The Solar Energy Industries Association released its 2007 U.S.
Solar Industry Year in Review last month. The report cited
significant growth in the commercial and residential photovoltaic
markets and concentrating solar power. U.S. PV manufacturing grew
74% while grid-tied installations grew 45% to 150MW. CSP, a
utility-scale segment for PV, had the fastest growth and now
represents over 15% of the annual US installed PV capacity. To view
the full report, please visit
SEIA's website.
Rhone Resch, President of SEIA, responded to our questions about
integrating solar and energy efficiency projects.
1. Are there any emerging solar
technologies that you think would integrate well with an energy
efficiency retrofit or performance contract?
There are a number of
off-the-shelf solar energy products that integrate well with home
energy efficiency and renovation projects. Solar thermal (or solar
hot water) systems are the most cost-effective. Solar thermal
systems are used for pool heating and heating hot water and heating
and cooling systems for home and commercial building use. Solar
photovoltaic systems that transform the sun's light into electricity
can also be installed on homes and commercial buildings to offset
use of electricity from the local power grid. Another option for
lighting is daylighting, basically a skylight with a flexible tube
that can light interior spaces and rooms with limited or no windows.
Typically, a building owner would first exhaust all energy
efficiency projects first (insulation, window and door systems,
lighting, HVAC systems) and then turn to solar energy generation
projects.
Emerging products continue to improve efficiency and bring down
prices for solar energy, like thin-film PV and integrated building
materials. As the ratios of performance to price improve, these new
options will become more mainstream.
2. What are the areas of growth in
solar industry that you think would be of most interest to our
members?
The biggest growth has occurred in
solar PV installations that grew 45 percent from 2006 to 2007.
Big-box retailers led the growth as more corporations decided to
address their long-term energy costs. Wal-Mart, Best Buy and others
are installing solar on fleets of their buildings. Other large PV
installations include the 14 megawatt PV system at Nellis Air Force
Base. Also, some ballparks, airports and other public facilities
have added PV systems. Home builders are including solar energy
systems in some new developments. Another way to increase solar as a
larger segment of the U.S. energy mix is utility-scale concentrating
solar power. There are currently CSP plants totaling 420 megawatts
in service in the Mojave Desert in California, and outside of Las
Vegas. In addition, CSP project announcements and plans include more
than 4,000 megawatts.
3. What do you think are the barriers
that keep ESCOs and solar companies from collaborating more?
Barriers probably include lack of
awareness among ESCOs about solar retrofit options, equipment and
standards, along with few contacts among solar energy companies.
Threats: As our nation grapples with growing energy needs and
costs, government policy may shift from truly clean renewable options
like wind and solar and turn to other less certain sources, and
certainly more costly sources like nuclear and coal -- counting on
future technology that does not yet exist (like carbon
sequestration). Or, we will repeat what happened in the 80's --
President Carter saw the promise of solar energy, then energy prices
dropped and the country stuck with the status quo.
Also, most of the public is not aware of the subsidies still
received by traditional energy sources. According to Doug Koplow of
Earth Track, Inc., annual subsidies are $39 billion for oil and gas,
$8 billion for coal and $9 billion for nuclear. Conservation
programs get only $2 billion. All renewables (other than ethanol)
get $6 billion. We really face a choice in our country to apply
policy and subsidies to the sources we want to encourage and to find
ways to shift away from sources we want to discourage.
Ed. Note: NAESCO members have implemented many solar energy
projects; a few are highlighted in the Member News section of the
newsletter. Many of the projects involve NAESCO members constructing
solar power systems and selling the generated power back to the
customer through a power purchase agreement.
Energy efficiency figures prominently in the energy plans of both
Democratic presidential candidates, Senator Barack Obama and Senator
Hillary Clinton as well as the Republican presidential candidate,
Senator John McCain.
McCain, in a Speech on Energy Policy, delivered April 23, 2007,
said that energy efficiency is a big part of the answer to breaking
our nations' dependence on foreign oil sources and making American
safer, stronger and more prosperous. He cites improved light bulbs,
smart grid technologies and high tech materials to increase vehicle
fuel efficiency as new advancements that will make conservation a
more important part of the solution.
Obama would look to restore the federal government's lead in
energy efficiency by requiring all new federal buildings be carbon
neutral by 2025, by increasing the energy efficiency of new federal
buildings 40% within the next 5 years and by improving the
efficiency of existing buildings 25% within 5 years. He also would
overhaul the appliance efficiency standards process to ensure they
are updated regularly.
