(BUSINESS WIRE)--Suniva, Inc., a U.S. manufacturer of high-efficiency monocrystalline silicon solar cells and modules, today announced its next generation ARTisun™ Select series solar cells are in production. These next generation cells are achieving conversion efficiencies of more than 19 percent, a record for screen-printed cells in full-scale production. Suniva attains these efficiencies using a uniform single-sided emitter along with other proprietary innovations on the front side of the cell. Suniva is the first company to successfully leverage ion implantation as an enabling technology in the mass production of solar cells.
Suniva’s unique intellectual property and proprietary processing capabilities, combined with several years of collaborative research and development on ion implantation technology, enables the company to bring ARTisun Select to the market and into full production as the first of its kind using this unique manufacturing technology. Additionally, Suniva simplified its solar cell manufacturing process by eliminating two entire steps, which allows the company to more cost-effectively produce its record-setting cells. The use of ion implantation in Suniva’s manufacturing process is based on years of development collaboration with Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates (NASDAQ: VSEA).
“Combined with Suniva’s innovative R&D and proprietary processes, ion implantation provides us with a very cost-effective way to manufacture solar cells of 19 percent efficiency without adding complex processes for a selective emitter. We do have the capability to use a selective emitter, but we have not yet chosen to do so,” said Dr. Ajeet Rohatgi, Suniva founder and CTO. “Our unique development process is what will ultimately enable Suniva to achieve efficiencies in the 20 percent range in our third generation cells on n-type wafer and maintain an equally attractive manufacturing cost.”
Suniva’s record-setting efficiencies for low cost cells are being integrated across its module line with module level efficiencies of 16+%. The ARTisun Select product line is a logical progression on Suniva’s technology roadmap towards its next generation products that are in its labs. This technology roadmap is built around multiple proprietary cell structures certified by NREL as achieving 20% efficiency. Suniva previously achieved industry-leading, certified efficiencies of more than 20 percent on screen-printed cells in the lab.
“Leveraging ion implantation in solar cell processing has traditionally proven too costly and slow. Combined with Suniva’s deep research and our own proprietary design, recipes and processes, we have unlocked the value of the ion implanter as an enabling technology for solar cell processing. The result is an immediate, one percent efficiency gain in ARTisun Select, and an ongoing reduction in our cell conversion costs,” said Bruce McPherson, vice president of research and development for Suniva. “We are quite confident that this is just the first step in a multistep process which will take Suniva well into the 20% category of efficiencies while still maintaining low cost screen printed manufacturing processes. Through continued innovation, optimization and modification of cell design and manufacturing processes, and by leveraging both our unique R&D relationship with the University Center of Excellence in Photovoltaics (UCEP) and strategic 3rd party technology collaborations , such as Varian, Suniva will continue to lead the market in efficiencies so far unattained in low-cost solar cell manufacturing.”
With its expanding, diverse and skilled workforce, Suniva is producing world-class technology and generating record-setting screen printed solar cell efficiencies both in the lab and in manufacturing. For more information about Suniva and its products, please visit www.suniva.com.
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Showing posts with label efficiency. Show all posts
Showing posts with label efficiency. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
America's Anemic '13 Percent Economy': Experts Warn U.S. Risks Long-Term Growth by Focusing on New Energy at Expense of More Energy Efficiency
/PRNewswire/ -- What will play the biggest role in future U.S. economic growth: the new energy that we find ... or the energy that we avoid using?
Even as Congress and the news media focus almost completely on the question of where America will find new sources of traditional and emerging energy sources, the little-understood fact is that new energy sources are likely to play a much smaller role in the current U.S. economic recovery and future growth than are new advances in energy efficiency, according to leading experts. Even worse, the overwhelming emphasis today on new energy is "crowding out" meaningful national dialogue and progress on achieving greater energy efficiency in an economy that is struggling today at a level of just 13 percent efficiency in terms of energy use, meaning that 87% of the energy we use is wasted.
In a phone-based news conference today - John A. "Skip" Laitner, director, Economic and Social Analysis, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and Robert U. Ayres, emeritus professor, Economics and Political Science and Technology Management, European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD), and co-author of "Crossing the Energy Divide: Moving from Fossil Fuel Dependence to a Clean-Energy Future" (2010) - summarized the thinking at a symposium session held Tuesday to mark the 30th anniversary year of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). See http://www.aceee.org/conf/30th/april26.htm for more information.
Among the key facts highlighted during the symposium:
-- America's economy has tripled in size since 1970 and three-quarters of
the energy needed to fuel that growth came from efficiency advances -
not net new energy. Going forward, the current economic recovery and
future economic growth are likely to be even more dependent on new
energy efficiency advances than was the period of 1970-date.
-- Americans may have an overly optimistic impression of how energy
efficient the United States is. Despite the enormous strides achieved
in the last four decades, the U.S. economy remains only about 13
percent energy efficient. That still unacceptably high level of
inefficiency either will be allowed to remain in place and therefore
leave the U.S. mired in lackluster economic activity ... or it will be
tackled head-on, leading to new efficiency advances and unleashing
robust future economic growth in the U.S. For example, Japan and
several European countries are about 20% efficient, a factor of 1.5
higher than the U.S.
-- How big might the next round of potential energy efficiency be? If we
invested in more energy productive technologies, energy efficiency
investments can provide up to one-half of the needed greenhouses gas
emissions reductions most scientists say are needed between now and
the year 2050. And that gain in energy efficiency would not only mean
reduced greenhouse gas emissions, it would result in lower energy bill
for consumers.
ACEEE's Laitner said: "The dirty little secret today is that most economic assessments of the current climate change policies either ignore or greatly understate the potential advances in energy efficiency, even though it is clearly the largest and most cost-effective form of greenhouse gas mitigation. There is no mistaking the fact the cheapest, least polluting and most economically productive energy is the energy that never gets used. Cost-effective investment that can reduce the amount of energy necessary to support a dollar of economic activity is the single most important driver of economic productivity within the United States and around the world. And this makes sense once we stop paying attention to outdated economic policy models and think about what is it that actually powers our economy. Is it expensive and conventional energy resources, or the increased use of more energy productive technologies? The evidence suggests that it is the latter. We ignore that at our considerable peril."
