NAESCO Newsletter
Third Quarter 2008
Featured Interviews
- How Technology Has Defined
Energy Efficiency and What Trends will Shape its Future
Jim Dixon, ConEdison Solutions; John Mahoney, Chevron Energy
Solutions; Brad Jenkins, OSRAM SYLVANIA; Kurt Minko, Retro-Tech
Systems; Dave Birr, Synchronous Energy Solutions; Mark McClear,
Cree; Randy Breske, interNational Association of Lighting
Management Companies (NALMCO) in conjunction with Craig DiLouie,
ZING Communications, share their observations.
- NAESCO's Third Quarter 2008
Advocacy Report
NAESCO's advocacy work in 2008 continues to expand to ensure
that the growing number of energy efficiency initiatives across
the country are cost-effective, sustainable, and offer new
opportunities for ESCOs and other NAESCO members.
- NAESCO Spring 2008 Accreditation and
Reaccreditation Announcements
The NAESCO Board of Directors voted at its June meeting to award
accreditation status to one company on their initial application
and reaccreditation or renewal of their prior accreditation to
five companies. The vote was based on recommendations from the
Accreditation Committee which is comprised of independent
reviewers unaffiliated with any energy services provider. NAESCO
congratulates these companies who underwent a rigorous review
process.
- NAESCO Market Development
Initiatives
NAESCO focuses on creating new opportunities for energy
efficiency investment, helping our members accelerate the
expansion of new markets, ensuring that energy efficiency as a
resource is properly valued, and building the tools with which
to measure the market impact of energy efficiency.
- Upcoming NAESCO Events
The 25th Annual NAESCO conference will be held in Santa Monica,
California on October 28-29, 2008. We will celebrate a quarter
of a century of achievements and have invited a diverse group of
speakers in order to identify and help contemplate the
tremendous opportunities for the industry going forward. To
register for the conference,
click here.
- ACEEE Names Four Champions of Energy
Efficiency
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
presented four Champions of Energy Efficiency Awards at its
biennial conference recognizing leadership and accomplishment in
the energy efficiency field. Long-time NAESCO member Philips
Lighting was recognized as well as NAESCO's former advocacy
coordinator, Dian Grueneich, who currently serves as a
California Public Utilities Commissioner.
- State and Local
Legislation Leveraging ENERGY STAR
State and local governments across the country are adopting
policies that leverage EPA's ENERGY STAR tools to reduce energy
use in commercial buildings. EPA has released a new document
summarizing state and local legislation that reference ENERGY
STAR tools like Portfolio Manager.
- California Adopts the Nation's Leading
Green Building Code
The California Building Standards Commission unanimously
approved the nation's first Green Building Standards Codes on
July 17, 2008. The codes which contain standards for
single-family homes, health facilities and commercial buildings
will be voluntary until 2010 when the provisions are expected to
become mandatory. The code is intended to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, improve energy efficiency and conserve water in all
new buildings.
- Green Recovery: A Program to
Create Good Jobs and Start Building a Low-Carbon Economy
The Political Economy Research Institute released "Green
Recovery", a new report showing that the U.S. can create two
million jobs in two years by investing in a $100 billion green
economic recovery program. The program would aim to boost
private and public investment in retrofitting buildings to
improve energy efficiency, expanding mass transit and freight
rail, and constructing 'smart' electrical grid transmission
systems, wind power, solar power, and next-generation biofuels.
- Other News of Interest
For a full list of all NAESCO Member News,
please
click here.
Projects and Products
Company News
Featured Interviews
What do you view as the major technology breakthroughs over the last 25 years?
Jim Dixon
Vice President, Energy Services
ConEdison Solutions
The widespread use of microprocessor controls and
associated state of the art software programming has made
significant contributions to energy efficiency in the following
areas:
- Building and management system controls for controlling,
tracking and monitoring of energy usage within a building. The
use of a "state of the art" DDC controls system allows for a
variety of energy savings strategies tied to HVAC and lighting
to prevent conditioning space when it is not needed and includes
energy savings strategies such as night setback/set forward,
scheduled on/off times, economizer control, and demand control
ventilation.