Using innovative measures to improve the efficiency of buildings
is also a part of the Obama energy plan. He would establish a goal
of making all new buildings carbon neutral by 2030, establish a
grant program for states and localities that take the first steps
toward implementing new building codes, and expand the federal
grants programs to help states and localities to build more
efficient public buildings. Obama would also change the way
utilities are compensated to ensure that they are rewarded for
energy efficiency improvements rather than higher energy
consumption. Obama would phase out incandescent light bulbs by 2014
and invest in a digital smart grid.
Clinton would establish a goal to reduce electricity consumption
by 20% from projected levels by 2020 by setting energy efficiency
targets for utilities at the national level. A portion of the
proceeds from the sale of emissions allowances from her cap and
trade program would be used as incentives for energy efficiency.
To restore the federal governments leadership in energy
efficiency, Clinton would require all new federal buildings designed
after her inauguration to be carbon neutral, require federal
agencies to raise public housing efficiency standards to leading
private sector standards, strengthen national building codes, make
energy efficiency a core mission of the General Services
Administration and require federally built housing in New Orleans
and the Gulf Coast be built to tough energy efficiency standards.
In addition, Clinton would modernize the grid using "Smart Grid"
technology, phase out incandescent light bulbs by 2012, direct the
Department of Energy to update existing appliance efficiency
standards, establish a "Connie Mae" program to help homeowners
implement energy efficiency improvements in their homes, modernize
20 million low-income homes to improve energy efficiency, create a
$1B Green Building Fund to allow states to annually issue grants or
low-interest loans to improve energy efficiency in public buildings,
establish a "Green Collar" worker training program, and require
state utility commissions to evaluate whether the energy services
provided by a proposed plant could be met by investments in energy
efficiency.
All three candidates would look to restore the United States'
leadership in addressing climate change on an international level.
While each candidate supports a cap and trade program, the
Democratic presidential candidates both support a 100% auction of
permits for emissions allowances while McCain foresees an increasing
fraction of these permits being supplied by auction.
For excerpts from the candidates' plan or speech, please follow
the links below:
In the first attempt to quantify the overall impact of the hidden
U.S. energy efficiency boom, a major new report from the American
Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy shows that U.S. energy
consumption (as measured per dollar of economic output) will have
been slashed by the end of 2008 to half of what it was in 1970, from
18 thousand BTUs to about 8.9 thousand BTUs. However, the ACEEE
report, The Size of the U.S. Energy Efficiency Market: Generating
a More Complete Picture, concludes that the United States as a
nation is generally not aware of the role that energy efficiency has
played in satisfying its growing energy-service demands and contends
that the contributions of efficiency often go unrecognized. The
report also notes that although efficiency is a proven resource, it
remains underdeveloped. ACEEE Research Associate Karen Ehrhardt-Martinez,
lead author of the report, said: "While current investments in
energy efficiency are having an important impact on our economy,
efficiency remains under-funded, and the potential benefits of
efficiency remain unrealized." The report concludes that the
evidence suggests that efficiency can make an even larger
contribution towards stabilizing energy prices and reducing
greenhouse gas emissions should the United States choose to fully
develop it. The report recommends a more complete remedy to
making energy efficiency more visible which includes a concerted data
collection effort, smart investments and investment mechanisms, and
a smart policy framework.
In May, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) opened the first
public comment period on LEED 2009, the next evolution of the LEED
green building certification system. All the LEED ratings systems
have been modified and are open for public comment. To review the
changes to the rating systems and provide comments, please visit the
USGBC website.
The LEED Existing Building Rating system has been modified to
include three options in the Minimum Energy Efficiency Performance
prerequisite. The options are achieving an energy performance rating
of at least 69 using the EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager,
demonstrating at least 19% better energy efficiency than the average
for typical buildings of similar type or using the method described
in the LEED for Existing Building Operations and Maintenance
Reference Guide. In addition, buildings must have energy meters that
measure all energy use and must calibrate meters within the
manufacturer's recommended interval.
The number of points needed to achieve the various levels of
certification has been increased. Opportunities to earn regional
bonus credits have been added. Projects that deliver regionally
important benefits are now eligible to earn points in the LEED
system.
The American Institute of Architects (AIA) has released a study
of three green building rating systems (Green Globes, SBTool 07, and
LEED NC 2.2) and assessed their effectiveness in supporting the
goals of the AIA sustainability position statement. The key findings
of the evaluation are as follows:
NAESCO's advocacy work in 2008 has expanded to ensure that the
growing number of energy efficiency initiatives across the country
are cost-effective, sustainable, and offer new opportunities for
ESCOs.
