy Efficient Commercial Building Projects

To get involved, owners and operators of commercial buildings—retail and office buildings, for example—will submit plans for projects that will upgrade new or existing buildings, and they commit to working with the laboratories and technical experts to make these buildings significantly more energy efficient. Although they receive no direct funding, owners and operators have access to state-of-the-art technical guidance to implement energy efficiency technologies throughout the design, construction, and evaluation of their building and retrofit projects. This technical expertise includes guidance with energy modeling, assessing and choosing appropriate energy efficiency measures, and energy performance verification.

Online applications to the call for projects are due by May 10, 2010. Learn more about the call for projects and access the application.

Request for Proposals from Commercial Building Technical Experts

Technical expert teams and measurement and verification technical contractors interested in providing technical guidance to the successful applicants to the call for projects can respond to this request for proposals (RFP). Technical expert teams need to provide a broad range of technical expertise including all or some of the following areas: architecture, engineering, HVAC and controls, daylighting, lighting, energy modeling, commissioning, building auditing and data collection, and cost estimation. Using Recovery Act funding, the participating national laboratories will contract with technical experts to provide this guidance.

Completed proposals are due by May 10, 2010. Learn more about this opportunity and read the RFP.

Learn more about Commercial Building Partnerships and these new opportunities at the Building Technologies Program website.

Report: Home Size is Declining, Energy Efficiency a Factor

The size of new U.S. single-family homes completed in 2009 declined, dropping to a nationwide average of 2,438 square feet and reversing trend of the past three decades, according to a National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). New single-family homes were almost 100 square feet smaller in 2009 than they were in 2007, according to recently released U.S. Census Bureau data. One reason for the drop, NAHB noted, was homeowners’ desire to keep energy costs in check. This growing energy-efficiency consciousness is one of many trends that the association said was likely to continue.

Despite the tendency towards a smaller footprint, overall energy usage has been growing. One reason could be the spread of air conditioning. Census Bureau data show that less than half of all new single-family homes completed in 1973 had air conditioning while nearly nine-out-of-ten new homes were air conditioned. Not surprisingly, there are regional differences in those nationwide findings. The proportion of homes with air conditioning ranged from a low of 69% in the West to a high of 99% in the South. The Northeast and Midwest were at 75% and 90%, respectively. Still, even as energy use climbs, so does energy efficiency. “Residential Energy Consumption Survey,” a U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) report released in 2005, confirms that while both floor size and overall energy consumption been trending upwards for decades, energy consumption per square foot has been dropping. The survey shows that new households were smallest from 1970 to 1979, averaging 1,863 square feet. They steadily increased through 2005, according to the EIA report. Likewise, overall household energy consumption was lowest from 1980 to 1989, but has been rising ever since. However, even as residences have grown, the amount of energy used per square foot has declined from a high of 89 cents per square foot during the 1970-79 era to 68 cents per square foot in structures built from 2000 to 2005. See the NAHB press release and page three of the EIA 2005 “Residential Energy Consumption Survey” (PDF 51 KB).

Secretary Chu Announces Initiatives to Promote Clean Energy at First Clean Energy Ministerial

At the world’s first Clean Energy Ministerial, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the United States is helping launch more than 10 international clean energy initiatives. These initiatives will cut energy waste; help deploy smart grid, electric vehicle, and carbon capture technologies; support renewable energy markets; expand access to clean energy resources and jobs; and support women pursuing careers in clean energy. The new programs offer partners concrete, technical actions to promote economic growth while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. The initiatives will eliminate the need to build more than 500 mid-sized power plants world-wide in the next 20 years.

“The Clean Energy Ministerial has brought together leaders from around the world to take unprecedented actions to deploy clean energy technologies—from energy efficiency to renewable energy to smart grids to carbon capture. These steps will promote economic growth, create jobs, and cut greenhouse gas emissions,” said Secretary Chu. “What we’ve seen here is that working together, we can accomplish more, faster, than working alone.”

At this week’s Clean Energy Ministerial in Washington, D.C., countries are launching and joining innovative initiatives to accelerate the global transition to a clean energy and low-carbon future. Ministers from 24 governments are participating in the two-day Ministerial. These countries represent more than 80% of global energy consumption and a similar percentage of the global market for clean energy technologies.

The United States helped lead the development of several initiatives as part of a Global Energy Efficiency Challenge. These projects will cut energy waste around the world by deploying super-efficient appliances, improving industrial and building efficiency for large-scale facilities, implementing smart grid technologies, and helping to put millions of electric vehicles on the roads. (see achieving higher efficiency stands in the EU, would have to increase energy efficiewncy by 3% each year, according to the WWF report)

Under the Super-efficient Equipment and Appliance Deployment (SEAD) Initiative, for instance, governments will work with the private sector to transform the global appliance market. The program will address both ends of the efficiency spectrum—incentivizing the deployment of super-efficient appliances while implementing and enforcing stronger appliance standards that push the most inefficient appliances off the market. The program will initially focus on televisions and lighting—two globally-traded products that together account for about 15% of household electricity use. Leading experts estimate that international efforts to improve the efficiency of televisions alone could reduce energy use equal to about 80 power plants by 2030.

As part of the Global Energy Efficiency Challenge, governments also joined the U.S. to improve efficiency in the buildings, industrial and vehicles sectors. The Global Superior Energy Performance (GSEP) Partnership will help large buildings and industrial facilities measure and manage their energy use, which will save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Under this public-private partnership, governments will establish internationally-recognized certification programs to recognize facilities that adopt approved energy management systems and achieve significant and independently validated efficiency improvements over time. To start, eight companies representing over $600 billion in annual sales and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will pilot the program.