- Equipment microprocessor controls and associated state of
the art software programming embedded in equipment such as
chillers and boilers to make them more efficient, while allowing
effective equipment interfacing with the building control
systems.
Energy Efficient Lighting including the use of
improved fluorescent T-8 and T-5 technologies with electronic
ballasted lighting, as well as emerging technologies like induction
lighting and LED lighting, to significantly reduce energy with fast
paybacks and improve color rendition and lighting quality.
Improvements in Compressor Technology resulting in
higher cooling efficiency in HVAC equipment.
John Mahoney
Chief Operating Officer
Chevron Energy Solutions
Technologies coming down the cost curve. The most
significant development in technologies has been the reduction in
cost to acquire, install and maintain key technologies. Costs for
solar, wind, controls, energy storage, and lighting have come down
dramatically, improving the benefits equation for consumers. If a
building has not had an energy efficiency retrofit within the last
10 years, it has missed a sea change. But it's not too late.
Dave Birr
President
Synchronous Energy Solutions
High efficiency lighting products, especially LEDs,
new HID products and high efficiency fluorescent lighting systems
have dramatically reduced the amount of energy required to produce a
lumen of light output.
Improvements in the quality of Variable Frequency Drives
and DCV have also significantly improved matching energy use
to actual load requirements.
Modular pulse combustion boilers have been used to
design heating systems with much higher seasonal efficiencies than
old boilers with limited burner turndown ratios. The kw/ton of
central chillers has also improved significantly.
Heat pumps have come into their own as high
efficiency heating and cooling systems in the right applications.
Water efficiency measures have vastly improved
their performance and become a new source of efficiency for some
building owners.
Randy Breske
Vice President, Stay-Lite Lighting, Inc.
President of the interNational Association of Lighting Management
Companies (NALMCO)
Craig DiLouie
Principal
ZING Communications, Inc.
T8 lamps: T8 lamps are now standard in new
construction and therefore are becoming the "new T12", the new
standard to beat. Lighting technology has already moved past this
remarkable, highly efficient light source with "energy-saving"
versions (25W, 28W, 30W) and high-output versions ("3100+ lumen
Super T8"). Potential energy savings can be as high as 18-30
percent, or more, if lower light levels are acceptable.
Electronic ballasts: In terms of both dollar and
unit volume sales, electronic ballasts dominate the fluorescent
lighting market after a meteoric rise since the early 1990s. Like
the T8 lamp, manufacturers are already moving beyond the "standard"
electronic ballast to offer premium versions. A major example is the
"high-efficiency" electronic ballast. This type of ballast provides
the same level of light output as a standard electronic ballast, but
does so more efficiently, reducing lighting power by another 2-5W,
typically 3W.
T5HO and T8 hi-bay systems: Indoor spaces with high
ceilings, such as factories, warehouses, big box retail stores,
gymnasiums and all-purpose rooms are often lighted by probe-start
metal halide lighting systems. Starting January 1, 2009, the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007 will begin to regulate the
efficiency of ballasts in new light fixtures containing 150-500W
metal halide lamps, with some exceptions. In existing buildings, a
wave of retrofits have occurred driven by the efficiency of T5HO and
Super T8 hi-bay lighting fixtures, which promise up to 50 percent
energy savings over probe-start metal halide fixtures.
To read NALMCO's full article,
click here.
Back to Top
What industry trends and evolving
technologies inspire you with optimism about the growth in energy
efficiency opportunities?
Jim Dixon
Total available energy supply in the future will
continue to decrease while world demand will continue to increase,
driving up energy prices.
Global warming will continue, leading to
government-sponsored solutions promoting energy reduction through
rebates, tax breaks and legislation.
Public awareness with green technology and
sustainability has become mainstream since the general population
has become interested in reducing energy consumption in order to be
better stewards of our planet. This will encourage end users to
invest in long term green and sustainable solutions such as solar
PV, solar Domestic Hot Water and wind power.
