Congressional Fact-Finding Trip Report

The Alliance to Save Energy organized and conducted a fact-finding trip from November 30 through December 3, 2004 to two destinations: New York and Northern California. The purpose of the trip was to showcase to congressional staff and administration officials energy efficiency activities underway in New York and California, and to enter into discussion with a variety of representatives from industry, government, the environmental community and others about ways to encourage energy efficiency in the building, transportation and industrial sectors. This report provides information about  trip participants, sites visited, and presentations given by guest speakers.

Trip Participants
A total of 13 congressional staff and administration officials participated in some to all of the fact-finding trip. Participants included staff from the House Science Committee, the House and Senate Energy Committees, and the House Appropriations Committee. In addition, personal staff from the offices of Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), and Representatives Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) were in attendance. Administration officials from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the White House Council on Environmental Quality also attended the four-day trip. Corporate participants included representatives from BP, Copper Development Association, Air Products and Chemicals, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, Johnson Controls, and Whirlpool. Finally, five staff from the Alliance to Save Energy attended portions of the trip.

Overview of Fact-Finding Trip Agenda
During the four-day fact-finding trip, participants visited and learned about a variety of energy efficiency activities underway in New York City, Sacramento, Berkeley and San Francisco. The trip included visits to state-of-the-art commercial and residential new construction and retrofit buildings; centers focused on hybrid-electric and fuel cell transportation technologies; labs working on advanced lighting, windows and battery technologies; as well as a site visit to a medical center where an Energy Saving Performance Contract (ESPC) is being employed.

The trip also included four policy roundtable discussions that were held in New York, Sacramento, Berkeley, and San Francisco. During the roundtable discussions, trip participants heard from state and local government officials, industry representatives, and environmental advocates. We discussed a variety of measures being undertaken at the state and local levels to further energy efficiency in the building, transportation and utility sectors. Trip attendees were encouraged to enter into a dialogue with these individuals to gain a better understanding of on-going energy efficiency efforts and ways that the federal government can assist in furthering energy efficiency across various sectors.

Trip Sponsors
The following companies/organizations provided financial and/or in-kind contributions to assure the success of the fact-finding trip: BP, Air Products and Chemicals, Copper Development Association, Hydrogenics, Johnson Controls, the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association, CALMAC Manufacturing Corporation, Lithonia Lighting, Whirlpool, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District.

Day-By-Day Trip Itinerary

NEW YORK – November 30, 2004

BAE/Orion Hybrid Electric Bus
Participants were transported to their various destinations throughout the day in a New York City Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA)BAE Systems/Orion hybrid electric bus.  John Walsh, Chief Maintenance Officer, NTA New York City Transit, highlighted that the hybrid bus fuel consumption has been reduced approximately 40 percent compared to the standard diesel buses they replace, equating to nearly 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel saved per year per bus. Mr. Walsh suggested the following activities could be undertaken at the federal level to encourage further diesel hybrid bus development and deployment:

• revise the current EPA heavy duty certification protocol to allow for system evaluation;

• encourage additional development, testing and deployment of advanced batteries, ultra capacitors, power from the grid, and solid fuels for fuel cells;

• optimize the components used in diesel hybrid buses by encouraging electrification of components; and,

• conduct additional r&d on electrically driven accessories (e.g., compressors, air and HVAC, steering, cooling system, wheel motors, ZPE operation and fuel cell integration.

(Please click here to obtain a copy of the complete presentation given by John Walsh, Chief Maintenance Officer, MTA New York City Transit).

Trip participants visited and toured The Solaire Building, the Durst Headquarters Building, and the Four Times Square Building during the one-day trip to New York City.

The Solaire
The Solaire is the first environmentally advanced residential tower in the United States. The delegation toured this complex, which overlooks the Hudson River, and was developed by Albanese Organization, Inc. The energy conserving building design is 35 percent more energy-efficient than codes require, resulting in a 67 percent reduction in electricity demand during peak hours. Photovoltaic panels on the western façade efficiently convert sunlight to electricity, and every window has a specially selective, low-E coating to preserve air conditioning in summer, heat in winter. Every kitchen features EnergyStar stainless steel-finished appliances, Governor Pataki, the Battery Park City Authority, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and the US Department of Energy supported this initiative.

The Durst Headquarters Building
The Durst Organization, a major Manhattan commercial property owner known for its environmental concern, chose an Off-Peak Cooling (OPC) system to reduce the overall cost of energy in its 20-year old building on the Avenue of the Americas. During the fact-finding trip, attendees toured the basement of the building, which includes 28 CALMAC Ice Bank tanks, and heard from Mark MacCracken, President of Calmac Manufacturing Corporation. Mr. MacCracken informed the group that OPC systems use inexpensive nighttime electricity to produce ice in 8 ft. storage tanks. The ice is used the following day to cool the building. Shifting the electric load from expensive “on-peak” hours to “off-peak” hours dramatically reduces energy costs and reduced greenhouse gas emissions since “on-peak” prices are at least double and can be up to 10 times the nighttime rate and it is often in the evening hours when the dirtiest power plants come on line. Mr. MacCracken indicated that there are 20 projects where CALMAC ice storage is being used in federal buildings throughout the U.S.