In the transportation sector, the U.S. and other countries are participating in the Electric Vehicles Initiative (EVI) to enhance global cooperation on the development and deployment of electric vehicles. Through sister-city partnerships, high-level discussions, and information-sharing on electric vehicle investments and best practices, EVI will help countries deliver on their respective deployment targets. According to the International Energy Agency, this initiative will help put participating countries on the path to deploy at least 20 million electric vehicles by 2020 and reduce global oil consumption by approximately one billion barrels over the next decade.

To further accelerate the introduction of electric vehicles, improve the reliability of the electrical system, promote the growth of renewable energy, and help consumers and businesses better measure and lower their energy use, 15 governments also joined the International Smart Grid Action Network (ISGAN). This partnership will accelerate the development and deployment of smart electricity grids around the world by facilitating cooperation in key areas, including smart grid policy, regulation and finance; standards policy; technology research, development and demonstration; workforce skills and expertise; and consumer engagement.

Governments also came together to participate in an additional seven initiatives that will support the growing global market for renewable energy and carbon capture technologies; bring solar LED lanterns to more than 10 million of the world’s poorest citizens by 2015; launch virtual Clean Energy Solutions Centers to help developing countries transition to low-carbon technologies; and encourage young women to pursue careers in clean energy.

Additional information on each of the initiatives announced at the Clean Energy Ministerial is available (PDF 76 KB).

At the conclusion of the meeting, the United Arab Emirates offered to host the second Clean Energy Ministerial in spring 2011. The United Kingdom offered to host the third Ministerial at a date to be determined.

Green Collar Jobs Still an Answer to Employment Crisis

The most recent government employment reports have been disappointing because they show a profound lack of job creation on the part of the private sector.

In addition to calling the health of the overall U.S. economy into question, many analysts say that the latest data raise troubling issues about the viability of clean technology as a positive force for 21st-century prosperity. After all, we’ve been told repeatedly that legions of new green-collar jobs will materialize and generate growth for communities all across the nation.

I believe the analysts are wrong; my view remains that the creation and proliferation of well- paying green-collar jobs in America will ultimately help us address the biggest employment crisis since the Great Depression.

If you look closely and carefully, you can see tangible signs of the green jobs revolution starting to take hold everywhere today. Buildings are being retrofitted for greater energy efficiency; new energy systems are being installed; electric infrastructure is being rebuilt; and smart irrigation systems are being put in place.

This represents meaningful and next-generation work for — among others — many of the nation’s 1.7 million truck drivers, 969,000 carpenters, and 400,000 welders. Indeed, I believe that over time the green-collar job revolution will eventually start to replace a good number of the 4.1 million blue-collar jobs we’ve lost in the United States since 1998.

As I survey the present landscape, and look over the horizon to the future, I see three main ways that our country will continue to create green collar jobs.

The first way is through transformation. This means re-orienting a company or business so it operates on a clean, green basis or meets new clean, green market needs.

At the Port of Seattle, which I lead, we’ve developed one of the cleanest and most energy efficient ports in North America, a green gateway with the lowest carbon footprint for goods traveling between Asia and the Midwest. But we’ve also demonstrated that America’s ports can help add a green hue to meaningful, ongoing and valuable blue-collar work.

Indeed, the Port of Seattle has supported more than 200,000 family-wage jobs, generated nearly $18 billion in business revenues, delivered close to $900 million in annual state and local tax revenues, and invested $54 million to help small businesses at the same time that we’ve reduced emissions, removed contaminated sediment, restored shoreline, and created parks and wetlands.

Hemlock Semiconductor Corporation is another good example of how green-collar jobs are being created. The world’s largest producer of polysilicon, a key material in photovoltaic devices like solar panels, Hemlock has doubled its workforce in Michigan, and will open a new plant in Tennessee in 2012.

Johnson Controls, which creates products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies in buildings, is also a bellwether worth noting. Based on anticipated demand, the 125-year-old company says it expects to hire 60,000 new green-collar employees around the world over the next decade.

The second way that we will create green-collar jobs is through leadership. And here there is no greater example than Wal-Mart, which happens to be one of the Port of Seattle’s largest customers.

When it comes to sustainability, Wal-Mart has definitely set some aggressive and ambitious goals for itself. It intends to double its fleet’s efficiency in the U.S. by 2015 from 2005 levels, for example; the retail behemoth has already achieved a 60 percent increase in fleet efficiency over the past five years.

But Wal-Mart wants to go further, and it has taken the high road in terms of green-collar job creation by setting up and funding a Green Jobs Training Initiative that serves communities from coast to coast. It has also established a Green Jobs Council, a partnership with many of its leading sustainability suppliers to facilitate the creation of green jobs in the United States.

The third way that we will create green-collar jobs is through insourcing.

Gamesa, based in Spain and one of the world’s largest wind energy developers, has several plants in Pennsylvania, for example, and employs several hundred green-collar workers there.

Meanwhile, Milwaukee, which has lost 55,000 local manufacturing jobs over the last decade, recently announced that Ingeteam, a Spanish supplier to the wind and solar industries, had selected the Wisconsin city as the site of a new production facility.

Right now, two-thirds of all green collar jobs in America are in the energy conservation and pollution mitigation area, but capital is rapidly moving into clean energy, energy efficiency, and environmentally friendly products and services. Meanwhile, many existing blue-collar jobs that truly matter to families and communities all across the country are turning green.

