Austin's Pecan Street Project gets $10.4 million in Stimulus Funds

The Austin Pecan Street Project has been awarded $10.4 million in federal stimulus funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. The money will be used for a smart-grid demonstration project in the central Austin Mueller development. This funding is part of $184.5 million slated for national clean energy grants.

The demonstration project will integrate with Austin Energy’s next generation smart grid platform to create, operate, and evaluate an open platform Energy Internet – a type of smart grid that allows two-way electricity and information flow and is modeled on the architecture of the Internet. Resident and commercial participation in the project will be voluntary. The project will also feature initiatives such as solar power, energy storage and electric car recharge stations.

For more information, read the Austin Energy press release or visit www.pecanstreetproject.org.

California Approves Energy Efficiency Standards for TVs

California typically leads the nation when it comes to being the first to adopt stringent environmental policies, and this time is no different. The state has now officially established regulations on the energy consumption of LCD and plasma televisions up to 58-inches in size. Any television manufacturers that do not meet these requirements, which go into effect in 2011 and become even stricter by 2013, will not be allowed to sell their merchandise in the state. Recent research shows that televisions account for 2 percent of the state’s electricity use and 10 percent of residential electricity use, and this latest legislation aims to curb these numbers as TV power consumption will only increase as more people purchase electricity-guzzling plasma and LCD televisions.

For more information, visit the California Energy Commission website.

Austin City Council Approves Measures Related to Energy Efficiency

In their meeting yesterday, the Austin City Council approved three new measures related to energy efficiency:

1. Agreed to use $2.9 million in federal stimulus money to weatherize the homes of low-income, elderly and disabled residents

2. Agreed to grant Texas Gas Service's application to apply a surcharge to customers' bills to cover the cost of relocating gas facilities

3. Approved spending $3 million on rebates for high efficiency toilets and other conservation programs

With winter approaching, the Texas Gas Service surcharge means that it is even more important and financially beneficial to make energy efficiency improvements for your home.

White House Proposes “Cash for Caulkers” Stimulus Plan

The White House is considering a new “Cash for Caulkers” plan that would provide rebates, subsidies and incentives over the next two years for homeowners to make energy efficiency upgrades to their properties. The program would be called “Home Star” and would be funded by $23 million of federal money.

The proposed program would subsidize half of the cost or up to $2,000 of any home energy efficiency improvements. There would also be a subsidy of up to $4,000 for homes that receive upgrades and lower energy use by at least 20 percent.

White this program is still in the preliminary planning stages, it is a piece of news to follow closely in the coming months.

What is Combined Heat and Power (CHP)?

Combined heat and power, also known as cogeneration, is a method of recovering energy in the form of useful heat that would otherwise be lost in the process of producing electricity. Traditional methods of electricity generation produce heat as a by-product, but CHP is able to capture and recycle this energy for other uses.

CHP is most effective when combined with local industrial needs. As with all forms of energy, transmission is expensive and inefficient. Therefore institutions that require significant sources of electricity and heat, such as hospitals, universities and large industrial plants, are well suited for CHP systems.

In New York City, Con Edison, the local utility company, distributes steam to heat nearby buildings. Locally, the University of Texas employs a CHP system that provides electricity, heat and cooling to 160 campus buildings.

To learn more about CHP, read this case study (PDF) done by the International District Energy Association on the University of Texas CHP system.

U.S. Could Create 37 million “green” jobs

A recent report by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) concludes that the country could add up to 37 million jobs and displace 1.2 billion tons of annual carbon emissions by 2030 if it continues to make strong commitments to energy efficiency and renewable energy.

The report says that putting a focus on renewable energies such as solar electric, biomass power and biofuels would not only create jobs within those sectors, but would expand employment in supporting sectors such as farming, metal fabrication, construction and trucking.

“The twin challenges of climate change and economic stagnation can be solved by the same action - broad, aggressive, sustained deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency,” says Brad Collins, Executive Director of ASES. “The solution for one is the solution for the other.”

The report finds that in 2006, energy efficiency and renewable energy industries were responsible for contributing 8.5 million new jobs and $970 billion to the national economy. In 2008, these industries were responsible for contributing another 9 million new jobs and over $1 trillion to the economy.

While the report projects that some 37 million “green” jobs could be created by 2030, it recognizes that these will replace jobs in traditional energy industries. The report projects that the total net job increase would still be 4.5 million, in additional to the environmental benefits of an aggressive focus on energy efficiency and renewable energy.