Ayres said: "The greatest barrier of all to more energy efficiency is the mentality of the growth imperative: the deep-seated conviction that growth assures survival in the competitive global race. The focus is on growth, with profits secondary. But we have to ask: The race is to where? Growth that consumes limited resources is itself unsustainable. A new paradigm is urgently needed. The new paradigm must focus on the cost-effective re-use, renovation, remanufacturing and recycling. The energy firms of the future will need to sell efficiency, and energy security, not fuel."
-----
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Even as Congress and the news media focus almost completely on the question of where America will find new sources of traditional and emerging energy sources, the little-understood fact is that new energy sources are likely to play a much smaller role in the current U.S. economic recovery and future growth than are new advances in energy efficiency, according to leading experts. Even worse, the overwhelming emphasis today on new energy is "crowding out" meaningful national dialogue and progress on achieving greater energy efficiency in an economy that is struggling today at a level of just 13 percent efficiency in terms of energy use, meaning that 87% of the energy we use is wasted.
In a phone-based news conference today - John A. "Skip" Laitner, director, Economic and Social Analysis, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and Robert U. Ayres, emeritus professor, Economics and Political Science and Technology Management, European Institute of Business Administration (INSEAD), and co-author of "Crossing the Energy Divide: Moving from Fossil Fuel Dependence to a Clean-Energy Future" (2010) - summarized the thinking at a symposium session held Tuesday to mark the 30th anniversary year of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). See http://www.aceee.org/conf/30th/april26.htm for more information.
Among the key facts highlighted during the symposium:
-- America's economy has tripled in size since 1970 and three-quarters of
the energy needed to fuel that growth came from efficiency advances -
not net new energy. Going forward, the current economic recovery and
future economic growth are likely to be even more dependent on new
energy efficiency advances than was the period of 1970-date.
-- Americans may have an overly optimistic impression of how energy
efficient the United States is. Despite the enormous strides achieved
in the last four decades, the U.S. economy remains only about 13
percent energy efficient. That still unacceptably high level of
inefficiency either will be allowed to remain in place and therefore
leave the U.S. mired in lackluster economic activity ... or it will be
tackled head-on, leading to new efficiency advances and unleashing
robust future economic growth in the U.S. For example, Japan and
several European countries are about 20% efficient, a factor of 1.5
higher than the U.S.
-- How big might the next round of potential energy efficiency be? If we
invested in more energy productive technologies, energy efficiency
investments can provide up to one-half of the needed greenhouses gas
emissions reductions most scientists say are needed between now and
the year 2050. And that gain in energy efficiency would not only mean
reduced greenhouse gas emissions, it would result in lower energy bill
for consumers.
ACEEE's Laitner said: "The dirty little secret today is that most economic assessments of the current climate change policies either ignore or greatly understate the potential advances in energy efficiency, even though it is clearly the largest and most cost-effective form of greenhouse gas mitigation. There is no mistaking the fact the cheapest, least polluting and most economically productive energy is the energy that never gets used. Cost-effective investment that can reduce the amount of energy necessary to support a dollar of economic activity is the single most important driver of economic productivity within the United States and around the world. And this makes sense once we stop paying attention to outdated economic policy models and think about what is it that actually powers our economy. Is it expensive and conventional energy resources, or the increased use of more energy productive technologies? The evidence suggests that it is the latter. We ignore that at our considerable peril."
Ayres said: "The greatest barrier of all to more energy efficiency is the mentality of the growth imperative: the deep-seated conviction that growth assures survival in the competitive global race. The focus is on growth, with profits secondary. But we have to ask: The race is to where? Growth that consumes limited resources is itself unsustainable. A new paradigm is urgently needed. The new paradigm must focus on the cost-effective re-use, renovation, remanufacturing and recycling. The energy firms of the future will need to sell efficiency, and energy security, not fuel."
-----
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Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Energy Efficiency in Southeast to Get Huge Boost, Thanks to $20 Million U.S. DOE Award to SEEA Regional Alliance
/PRNewswire/ -- Energy Efficiency in the Southeastern United States will get a huge boost when the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) rolls out its program of innovative, large-scale building retrofits for homeowners and businesses under its recently-announced $20 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Retrofit Ramp-Up initiative.
The regional organization will partner with nearly a dozen communities of varying sizes and characteristics, each of which will use a different approach to increase the energy efficiency of small and large residential, commercial and public buildings. This diversity will allow SEEA to test and evaluate a variety of models in both smaller, more rural and larger, more metropolitan areas and make adjustments as needed. Another key aspect of the program, which will use a combined formula allocation and a pay-for-performance strategy to fund specific projects, will be the availability of affordable, accessible financing programs.
"This large infusion of funding from DOE into the Southeast provides an unprecedented opportunity to promote energy efficiency and innovation while also creating jobs in this tough economy," said SEEA Executive Director Ben Taube. "SEEA is looking forward to working with our various community partners across the region as we go forward and transform the market."
The Southeast Community Retrofit Ramp-up Consortium will partner with cities in eight southeastern states - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia - and with the U.S. Virgin Islands to dramatically increase the effectiveness of building retrofits across the region. SEEA's community partners include Huntsville, Ala., Celebration, Fla.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga.; Decatur, Ga.; New Orleans, La.; Carrboro, N.C.; Chapel Hill, N.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Charleston, S.C.; Nashville, Tenn., Woodbury, Tenn.; Albemarle County, Va.; Charlottesville, Va.; and Hampton Roads Planning District, Va.
"News of the DOE award comes at a great time for us, as Charlottesville and the County of Albemarle have worked hard to help support our community-based local energy alliance program (LEAP), an energy efficiency program for residents and businesses," said Charlottesville Mayor David Norris. "We look forward to the economic stimulus and job creation energy efficiency can bring our community - as well as dollar savings for the utility bill payer."