These are the next waves of the green-collar job revolution. And, if we’re fortunate and far-sighted, I believe that this revolution can lift our nation higher — much higher — as it reaches for even greater prosperity in the decades to come.

——-
Tay Yoshitani is CEO of the Port of Seattle. This article was originally published on Greentechmedia.com.

Energy Technology Perspectives presentation in China

Recently I reported on the close association between the U.S. and China in this post:http://myecoproject.org/2010/07/14/pnnl-chinese-researchers-begin-cooperative-clean-energy-work/,– the article may have been more appropriatly titled “ the U.S. and China the world’s two largest polluters.”   Well seeing as how both countries have so much in common ( largest polluters, largest coal burners- 23% and 8%, respectively, largest  auto markets, etc.), and both country’s leaders seem to be making an earnest effort to make their infrastructure more cost effective through energy efficiency, if for nothing else but economic survival, less the flippin republicans in the U.S. get their way (all kinds of rethoric except no way to pay for it because “republicans don’t tax the wealthy” and since Ronald Reagan loved deficit spending to stimulate the economy–shhh!–, except when it’s a democrat doing it” nor anyway to develop a government-central strategy for fear of calling it regulation or communism! will anything be accomplished in the U.S., and as far as republicans are concerned the world be DAMNED!).  Well enough ranting, I guess I must have seen one too many Mitch McConnall pictures today, that or I heard another cable news network spend precious resources on Sara Palin (gag me !) and her daughter Bristol (gag me a second time), and the flippid idiot whatever his name, wanting to marry her because it plays so well in the tabloids and cable news channels!, hell even Larry King couldn’t resist last night to bring it up with his “panel”– yes it is time for Larry King to retire– that’s pretty tired stuff!  Now back to the real world and rational thought and ideas, Whew! in all that I really meant to say I am continuing to follow U.S. and China news, as reported below because I think if there were two polars that will shape this planet, let’s call it the ying and yang, if you will, or the artic and antartic, I think it is these two countries by far will, and I especially do not want to to take away from India and Brazil,etc. <——– Shut up!!!!!

 

IEA Executive Director Nobuo Tanaka travelled to Beijing for the China launch of the Energy Technology Perspectives (ETP) 2010 publication. The launch was hosted by the Energy Research Institute (ERI) and presided by Han Wenke, Director General of ERI. ZHOU Xi’an, Director General of the General Affairs Department of the National Energy Administration provided opening remarks congratulating the IEA on this comprehensive study. While in Beijing, Mr Tanaka also met with the Governor of the People’s Bank of China, ZHOU Xiaochuan. Mr. Tanaka is pictured here with Zhou Xianochuan.
See presentation…

IEA Report: Energy Technology Revolution is Now Underway

A new report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) finds early indications that an energy technology revolution is now underway. Released on July 1, Energy Technology Perspectives 2010, reports that global investment in renewable power generation reached an all-time high of $112 billion in 2008, then remained broadly stable in 2009 despite the economic downturn. The report also notes that many major automakers are adding electrified vehicles to their fleets, and that with the purchase incentives available in many countries, more than 5 million electrified vehicles could be on the road in the next decade. Developed countries have also accelerated their energy efficiency gains, while funding for low-carbon energy research increased by one-third between 2005 and 2008.

The IEA report notes that this “energy revolution” will require policy support, as fossil fuels will continue to provide most of the world’s energy needs under current policies. With continued use of fossil fuels, energy-related carbon dioxide emissions could nearly double by 2050. To change this trajectory, the so-called revolution will need to emphasize energy efficiency, which the report calls the most important “fuel” of the future. To halve energy-related carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, renewable power would have to grow rapidly to provide half of the world’s electricity. The report also calls for expanding other low-carbon energy sources, including nuclear power and carbon capture and storage. The IEA concludes such a shift would cost $45 trillion more than the baseline scenario over the next 40 years, but it also notes that such spending will have positive returns on investment, along with other economic, social, and environmental benefits. See the IEA press release, the Energy Technology Perspectives Web site, and the executive summary of the report (PDF 2.2 MB).

DOE Calls for Input on the National Export Initiative

In response to President Obama’s National Export Initiative, announced on March 11, 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Department of Commerce are working with the interagency Trade Promotion Coordinating Committee (TPCC) to develop the first U.S. Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Export Strategy. The strategy lays out a framework of interagency actions aimed at doubling U.S. renewable energy and energy efficiency exports by 2015.

The National Export Initiative (NEI) seeks to strengthen U.S. competitiveness in international markets in order to stimulate domestic job creation and economic growth. Federal agencies have been tasked with advancing the core NEI policy objective by increasing trade mission activity, expanding credit for clean energy exports, reducing trade barriers, and enacting policies that encourage manufacturing. For more information, view the executive order in its entirety on the White House Web site.

To open a dialogue with the private and public sector, the TPCC recently announced an interagency effort to draft a National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Export Strategy and invited stakeholder comment. Stakeholders include private businesses, trade associations, academia, labor organizations, and other relevant parties interested in conditions currently impeding U.S. exports. Goods and services that are specifically related to the transportation industry, such as biofuels, are covered in a separate document. Read the Federal Register announcement of the National Export Initiative (PDF 65 KB).