Four Times Square Building
The 48-story, "Four Times Square" building, also developed by The Durst Organization, is the first project of its size to adopt state-of-the-art standards for energy conservation, indoor air quality, recycling systems, and the use of sustainable manufacturing processes. In touring the building, trip participants went up to the roof to see the natural gas-powered absorption chillers/heaters which supply chilled and hot water to cool and heat the building. The group also viewed the two 200-kW fuel cells, which use natural gas to generate power. The cells provide 100% of the nighttime electric demand. Pamela Lippe, Environmental Consultant to The Durst Organization, also spoke to the group about other green elements of the building, including the use of low-e glazing on the windows to optimize the admission of daylight for task lighting; the use of LED power signs, occupancy sensors and fiber optics; and, the fact that the building circulates 50% more indoor air than required by New York City code.

Policy Roundtable Discussion at NYSERDA
After touring the buildings, trip participants engaged in a roundtable discussion at the offices of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to discuss a variety of energy efficiency measures underway in the State. The first presenter was Peter Smith, President of NYSERDA. Mr. Smith provided the group with some information about how NYSERDA is organized and the efforts they have underway to promote energy efficiency throughout the State of New York. He explained that NYSERDA is a public benefit corporation created in 1975 by the New York State Legislature. NYSERDA administers the New York Energy $martSM program, which is designed to support certain public benefit programs during the transition to a more competitive electricity market. Some 2,700 projects in 40 programs are funded by a charge on the electricity transmitted and distributed by the State's investor-owned utilities. The New York Energy $martSM program provides energy efficiency services, including those directed at the low-income sector, research and development, and environmental protection activities.

The second speaker was Jim Austin, Director of Energy Policy for Governor Pataki. Mr. Austin focused his remarks on Executive Order 111, which Governor Pataki announced in June, 2001. The executive order directs state agencies, state authorities, and other affected entities to further green and clean state buildings and vehicles throughout New York through the procurement of energy efficient products, construction of new green buildings and upgrades to existing buildings.

Paul Belnick, Director of Energy Services at the New York Power Authority spoke to the attendees about a variety of energy efficiency programs that the public utility has been involved in over the years, including a refrigerator replacement program, the Clean School Bus Program, and the new construction of an energy efficient 500-megawatt combined-cycle power plant. (Please click here for a copy of Mr. Belnick’s Power Point presentation.)

Mark Simon, Alternative Fuel Director for the New York City Department of Transportation, focused his remarks on the transportation-related projects that New York has undertaken with the support of Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) funding. (Please click here for a copy of Mr. Simon’s Power Point presentation.)

The final roundtable presenter was Gil Quiniones, Mayor Bloomberg’s Energy Task Force Chair and Senior VP of Energy for the New York City Economic Development Corporation. Mr. Quiniones noted that in January, Mayor Bloomberg announced the New York City Energy Task Force recommendations, which include policies and strategies for meeting current and future energy demands. The comprehensive plan addresses four key areas: energy supply, distributed resources, energy delivery, and initiatives for New York City agencies. (Please click here for a copy of Mr. Quiniones’ Power Point presentation.)

While the group was scheduled to travel to the Bedford-Stuyvesant community to visit a multi-family retrofit residential building, this was not possible due to time constraints. Instead, Michael Calgrove, Associate Project Manager of NYSERDA’s Residential Energy Affordability Program, provided an overview of the project during our visit to NYSERDA. Due to energy efficiency improvements, residents in this 85-year-old terra cotta building are expected to see a reduction in their energy bills of about $3,000 annually.

SACRAMENTO– December 1, 2004

California EPA Building
Trip participants started the day with a tour and briefing at the California Environmental Protection Agency building. James Branham, Under Secretary of the CalEPA provided welcoming remarks, and Teresa Parsley, Assistant Secretary, CalEPA and Craig Sheehy, Thomas Properties Group, provided the tour of the 25-story CalEPA office building, which is among the world’s most energy and resource efficient buildings. In December 1999, California Construction Link magazine awarded the new Cal/EPA building "Best of 1999 Awards--Outstanding Engineering" for "innovation in air handling, window placement, and recycling.”

California Fuel Cell Partnership
The California Fuel Cell Partnership was the next stop of the day. Trip participants were welcomed by Catherine Dunwoody, Executive Director, California Fuel Cell Partnership. Ms. Dunwoody provided an overview of the Partnership and the activities underway to develop and promote fuel cell vehicles and supporting infrastructure. (Click here for a copy of Ms. Dunwoody’s slide presentation.)