"We are delighted to be a part of the SEEA coalition. Energy efficiency and water conservation are priorities for the City of Atlanta," said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. "This program will allow us to meaningfully deliver programs to help our residents and business owners reduce their energy and water use."
SEEA's community partners have been planning and organizing for this opportunity since February 2009, when SEEA challenged cities to make extraordinary commitments to energy efficiency programming and infrastructure with a $500,000 competitive solicitation and award. Fifteen communities from six states tendered applications, based on hundreds of hours of partnership-building, meetings, planning, research and negotiations with utilities and city councils.
"SEEA is pleased to be the organizer of the consortium of communities and an active leader in making the Southeast more energy efficient," said SEEA Board Chair Kate Offringa, president and CEO of the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA). "This initiative will help the region overcome some of the barriers that have prevented energy efficiency from really taking hold in the Southeast - namely lack of financing and the need for a program structure that addresses the uniqueness of the region."
SEEA intends to start this program in early June. More information on the SEEA program can be found at http://www.seealliance.org/programs/cities.php.
-----
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The regional organization will partner with nearly a dozen communities of varying sizes and characteristics, each of which will use a different approach to increase the energy efficiency of small and large residential, commercial and public buildings. This diversity will allow SEEA to test and evaluate a variety of models in both smaller, more rural and larger, more metropolitan areas and make adjustments as needed. Another key aspect of the program, which will use a combined formula allocation and a pay-for-performance strategy to fund specific projects, will be the availability of affordable, accessible financing programs.
"This large infusion of funding from DOE into the Southeast provides an unprecedented opportunity to promote energy efficiency and innovation while also creating jobs in this tough economy," said SEEA Executive Director Ben Taube. "SEEA is looking forward to working with our various community partners across the region as we go forward and transform the market."
The Southeast Community Retrofit Ramp-up Consortium will partner with cities in eight southeastern states - Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia - and with the U.S. Virgin Islands to dramatically increase the effectiveness of building retrofits across the region. SEEA's community partners include Huntsville, Ala., Celebration, Fla.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Atlanta, Ga.; Decatur, Ga.; New Orleans, La.; Carrboro, N.C.; Chapel Hill, N.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Charleston, S.C.; Nashville, Tenn., Woodbury, Tenn.; Albemarle County, Va.; Charlottesville, Va.; and Hampton Roads Planning District, Va.
"News of the DOE award comes at a great time for us, as Charlottesville and the County of Albemarle have worked hard to help support our community-based local energy alliance program (LEAP), an energy efficiency program for residents and businesses," said Charlottesville Mayor David Norris. "We look forward to the economic stimulus and job creation energy efficiency can bring our community - as well as dollar savings for the utility bill payer."
"We are delighted to be a part of the SEEA coalition. Energy efficiency and water conservation are priorities for the City of Atlanta," said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. "This program will allow us to meaningfully deliver programs to help our residents and business owners reduce their energy and water use."
SEEA's community partners have been planning and organizing for this opportunity since February 2009, when SEEA challenged cities to make extraordinary commitments to energy efficiency programming and infrastructure with a $500,000 competitive solicitation and award. Fifteen communities from six states tendered applications, based on hundreds of hours of partnership-building, meetings, planning, research and negotiations with utilities and city councils.
"SEEA is pleased to be the organizer of the consortium of communities and an active leader in making the Southeast more energy efficient," said SEEA Board Chair Kate Offringa, president and CEO of the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA). "This initiative will help the region overcome some of the barriers that have prevented energy efficiency from really taking hold in the Southeast - namely lack of financing and the need for a program structure that addresses the uniqueness of the region."
SEEA intends to start this program in early June. More information on the SEEA program can be found at http://www.seealliance.org/programs/cities.php.
-----
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Friday, April 23, 2010
Georgia Power Leads the Nation in ENERGY STAR(R) Campaign
/PRNewswire- -- For the second consecutive year, Georgia Power has been recognized as the nation's top pledge leader for driving energy efficiency awareness under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) "Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR" campaign, which encourages consumers to take small steps that make a big difference to save energy and help the environment. This year, Georgia Power collected 145,751 pledges from consumers through its local offices, energy efficiency fairs and community outreach events.
"Our customers are seeing the light! They recognize that saving money and protecting the environment is as easy as using ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or setting their thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer," said Georgia Power President and CEO Mike Garrett. "We continue to talk with our customers about energy efficiency and how it can make a difference in their homes, lives and communities. We are honored to be recognized by EPA for our efforts to promote energy efficiency and help the environment."
Georgia Power also recently earned the 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award from the EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE).
An ENERGY STAR partner since 2004, Georgia Power has exchanged over 450,000 CFLs with customers for pledges since participating in its first EPA annual pledge campaign in 2006. EPA's Web site, www.energystar.gov, shows that this year alone, Georgia Power's "Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR" campaign has resulted in a savings of over $21 million, or 164,805,122 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or 265,735,377 pounds of greenhouse gases.
"EPA's 'Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR' pledge campaign has given us the opportunity to engage customers one-on-one and teach them ways to save energy and money," said Angela Strickland, Georgia Power's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Director. "Our customers want solutions and information on how they can lower their energy costs and energy consumption."
Georgia Power encourages its customers to practice energy efficiency year-round. Take the "Change the World" pledge online at http://www.georgiapower.com/energystar/home.asp.
For additional energy-saving tips, visit our Web site at www.georgiapower.com/save. To learn more about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov.
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"Our customers are seeing the light! They recognize that saving money and protecting the environment is as easy as using ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) or setting their thermostat to 78 degrees in the summer," said Georgia Power President and CEO Mike Garrett. "We continue to talk with our customers about energy efficiency and how it can make a difference in their homes, lives and communities. We are honored to be recognized by EPA for our efforts to promote energy efficiency and help the environment."
Georgia Power also recently earned the 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year Award from the EPA and the Department of Energy (DOE).