Five More States Reach Major Recovery Act Weatherization Milestone

completing weatherization work for more than 30% of the homes they have planned

The U.S. Department of Energy announced today that five more states have reached a significant milestone under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act—completing weatherization work for more than 30% of the homes they have planned. Now that New Hampshire, New Mexico, Montana, Minnesota, and Utah have each met this target, along with completing a series of monitoring and reporting milestones, the states will have access to the remaining 50% of their Recovery Act funding for the program. The Weatherization Assistance Program under the Recovery Act has weatherized more than 108,000 homes nationally, saving American families more than $47 million on their energy bills and according to state reports, supporting more than 10,000 jobs in the first quarter of this year.

“The weatherization program under the Recovery Act is creating opportunities nationwide—opportunities for energy savings and job growth. These states are helping to lead the way toward a stronger economic future with a sound foundation in clean energy,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu.

The five states highlighted today join seven other states nationally who met this Recovery Act milestone in the last month: Idaho, Maine, Mississippi, Nevada, Ohio, Vermont, and Washington.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program helps low-income households save energy and money by improving their energy efficiency. Local community action agencies or non-profit organizations provide whole-home weatherization services under the program. This includes conducting an energy audit in the home to identify the most cost-effective improvements and implementing solutions that range from installing additional insulation and weatherstripping, sealing windows and doors, caulking cracks in the building, and replacing inefficient heating and cooling systems. According to a recent study by Oak Ridge National Laboratory, weatherization services save families an average of more than $400 in energy costs during the first year.

The weatherization program is also creating jobs and providing career training opportunities nationwide. Earlier this month, the Department announced $29 million in funding for 34 weatherization training centers, which will more than triple the number of federally funded training centers and lay the foundation for an energy efficiency workforce for years to come.

More information on the five states that have now weatherized 30% of their planned homes under the Recovery Act and met a set of monitoring and compliance milestones is below:

• New Hampshire has weatherized 985 homes under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as of May 31, 2010. New Hampshire now has access to the full $23.2 million in funding to weatherize more than 2,600 total homes with Recovery Act funding. According to the state, 110 workers were employed by state and local weatherization providers during the first three months of the year.
• New Mexico has weatherized 881 homes under the Recovery Act as of May 31, 2010. The state now has access to the full $26.8 million in funding to weatherize more than 2,700 homes. According to the state, nearly 50 workers were employed by state and local weatherization providers during the first three months of the year.
• Montana has weatherized 989 homes under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as of May 31, 2010. Montana now has access to the full $26.5 million in Recovery Act funding to weatherize more than 2,400 total homes. According to the state, more than 110 workers were employed by state and local weatherization providers during the first three months of the year.
• Minnesota has weatherized 5,268 homes under the Recovery Act as of May 31, 2010. Minnesota now has access to the full $131.9 million to weatherize more than 16,800 homes with their Recovery Act funding. According to the state, more than 450 workers were employed by state and local weatherization providers during the first three months of the year.
• Utah has weatherized 1,402 homes under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act as of April 30, 2010. Utah now has access to the full $37.8 million to weatherize a total of more than 4,400 homes with Recovery Act funding. According to the state, approximately 80 workers were employed by state and local weatherization providers during the first three months of the year.

For more information, visit the Weatherization Assistance Program Web page

Obama’s Weatherization Program Gets a $27 Million Boost from Recovery Act, 27 States Benefit

With this training, skilled workers can help expand the use of energy efficient practices in America’s homes and businesses.

The U.S. Department of Energy announced today that 34 projects in 27 states have been selected to receive $29 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to develop and expand weatherization training centers across the country. These projects will provide green job training for local workers in energy efficiency retrofitting and weatherization services. With this training, skilled workers can help expand the use of energy efficient practices in America’s homes and businesses.

“A well-trained workforce will be a crucial part of America’s clean energy economy in the years ahead,” said Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman. “These investments in efficiency training programs will help build a foundation for long-term growth in America. Energy efficiency improves the competitiveness of our economy, benefits the environment, and puts Americans back to work.”

Using innovative approaches to weatherization training and standardized training curricula, these projects will help prepare weatherization workers, supervisors, and inspectors to maintain a high degree of quality in weatherization projects and to work in the growing field of energy efficiency retrofits. The centers and programs will offer training using a combination of classroom, online, and hands-on learning tools.
This funding will support the expansion of 8 existing weatherization training centers and the establishment of 26 new training centers, more than tripling the number of DOE-funded weatherization training centers nationally. The 34 programs announced today will significantly expand access to weatherization training, while improving the quality and consistency of training nationwide. These investments will continue to build on the Administration’s efforts to expand the green workforce and build a self-sustaining energy retrofit industry that creates high-quality jobs, while improving the environment and saving energy.

Under the Recovery Act, the Obama Administration is making unprecedented investments that are helping to build America’s clean energy future, including $5 billion to significantly ramp up the pace of weatherization in the United States. The training programs announced today will support a range of public and private energy efficiency efforts, including the Department’s Weatherization Assistance Program, which has already funded the weatherization of nearly 200,000 homes since last February, using both Recovery Act and annual program funds.

These weatherization training centers are part of the Department’s broader Training and Technical Assistance program for weatherization, including a variety of online tools, a national training platform, certification and accreditation standards, program evaluations, quality assurance reviews, and peer mentoring.