Vehicle Ride n Drive/Hydrogen Refueling
At the conclusion of Ms. Dunwoody’s remarks, trip participants test drove fuel cell vehicles and received a briefing on the hydrogen refueling station that is located at the Partnership.Roundtable DiscussionCalifornia has been a leader in promoting advanced transportation technologies. Trip participants learned about the legislative and regulatory efforts underway in the state to further the development and use of advanced transportation technologies. In addition, participants heard about ways to encourage smart growth, the role that advanced transportation technologies can play in reducing fuel and emissions, and learned about efforts underway by fuel suppliers and fuel cell manufacturers to develop hydrogen infrastructure and fuel cells that will be required for successful fuel cell vehicle development.

Policy Roundtable: Specific speakers and topics follow:Adrienne Alvord, Legislative Assistant to State Representative Fran Pavley (D-CA), discussed efforts that the California legislature has undertaken in the past couple of years to promote energy efficient transportation technologies and alternative fuels. She highlighted AB 1493, legislation that Representative Pavley introduced, which is now law, that requires the California Air Resources Board to adopt regulations by January 1, 2005 that achieve the maximum feasible and cost-effective reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.

Tom Cackette, the Chief Deputy Executive Officer at the California Air Resources Board, focused his remarks on the challenges that the use of petroleum and diesel fuel presents for California in terms of smog, particulates and greenhouse gas emissions. (Click here for a copy of Mr. Cackette’s slide presentation.) 

 Daniel Sperling, the Director of the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis, discussed research that the Institute has conducted on both telecommunications and travel behavior. He also commented on what this research may mean in terms of its impact on use of both conventional and advanced transportation technologies. (Click here for a copy of Mr. Sperling’s slide presentation.)

David Goldstein, Co-Director of the Energy Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, spoke about smart growth and the types of transportation policies that should be encouraged if the United States is to reduce vehicle miles traveled and increase use of energy efficient transportation options. (Click here for a copy of Mr. Goldstein’s slide presentation.)

Kevin Harris, Business Development Executive with Hydrogenics Corporation, provided the attendees with information about Hydrogenics, which is a fuel cell developer and manufacturer of hydrogen refuelers that is 18% owned by General Motors. Mr. Harris spoke about the challenges and benefits associated with the successful commercialization of fuel cells for the transportation sector. (Click here for a copy of Mr. Harris’ slide presentation.)

The keynote speaker during the roundtable discussion was Rich Goodstein, Washington Representative, Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. Air Products and Chemicals is the world’s largest supplier of merchant hydrogen and is a leader in the development of hydrogen fuel infrastructure. Mr. Goodstein discussed how hydrogen is produced, the benefits and challenges to its use, and ways that government, at all levels, can assist in furthering its use in the transportation sector. (Click here for a copy of Mr. Goodstein’s slide presentation.)

California Lighting Technology Center
Trip participants traveled to Davis, California to visit the California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC). The CLTC was established as a collaborative effort between the California Energy Commission and UC Davis, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. Michael Siminovitch, Director of the CLTC, provided a tour of the facility, which included information on a builder-friendly CFL downlighting system, initially focused on kitchen applications; a smart and energy efficient occupancy sensor nightlite; and, outdoor LED-based alternatives to incandescent porch and perimeter lighting.

Cheryl English, Vice President, Technical Marketing Services, Acuity Brands-Lighting Group, provided the group with information about the company and its efforts to develop and commercialize efficient lighting technologies. Ms. English explained that Acuity Brands Lighting is the world's largest manufacturer of lighting fixtures. Products include indoor and outdoor lighting for commercial, institutional, industrial, infrastructure, and residential applications. Products are manufactured at 24 plants in the United States, Europe, Canada and Mexico and are dispersed through strategically located distribution centers.

Premier Gardens Zero-Energy Home Subdivision
Trip participants headed back toward Sacramento to visit the Premier Gardens Zero-Energy Home Subdivision. Currently under construction, and the first of its kind in the Sacramento region, the 95 homes in the Premier Gardens Subdivision combine state-of-the-art, energy efficient construction and appliances with a commercially available solar electric system to create a home that is extremely energy efficient. Each home includes roof-mounted solar modules, a tankless water heater, energy efficient windows, and a high efficiency furnace and air conditioning system. These homes are connected to the utility grid, but because they may produce as much

electricity as they consume, the homes are considered to achieve a “net zero” electricity consumption. Premier contends that these houses will save homeowners an average of 60% on their utility bills. The homes also will exceed current California Title 24 home energy cooling requirements by 50%. During the tour of the home, trip participants heard from Mike Keesee, PV Project Manager, Renewable Generation Assets, at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) and John Ralston, VP of Sales and Marketing, Premier Homes.