An ENERGY STAR partner since 2004, Georgia Power has exchanged over 450,000 CFLs with customers for pledges since participating in its first EPA annual pledge campaign in 2006. EPA's Web site, www.energystar.gov, shows that this year alone, Georgia Power's "Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR" campaign has resulted in a savings of over $21 million, or 164,805,122 kilowatt-hours (kWh) or 265,735,377 pounds of greenhouse gases.
"EPA's 'Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR' pledge campaign has given us the opportunity to engage customers one-on-one and teach them ways to save energy and money," said Angela Strickland, Georgia Power's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Director. "Our customers want solutions and information on how they can lower their energy costs and energy consumption."
Georgia Power encourages its customers to practice energy efficiency year-round. Take the "Change the World" pledge online at http://www.georgiapower.com/energystar/home.asp.
For additional energy-saving tips, visit our Web site at www.georgiapower.com/save. To learn more about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov.
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Friday, March 5, 2010
Georgia Power wins ENERGY STAR(R) Partner of the Year for Program Delivery
/PRNewswire/ -- Georgia Power has earned the 2010 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award for Program Delivery from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE) in recognition for educating and delivering energy efficiency programs to consumers throughout Georgia. Georgia Power will accept the award on March 18, 2010.
This is the fourth consecutive year ENERGY STAR has recognized the company for its energy efficiency achievements. This is the first time Georgia Power has won Partner of the Year. Previously, the company has won the Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion Award in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Being named Partner of the Year is a considerable accomplishment, with only a few utilities earning this level of recognition. This year's award, which is a higher honor than the previous three years, recognizes the combined marketplace impact of our ENERGY STAR programs. These include customer education, qualified products, New Home and Home Performance.
"We are proud of our partnership with ENERGY STAR and our efforts to increase awareness of energy efficiency among consumers and the number of people participating in our programs," said Angela Strickland, director of Energy Efficiency and Conservation. "Energy efficiency is a major priority for Georgia Power and we see great value in educating and helping our customers with how ENERGY STAR products and programs can help them save money and protect the environment."
An ENERGY STAR partner since 2004, Georgia Power has taken a lead role introducing energy efficiency and the ENERGY STAR brand to consumers in Georgia and throughout the Southeast. As a result of the company's customer education campaigns and programs, consumer research conducted in November 2009 showed awareness of ENERGY STAR is up 72 percent in Georgia since 2006.
Among the programs that have contributed to increased awareness is the company's promotion of the ENERGY STAR New Home program, which has encouraged builders across the state to build more than 4,300 ENERGY STAR-qualified homes since 2007. This program won the Excellence in Housing Award from the EPA in 2009.
Additionally, Georgia Power has encouraged customers to participate in the "Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR" campaign, which requests consumers to pledge to change at least one standard light bulb in their home to an ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent bulb. Customers who completed a "Change the World" pledge card received a free 14-watt CFL. Georgia Power has achieved top-five status in number of pledges submitted each year since
2006 and was recognized as the National Pledge Leader for the 2008-2009 campaign. In 2009, more than 90,000 CFLs were distributed and since 2006 more than 450,000 CFLs have been given in exchange for a pledge.
Other successful programs include:
-- The Refrigerator Recycling Program, which encourages customers to
recycle old, inefficient refrigerators and freezers, has resulted in
recycling more than 9,000 old refrigerators and freezers since August
2008.
-- The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program, a new program which
encourages existing homeowners to make home energy improvements.
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the EPA and the DOE aimed at helping Americans save money and protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. The 2010 Partner of the Year Awards are given to a variety of organizations to recognize their contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by promoting energy efficient homes in their community. Award winners are selected from more than 17,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.
Georgia Power encourages its customers and employees to practice energy efficiency year-round. Take the "Change the World" pledge online at http://www.georgiapower.com/energystar/home.asp.
-----
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This is the fourth consecutive year ENERGY STAR has recognized the company for its energy efficiency achievements. This is the first time Georgia Power has won Partner of the Year. Previously, the company has won the Excellence in ENERGY STAR Promotion Award in 2007, 2008 and 2009.
Being named Partner of the Year is a considerable accomplishment, with only a few utilities earning this level of recognition. This year's award, which is a higher honor than the previous three years, recognizes the combined marketplace impact of our ENERGY STAR programs. These include customer education, qualified products, New Home and Home Performance.
"We are proud of our partnership with ENERGY STAR and our efforts to increase awareness of energy efficiency among consumers and the number of people participating in our programs," said Angela Strickland, director of Energy Efficiency and Conservation. "Energy efficiency is a major priority for Georgia Power and we see great value in educating and helping our customers with how ENERGY STAR products and programs can help them save money and protect the environment."
An ENERGY STAR partner since 2004, Georgia Power has taken a lead role introducing energy efficiency and the ENERGY STAR brand to consumers in Georgia and throughout the Southeast. As a result of the company's customer education campaigns and programs, consumer research conducted in November 2009 showed awareness of ENERGY STAR is up 72 percent in Georgia since 2006.
Among the programs that have contributed to increased awareness is the company's promotion of the ENERGY STAR New Home program, which has encouraged builders across the state to build more than 4,300 ENERGY STAR-qualified homes since 2007. This program won the Excellence in Housing Award from the EPA in 2009.
Additionally, Georgia Power has encouraged customers to participate in the "Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR" campaign, which requests consumers to pledge to change at least one standard light bulb in their home to an ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent bulb. Customers who completed a "Change the World" pledge card received a free 14-watt CFL. Georgia Power has achieved top-five status in number of pledges submitted each year since
2006 and was recognized as the National Pledge Leader for the 2008-2009 campaign. In 2009, more than 90,000 CFLs were distributed and since 2006 more than 450,000 CFLs have been given in exchange for a pledge.
Other successful programs include:
-- The Refrigerator Recycling Program, which encourages customers to
recycle old, inefficient refrigerators and freezers, has resulted in
recycling more than 9,000 old refrigerators and freezers since August
2008.
-- The Home Performance with ENERGY STAR program, a new program which
encourages existing homeowners to make home energy improvements.
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the EPA and the DOE aimed at helping Americans save money and protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. The 2010 Partner of the Year Awards are given to a variety of organizations to recognize their contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by promoting energy efficient homes in their community. Award winners are selected from more than 17,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.