The following organizations have been selected for funding:

Applicant	Recovery Act Funding	Total Project Value*	City	State
Central Council Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska	$961,692	$1,159,212	Juneau	Alaska
Pulaski Technical College	$1,000,000	$1,244,507	North Little Rock	Arkansas
FSL Home Improvements	$525,692	$657,137	Phoenix	Arizona
Los Angeles Trade-Technical College	$725,976	$907,470	Los Angeles	California
Century Center for Economic Opportunity, Inc.	$1,000,000	$1,310,000	Gardena	California
Colorado Governor’s Energy Office	$963,130	$1,219,149	Denver	Colorado
The WorkPlace, Inc.	$442,951	$562,951	Bridgeport	Connecticut
University of Central Florida	$486,000	$607,500	Cocoa	Florida
University of Florida	$979,421	$1,224,674	Gainesville	Florida
WorkNet Pinellas, Inc.	$1,000,000	$1,726,000	St. Petersburg	Florida
Southface Energy Institute	$949,078	$1,422,903	Atlanta	Georgia
The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois	$959,635	$1,199,544	Champaign	Illinois
Wilbur Wright College	$1,000,000	$1,200,000	Chicago	Illinois
Indiana Community Action Association, Inc.	$1,000,000	$1,250,000	Indianapolis	Indiana
Kentucky Housing Corporation	$995,756	$1,259,051	Frankfort	Kentucky
Louisiana Association of Community Action Partnerships, Inc.	$797,250	$956,700	Baton Rouge	Louisiana
South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Inc.	$705,225	$1,049,515	Framingham	Massachusetts
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth	$964,215	$1,268,644	Dartmouth	Massachusetts
Baltimore City Community College	$1,000,000	$1,254,664	Baltimore	Maryland
Maine State Housing Authority (MaineHousing)	$880,010	$1,086,720	Augusta	Maine
Focus: HOPE	$848,172	$1,061,565	Detroit	Michigan
State of Montana	$970,099	$1,215,426	Helena	Montana
Bergen County Community Action Partnership, Inc.	$999,567	$1,275,103	Hackensack	New Jersey
New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority	$919,579	$919,579	Santa Fe	New Mexico
Association for Energy Affordability, Inc.	$873,617	$1,102,398	New York	New York
Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development Inc.	$999,846	$1,249,846	Athens	Ohio
Oregon Energy Coordinators Association	$1,000,000	$2,923,000	Salem	Oregon
Pennsylvania College of Technology	$916,981	$1,163,972	Williamsport	Pennsylvania
Bucks County Community College	$631,260	$757,512	Newtown	Pennsylvania
Governor’s Office of Economic Development	$323,700	$438,700	Clearfield	Utah
Green Jobs Alliance	$981,260	$1,511,260	Hampton	Virginia
Community Housing Partners Corporation	$1,000,000	$1,300,000	Christiansburg	Virginia
Wisconsin Energy Conservation Corporation	$255,198	$318,998	Madison	Wisconsin
West Virginia Governor’s Office of Economic Opportunity	$1,000,000	$1,250,000	Charleston	West Virginia

*Includes applicant cost share

For project descriptions, visit HERE. For more information on the weatherization program, visit http://weatherization.energy.gov.

EPA Announces Data Centers Can Now Earn Energy Star Label

WASHINGTON– The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today that stand-alone data centers and buildings that house large data centers can now earn the Energy Star label. To earn the label, data centers must be in the top 25 percent of their peers in energy efficiency according to EPA’s energy performance scale.  By improving efficiency, centers can save energy and money and help fight climate change.

EPA uses a commonly accepted measure for energy efficiency, the Power Usage Effectiveness metric, to determine whether a data center qualifies for the Energy Star label.  Before being awarded the Energy Star, a third-party licensed professional must independently verify the energy performance of these buildings and sign and seal the application document that is sent to EPA for review and approval.

Data centers are found in nearly every sector of the economy and deliver vital information technology services, including data storage, communications and internet accessibility.  Data centers use a significant amount of energy, accounting for 1.5 percent of total U.S. electricity consumption at a cost of $4.5 billion annually, an amount that is expected to almost double over the next five years.

Significant energy and cost savings are possible through modest gains in efficiency. The energy consumed by data centers is growing every year. Based on the latest available data, improving the energy efficiency of America ’s data centers by just 10 percent would save more than 6 billion kilowatt-hours each year, enough to power more than 350,000 homes and save more than $450 million annually.

Through Energy Star, EPA provides a proven energy management strategy and free tools for public and private organizations to save energy and money through increased energy efficiency.

Data centers can improve energy efficiency in many ways, such as purchasing Energy Star qualified servers and ensuring that all HVAC equipment functions properly. 

More information about the Energy Star label for data centers: http://www.energystar.gov/datacenters 

More information about the Energy Star label for commercial buildings:

http://www.energystar.gov/labeledbuildings

Ways to Travel Green by Checking into an Energy Star Labeled Hotel

Travel green while on the road this summer, and choosing hotels that have earned EPA’s Energy Star is a great place to start. Energy Star labeled hotels are independently verified to meet strict energy efficiency performance levels set by EPA. Hotels that have earned the Energy Star perform in the top 25 percent of hotels nationwide, use at least 35 percent less energy and emit at least 35 percent less greenhouse gas emissions than their peers – making an environmentally friendly lodging choice a snap when planning a summer vacation.

 In addition to choosing a hotel that has earned the Energy Star, travelers can also bring their green on the road with steps to save energy as a hotel guest. Simple actions can add up to big savings for the environment and for the bottom line. EPA recommends the following steps to save energy this summer as a hotel guest:

• turn off the lights and TV when leaving the hotel room;
• adjust the thermostat to an energy-saving setting so it doesn’t heat or cool the room while empty;
• unplug electronics such as cell phones chargers and laptops when not in use;
• open curtains to take advantage of daylight when possible;
• and re-use linens to save both water and energy.