John Mahoney
Rising energy costs. Capital costs for new
generation plants are rising dramatically due to the skyrocketing
costs for the raw materials needed to build the plants. The current
price tag for a new generation plant is double what it was just a
few years ago. These increases in building costs will cause the
price for natural gas and electricity to rise significantly and in
the end these costs will be passed on to the consumer. These market
conditions will increase the demand for ESCOs who can deliver energy
efficiency and alternative energy solutions.
Strong linkage between energy efficiency, the environment
and sustainability. As organizations become more concerned
with climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, they will
recognize energy efficiency as the best new source of energy. In
addition, organizations are evaluating energy efficiency projects
not just in terms of payback periods but they are also looking at
how these projects help them to develop more sustainable business
practices, improve their environmental record and ultimately
increase the value of their brand.
Integrating renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The future is all about "negawatts and green megawatts."
Organizations are taking a holistic approach to their energy systems
and looking to not only reduce their energy usage but also to
generate their own green energy. This makes sense from a risk
perspective; by generating green energy on-site they shield
themselves from rising energy costs. By combining renewable power
generation solutions such as solar, wind, and waste to power with
energy efficiency, organizations have a broader and more meaningful
impact than implementing either individually.
Tax credits and cap and trade policies. Renewal of
the Production Tax Credit (PTC) and Investment Tax Credit (ITC) will
continue to drive the consumer's desire for energy efficiency and
alternative energy. Other policies such as the implementation of a
carbon or greenhouse gas emissions cap and trade program would have
a positive impact on the ESCO industry for years to come.
Water efficiency. Over the years water saving
projects have become increasingly integrated with energy efficiency
projects. Many of the same principles and technologies used in
efficiency projects can be applied to water, making it a natural fit
for ESCOs. Like renewable energy, water efficiency projects can be
implemented as standalone projects but consumers have come to
realize the power of marrying these retrofits with a program that
also includes traditional retrofits and alternative power
generation.
Brad Jenkins
National ESCO Manager
OSRAM SYLVANIA
LEDs. Over the next 10 years, LEDs will move from a
niche-lighting application to a mainstream light source. Today,
using LEDs can create opportunities to achieve major efficiency
gains and maintenance savings in specific applications but the
future holds great promise for more widespread use and value in
performance contracting.
Lighting Controls. The future will see major growth
in lighting controls. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 offers tax
deductions for including lighting controls and many state building
codes are mandating controls. More holistic controls, wireless
controls, and improvements in the cost effectiveness, from an
installed cost perspective, are also driving the market.
Demand Response. With energy prices escalating and
real-time electricity pricing gaining ground, demand response
programs will be a driver for more controls and lighting innovation.
Kurt Minko
President
Retro-Tech Systems
LEDs. LEDs are a small light source that are easily
dimmed, not affected by the cold, easy to mass- produce, and last a
long time. Because of their small light source, they can be easily
used to address any lighting need. Lighting designers can use LEDs
to make truly unique lighting arrangements. LEDs can move lighting
from a functional necessity to also being an aesthetic choice.
Growing energy demand. Our dependence on foreign
oil and the rest of the world's growing appetite for energy will be
a driver for energy efficiency. We cannot continue to consume the
same levels of energy. While switching to renewable energy is a good
path, the switch needs to be coupled with reductions in energy use.
Progressive policies. Implementing energy
efficiency projects takes hard work. The public demand to increase
efficiency, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and reduce carbon
emissions is helping to bring efficiency to the forefront.
Regulations requiring more energy and water efficient buildings will
go a long way to getting more retrofits projects done. I hope that
one day, inefficient buildings will go the way of asbestos
filled-buildings, you won't be able to have one.
Mark McClear
Director of Business Development
Cree, Inc.
Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have gone through an
incredible technology leap in the last 24 months. Today, the
brightest LEDs can deliver more than 700 lumens, and leading-edge
luminaire manufacturers are integrating small arrays of these LEDs
into indoor and outdoor lighting systems delivering tangible energy
and maintenance savings in real-world applications. The U.S.
Department of Energy predicts LED lumen per watt performance will
improve another 50% in the next four years, while LED pricing is
expected to continue to come down over the same period. As LEDs
continue to progress technically and continue to come down the cost
curve, we expect that LED High Bay lighting systems will be able to
deliver substantial energy and maintenance savings relative to even
the most efficient fluorescent systems.