Georgia Power encourages its customers and employees to practice energy efficiency year-round. Take the "Change the World" pledge online at http://www.georgiapower.com/energystar/home.asp.
-----
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Monday, November 2, 2009
Electric Utilities Are Invited to Shed Light on Energy Efficiency
/PRNewswire/ -- Electric utilities across the country are invited to help bring consumers out of the dark about the importance of energy efficiency. Power companies can now provide easy access to information about their energy efficiency programs at no charge on www.ziptogreen.com, a new one-stop online resource for energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. ZiptoGreen's user-friendly format can link consumers by ZIP Code to energy efficiency and renewable energy programs offered by their electric utility. A survey conducted by ZiptoGreen found that more than 75 percent of consumers do not connect to their utility for help in reducing energy consumption.
Beginning with the end of daylight savings time until the clocks move forward again, power companies can collaborate with ZiptoGreen to illuminate the importance of energy efficiency by providing links to their energy efficiency programs and incentives at no charge. When daylight savings time arrives in March, ZiptoGreen hopes consumers are "enlightened" about the importance of partnering with their utility to meet their energy reduction goals. Utilities that collaborate with ZiptoGreen during this period can become Charter Members and substantially reduce their participation fees thereafter.
"Many consumers are too busy and overwhelmed to spend time looking for programs offered by their utility company," says Julia Glenn Carter, founder and CEO of ZiptoGreen. "A comprehensive website was needed that gives residential consumers easy access to the wealth of energy efficiency solutions available right now, including those offered by utilities. Such a website is essential if we are going to tackle our energy challenges any time soon. Consumers need and want help reducing their monthly costs."
According to a report released in October by the Energy Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy, a weak economy has contributed to lower energy consumption in both the commercial and residential sectors. Experts expect consumption to increase as the economy rebounds, however. According to a U.S. Department of Commerce report released last week, modest but consistent growth from July to September suggests economic recovery has begun. While natural gas prices have fallen with the economy, coal prices for electricity generation are expected to increase by 7 percent, according to the EIA report.
ZiptoGreen helps consumers become energy efficient by making it easy for them to create and implement a customized action plan. Users of the website can see in real-time the impact actions have on estimated energy usage. When a user clicks on an incentive icon associated with a specific action, ZiptoGreen calls up a window with incentive information. Currently, federal tax incentive information is featured; however, participating utilities and state governments can provide incentive information on their programs by ZIP Code.
ZiptoGreen also provides ongoing support to help consumers achieve energy reduction goals. Users can schedule and receive email reminders of their actions. In addition, they are given a personal page to monitor and update their reduction plan, and product discount "rewards" to motivate action.
"Most people need a little hand holding to change a habit. How we consume energy is definitely a habit," says Carter.
From the personal page, ZiptoGreen supports users by providing links to local resources serving their ZIP Code, including the energy efficiency and renewable energy programs of participating utilities. The sustainability programs of cities that have signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Program are also featured. Any community, however, can provide these links to their residents at no charge. Interested local governments should email ZiptoGreen at communities@ziptogreen.com.
User access to all resources on www.ziptogreen.com is free of charge.
ZiptoGreen was a featured link on the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy of the U.S. Department of Energy during its launch in Washington, D.C. The website is owned by LaCour Incorporated, a privately-held corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia. For additional information visit www.ziptogreen.com.
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Beginning with the end of daylight savings time until the clocks move forward again, power companies can collaborate with ZiptoGreen to illuminate the importance of energy efficiency by providing links to their energy efficiency programs and incentives at no charge. When daylight savings time arrives in March, ZiptoGreen hopes consumers are "enlightened" about the importance of partnering with their utility to meet their energy reduction goals. Utilities that collaborate with ZiptoGreen during this period can become Charter Members and substantially reduce their participation fees thereafter.
"Many consumers are too busy and overwhelmed to spend time looking for programs offered by their utility company," says Julia Glenn Carter, founder and CEO of ZiptoGreen. "A comprehensive website was needed that gives residential consumers easy access to the wealth of energy efficiency solutions available right now, including those offered by utilities. Such a website is essential if we are going to tackle our energy challenges any time soon. Consumers need and want help reducing their monthly costs."
According to a report released in October by the Energy Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy, a weak economy has contributed to lower energy consumption in both the commercial and residential sectors. Experts expect consumption to increase as the economy rebounds, however. According to a U.S. Department of Commerce report released last week, modest but consistent growth from July to September suggests economic recovery has begun. While natural gas prices have fallen with the economy, coal prices for electricity generation are expected to increase by 7 percent, according to the EIA report.
ZiptoGreen helps consumers become energy efficient by making it easy for them to create and implement a customized action plan. Users of the website can see in real-time the impact actions have on estimated energy usage. When a user clicks on an incentive icon associated with a specific action, ZiptoGreen calls up a window with incentive information. Currently, federal tax incentive information is featured; however, participating utilities and state governments can provide incentive information on their programs by ZIP Code.
ZiptoGreen also provides ongoing support to help consumers achieve energy reduction goals. Users can schedule and receive email reminders of their actions. In addition, they are given a personal page to monitor and update their reduction plan, and product discount "rewards" to motivate action.
"Most people need a little hand holding to change a habit. How we consume energy is definitely a habit," says Carter.
From the personal page, ZiptoGreen supports users by providing links to local resources serving their ZIP Code, including the energy efficiency and renewable energy programs of participating utilities. The sustainability programs of cities that have signed the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Program are also featured. Any community, however, can provide these links to their residents at no charge. Interested local governments should email ZiptoGreen at communities@ziptogreen.com.
User access to all resources on www.ziptogreen.com is free of charge.
ZiptoGreen was a featured link on the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy of the U.S. Department of Energy during its launch in Washington, D.C. The website is owned by LaCour Incorporated, a privately-held corporation based in Atlanta, Georgia. For additional information visit www.ziptogreen.com.