If you have visited the NAESCO website recently, you may have
noticed a number of changes. NAESCO has reorganized its website to
be more user friendly and it continues to add new industry
information to assist you and your customers. In addition, in order
to provide members with another channel to seek qualified candidates
for positions within their organizations, NAESCO recently launched a
"Green Jobs" page
with listings of available jobs. Posting a job is a free member
benefit. The new feature already contains numerous positions posted
by both members and non-members.
Member News
For a full list of all NAESCO Member News and Projects,
please
click here.
Project and Products
Honeywell and Lewis & Clark College Team to Harness Solar Energy
Honeywell announced that Lewis & Clark College in Portland, OR has
awarded the company a solar project that is expected to save the
school at least $200,000 in energy costs over the next 20 years.
Under the agreement, Honeywell will install solar panels on the roof
of the Pamplin Sports Center and sell the electricity the panels
produce to the college. The power purchase agreement is the first of
its kind for a college or university in Oregon.
Energy Systems Group
To Reduce Carbon Footprint of Major Florida Airport
Energy Systems
Group has partnered with TBI Airport Management, Inc. in a 10-year
$3.375 million energy savings contract for key energy conservation
and facility upgrades throughout Orlando Sanford International
Airport. Underlining the Sanford Airport Authority's green
environmental initiatives, the project implemented by Energy Systems
Group will reduce the airport's carbon footprint through a 35%
reduction of carbon emissions produced by the existing electrical
usage at SFB. In addition, water consumption will be reduced by
about 982,000 gallons per year. ESG's initiatives will provide the
airport with over $4.7 million in energy and operational savings
over the 10-year agreement..
Constellation Energy Projects & Services
Group to Construct Large-Scale Solar Power System for General Motors
Constellation Energy Projects & Services Group has signed an
agreement with General Motors Corporation to construct a solar power
system that will generate approximately 870 kw of power and supply
nearly half of the power requirements at GM's 300,000-square-foot
Service and Parts Operations warehouse in Fontana, California.
Constellation Energy will own and operate the rooftop system and
provide power to the GM facility under a 25-year power purchase
agreement. The photovoltaic solar installation, one of the largest
of its kind for a corporate customer, will feature 6,400
UNI-SOLAR(R) solar panels. GM estimates the project will reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by 355 metric tons annually and reduce
electricity costs by approximately 10 percent.
SYLVANIA Offers New
High Efficiency Ballasts
OSRAM SYLVANIA extends its QUICKTRONIC®
high performance ballast family to include the all new T5HO and T8
High Efficiency QUICKSTEP® Bi-level Systems. Known for exceptional
performance, the new QUICKTRONIC Bi-Level series are designed to
replace conventional ballasts in A/B switching applications. They
can be controlled by conventional wall-box switches and/or occupancy
sensors.
Chevron Energy Solutions and Keenan Development Finish $100
Million New Central Utility Plan at Fort Detrick On Budget and On Time
Chevron Energy Solutions and Keenan Development announced the
commercial operation of a new $100 million central utility plant
which will provide efficient and reliable power, chilled water, and
steam to the National Interagency Biodefense Campus at the U.S.
Army's Fort Detrick in Frederick, Maryland. The central utility
plant's design provides for continuous steam, chilled water,
electricity and standby emergency power to reliably meet the needs
of the NIBC's laboratory and biodefense research work. CES designed
and built the plant on schedule and on budget and is operating the
facility, while Keenan Development owns the plant and is leasing the
project land from Fort Detrick.
Southeastern Regional School
District of Massachusetts Signs Preliminary Contract with Ameresco
The Southeastern Regional School District announced it has signed a
preliminary contract with Ameresco to assist the school district in
conserving energy. The agreement is expected to reduce energy
consumption by 25%.
Chicago's Merchandise Mart Selects TAC for
Clinton Climate Initiative Energy Savings Project
Chicago's
Merchandise Mart, the largest commercial building in the world, has
signed the first project development agreement in the United States
under the Clinton Climate Initiative. Under the agreement, TAC will
implement energy reduction initiatives as part of CCI's global
Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program designed to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions from existing facilities. A representative
from TAC will talk about this project at the upcoming NAESCO GreenTech workshop in Chicago on June 11th.
San Jose Unified School
District, Chevron, and Bank of America Establish Largest K-12 Solar
Power and Energy Efficiency Program in the United States
San Jose Unified School District today announced that it has entered
into a unique partnership with Chevron Energy Solutions and Bank of
America to establish what is believed to be the largest solar power
and energy-efficient facilities program in K-12 education in the
United States. As part of its equipment finance and management
business, Bank of America will own the solar equipment and through
its Energy Services Financing Solutions team, will sell power to the
district under a service contract at rates significantly below
market utility rates.