To read Cree's full article,
click here.
Randy Breske
Craig DiLouie
Emerging technologies to watch over the next 25 years include
dimmable ballasts, digital networks, integrated lighting control and
solid-state lighting such as LED lighting. Major trends within the
controls field include daylighting controls, wireless control,
demand response systems, fixture-integrated controls such as
pre-wired occupancy sensors and photosensors, intelligent lighting
systems and distributed intelligence.
Daylighting controls are now considered best
practice and will become adopted into energy code standards starting
as early as 2010, currently driven primarily by the LEED program and
in general the sustainable construction movement.
Integrated lighting control may be the near future
due to very promising energy savings. The California Lighting
Technology Center (CLTC) recently demonstrated a task/ambient
Integrated Office Lighting System (IOLS) combining high-efficacy
direct/indirect luminaires with an LED Personal Lighting System
(task lighting). The system demonstrated lighting power densities of
0.5-0.7W/sq.ft., 36-55 percent lower than ASHRAE 90.1-2004/2007. The
addition of an occupancy sensor controlling the task lighting was
found to reduce energy consumption by another 20-30 percent.
Intelligent lighting is about to get a major boost.
Many ESCOs are by now familiar with the potential for digital
dimming offered by lighting control systems based on the DALI
protocol. An interesting development in this area is a new DALI
protocol called DALI XP that will include standard DALI control
devices, not just the ballasts. With DALI XP, designers can truly
mix and match ballasts and controls to create a control system.
Lots of opportunity in existing buildings. About 25
billion sq.ft. of commercial building floorspace is still lighted to
pre-1980 design standards and likely using the least-efficient
lighting systems allowed by law. The owners of this space represent
some of today's most suitable customers for energy-efficient
lighting upgrades.
The future of efficiency looks bright. The last 25
years produced a remarkable revolution in energy-efficient lighting
that has primarily impacted new construction due to the sustainable
construction movement, energy codes and legislation. However, there
is still considerable opportunity in the existing buildings market.
To read NALMCO's full article,
click here.
Back to Top
NAESCO Updates
NAESCO's advocacy efforts in 2008 continue to expand to ensure
that the growing number of energy efficiency initiatives across the
country are cost-effective, sustainable, and offer new opportunities
for ESCOs and other NAESCO members.
National (Selected Initiatives)
- Working with the Federal Performance Contracting Coalition
(FPCC) and GELAT to develop specific recommendations for
Congress and the Administration regarding the need for
accelerated ESPC investment across the government and to
co-ordinate the lobbying campaign on key issues.
- Working with several national energy efficiency initiatives,
including the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency,
Clinton Climate Change and the National Governors Association
Securing a Clean Energy Future, to promote the use of
performance contracting.
- Promoting state PC programs, in conjunction with ESC. NAESCO
is drafting model legislation and regulations, as well as
scheduling performance contract training programs across the
country.
Regional (Selected Initiatives)
- Participating in legislative and regulatory initiatives in
MA, NY and NJ that will increase energy efficiency programs by
3-6 times.
- Participating in regulatory and legislative efforts to
initiate and implement large new EE programs in IL, IN, OH, MI
and OK.
- Working with various national and regional organizations,
including ACEEE, Environmental Defense, NRDC, Southern Alliance
for Clean Energy, Energy Futures Coalition and Alliance to Save
Energy to modify the Duke Energy Save-a-Watt proposals in North
Carolina and South Carolina.
- Monitoring and participating in proceedings to develop
large-scale EE programs in MD, TN, and FL.
- Participating in multiple California Public Utility
Commission proceedings that will determine the scope of the
2009-2011 utility EE programs.
- Worked with the ESC and the Southwest Energy Efficiency
Partnership (SWEEP) to reform performance contracting
legislation in Arizona.
- Monitoring the initial project implementation of the CA DGS
state building PC program and assisting ESCOs to provide
feedback to DGS.