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Friday, September 25, 2009
Decline in Industrial Natural Gas Consumption Tied to Influences Other Than Recession
/PRNewswire/ -- Economists at C. H. Guernsey & Company have determined that the decline in industrial natural gas consumption since January 2008 is partly associated with a long-term trend in energy efficiency and structural changes to the economy and is not solely related to the effects of the recession. The Energy Information Administration reported that U. S. industrial natural gas consumption declined by approximately 14% during the recessionary period since January 2008 for a net average monthly decline of 80.4 Bcf. In fact, the Guernsey economists, Don Murry and Zhen Zhu, also found that if the price of natural gas had not declined by nearly 50% over the same period, industrial natural gas consumption probably would have declined by over 19%.
Murry and Zhu found that only 73 Bcf per month was a direct effect of the decline in economic activity. This is the rate at which the natural gas industrial sales are likely to expand even with a strong economic recovery, and this is only if prices stay near their current level. The economists associated the remainder of the decline with longer- term trends reducing gas consumption per unit of industrial output such as improvements in energy efficiency and changes in the economic structure.
As a corollary to their modeling, they determined that fuel switching had little effect, either positively or negatively, on the level of industrial natural gas consumption during this period. This is very likely because fuel oil prices declined at similar rates during the period. A brief explanation of the study can be found http://www.chguernsey.com/ema.
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Murry and Zhu found that only 73 Bcf per month was a direct effect of the decline in economic activity. This is the rate at which the natural gas industrial sales are likely to expand even with a strong economic recovery, and this is only if prices stay near their current level. The economists associated the remainder of the decline with longer- term trends reducing gas consumption per unit of industrial output such as improvements in energy efficiency and changes in the economic structure.
As a corollary to their modeling, they determined that fuel switching had little effect, either positively or negatively, on the level of industrial natural gas consumption during this period. This is very likely because fuel oil prices declined at similar rates during the period. A brief explanation of the study can be found http://www.chguernsey.com/ema.
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Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Georgia Power Announces Energy-Savings Tips for the Winter
/PRNewswire/ -- Winter is here and with it frigid cold temperatures. Now is the best time to start thinking about ways to save on your energy bill.
To keep warm and cut down on your energy use, try these helpful energy-saving tips around your house all winter.
-- Wrap water pipes. This will reduce heat loss from your hot water lines and help to prevent your pipes from freezing. The best type of wrap to use is "foam pipe wrap" that you can find at hardware stores for an inexpensive price.
-- Caulk or re-caulk around windows and doors. This helps keep the cold out and the heat in. If your caulking is cracked, remove it and reseal with new caulk.
-- Change your air filters. This should be done every month or so to help your unit's air exchange and indoor air quality. Dirty filters can increase your system's operating costs, damage equipment and reduce efficiency.
-- Have your heating or cooling system professionally checked to make sure it is running properly. This can prolong the life of your system, as well as reduce operating costs.
-- Insulate your water heater with at least R-6 insulation. Read your water heater manufacturer's warranty to make sure it's not voided by adding a water heater jacket. Do not cover the pressure release valve when you wrap the water heater.
-- Check weather stripping around doors, windows and between heated and unheated areas of your home - such as garages, basements, attics, etc. A good check to see if stripping needs changing: close your door; if you see light coming through, the stripping needs changing.
-- If you have a gas heater or furnace, make sure you get a carbon monoxide detector before using the unit.
-- Make sure your pilot light (gas furnace) is lighted before the winter season starts. If you are not sure about lighting it yourself, call a heating and cooling professional to do it.
-- Keep the thermostat on your heating system at the lowest comfortable setting. Georgia Power recommends 68 degrees Fahrenheit. On the average, you consume five percent more energy for every degree it's set above 68 degrees. Consider using a programmable thermostat that adjusts the temperature automatically according to your schedule.
-- If you are going away for several days, lower the thermostat to 60 degrees, but not to "off." By setting the thermostat at 60, there will be less strain on your heating system when you return and it's time to reheat the house. Also, having some heat in the house will prevent damage, such as frozen or burst water pipes, from outside freezing temperatures.
-- Keep heating vents and registers clear. Make sure they are not blocked by draperies or furniture. The vents should also be cleaned regularly with a vacuum or broom.
-- Let the sun shine in. On sunny days, open drapes or blinds to allow natural solar heat to warm the house. Keep drapes and blinds closed on cloudy days and at night. Use insulated or heavy curtains on windows facing the north side of the house.
-- Make sure fireplace dampers fit tightly, and keep them closed when not using the fireplace. Add a glass fireplace screen, if possible.
-- Cover bare floors. Carpeting adds to comfort and heat retention, especially if there is little or no floor insulation.
-- Use a humidifier to keep your home more comfortable. Adding moisture allows you to reduce the thermostat setting without feeling colder.
-- Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans to help maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. Check the switch located on your ceiling fan or refer to your owner's manual for the proper direction of rotation.
-- If you have a window air conditioning unit, remove it for the winter months to prevent heat from escaping through and around the unit. If it can't be moved, put a cover over it to prevent drafts.
-- Check the R-value of insulation in your home. For existing homes, Georgia Power recommends R-30 in the ceiling, R-13 in the walls and R-11 in the floor for maximum comfort and energy efficiency. R-value is a measure of resistance to heat flow.
-----
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To keep warm and cut down on your energy use, try these helpful energy-saving tips around your house all winter.
-- Wrap water pipes. This will reduce heat loss from your hot water lines and help to prevent your pipes from freezing. The best type of wrap to use is "foam pipe wrap" that you can find at hardware stores for an inexpensive price.
-- Caulk or re-caulk around windows and doors. This helps keep the cold out and the heat in. If your caulking is cracked, remove it and reseal with new caulk.
-- Change your air filters. This should be done every month or so to help your unit's air exchange and indoor air quality. Dirty filters can increase your system's operating costs, damage equipment and reduce efficiency.
-- Have your heating or cooling system professionally checked to make sure it is running properly. This can prolong the life of your system, as well as reduce operating costs.
