New Report Highlights Benefits of Energy Efficiency in Texas, Southern U.S.

According to a report published in April by Georgia Tech and Duke University, the southern U.S. has lagged in its implementation of energy efficiency programs. Defined as the 16 states from Texas to Maryland, the south uses 40 percent of the nation’s residential electricity (44 percent of total electric consumption when including commercial and industrial users) despite only housing 37 percent of the nation’s population. Without intervention, this consumption is expected to increase an additional 16 percent by 2030.

Texas and its nearly 24 million residents were rated 23rd out of the 50 states in 2009 by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, in terms of adoption and implementation of energy efficiency policies, despite having the 5th highest per-capita energy consumption in the country.

For Texas residential consumers, enhanced efficiency policies such as stricter building codes, appliance and equipment standards, and expanded weatherization incentives could reduce consumption by 14 percent by 2030. This would result in average annual energy savings of $330 per household.

The expansion of the energy efficiency sector would not only generate new jobs and businesses, but free up funds from energy savings for further economic activity.

For additional information, read the full report (PDF) and state-specific summaries (PDF).

Austin City Council Approves 2020 Green Energy Plan

From Austin Energy:

The Austin City Council approved on Earth Day a blueprint generation plan through 2020 for Austin Energy that will take effect later this year.

The 7-0 Council approval of the plan delayed its effective date to give Austin Energy time to develop an affordability matrix for Council approval. Such a matrix would help guide implementation of the Plan. Among other things, it would track the competitiveness of Austin Energy electric rates among all customer classes against rates available in other large Texas cities. Using consultants and other resources, Austin Energy expects to present an affordability matrix for Council approval before the end of this year.

The Austin Energy Resource, Generation and Climate Protection plan, developed over a two-year period with extensive public input, lays out a strategy whereby 35 percent of the power delivered by the utility to its customers by 2020 would come from wind, biomass and solar resources. Austin Energy is currently at about 10 percent renewables.

The plan calls for a total of 1,000 megawatts (MW) of wind capacity, 150 MW of biomass and 200 MW of solar by 2020. Austin Energy’s current generation portfolio includes contracts to purchase all energy produced by 439 MW of wind turbines located at six west Texas wind farms over various contract periods, a 20-year contract beginning in 2012 to purchase all energy produced by a 100 MW biomass plant to be built in east Texas and a 25-year contract to purchase all power produced by a 30 MW solar farm to be built near Austin in the coming year. Austin also owns a total of 2,400 MW of nuclear, coal and natural gas-fueled generation.

Another key Plan component calls for the offset of 800 MW of peak demand by 2020 through energy efficiency and load shifting. Peak demand, which drives the need for additional power plants, occurs when the demand for electricity is the highest—for instance on the warmest summer days. Austin Energy currently offsets about 50 MW of peak demand annually through some of the most comprehensive energy efficiency and Green Building programs in the nation. Between 1982 and 2006, those programs offset about 680 MW of peak demand.

A final component of the Plan is to reduce generation portfolio CO2 emissions by 2020 to 20% below 2005 emissions levels.

For more information, visit Austin Energy.

Renewable Energy Stampede & Green Living Fair

SALADO, Texas--- A stampede is coming to Salado this spring, the Renewable Energy Stampede & Green Living Fair is brought to North Central Texas by organizers with over 25 years experience in renewable energy and healthy green living and 10 years of fair organizing. Festivals co-organized by TREIA and TXSES have rallied exhibitors, sponsors and returning fair goers for unparalleled events connecting businesses and customers for sustainable, healthy green living solutions sought by Texans. The April 17 & 18 fair is located at the Salado Civic Center, 601 N. Main. St. in Salado, tickets are $10 Saturday, $7 Sunday, and $15 for the weekend while children under 12 are free.

The Stampede showcases eco-friendly products, green energy services and renewable energy resources from a growing number of Texas-wide companies. Texans will find a format that is interactive, entertaining and informative. The fair special activities includes:

· Workshops: Ontility Solar Electric Systems, Cathy Redson Green Jobs What and Where to Get Them

· Panel Discussions: State and Federal Rebate Information, Water Needs

· Keynote Speakers: LaVerne Williams, Texas Green Building Pioneer, James Vaughan, 1st LEED Certified Chamber of Commerce Building

· Live Music

· Kid’s Learning Activities: Build & Race a solar car, Build a solar oven and cook s'mores

· Healthy Cooking Demos & Natural, Organic Food Cafés

Hear about state and national rebate opportunities for green energy savings while planning for sustainable living needs. Explore solutions that meet the needs of our changing green energy needs and smart grid oriented economy. This two-day event will showcase eco-friendly products and renewable energy solutions that help preserve our environment.