Research and Development, supported by
US DOE and US EPA
- Participating in continued research on the US ESCO market in
conjunction with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Focus in
2008 on documenting the current size and potential of the state
buildings performance contract marketplace.
- Developing a standardized new M&V protocol for O&M and
Capital Cost Avoidance savings that is acceptable to ESCOs and a
wide range of customers.
- Continuing to work to help EPA develop ENERGY STAR as a
vehicle for promoting comprehensive ESCO projects.
Read
the full update
Back to Top
NAESCO Spring 2008 Accreditation and
Reaccreditation Announcements
The NAESCO Board of Directors voted at its June meeting that the
following companies be awarded accreditation or renewal of their
prior accreditation. The vote was based on recommendations from the
Accreditation Committee which is comprised of independent reviewers
unaffiliated with any energy services provider. NAESCO congratulates
these companies who underwent a rigorous review process which
included follow-up by the Accreditation Committee of each of the
company's customer references.
Renewal of ESP Accreditation for a
period of 3 years
- Chevron Energy Solutions
- Energy Systems Group
- Johnson Controls
- NORESCO
Renewal of ESCO Accreditation for a
period of 3 years
Accreditation as an ESCO for a period
of 2 years
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NAESCO Market Development
Initiatives
NAESCO focuses on creating new opportunities for energy
efficiency investment, helping our members accelerate the expansion
of new markets, ensuring that energy efficiency as a resource is
properly valued, and building the tools with which to measure the
market impact of energy efficiency.
Research
NAESCO is part of a research team led by scientists at the Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory looking at energy efficiency projects
and energy savings reported in twelve states. The report, which is
expected to be issued in October, looks to identify the factors that
are associated with successful state efficiency programs.
NAESCO is part of a research team led by the New York State
Energy and Research Development Authority (NYSERDA) completing work
on a study looking at quantifying non-energy benefits of energy
efficiency projects. The final report is under review.
The results of both of these reports will be presented at
NAESCO's 25th Annual Conference.
Training
NAESCO has developed and delivered training sessions in Hawaii,
Michigan, and Illinois. Upcoming training sessions will be held in
November in both western and eastern Pennsylvania, Hawaii, and North
Carolina. Sessions focus on how the use of energy performance
contracting can help state facility managers and energy program
managers meet their energy reduction, green building improvements,
and dollar savings objectives.
Workshops and Conferences
A successful GreenTech workshop was held in Chicago in mid-June. The
event focused on the ways in which energy efficiency is the
cornerstone of designing green buildings and implementing green and
sustainable strategies in both new construction and retrofitted
facilities. Architects, lighting designers, ESCOs, and facility
managers talked about the impact of LEED on building design
decisions and the enhanced role of energy efficiency in the revised
LEED existing building guidelines.
NAESCO produced its first Industry Jobs Fair in New York City on
September 10th. Fourteen companies participated in this inaugural
event and about 150 attendees met with company representatives. The
CBS News local affiliate in New York sent a reporter and a cameraman
to cover the event for an upcoming piece on green jobs.
The 25th Annual NAESCO conference will be held in Santa Monica,
California on October 28-29, 2008. We will celebrate a quarter of a
century of achievements and will welcome a diverse group of speakers
to help identify and contemplate the tremendous opportunities for
the industry going forward. To register for the conference,
click here.
Back to Top
Industry News
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)
presented four Champions of Energy Efficiency Awards at its biennial
conference. These awards recognize leadership and accomplishment in
the energy efficiency field. Winners are selected based on
demonstrated excellence in program implementation, research and
development, energy policy, or private sector initiatives.
NAESCO-member Philips Lighting Company was one of the Champions
recognized for leading the way toward replacement of conventional
incandescent lamps in the U.S. market. Philips initiated efforts to
set incandescent lamp efficiency standards in the U.S. and played a
pivotal role in working with the rest of the lighting industry,
energy efficiency advocates, and Congress to negotiate the lamp
standard provision that was enacted as part of the Energy
Independence and Security Act of 2007. Dian Grueneich, Commissioner,
California Public Utilities Commission, ENE (Environment Northeast)
and Roger Duncan, General Manager, Austin Energy were also
recognized.