The lodging industry spends more than $7.5 billion on energy each year. Reducing energy use by 10 percent across the industry could save $750 million and help reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 6 million tons annually. Through Energy Star, EPA works with hundreds of owners and managers of hotels across the country to help strategically manage energy performance, cut energy use, lower utility bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The online registry that lists all hotels that have earned the Energy Star is updated daily with energy efficient buildings from coast to coast. Several popular travel search engines have also enhanced their online hotel listings to include properties that have earned the Energy Star.

Find hotels that have earned the Energy Star: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=labeled_buildings.locator

Learn more about Energy Star and the lodging industry: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=hospitality.bus_hospitality

Breakthrough Made in Energy Efficiency, Use of Waste Heat

CORVALLIS, Ore. – Engineers at Oregon State University have made a major new advance in taking waste heat and using it to run a cooling system – a technology that can improve the energy efficiency of diesel engines, and perhaps some day will appear in automobiles, homes and industry.

This heat-actuated cooling system, which will probably find its first applications by the U.S. Army, could ultimately be applied to automobiles, factories or other places where waste heat is being generated, and used to provide either air conditioning or electricity.

In its first military application where stationary diesel generator sets are used, researchers say they expect improved efficiencies of 20-30 percent in situations where cooling is needed.

The system is one of the early applications of microchannel technology that is being developed jointly by OSU and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, through a joint venture called the Microproducts Breakthrough Institute.

“Our approach will provide a capability that has not yet been achieved for efficiently using waste heat with small-scale systems,” said Richard Peterson, a professor of mechanical engineering at OSU. “The technology has been successfully developed and we should have a working prototype ready for demonstration by this summer.”

Conceptually, the system works somewhat like existing heat pumps, but it’s powered by waste heat, not electricity. What makes the technology unique is the use of microchannel heat transfer components and an efficient “vapor expander” to provide high heat transfer rates and smaller, lighter and more efficient heat exchangers.

“Right now, about 75 percent of the fuel energy in most stationary diesel generators used to produce electricity is lost in the form of waste heat,” Peterson said. “And the military often needs these generators to operate air conditioning for advanced electronic equipment and other applications. So we’re using that waste exhaust heat to drive an expander-compressor cycle that provides cooling.”

The first prototype will be a small five-kilowatt cooling system that’s a little larger than an automobile air conditioner in capacity, Peterson said. It’s the type of air conditioner, for instance, that could be used in a forward-deployed military command post. The military is particularly interested in the system and has supported its development, he said, to help improve fuel efficiency and economy.

For a complete range of commercial or consumer applications, some further size improvements, component integration and reduced cost will be needed, researchers say. But the potential applications are broad.

The most immediate and obvious, of course, might be automotive air conditioning, where heat energy that’s now being blown out the tailpipe might be used to power the car’s air conditioning. The integration of a generator into this technology might allow it to also produce electricity instead of air conditioning, depending on what was needed.

Industrial applications to improve energy efficiency are clearly possible – basically, anywhere significant amounts of heat are being produced but not used. While the early applications may be most readily developed with waste heat, it could also be possible to use this technology with heat that’s intentionally produced, such as with moderately concentrated solar energy to provide a building’s air conditioning on hot, sunny days.
“Since this technology would allow you to produce electricity or cooling whenever something is hot, it might be an ideal complement to a ’smart’ energy system that could provide extra power during peak demand periods,” Peterson said. “We can now take heat and use it to create either electrical power, heat or cooling. It’s not yet clear what all the possible applications will be.”

EPA Recognizes Transwestern With Fourth Consecutive ENERGY STAR(R) Sustained

(HOUSTON, March 3 PRNewswire) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Transwestern a 2009 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting the environment and increasing energy efficiency across its managed portfolio, which is largely attributed to streamlined benchmarking and energy performance improvements. Transwestern’s accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 31, 2009. Transwestern was previously recognized in 2004 and 2005 as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year and in 2006, 2007 and 2008 as a Sustained Excellence recipient – the only third-party real estate services firm to achieve both designations.

Transwestern, an ENERGY STAR partner since 1999, will be honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency. Transwestern is taking action to reduce its environmental footprint by educating team members and providing clients with sustainable energy efficient solutions for their real estate. For over 10 years, the firm’s energy management practices – including no- and low-cost operational adjustments, strategic capital improvements and energy procurement – have consistently reduced operating costs across the Transwestern managed portfolio by an average of 20 percent.

Transwestern’s president and chief executive officer, Larry P. Heard commenting on the EPA’s sixth consecutive recognition of Transwestern said, “It is rewarding to look back at all the consistent and focused effort that yielded success in this area of critical importance to our industry. We have enjoyed our partnership with the EPA and ENERGY STAR and our clients continue to reap the rewards of this association. Through our work with ENERGY STAR, Transwestern remains committed to proving the financially accretive business case for green. It is our goal to enable sustainable building practices to become standard business practices in the commercial real estate industry.”

Transwestern has proactively embraced the ENERGY STAR benchmarking program since 2002 as an additional way to reduce property operating costs and to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Its integrated approach allows the firm to quickly evaluate the performance of new buildings and, despite the shortened ownership windows of today’s investors, enables continuous improvements in the energy performance of the properties Transwestern manages, regardless of the age or class of the building.

“Transwestern continues to challenge itself to improve on previous successes in energy efficiency and climate stewardship, leading them to their fourth consecutive EPA ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award,” said Alyssa Quarforth, U.S. EPA, ENERGY STAR Program Manager for Commercial Properties. “Their outstanding portfolio-wide energy performance improvements and leadership in energy efficiency are a great model for the commercial real estate industry. In addition, Transwestern is combating climate change by preventing thousands of tons of carbon dioxide emissions in 2008 alone, even while its portfolio has been increasing in size.”