“People are looking for choices that are recyclable, renewable, and reusable. When options are available, people tend to lean towards a green lifestyle that is organic; sustainable; locally produced; energy efficient; and less toxic,” said Russel Smith, Executive Director of the Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association and co- organizer. “The fair provides an outlet for community members to gain invaluable information and resources that can benefit future quality of life.”

The 1st Annual Renewable Energy Stampede is co-organized by Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association and Texas Solar Energy Society, in cooperation with the Village of Salado and the Texas Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. Event proceeds benefit TREIA and TXSES, two non-profits striving to increase understanding and awareness of renewable energy applications and promote their wide use. For more details log on to www.renewablestampede.org or call 877-376-8638 or email info@renewablestampede.org.

Texas Appliance Rebate Program Reservations Filled

With more than 38 million Web hits and nearly 39,000 rebate reservations made, Texans swarmed online and phone reservation systems to grab rebates for energy efficient appliances from the Texas Comptroller’s office. The state was only allocated $23 million in funding for the program, and all guaranteed rebates and waitlist reservations were filled within 48 hours of the program's launch.

There was unprecedented response to the reservation program — approximately 2,400 Web hits per second and about 1,000 calls per minute. Texans reserved 38,864 guaranteed rebates; of that total, 32,283 reservations were made online and 6,581 over the phone.

Consumers have to be on the guaranteed rebate reservation list or the waitlist in order to print or receive the application forms necessary to mail in to claim rebates. Residents must mail in their rebate forms and a copy of the sales receipt, along with any other required documents, postmarked within 60 days of today’s reservation date. Rebate applications mailed in from waitlist participants will be processed in the order received, pending available funds.

Texans can use the rebates to buy energy efficient appliances in eight appliance categories. The purchase period for all appliances begins April 16, 2010. For refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, dishwashers and room air conditioners, the purchase period ends April 25, 2010. For central air conditioners, hot water heaters and air-source heat pumps, the purchase period ends 60 days from the rebate reservation or waitlist request date.

Disposal of the old, functional appliance of the same type is required for all rebate applications. There is an additional $75 rebate for recycling the old appliance.

For further details on the program, visit www.TexasPowerfulSmart.org. The Web site also has information on more rebates and incentives that would benefit consumers.

Green Collar Upgrades East Austin Home

From left to right: Gene, Rob, Carolina, Andrew

Environmental Impact in East Austin:
Hispanic Austin Leadership and Green Collar Operations Upgrade House

On Friday, March 26th, a crew from Green Collar Operations came to the home of Paco and Carolina Guajardo to perform an energy audit and assist this family of five with making energy saving improvements free of charge.

Carolina works as a Training Specialist focusing on parent initiatives with ACE (A Community for Education) and Paco works in construction but has been without steady work for over 1.5 years. They have three children, Francisco (7 years old), and twins, Isaac and Gabriel (two years old). Their house is a 1970’s two bedroom, one bath style bungalow without central air and heat. They work hard in this city of Austin and struggle to makes ends meet. Their monthly electric bills range from $200 to $400 per month for this tiny home throughout the year and this has placed a great strain on their lives.

The Hispanic Austin Leadership (HAL) program is sponsored by the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GAHCC). The HAL class of 2010 had a particular member, Gabriela Garcia, who also was assigned to work on the Environmental team. Knowing Carolina and her situation from work, Gabriela felt that Carolina’s home would be a great place to focus the team’s resources to help this family and help to draw more attention to East Austin and the needs of the community there.

Through the team’s hard work and dedication to finding a way to help this family, the Environment Team was able to contact the president of Green Collar Operations, Andrew Ewig, who enthusiastically threw the support of Green Collar into this project. The Green Collar team arrived Friday morning and immediately began to work weatherizing the home. They installed insulation in the attic taking the house from an R-2 to an R-38 rating as well as sealed plumbing penetrations throughout the home, weather-stripped all the doors, patched a hole in the wall with Solar Board and performed several other weatherizing treatments on the home.

Just within two days Carolina is already commenting on how wonderful the work is and that there is a noticeable difference. “The windows don’t shake in their frames anymore and we don’t feel a draft along the floor because they sealed the holes in the wall. This is wonderful! Thank you, Thank you!”