Back to Top
State and local governments across the country are adopting
policies that leverage EPA's ENERGY STAR tools to reduce energy use
in commercial buildings. EPA has released a new document summarizing
state and local legislation that references the use of ENERGY STAR
tools like Portfolio Manager in project development.
Back to Top
The California Building Standards Commission unanimously approved
the nation's first Green Building Standards Codes on July 17, 2008.
The codes which contain standards for single-family homes, health
facilities and commercial buildings will be voluntary until 2010
when the provisions are expected to become mandatory. The code is
intended to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve energy
efficiency and conserve water in all new buildings.
According to the state, the new standards target a 50 percent
landscape water conservation reduction, encourage builders to reduce
energy use of their structures by 15 percent more than today's
current standards, encourage the use of recycled materials in
carpets and building materials, and identify various site
improvements including parking for hybrid vehicles and better storm
water plans. The implementation of the new building standards are
expected to result in increased water and energy savings through a
combination of more efficient appliances, use of efficient
landscapes and more efficient building design and operation.
Back to Top
The Political Economy Research Institute released "Green
Recovery", a new report showing that the U.S. can create two million
jobs in two years by investing in a $100 billion green economic
recovery program. The program would aim to boost private and public
investment in retrofitting buildings to improve energy efficiency,
expanding mass transit and freight rail, and constructing 'smart'
electrical grid transmission systems, wind power, solar power, and
next-generation biofuels.
Back to Top
Other News of Interest
A September 3rd article in the New York Times entitled "Old
Facades Refreshed for Efficiency and Higher Rents" reported that a
private equity firm in Washington, DC converted a drab 12-story
building in Washington built in 1968 with an exterior of windows
spaced five feet apart to full-floor glass with improved energy
efficiency and has been able to rent the space at a 40% premium per
square foot. The article said that the project represents a national
trend as owners of middle-aged buildings use energy efficiency to
attract tenants who are willing to pay for well-sealed facades and
higher performing insulated glass that more-effectively filters
sunlight while better illuminating the interior.
According to an August 27th article in the New York Times
subtitled "Consultants in Everything Green Become Mainstays", there
is a growing group of consultants specializing in helping
developers, architects, and sometimes tenants get LEED
certification. At the end of 2006, the Green Building Council's
membership included 679 consultants but by July 31 this year, there
were 1,590. The article said this mirrors the rapid increase in the
number of buildings certified by USGBC; in 2005, there were 404
buildings that met LEED standards. Midway through 2008, 1,705
buildings have been certified.
A September 9th article in the Wall Street Journal entitled
"Cutting Tech's Energy Bill" reported that big computer makers
including IBM and HP are spotting opportunity in customers' desire
to curb electricity usage in large corporate data centers, where
energy use has soared in recent years. According to the article, EPA
states that power use in data centers has doubled from 2000 to 2006
and now accounts for about 1.5% of U.S. electricity consumption. The
article quotes IBM Chief Executive Samuel Palmisano who told stock
analysts that IBM expects more than 70% of the world's biggest
companies "will modify their data centers significantly in the next
five years" to deal with energy shortfalls and rising costs.
Back to Top
Member News
For a full list of all NAESCO Member News and Projects,
please
click here.
Project and Products
Chevron Energy Solutions and the City of Millbrae Turn
Kitchen Grease Into Biogas to Power Wastewater Treatment Plant
Chevron Energy Solutions and the City of Millbrae completed new
facilities at Millbrae's Water Pollution Control Plant that use a
common urban waste, inedible kitchen grease from restaurants, to
naturally produce biogas for generating renewable power and heat to
treat the city's wastewater. The system includes a grease receiving
station and an expanded cogenerator as well as other upgrades that
result in annual revenues and energy savings of $366,000 for
Millbrae while nearly doubling the amount of "green power" produced
at the plant.
Back to Top
Ameresco
and Anheuser-Busch Undertake Bio-Gas Project
Anheuser-Busch has entered into an agreement with Ameresco McCarty Energy to purchase biogas from Allied Waste
Services' McCarty Road Landfill, making use of an alternative
fuel source for the company's Houston brewery. The biogas is a
natural byproduct of waste decomposition at the landfill.