-- Insulate your water heater with at least R-6 insulation. Read your water heater manufacturer's warranty to make sure it's not voided by adding a water heater jacket. Do not cover the pressure release valve when you wrap the water heater.
-- Check weather stripping around doors, windows and between heated and unheated areas of your home - such as garages, basements, attics, etc. A good check to see if stripping needs changing: close your door; if you see light coming through, the stripping needs changing.
-- If you have a gas heater or furnace, make sure you get a carbon monoxide detector before using the unit.
-- Make sure your pilot light (gas furnace) is lighted before the winter season starts. If you are not sure about lighting it yourself, call a heating and cooling professional to do it.
-- Keep the thermostat on your heating system at the lowest comfortable setting. Georgia Power recommends 68 degrees Fahrenheit. On the average, you consume five percent more energy for every degree it's set above 68 degrees. Consider using a programmable thermostat that adjusts the temperature automatically according to your schedule.
-- If you are going away for several days, lower the thermostat to 60 degrees, but not to "off." By setting the thermostat at 60, there will be less strain on your heating system when you return and it's time to reheat the house. Also, having some heat in the house will prevent damage, such as frozen or burst water pipes, from outside freezing temperatures.
-- Keep heating vents and registers clear. Make sure they are not blocked by draperies or furniture. The vents should also be cleaned regularly with a vacuum or broom.
-- Let the sun shine in. On sunny days, open drapes or blinds to allow natural solar heat to warm the house. Keep drapes and blinds closed on cloudy days and at night. Use insulated or heavy curtains on windows facing the north side of the house.
-- Make sure fireplace dampers fit tightly, and keep them closed when not using the fireplace. Add a glass fireplace screen, if possible.
-- Cover bare floors. Carpeting adds to comfort and heat retention, especially if there is little or no floor insulation.
-- Use a humidifier to keep your home more comfortable. Adding moisture allows you to reduce the thermostat setting without feeling colder.
-- Reverse the direction of your ceiling fans to help maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. Check the switch located on your ceiling fan or refer to your owner's manual for the proper direction of rotation.
-- If you have a window air conditioning unit, remove it for the winter months to prevent heat from escaping through and around the unit. If it can't be moved, put a cover over it to prevent drafts.
-- Check the R-value of insulation in your home. For existing homes, Georgia Power recommends R-30 in the ceiling, R-13 in the walls and R-11 in the floor for maximum comfort and energy efficiency. R-value is a measure of resistance to heat flow.
-----
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Friday, January 9, 2009
Efficiency and Conservation Key to Meeting Rising Energy Demand, Southern Company CEO Says
/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Energy efficiency and conservation will play an increasingly important role in meeting rising energy demand, said Southern Company (NYSE:SO) Chairman, President and CEO David M. Ratcliffe during the National Association of Regulators and Utility Commissioner's Anybody Can Serve, So Let's Conserve energy efficiency campaign launch. Ratcliffe also noted that along with efficiency and conservation as first choices, a diverse portfolio of generation resources including renewables, new nuclear and advanced coal technologies would be crucial in meeting customers' electricity needs.
Anybody Can Serve, So Let's Conserve is a campaign designed to help inform consumers about the many ways to move toward a more affordable, energy efficient, eco-friendly society by making conservation efforts more accessible, affordable and practical.
Addressing a broad audience including utility commissioners, federal and state lawmakers, consumer advocates and utility CEOs, Ratcliffe noted that energy efficiency programs have a history of helping Southern Company and other utilities meet demand. "Between 1989 and 2005, such programs saved enough electricity to power 74 million average U.S. homes for one year," said Ratcliffe.
Ratcliffe also noted that demand-side and energy efficiency efforts have helped Southern Company avoid building more than 3,000 megawatts of peaking capacity since the 1990s, which is enough energy to power nearly half a million homes. "Over the next decade that number will grow by at least another 1,000 megawatts," Ratcliffe continued. "Between now and 2020, we will invest more than $1 billion in energy efficiency programs for our customers."
Southern Company recently launched a program called EarthCents that is designed to reduce customers' energy use and save them money. It includes initiatives ranging from energy audits, weatherization, direct load control, geothermal heating and cooling, as well as homebuilder programs, smart meters and real-time pricing.
Ratcliffe noted that public awareness campaigns like Anybody Can Serve, So Let's Conserve, school partnerships, interactive Web sites, and personal contact are key to helping customers use energy more wisely. "While we do these things now, this new campaign is a creative approach that will help us be even more effective," he said.
Ratcliffe concluded his remarks by emphasizing the need for increased collaboration between federal and state governments, business leaders and the environmental community to meet the energy challenges facing this nation.
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Anybody Can Serve, So Let's Conserve is a campaign designed to help inform consumers about the many ways to move toward a more affordable, energy efficient, eco-friendly society by making conservation efforts more accessible, affordable and practical.
Addressing a broad audience including utility commissioners, federal and state lawmakers, consumer advocates and utility CEOs, Ratcliffe noted that energy efficiency programs have a history of helping Southern Company and other utilities meet demand. "Between 1989 and 2005, such programs saved enough electricity to power 74 million average U.S. homes for one year," said Ratcliffe.
Ratcliffe also noted that demand-side and energy efficiency efforts have helped Southern Company avoid building more than 3,000 megawatts of peaking capacity since the 1990s, which is enough energy to power nearly half a million homes. "Over the next decade that number will grow by at least another 1,000 megawatts," Ratcliffe continued. "Between now and 2020, we will invest more than $1 billion in energy efficiency programs for our customers."
Southern Company recently launched a program called EarthCents that is designed to reduce customers' energy use and save them money. It includes initiatives ranging from energy audits, weatherization, direct load control, geothermal heating and cooling, as well as homebuilder programs, smart meters and real-time pricing.
Ratcliffe noted that public awareness campaigns like Anybody Can Serve, So Let's Conserve, school partnerships, interactive Web sites, and personal contact are key to helping customers use energy more wisely. "While we do these things now, this new campaign is a creative approach that will help us be even more effective," he said.