You can read the entire report online (PDF).

Construction Begins on Nacogdoches Biomass Power Plant

Yesterday, Atlanta-based Southern Power Company held its groundbreaking ceremonies for a new biomass power plant near Nacogdoches, Texas. Construction of the plant is scheduled to take 32 months and commercial operation is expected to begin in the summer of 2012.

As part of its goal to receive 30 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020, Austin Energy has a 20-year agreement to purchase electricity from the plant. The plant will produce 100-megawatts of power over a 165-acre site, and the biomass fuel will come from local wood processing residue and lumber waste.

The project is also expected to create around 300 construction jobs and 40 permanent jobs for the local area.

Pros and Cons of Tankless Water Heaters

Heating water can account for up to 30 percent of a home’s energy use, and switching to a more energy efficient tankless water heater is one way to lower your home’s energy use. However, tankless water heaters are expensive and work differently than the normal water heaters you are used to.

Tankless water heaters work by instantly heating water as it flows through pipes in the device. With a traditional tank water heater, a large volume of water is stored and slowly heated. In addition to energy savings, a tankless water heater can produce an unlimited supply of hot water.

Benefits of a tankless water heater:

- Long-term savings: according to Consumer Reports, tankless heaters are on average 22 percent more efficient, which means average savings of around $80 per year.

- Unlimited hot water

- Require less space

- Less risk of water damage from tank leaks or failures

Disadvantages of a tankless water heater:

- Average purchase and installation cost is around $1,200 which means it could take over 20 years to recoup this cost from its energy savings

- More susceptible to mineral buildup and require more frequent maintenance

- Tankless heaters require a minimum water pressure and volume to be flowing to trigger activation

- It takes time for the water to begin heating up

While there are clear advantages and disadvantages to getting a tankless water heater, we hope we have provided you with information to help you make a more informed decision for your home.

Austin Energy Proposes Rate Increase

On Wednesday, Austin Energy proposed a rate increase to the city council. If approved, this would be the first rate increase since 1994. Austin Energy faces a budget deficit of $9.3 million next year, and a deficit of $177 million by 2013 if the current rates stay the same. Austin Energy’s expenses are mounting due to conservation initiatives, installing smart meters, and the cost of new transmission lines.

While Austin Energy has made it clear that a rate increase is needed, it is unclear how much this increase will be. However, the rate restructuring would be a two-year process eventually needing state approval.

Links to articles with additional information about the financial state of Austin Energy can be found here and here.

Department of Energy Announces Funding for Industrial Energy Efficiency

U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced yesterday that $155 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will go towards 41 industrial energy efficiency projects. The industrial sector represents an area that could see huge benefits from increased energy efficiency, as it accounts for more than 30 percent of all U.S. energy consumption and carbon emissions. These funds will be used for combined heat and power and district energy systems, which generate the heat and power needed for many industrial processes independently from the utility grid. These systems use almost half as much energy as traditional methods. Additional projects include energy waste recovery systems and other efficiency initiatives for hospitals and utilities.

"To remain globally competitive, American industry needs to be energy efficient,” said Steven Chu. “The funding for industrial energy efficiency technologies announced today will support a robust American industrial sector and help to usher in a clean energy economy. Many companies already realize that improving efficiency saves money while helping the environment. These projects will make energy efficiency technologies more widely available, cutting energy use and reducing carbon pollution across the country."

The Department of Energy projects that the initiatives completed with this funding will result in energy savings equivalent to over 112 million gallons of gasoline per year. Texas recipients of this funding include the Texas Medical Center and Texas A&M University.

For more information, view the DOE’s press release.

How Energy Efficient is Your Life?

Check out the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Star "Home Energy Yardstick" calculator. This site allows you to enter data about your home's energy usage and compare it to the national average. The site also offers advice and tips on how to make your home more energy efficient.

To find out about energy efficiency in other aspects of your life, check out the Carbon Footprint Calculator from Green Mountain Energy. This site compares your energy use from cars, electricity, travel, and natural gas to the national average to give you an idea of how energy efficient your life is.

Looking to further cut your energy consumption? Check out www.sust-it.net which compares the energy usage for thousands of household appliances. Although this site calculates its prices in pounds, it is still easy to see which appliances and electronics are more energy efficient than others.