Currently, some of the biogas from the McCarty Road Landfill is
being captured, processed and sold to a local utility, while the
excess is flared (burned without energy recovery). Ameresco
plans to capture some of that unused biogas and transport it to
the Anheuser-Busch brewery through a four-mile underground
pipeline.
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Johnson Controls
to Harness Renewable Energy, Improve Energy Conservation
Measures for Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn. has signed an
$89 million energy savings performance contract with Johnson
Controls, Inc. to apply advanced energy conservation solutions,
including a biomass gasification system, to the campus. As the
project's cornerstone, a wood gasification biomass system will
take the place of the existing natural gas steam plant and steam
distribution system. By using woody biomass from the region as
the main energy source for the facilities, ORNL will reduce
fossil fuel consumption by 80 percent. Furthermore, the biomass
plant significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions equal to
planting 32 million trees.
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ConEdison Solutions
to Provide Energy Services for the New York Power Authority
ConEdison Solutions has been awarded a contract
through competitive bidding to provide energy services for the
New York Power Authority, also a NAESCO-member. Under the
contract, ConEdison Solutions will provide energy
efficiency upgrades, including the implementation of lighting,
motors and controls projects in selected facilities in southeast
New York, which includes the five boroughs of New York City and
Westchester County. Services will include conducting feasibility
studies, evaluating existing and proposed systems, developing
designs, purchasing equipment, installation, supervision of
installation and commissioning of equipment.
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Constellation Energy Projects & Services Group
Announces Acquisition of Water & Energy Savings Corporation
Constellation Energy announced that its subsidiary,
Constellation Energy Projects & Services Group, has signed an
agreement to acquire NAESCO-member Water & Energy Savings
Corporation. W&ESCO will operate under the Constellation Energy
brand from its base in St. Petersburg, Florida. W&ESCO provides
a full range of performance-based water and energy solutions
complementing Constellation Energy Projects & Services Group
existing business lines which include energy consulting, energy
services and energy assets.
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Siemens
Helps Allegheny College Launch Energy Reduction Program
College pilots energy efficiency program with Clinton Climate
Initiative and Siemens
Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. was recently selected to
provide an investment-grade energy audit to Allegheny College, a
private liberal arts college in Meadville, Pa. The college is
one of several American College and University Presidents
Climate Commitment signatories to launch pilot projects through
the Clinton Climate Initiative's Energy Efficiency Building
Retrofit Program. Allegheny's goal is to replace aging elements
of its infrastructure in order to achieve better energy
efficiency as well as generate emissions reduction across all
facilities at the college.
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Energy Systems Group
and Veolia Environmental Services Announce Landfill
Gas-to-Electricity Project
Energy Systems Group and Veolia Environmental Services have
reached an agreement to develop a landfill gas-to-electricity
project in southwestern Indiana. The 3.2 Megawatt project is a
partnership between Veolia ES Blackfoot Landfill in Winslow,
Indiana, and ESG Biofuels (Blackfoot), LLC to capture landfill
gas and use it as a fuel source to generate electricity.
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FMI
Sees Energy Efficiency M&A Activity Robust
FMI completed two transactions in the ESCO/Energy Efficiency
sector in the first half of 2008 and expects M&A activity in the
sector to remain robust in the foreseeable future. FMI advised
Custom Energy Services of Overland Park, KS, in its sale
to ConEdison Solutions of White Plains, NY. FMI
also advised Energy Services Group of Minneapolis, MN, in its
sale to Honeywell Building Solutions of Minneapolis, MN.
Tim Huckaby was the lead banker on both transactions.
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Tennessee School District Takes Steps to Save Energy with TAC
TAC to Install New Lighting, Energy Management System
The Decatur County School System in Decaturville, Tenn. is
implementing more than $427,000 in facility enhancements
designed to improve operations, comfort and efficiency at four
schools and the district administration building. The Energy
Solutions division of TAC will complete the work as a
performance contract with the school system.