The 2009 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, employing innovative approaches, and showing others what can be achieved through energy efficiency. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program including energy-efficient products, services, new homes and buildings in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Award winners are selected from more than 12,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

About Transwestern

Transwestern, one of the largest privately held commercial real estate and development firms in the U.S., is focused on creating value for our clients in each local market we serve. Transwestern’s unique business model offers fully integrated real estate services and operates through six distinct functional lines of business: agency leasing, property and facility management, investment services, tenant advisory, development and research for a broad range of property types, including office, industrial, retail, healthcare and multifamily. Transwestern leads the industry in sustainability and has received multiple EPA ENERGY STAR(R) awards. We have partnered with our clients and the USGBC to pursue LEED(R) certification on projects across the country. SOURCE Transwestern

CONTACT: Stacey Eddington of Transwestern, +1-713-270-3336, stacey.eddington@transwestern.net;  Visit transwestern’s website. 

Newscom

Companies Across U.S. Poised For Growth Under Cap On Carbon

Online Map Unveiled at Vice Presidential Task Force Profiles 1,200 Companies in Manufacturing States, Demonstrates Potential for Massive Jobs Expansion to Build Climate Solutions

(Philadelphia, PA-February 27, 2009) Environmental Defense Fund today released a groundbreaking online map that identifies and profiles more than 1,200 companies in key manufacturing states poised to grow their business and create new jobs when Congress passes a cap on global warming pollution.    

The interactive map, online at LessCarbonMoreJobs, was released at the first meeting of Vice President Joe Biden’s task force on middle class jobs in Philadelphia. It highlights hundreds of companies and communities in coal country, the rust belt and other manufacturing regions poised to benefit from demand for clean energy technologies created by a cap on carbon. 

Vice President Biden hosted EDF President Fred Krupp and a range of experts to highlight new ways to increase renewable energy jobs and improve America’s energy efficiency.  Krupp said EDF’s map shows that a carbon cap will create new markets and new customers for companies in the supply chain for low-carbon energy technologies and services.

“Our nation is rich with a skilled and dedicated workforce waiting for the economic opportunity that comes with a cap on carbon, especially in the current economy,” said Krupp.  “A cap creates customers for U.S. manufacturers, and new customers mean new jobs. If there was ever a time we needed new customers at home and abroad, that time is now.”

LessCarbonMoreJobs identifies the locations, products, and services as well as select case studies and worker profiles for companies in 12 states: Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New Hampshire, Arkansas, Tennessee, Colorado, Georgia, Missouri, Virginia and Florida.

Jackie Roberts, Director of Sustainable Technologies for EDF, spearheaded the research behind the website. “These maps tell the story of how a cap can fuel economic growth in the heartland while reducing America’s global warming pollution,” Roberts said. “There is a manufacturing boom ready to happen, and a cap will help ignite that spark.”

LessCarbonMoreJobs allows visitors to search by state, Congressional district and media market to find companies manufacturing windmill components, shipping solar panel equipment and installing energy efficient building materials. The site also provides business details and contact information for companies in each profiled state.

Among the business leaders highlighted is Jeff Metts, owner and president of Dowding Industries, a Michigan-based manufacturer of large-scale machinery and parts that is hiring laid-off auto workers to build wind turbine components.

“This business is growing exponentially,” Metts said. “I don’t come here as the owner of a company that last year employed 250 people, I come here excited about being the owner of a company that will create hundreds of jobs for our community and the possibility of thousands of jobs for our state in this new energy market.  We’ve tapped into a workforce eager to apply their skills from previous jobs to our new ventures, and the result has been incredible.  We’re ready to do much more.”

Abe Breehey, Director of Legislative Affairs for the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers, said, “The demand for climate solutions will create job opportunities across the economy.  We can put American ingenuity and skills to work to reduce emissions, with all the necessary labor and materials to make it happen.  With the right market signals, we can turn the jobs union members do everyday into the environmental solutions our nation needs to meet this enormous challenge.”

Bill Keith, president of the St. John, Indiana-based Sunrise Solar, Inc., echoed Breehey’s comments.

“We’re producing solar-powered attic fans, trying to keep up with a demand that’s skyrocketing,” Keith said. “We saw a market for energy efficient products and technologies that help consumers reduce their energy consumption, and we’ve been greeted with overwhelming support and demand.  But we know there’s much more to do.  We are hoping that Congress finally puts the economy on a path to embrace these technologies.  My operation is ready to grow, and I know others companies like mine are ready too.”

Marketing Drive Recognized for Outstanding Achievement in Energy Program

Millville Elementary School’s Power to Save Campaign Empowers a Community

BOSTON, Feb. 24 /PRNewswire/ — Michael Harris, President & CEO of Marketing Drive is pleased to announce that Marketing Drive, in partnership with National Grid, has won a prestigious award from the Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) for Outstanding Achievement in Program Design & Implementation for the Millville Elementary Power to Save education campaign.

The Association of Energy Services Professionals bestowed its AESP Energy Awards at its 19th National Energy Services Conference. The AESP Energy Awards recognize individuals, teams or organizations that have:

– Contributed to the advancement of the energy services field

– Raised awareness of an energy services program or need

– Represented the “best in class” in designing, implementing, or

evaluating an energy services program, or

– Demonstrated an outstanding commitment to advancing the energy services field.

