The following summaries of current news items were compiled from various news sources by the Association of Energy Service Professionals.

A $63 Million Push to Retrofit Housing
The city of Boston is undertaking what is being billed as the largest energy efficiency overhaul in public housing in the nation's history. The $63 million renovation will target 4,300 apartments in 13 Boston Housing Authority (BHA) developments. Energy-intensive lights will give way to hyper-efficient LEDs and compact fluorescents, and oil-guzzling boilers will be upgraded to cleaner natural gas varieties that will allow residents to control their heat. A dozen failing tar roofs that absorb major amounts of heat will make way for white surfaces that reflect warmth and for solar panels. Meanwhile, a cogenerator will use natural gas to heat hot water and produce enough electricity to power the equivalent of roughly 33 single-family homes. "It's the nation's largest public housing energy performance contract, right here in Boston," says Boston Mayor Thomas Menino. "I think it's a win-win for everyone in the fact that it is energy efficient and there is no cost to taxpayers because it is paid for with savings generated by improvements." The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which covers utility costs for Boston public housing units, has agreed to continue paying the same amount for the next 20 years. The Boston Housing Authority will borrow $63 million against those future payments and use the money to pay the energy firm Ameresco to complete the three-year project. David Anderson, an executive vice president at Ameresco, estimates that after the BHA repays the loan and interest over the next two decades, taxpayers will save $7 million annually in utility costs for public housing. "From a taxpayers' perspective, we are using a utility expense that the Boston Housing Authority would have to pay if it didn't do this project," Anderson notes. "So essentially what we are doing is deferring almost 30 percent of their utility expense and reinvesting it in their facilities for no additional tax dollars."

From "A $63 Million Push to Retrofit Housing"
Boston Globe (03/18/10) Ryan, Andrew


Group of 29 Governors Seeks Renewable-Power Standard
A group of 29 state governors has for the first time submitted to the White House and Congress a list of recommendations to implement renewable energy nationwide. The lack of consistent national regulations and a complicated jumble of state standards are pushing investments abroad, according to a report that was handed on March 16 to Congress and President Obama. The move reveals growing impatience with Washington's inability to put forward a new energy-climate bill to stimulate growth of solar and wind industry jobs. The report, compiled by the bipartisan Governors' Wind Energy Coalition, recommends that utilities be required to obtain at least 10 percent of their electricity from alternative sources such as wind and solar by 2012. The governors are also calling for an expanded interstate transmission system with major high-voltage lines that would have a wider reach than a fragmented network of smaller lines, noting that a national policy could untangle the web of more localized standards. The group also wants more federal funding for research into offshore wind technology, such as in coastal areas or the Great Lakes, to compete with efforts in Europe and China. The permitting process for wind projects needs to be streamlined and stimulus grant programs and production tax credits extended, according to the governors. The report also calls for a national renewable electricity standard in a new energy bill. About half of states already have similar "portfolio standards," which vary widely.

From "Group of 29 Governors Seeks Renewable-Power Standard"
Los Angeles Times (03/17/10) Hsu, Tiffany


President Obama Plugs New Energy Rebates
President Obama visited Savannah, GA, on March 2 to highlight a new program designed to provide rebates to families that make energy-efficiency improvements in their homes. Obama focused on an approximately $6 billion, short-term program designed to get consumers to invest in energy-saving home repairs and upgrades. The administration expects as many as 3 million households to participate in the program, despite the fact that many families have cut back during the economic downturn. Consumers looking to have simple upgrades performed in their homes would be eligible for 50 percent rebates up to $1,500 for doing any of a straightforward set of upgrades. Consumers can also choose a combination of upgrades for rebates up to a maximum of $3,000 per home. Rebates would be limited to the most energy efficient categories of upgrades - focusing on products made primarily in the United States and installed by certified contractors. The program would require that contractors be certified to perform efficiency installations. Also, the program would include support to state and local governments to provide financing options for consumers seeking to make efficiency investments in their homes. "We have quite a bit of evidence even in the current economic environment that this kind of incentive – that is easy for a consumer to get, that is up front and has a time limited, get-it-while-you can-quality – is quite powerful," says a senior administration official. The program, titled "HOMESTAR," will operate only for a set time frame, which has yet to be established, and homeowners would receive rebates immediately for making investments while the businesses they purchase materials from would later be reimbursed by the federal government. The program requires action from Congress, and the administration is hoping to also convince business, environmental and labor leaders to help pick up the cost.

From "President Obama Plugs New Energy Rebates"
Politico (03/02/10) Lee, Carol


What Utilities Have Learned From Smart Meter Tests
Utilities have gained substantial knowledge about how consumers use smart meters but are reluctant to implement it because they want to proceed slowly to avoid consumer backlash. For example, when Pepco Holdings recently conducted a pilot test in Washington, D.C., it found that of three rate plans tested, customers responded the most when threatened with a 75-cent-per-kilowatt-hour (kwh) peak pricing charge during certain hours. These customers reduced their overall energy consumption between 22 percent and 34 percent, and customers who were offered rebates reduced their usage by 9 percent to 15 percent. Pepco program manager Steven Sunderhauf says the utility plans to offer rebates in the future to encourage customers to change their behavior and help them become familiar with smart meters even though "critical peak pricing" triggers a stronger response. When Connecticut Light & Power (CL&P) tested the smart meters in 2009, it found that households facing the highest peak-hour pricing - $1.60 per kwh at certain times - responded the most and reduced peak use by 16 percent to 23 percent. However, commercial customers reduced their demand by just 7 percent in a similar trial, suggesting that many commercial customers have little leeway in reducing usage during times of peak demand, notes Jessica Brahaney Cain, director of CL&P's smart-grid planning. The utility intends to file plans for mass-meter deployment and dynamic-pricing in March and likely will offer rebates for conservation, at least initially.