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Honeywell
Helps California Schools Soak Up the Sun, Cut Utility Bills
Honeywell is helping school districts in California address
global warming and carbon emissions concerns through an
innovative solar program. Dixon Unified School District and
Riverdale Joint Unified School District in central California
have awarded Honeywell solar projects expected to drive more
than $1 million in energy savings for each district over the
next 20 years. Under the agreements, Honeywell will install
solar panels at several facilities and sell the electricity the
panels produce to the districts.
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Ameresco
Awarded Energy Conservation Contract with State of Arizona
The State of Arizona's Procurement Office has selected Ameresco
as one of the ESCOs qualified to participate in the State's
Energy Performance Contracting work. The award allows the State
of Arizona's 20 agencies, as well as state universities,
community colleges, cities and counties, to access Ameresco's
energy conservation services, in an effort to reduce energy
consumption and costs at Arizona's government buildings.
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Johnson Controls
and Oklahoma State University Veterinary Center Report Early
Results of Energy Conservation Effort
The Oklahoma State University Center for Veterinary Health
Sciences has completed upgrades to five buildings that are
expected to realize approximately $9 million in energy savings
over the course of a 20-year performance contract with Johnson
Controls, Inc. Based on a utility bill comparison, the project
has already delivered more than $154,000 in operational savings
during the installation period. The savings are a result of
upgrades that range from glazing windows and installing lighting
controls to retrofitting the buildings' plumbing and air flow
systems.
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Buhler School Facilities Works with Custom Energy Services, a
ConEdison Solutions Energy Services Company to Attain
EPA's Energy Star
The Buhler Unified School District 313 administration has been
awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's prestigious
ENERGY STAR, the EPA's public recognition for achieving superior
energy efficiency and environmental protection. To attain this
honor, the District worked closely with Custom Energy Services,
a ConEdison Solutions energy services company, to find a
creative solution to reduce the school's energy consumption.
Using a guaranteed energy savings performance contract, Custom
Energy Services completed $1.2 million in energy-efficient
upgrades in the District's facilities including lighting
modifications, new boilers, a new chiller, upgrades to the
energy management systems, and water conservation measures.
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University of Louisville Signs Contract with Siemens
An energy audit at the University of Louisville is expected
to lead to energy savings of more than $33 million by 2020. The
university and Siemens Building Technologies have signed a
12-year contract to help the university trim its energy usage
through equipment upgrades and better systems for controlling
the use of electricity, water and other resources. The audit,
now underway, includes nearly six million square feet and 84
buildings. Siemens has pledged to reduce the university's $13.8
million annual utility bill by about 30 percent per year.
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Honeywell
Working with the Wilmington Housing Authority to Improve 2,000
Low-Income Homes and Save $560,000 in Annual Operating Expenses
Honeywell announced a $6-million energy-efficiency and building
modernization program for the Wilmington (Del) Housing
Authority. The program centers on a variety of facility
improvements that will help the housing authority decrease
energy and water consumption, and reduce its environmental
footprint.
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Company News
Advance
Awards 2008 "Beyond Illumination" Scholarships Through IALD
In commemoration of its milestone 60th Anniversary and subsequent
contribution of $60,000 to the International Association of Lighting
Designers (IALD) Education Trust in 2005, Advance awarded its fourth
annual pair of $5,000 student scholarships to deserving students at
the annual IALD Awards Presentation and IALD Education Trust Benefit
Dinner. Established in 2005 to recognize outstanding North
American-based students and help support pursuit of their on-going
interest and specialized education in the field of lighting,
Advance's "Beyond Illumination" scholarships will continue to be
administered in the form of two $5,000 student awards annually
through 2010.
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Trane
Leaders Teach Girls How to Perform a Building Energy Audit at
Girl Scouts Leadership Institute
The Girl Scouts of the USA asked Trane to lead girls through an
interactive exercise on how to make buildings more energy
efficient and environmentally responsible. Pam Greve, Trane's
building automation solutions leader, and Mary Scarbrough,
Trane's parts solutions leader led the girls through an energy
audit of the Edith Macy Conference Center. They also discussed
how careers in engineering can be fun and have a positive impact
on the world at large.
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