But more important than the recognition is the program’s far-reaching impact. This program has inspired energy conservation efforts throughout an entire community! Students of Millville Elementary School are completely immersed in an endeavor to conserve energy, stop global warming and protect the one place we all call home. The students are motivated and committed to this campaign — not only are they brainstorming ways to save energy in- school, they are implementing those ideas, and have inspired the town to do the same. Anita (grade 3) suggests, “A good way to save energy is to have all electronics off and lay on the couch and read a while.” While Christopher (grade 5) powerfully states, “It’s important to take care of our earth because (if we don’t) we might not have a good tomorrow.”

The Power to Save campaign is a pro bono effort developed by Marketing Drive and National Grid as a pilot program to enhance implementation of National Grid’s Whole Building Assessment (WBA) program in the elementary school setting. It was developed as a pilot for Millville Elementary School, with an eye toward helping other WBA schools achieve stronger program results by providing a turn-key resource to build awareness, excitement and participation in energy efficiency activities in school and throughout the community. It entails a full (academic) year calendar of exciting in-school, at-home and community-wide activities designed to help educate various audiences about energy efficiency and inspire behavior change.

Program activities have included a community reading day where environmentally themed books were read, an annual Thanksgiving dinner where energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs were distributed to community members, and monthly newsletters with contests for kids to win 1 of 15,000 prizes (many that help save energy at home). For example, February’s contest involved creating a Valentine for the Earth using recycled materials. Families learn how to implement energy savings ideas at home and teachers are incorporating the energy conservation theme throughout the curriculum. “This is such an important initiative. It provides an opportunity for us to learn how to be responsible citizens, use our resources wisely, and save money too,” said Eileen Tetreault, Principal Millville Elementary.

Since its launch, this initiative has proven extremely successful, generating excitement among school students, staff, families and the community at large. Media interest in the initiative has generated over 860,000 impressions in print, television and online media, which in turn, has led to broader interest in WBA and residential efficiency programs in Millville and the surrounding towns. The program has also garnered the attention and support of state government, who are promoting the program to their constituents. What’s more, based on the comprehensive nature of this program, Millville Elementary School was awarded a grant to pay for all physical plant improvements not covered by National Grid funding.

As hoped, the Power to Save campaign has effectively mobilized a community toward greater energy efficiency, while building a road map for other schools to follow. Based on its success, National Grid aims to offer this turn-key program free of charge to all of its WBA customers in the coming year.

Marketing Drive’s Energy and Environment practice provides marketing services to a range of government, utility, non-profit and industry clients in the energy efficiency and renewable energy industries. The Practice is led by Vice President Cindy Jolicoeur, who is an active volunteer and Co-Chair of the School Advisory Council at Millville Elementary School. In this volunteer role, Cindy invited National Grid to discuss Whole Building Assessment to help reduce facility costs in the school. “I was elected to our School Council in the fall, and during the budget review process was shocked to see how terribly schools are being pinched and dollars funneled away from educational needs toward facility costs,” said Ms. Jolicoeur. “I suggested that we consider energy improvements to help with this problem. I’m extremely proud of our efforts, the outstanding results, and the enthusiasm of our community and legislators. A well-integrated campaign coupled with this exceptional level of community spirit and team work has driven our success.” She continues, “These children are eagerly participating in an exercise that will influence their behavior, profoundly affect their future, and leave an indelible mark on their lives and the lives of others.”

National Grid USA is one of the ten largest utility companies in the United States, with a long and well-regarded history of providing energy efficient services and resources to its customers. The company’s Whole Building Assessment program is one such program, which helps businesses, schools and municipalities reduce their energy consumption and costs.

The Power to Save campaign is an outgrowth of both companies’ commitment to energy efficiency and environmental protection, and dedication to devising new ways to improve program awareness and rate payer participation in energy efficiency programs. This pilot program, created on a purely volunteer basis, has produced unprecedented results and also created a turn-key model which will help countless other schools execute successful energy efficiency initiatives in their communities, providing a broader public service to benefit rate payers across National Grid territories.

About Marketing Drive

Marketing Drive (Website) is a leading promotional marketing agency, with the sole purpose of helping clients’ brands realize their full potential. Marketing Drive focuses on identifying the ‘incremental opportunity.’ Unexpected insights are uncovered and creatively translated into relevant and valuable promotional activity that stimulates the desired behavioral change. Marketing Drive is proud to partner with such notable clients as: Dannon; New Balance; Novartis Consumer Health; and Pernod Ricard, USA. Marketing Drive’s energy clients include: Ameresco, myenergystar.com, The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), and the US Environmental Protection Agency. A member of the RiverNorth Group.

About National Grid (website)

A wholly owned subsidiary of National Grid, an international, London-based company. Our core business is the delivery of electricity and natural gas. We are committed to serving customers well, delivering energy safely and reliably, and keeping costs low.

About AESP (Website)

A member-based association dedicated to improving the delivery and implementation of energy efficiency, energy management and distributed renewable resources. AESP provides professional development programs, a network of energy practitioners, and promotes the transfer of knowledge and experience.

About RiverNorth Group

RiverNorth Group is a distinct, next generation, brand marketing network with the credibility, resources and ability to build brands and address the rapidly evolving needs of the marketplace. As needed, we leverage and integrate marketing disciplines to foster relevant and long lasting relationships with consumers and customers, to create increased brand awareness, demand, and market share.

Contact: Gretchen Mullin, Marketing Communications Manager; 203-857-6149; gretchen.mullin@marketingdrive.com SOURCE Marketing Drive

Newscom (02/24/2009)