Ratcliffe concluded his remarks by emphasizing the need for increased collaboration between federal and state governments, business leaders and the environmental community to meet the energy challenges facing this nation.
-----
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Friday, December 19, 2008
Energy, Environmental Groups Urge Quick Action by Congress to Use Energy Efficiency Programs to Stimulate Economy, Create Green Jobs
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As a new administration transitions into the White House and Congress gears up to move an economic recovery package early next year, energy and environmental groups today issued a set of recommendations to boost the nation's energy efficiency, create green jobs, and save energy and money. The groups urged Congress to incorporate many of the proposals into legislation to be considered in early 2009.
The Alliance to Save Energy, Edison Electric Institute, Energy Future Coalition and the Natural Resources Defense Council released proposals ranging from low-income home weatherization and energy efficiency retrofits for homes and commercial and government buildings, to strengthened national model building energy codes, enhanced product efficiency standards and energy efficiency investments by utilities. In addition to federal funds for job-creating efficiency programs, the groups asked Congress to fund the authorized Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program to help states further reduce their total energy use, reduce emissions related to fossil fuel use, and improve energy efficiency across all sectors.
Significantly, the groups urged Congress to make the program's funding contingent upon state adoption of more stringent building code requirements and major changes to utility regulation that create long-term incentives to encourage major investments in energy efficiency. Without making such long-term changes, the benefits of federal funding under the block grant program likely would not be as sustainable, the organizations said.
"Today, the United States is the largest energy user and is the most energy inefficient economy of all developed countries," noted Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan, who continued: "An economic recovery bill that includes significant investments in energy efficiency will not only create jobs immediately, but also and more importantly will bring American ingenuity and its 'can-do' spirit to a new, clean and sustainable energy future -- one in which the U.S. becomes one of the most energy efficient economies in the world."
"With electricity demand projected to grow 30 percent over the next two decades and with utilities facing rising costs across the board, enhanced energy efficiency programs are critical to helping consumers manage their electricity costs," said EEI President Tom Kuhn. "For this to happen, state regulators must go beyond simply removing disincentives to greater efficiency gains by utilities. Instead, they must create regulations that allow utilities to earn a rate of return on new efficiency investments, comparable to what they would earn on a new power plant, for example."
Reid Detchon, executive director of the Energy Future Coalition, commented, "Most utilities make more money by selling more energy than they do by saving it. Flipping that incentive structure is the key to unlocking greater national investment in energy efficiency. Right now, the nation's building trades have been knocked flat on their backs by the economic downturn. Retrofitting America's buildings for energy efficiency can put them back to work immediately and deliver needed energy savings to consumers."
"Any serious approach to moving America toward clean energy and tackling our climate crisis must include energy efficiency as one of the key elements," said Peter Lehner, executive director of NRDC. "Energy efficiency is the fastest and most cost-effective way to decrease global warming pollution. Significant investments to increase energy efficiency in people's homes and businesses will help repower America with clean energy, save consumers millions of dollars, and create new jobs to restart our economy."
President-elect Obama and congressional advocates have indicated a clear desire to take up legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The groups emphasized that energy efficiency should be a key element of any federal response to climate concerns. "Energy efficiency programs offer both immediate and long-term benefits by creating green jobs, helping to mitigate rising energy costs and reducing emissions related to global warming," they said. "We hope Congress will move quickly on these critical issues."
-----
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The Alliance to Save Energy, Edison Electric Institute, Energy Future Coalition and the Natural Resources Defense Council released proposals ranging from low-income home weatherization and energy efficiency retrofits for homes and commercial and government buildings, to strengthened national model building energy codes, enhanced product efficiency standards and energy efficiency investments by utilities. In addition to federal funds for job-creating efficiency programs, the groups asked Congress to fund the authorized Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program to help states further reduce their total energy use, reduce emissions related to fossil fuel use, and improve energy efficiency across all sectors.
Significantly, the groups urged Congress to make the program's funding contingent upon state adoption of more stringent building code requirements and major changes to utility regulation that create long-term incentives to encourage major investments in energy efficiency. Without making such long-term changes, the benefits of federal funding under the block grant program likely would not be as sustainable, the organizations said.
"Today, the United States is the largest energy user and is the most energy inefficient economy of all developed countries," noted Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan, who continued: "An economic recovery bill that includes significant investments in energy efficiency will not only create jobs immediately, but also and more importantly will bring American ingenuity and its 'can-do' spirit to a new, clean and sustainable energy future -- one in which the U.S. becomes one of the most energy efficient economies in the world."
"With electricity demand projected to grow 30 percent over the next two decades and with utilities facing rising costs across the board, enhanced energy efficiency programs are critical to helping consumers manage their electricity costs," said EEI President Tom Kuhn. "For this to happen, state regulators must go beyond simply removing disincentives to greater efficiency gains by utilities. Instead, they must create regulations that allow utilities to earn a rate of return on new efficiency investments, comparable to what they would earn on a new power plant, for example."
Reid Detchon, executive director of the Energy Future Coalition, commented, "Most utilities make more money by selling more energy than they do by saving it. Flipping that incentive structure is the key to unlocking greater national investment in energy efficiency. Right now, the nation's building trades have been knocked flat on their backs by the economic downturn. Retrofitting America's buildings for energy efficiency can put them back to work immediately and deliver needed energy savings to consumers."
"Any serious approach to moving America toward clean energy and tackling our climate crisis must include energy efficiency as one of the key elements," said Peter Lehner, executive director of NRDC. "Energy efficiency is the fastest and most cost-effective way to decrease global warming pollution. Significant investments to increase energy efficiency in people's homes and businesses will help repower America with clean energy, save consumers millions of dollars, and create new jobs to restart our economy."
President-elect Obama and congressional advocates have indicated a clear desire to take up legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The groups emphasized that energy efficiency should be a key element of any federal response to climate concerns. "Energy efficiency programs offer both immediate and long-term benefits by creating green jobs, helping to mitigate rising energy costs and reducing emissions related to global warming," they said. "We hope Congress will move quickly on these critical issues."
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