The EnergySolve Companies Implement Energy Efficient Parking
Garage Lighting Project at Foxwoods Resort Casino
The EnergySolve
Companies recently completed the design and installation of 8,140
new, energy efficient parking garage lighting fixtures at the
Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. The
Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation's energy service company – the
Native American Energy Savings Company - partnered with the EnergySolve Companies to design, procure and install energy
efficient lighting in Foxwood's Rainmaker, Great Cedars, Grand
Pequot, and new MGM hotel parking garages. The new highly efficient
lighting replaced energy inefficient lighting in all of the parking
garages, reducing energy consumption from the garage lighting by an
estimated 45%.
DMJM Harris Teams with California State University
San Bernardino
The California State University at San Bernardino has
teamed with DMJM Harris Energy Services to improve the energy
efficiency and infrastructure of their campus, while reducing their
carbon footprint and planning for future growth. CSUSB is one of
several CSU campuses to engage DMJM Harris to deliver renewable
energy technology and energy efficiency programs. The $13.7 million
project will provide necessary equipment and systems upgrades to
allow for campus growth while successfully achieving the state's
aggressive energy reduction goals. DMJM Harris designed a program
that will reduce the campus' annual energy costs by over $1 million
and the CSUSB campus will receive approximately $1.2 million in
utility incentives to offset the cost of the project..
Ganahl
Lumber Company Slashes Utility Bills with Universal Lighting
Technologies' DCL®
Universal Lighting Technologies has developed DCL® to provide
immediate, wireless control of every lighting fixture in a building
or multiple buildings. DCL (or Demand Control Lighting) allows Ganahl Lumber Company, California's oldest lumber retailer, to
reduce lighting levels throughout the building with a single
command. The DCL control unit communicates with the building's
lighting ballasts at the circuit level in order to reduce power
anywhere from 1 percent to 50 percent. The result is significant
energy and financial savings.
Honeywell and City of Hillsboro, OR
Power Water Storage Facility with Solar Panels
Honeywell announced that the City of Hillsboro, OR, has awarded the
company a solar project that is expected to cut the city's energy
costs and greenhouse gas emissions. Under the agreement, Honeywell
will install ground-mounted solar panels next to the Hillsboro
Evergreen Reservoir water storage facility and sell the electricity
that the panels produce to the city for use at the reservoir. The
panels are expected to generate more than 104,000 kilowatt-hours of
electricity annually, almost 20 percent of the power needed for the
15 million-gallon Evergreen Reservoir.
Constellation Energy Projects &
Services Group Constructs Photovoltaic Solar Power System in
California
Constellation Energy Projects & Services Group has constructed and
will own and operate a new photovoltaic solar power system in
California, marking CEPS' initial step in the solar power market.
Constellation Energy Projects & Services constructed the solar
photovoltaic system in partnership with leading aluminum
manufacturer Alcoa and DEERS, owner of the patent pending solar
rooftop attachment design. The new system is a 588,000-watt,
roof-mounted photovoltaic solar power system. As part of this
project, Constellation Energy Projects & Services will own the
energy assets and will sell the electricity it generates on site
back to Alcoa.
Advance Introduces New Additions to ROVR™ Family of
DALI-Compliant Digital Addressable Ballasts
Advance announces that it has expanded its innovative family of
ROVR™ digital addressable controllable fluorescent lamp ballasts to
include a new 1-lamp model for T5 fluorescent applications as well
as 1 and 2-lamp models to support T8 fluorescent applications in a
variety of professional settings. Now offered to complement its
previous 2-lamp version, Advance's new ROVR ballast for 1-lamp, 54
Watt T5 High Output (T5HO) fluorescent applications is intended for
office and warehouse venues, while Advance's new 1 and 2-lamp
fluorescent T8 ballasts support 17 Watt, 25 Watt, or 32 Watt
fluorescent T8 applications are intended for use in general office
settings and conference rooms. All of the new ballasts fully enable
two-way communications with individual lighting fixtures and allow
users to set up any fluorescent lighting configuration they desire
with numerous distinct performance settings.
SYLVANIA Introduces ECOLOGIC 3 Family
of Lamps
OSRAM SYLVANIA, introduces ECOLOGIC®3, which the company
believes to be the industry's most sustainable lighting solution.