From "What Utilities Have Learned From Smart Meter Tests..."
Wall Street Journal (02/22/10) P. R6; Smith, Rebecca


Electric Meters Getting Smart in SoCal
Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric and San Diego Gas and Electric are upgrading customers to digital "smart meters" that can wirelessly transmit real-time data about electricity use back to the utility company. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power also is updating meters, primarily for larger businesses. Utilities can use the new meters to provide detailed information to homeowners about how much energy they are using, giving customers the ability to more easily assess and reduce their consumption. Edison expects that by the end of this year, many of its San Gabriel Valley customers will be able to see how much power they use hour by hour and their cumulative monthly use, letting them know if they are nearing the threshold for higher rates. "We want to get people to start paying attention to how they consume energy," says Gene Rodrigues, Edison's director of energy efficiency. The California Public Utilities Commission (CA PUC) wants the three utilities to provide usage data in real time to customers starting in 2011. Edison has rolled out smart meters to just 170,000 out of its 5 million customers so far. The upgrade is a major component of a statewide effort to reduce energy demand at peak hours, usually 1 to 6 p.m. in the summer. "If customers reduce usage at that time, the utilities can avoid building additional expensive power plants," says Bruce Kaneshiro, a supervisor for the CA PUC's energy division. "Or avoid purchasing power to meet that demand." Edison plans to offer rebates to people who cut back on electricity at peak times and is developing an e-mail or text-message alert system to spread the conservation message. The real-time measurements of power use also will help the integration of wind and solar power, sources that are not available 24 hours a day.

From "Electric Meters Getting Smart in SoCal"
Los Angeles Times (02/27/10) Setziol, Ilsa


Near-Threshold Computing Could Enable up to 100x Reduction in Power Consumption
University of Michigan (UM) researchers are developing near-threshold computing (NTC) technology, which could allow electronic devices to operate at lower voltages than normal. The researchers say that NTC could enable future computer systems to reduce energy requirements by 100 times or more. NTC allows for advanced scaling of complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) devices, while improving energy efficiency. "The major impact of the work is that, for a fixed battery lifetime, significantly more transistors can be used, allowing for greater functionality," says UM professor Ronald Dreslinksi. NTC also could help decrease power requirements without overturning the entire CMOS framework. Operating at near-threshold voltages could allow devices to require less energy while minimizing energy leakage. The researchers say that NTC could have nearly universal applications in data centers and personal computing. NTC also could be useful in sensor-based systems. By reducing the power requirements by up to 100 times in sensors, NTC could lead to future sensor designs.

From "Near-Threshold Computing Could Enable up to 100x Reduction in Power Consumption"
PhysOrg.com (02/17/10) Zyga, Lisa


EPA Recognizes Leaders in Energy Efficiency: Winners Save Energy and Money Through ENERGY STAR Program
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is honoring a select group of manufacturers, retailers, public schools, hospitals, real estate companies, home builders and other organizations as 2010 ENERGY STAR award winners. These organizations are being recognized for their long-term commitment to fighting climate change through greater energy efficiency. "EPA congratulates this year's ENERGY STAR award winners," says Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "Their commitment to energy efficiency makes these organizations valuable partners in the efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change." Organizations are recognized in one of three major award categories: Sustained Excellence, Partner of the Year, and Excellence. The 50 Sustained Excellence winners have continued to exhibit exceptional leadership year after year in the ENERGY STAR program while remaining dedicated to environmental protection through superior energy efficiency. Forty organizations are receiving Partner of the Year for strategically and comprehensively managing their energy use. These organizations promote ENERGY STAR products and practices in their own operations, in addition to providing efficient products and services to consumers and within their community. Twenty organizations are recognized with an Excellence award for a specific activity to promote energy-efficient products, homes or buildings thereby helping to expand the reach of the ENERGY STAR program. American consumers and businesses have been saving energy and protecting the environment for more than two decades by partnering with EPA's ENERGY STAR program. In 2009 alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved nearly $17 billion on their energy bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 30 million vehicles. To date, 1 million new homes and nearly 9,000 office buildings, schools, hospitals and public buildings have earned the ENERGY STAR. Since 2000, 3 billion ENERGY STAR certified products have been sold. A complete list of the winners can be found at http://www.energystar.gov/awards.

From "EPA Recognizes Leaders in Energy Efficiency: Winners Save Energy and Money Through ENERGY STAR Program"
EPA News Release (03/18/10)


EPA, DOE Announce New Steps to Strengthen ENERGY STAR
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) have outlined a series of steps to further strengthen the trusted ENERGY STAR program. This action comes at a critical time for American consumers, many of whom struggle to keep up with their monthly energy bills. In addition to third-party testing already underway, EPA and DOE have launched a new two-step process to expand testing of ENERGY STAR qualified products. DOE has begun testing of some of the most commonly used appliances, which account for more than 25 percent of a household's energy bill, and both agencies are now developing a system to test all products that earn the ENERGY STAR label. The steps are part of an overall effort by the Obama Administration to improve the energy efficiency of homes and appliances to save families money. "Energy efficiency is more important than ever to American families," says Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "As our economy gets back on its feet, ENERGY STAR is an easy way for consumers to save money and help fight climate change." "Consumers have long trusted the ENERGY STAR brand for products that will save them energy and save them money," says Cathy Zoi, DOE Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. "The steps we're taking now will further strengthen and improve the program, building on the results that consumers have come to expect." Consumers can feel confident in ENERGY STAR because in 2009 alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 30 million cars - all while saving nearly $17 billion on their utility bills.

From "EPA, DOE Announce New Steps to Strengthen ENERGY STAR"
EPA News Release (03/19/10)