The HAL Environment Team consists of Edward Olmeda, Gabriela Garcia and Paul Betancourt. These team members went further and helped educate the family on other topics of energy savings and helped the family to install a High-Efficiency Toilet for water conservation and a dozen compact fluorescent bulbs in their home.

PRESS COVERAGE
See the Austin-American Statesman article at http://www.statesman.com/business/green-collar-makes-local-home-greener-gratis-505951.html

ABOUT GREEN COLLAR OPERATIONS
Green Collar Operations is the #1 provider of energy efficiency services in Central Texas. With thousands of customers, Green Collar Operations has helped Texans save millions of kilowatt-hours of electricity and achieve practical environment solutions while cutting thousands of dollars in utility costs.
For further information on this topic, please contact Edward Olmeda of the GAHCC at (512) 324-5907, eolmeda@seton.org or contact Green Collar Operations co-owner Andrew Ewig at 512.986.7045, andrew@greencollaroperations.com.

Green Collar Operations Wins ENERGY STAR Award

Green Collar Operations
Recognized with 2010
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR®
Century Club Award

AUSTIN, TEXAS, April 6th, 2010 – Green Collar Operations is pleased to announce that it has received a 2010 Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Century Club Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy.

This Century Club Award recognizes Green Collar Operations as one of fewer than 40 companies nationally that have improved the energy efficiency of more than 100 homes through the Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program in 2009. Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, sponsored locally by Austin Energy, offers homeowners a comprehensive, whole-house approach to improving energy efficiency and comfort, while helping residents save money on utility bills and helping to protect the environment.

Chandler von Schrader, with the ENERGY STAR Program at EPA, announced "2008 as the first year we recognized contractors in our program that have performed over 100 energy efficient installations. These Century Club Contractors are industry leaders committed to using building science to maximize energy savings, comfort and sustainability. By making our existing housing stock more energy efficient, these Century Club Contractors are at the forefront of our nation’s efforts to reduce pollution generated from power plants that provide energy for our communities.”

“We are honored to receive this award and proud to be named one of the top home energy efficiency companies in the nation,” said Rob Scott, co-owner of Green Collar Operations. “The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program has been a great way to introduce communities to the benefits of energy efficiency, and we would like to thank the EPA, DOE and Austin Energy for their continued educational outreach and support of local rebate programs.”

As participating contractors in Austin Energy’s Rebate program, companies like Green Collar Operations receive specialized training and are equipped with diagnostic tools to inspect homes inside and out to determine where improvements are needed. Rather than focusing on a single problem, like an old heating or cooling system, not enough insulation in the attic, or leaky windows, they look at how a comprehensive set of improvements can give homeowners the best results. Depending on the improvements, homeowners can easily save 20 percent or more on their annual utility bills by improving their home’s efficiency.

About Green Collar Operations
Since 2007, Green Collar Operations has been providing home energy efficiency improvements and promoting their mission to help Austin and Central Texas homeowners reduce their energy usage and monthly utility bills. They have serviced over 1,800 homes and saved local residents over 4 million kilowatt-hours of energy by increasing efficiency. As a participating contractor in the local Home Performance with Energy Star program, Green Collar Operations works closely with Austin Energy to ensure quality service and applicable rebates to all customers. For more information, visit www.greencollaroperations.com or contact Jacob Lohman at 512-986-7045 or jacob@greencollaroperations.com.


About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 12,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit http://www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

Department of Energy to Expand Testing of Energy Star Label Appliances

The U.S. government is developing plans to begin testing all appliances that use the ENERGY STAR label. 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. In March, the DOE began 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. Currently, the government only runs tests on some of the ENERGY STAR labeled products, and often relies on manufacturers' claims and only launches their own inspection if a product receives specific complaints. In March, the DOE began testing products in six additional categories, including refrigerators, stand-alone freezers, clothes washers, dishwashers, water heaters and room air conditioners. Previously, it tested only windows, doors, skylights, LED and CFL fixtures.

EPA and DOE are also developing an expanded system that will require all products seeking the Energy Star label to be tested in approved labs and require manufacturers to participate in an ongoing verification testing program that will ensure continued compliance. The government has also increased its enforcement of the Energy Star label, taking action against 35 manufacturers in the past four months for failing to comply with the standards necessary for Energy Star compliance.

For more information, see the EPA's press release.