ECOLOGIC3 is the latest in SYLVANIA's ongoing efforts to offer the
most environmentally preferable products on the market. The
ECOLOGIC3 family includes 25 different SYLVANIA OCTRON® T8 lamps;
each exemplifies the three major features of environmentally
responsible lighting: longer lamp life, higher lumens per watt and RoHS (Reduction of Hazardous Substances) compliance for hazardous
materials. It all adds up to a lower environmental impact and lower
energy costs.
Education Agency in Western Pennsylvania To Undergo
$1.4 Million Energy Saving Renovation with TAC
Midwestern Intermediate Unit (MIU) IV, the education service agency
for schools in Butler, Lawrence and Mercer Counties in western
Pennsylvania, is implementing $1,492,000 in facility enhancements
designed to improve operations, comfort and efficiency at its
facility in Grove City, PA. The Energy Solutions division of TAC, a
world leader in energy services will complete the work as a
performance contract with the organization.
Energy Systems Group Signs $5.6 Million Contract with
Naval Station Norfolk
Energy Systems Group signed their first
Utility Energy Services Contract, teaming up with Virginia Natural
Gas, Inc. at Naval Station Norfolk, the world's largest naval
station. ESG will provide lighting, water, and mechanical system
upgrades and will establish the framework for decentralization of
the central steam system. In compliance with current energy
legislation, these projects are designed to reduce energy, improve
infrastructure, and address comfort concerns expressed by Naval
Station Norfolk. The $5,693,529 contract consists of several key
energy conservation measures including lighting retrofits, infrared
heating, water conservation and steam to hot water conversion. The
total duration of the design and installation effort will be fifteen
months.
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People
Pepco Energy Services Names Vice President and General Manager for
New England Business
Pepco Energy Services announced today that it has named Stephen J.
Fabiani as Vice President and General Manager for its New England
business. Fabiani joins Pepco Energy Services as a member of its
senior leadership team and has responsibility for leading the
company's expansion into the New England energy market.
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Company News
Con Edison Solutions Acquires Custom Energy
Con Edison Solutions has acquired Custom Energy Services, LLC,
of Overland Park, Kansas, an energy services company serving a
national portfolio of clients. Custom Energy CEO Dayton "Buddy" Hahs
will remain with the company and will continue to serve as Chairman
of NAESCO.
EPA Report Profiles Energy Star Partners
for Significantly Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Several NAESCO Members Among Energy Star 2008 Award Recipients
The Environmental Protection Agency released a report, "Profiles in
Leadership, 2008 Energy Star Award Winners," highlighting 74
award-winning organizations across many sectors of the U.S. economy,
including schools, hospitals, real estate, manufacturing, chemicals
and home building. The award winners were selected from over 12,000
organizations that partner in the Energy Star program. The EPA said
that through the pioneering efforts of these organizations,
substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by means of
energy efficiency and awareness have been achieved.
Among the award recipients for the Energy Star Award for
Sustained Excellence are New York State Energy Research and
Development Authority, OSRAM SYLVANIA and Southern
California Edison. Pacific Gas and Electric was awarded
Energy Star Partner of the Year and Energy Star Award for Excellence
awards.
AMERESCO CEO Sakellaris Tells Congress
Energy Efficiency Projects Could Produce 3 Million Jobs
Ameresco President and Chief Executive Officer George Sakellaris
told members of a congressional committee examining Global Warming
that investments in energy efficiency projects would not only reduce
the effects of climate change, but also serve as an engine of
economic growth creating over three million American jobs. Sakellaris
testified at a hearing of the U.S. Select Committee on Energy
Independence and Global Warming entitled "Negawatts: The
Role of Efficiency Policies in Climate Legislation." The hearing
was part of Congress' consideration of cap-and-trade legislation to
address climate change and technologies to achieve emissions
reductions.
Atlantic Energy Solutions, Inc. Goes Public
Atlantic Energy Solutions, Inc, headquartered in Saratoga Springs,
New York, has announced that it has become a publicly traded company
on Pink Sheets, an electronic OTC market. Atlantic Energy is a
NAESCO accredited Energy Services Company (ESCO) and was recently
acquired by Notch Novelty Corporation (PINKSHEETS: NHNV).
Con Edison Solutions Wins Approval to Deliver Energy Services
in North Carolina
Con Edison Solutions has received formal accreditation from
the state of North Carolina as an energy services company. As a
state-accredited ESCO, the company is entitled to offer a range of
energy efficiency services to state-owned agencies and universities.
Last year, the North Carolina State Senate allocated $200 million
for use by State-owned agencies and universities to implement
energy-saving upgrades in 2008 by tapping the services of approved
providers.
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