Ernest Orlando Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL)
LBNL was the destination for day three of the fact-finding trip. Participants were provided demonstrations on electrochome windows and transition metal switchable mirrors, and they toured a battery testing laboratory. (Please click here for additional information about these demonstration projects).

At the conclusion of the tours, the group heard from a variety of speakers who are working on specific research and development efforts at the laboratory. Notably, the first presenter was Steven Chu, the Director of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory. Mr. Chu, who has been the Director of LBNL for six years, shared the 1997 Nobel Prize in Physics for "development of methods to cool and trap atoms with laser light." Mr. Chu’s remarks focused on the important role that energy efficiency must play in terms of assisting the US and the rest of the world in meeting its energy demands. (Please click here for a copy of Mr. Chu’s presentation).

At the conclusion of Mr. Chu’s remarks, Mark Levine, Director, Environmental Energy Technologies Division, LBNL and the moderator of the roundtable, provided an overview of energy efficiency research at the laboratory. (Please click on this link for a copy of Mr. Levine’s presentation) Following Mr. Levine’s remarks, William Fisk, Head of the Indoor Environment Program, Environmental Energy Technologies Division, spoke about the role and significance of indoor air quality. (Please click here for a copy of Mr. Fisk’s presentation).

The connection between energy and water was discussed by the next presenter, Jim McMahon, Head, Energy Analysis Department, Environmental Energy Technologies Division. (Please click here for a copy of Mr. McMahon’s presentation).

The final speaker during this session of the program was Don Grether, Head, Advanced Energy Technologies Department, Environmental Energy Technologies Division. His remarks focused on both industrial and transportation sector energy technologies. (Please click here for a copy of Mr. Grether’s presentation).

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – December 3, 2004

The final day of the fact-finding trip included a tour of the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Francisco, and then a policy roundtable discussion and tour at PG&E’s Pacific Energy Center.

Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Trip participants visited the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) to learn about ways that the Center is saving energy through a Super Energy Savings Performance Contract (ESPC) developed by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Federal Energy Management Program. The San Francisco VAMC and Johnson Controls entered into an ESPC with a 19-year service phase in September 1998. Under FEMP's Super ESPC, energy service companies assume the capital costs of installing energy and water conservation equipment and renewable energy systems. In this case, Johnson Controls invested more than $4.7 million and will be repaid during the life of the 19-year project from yearly energy savings. The agreement incorporated six energy conservation measures including replacing boilers with a new steam production system, replacing medical air compressors and cooling coils, and conducting lighting retrofits. The impressive lighting retrofit exchanged more than 25,000 regular light bulbs for high-efficiency bulbs, and lamps and ballasts were replaced with higher-efficiency models. Lighting controls were installed in areas where the need for light was not continuous. The savings from the ESPC per year have equated to 2,723,672 kWh of electricity, 152,953 therms of natural gas, and $528,724.

Policy Roundtable at PG&E's Pacific Energy Center
For the final roundtable, trip participants traveled to PG&E’s Pacific Energy Center in downtown San Francisco to learn about a variety of activities occurring throughout Northern California to encourage energy efficiency by the electric utility industry, the environmental community, and the City of San Francisco. Moderating this policy roundtable discussion was Roland Risser, Director of Energy Efficiency Programs, PG&E.

The first speaker was Ralph Cavanagh, Senior Attorney and co-director of the Energy Program at the Natural Resources Defense Council. Mr. Cavanagh presented three recommendations to the congressional staff and administration officials during his discussion: 1) a utility will not embrace energy efficiency if its economic portfolio is directly tied to increased sales of kWhs, therefore, PG&E’s business model is one to be studied and emulated; 2) make sure efficiency standards for buildings and equipment are provided adequate support; and 3) provide adequate federal funding for research and development of energy efficient technologies since this is critical to ensuring that advances in efficient technologies are realized.

The next speaker was Diane Wittenberg, President, Climate Change Action Registry. Ms. Wittenberg provided an overview of the Registry, which is a non-profit public/private partnership created by the State of California that serves as a voluntary greenhouse gas (GHG) registry to protect, encourage and promote early actions to reduce GHG emissions. She also discussed some of the innovative activities that the Registry has underway to encourage early reductions in GHG emission. (Please click here for a copy of Ms. Wittenberg’s presentation).

Roy Kuga, Vice President for Gas and Electric Supply at PG&E, discussed how investor-owned utilities in California, like PG&E, have integrated energy efficiency into their procurement of power. He noted that the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) adopted a new framework for utility procurement of power in 2002 which required energy efficiency to be integrated into utility resource plans. In 2003, the California Energy Action Plan was adopted by the California Energy Commission, the California Power Authority and the CPUC which emphasizes energy conservation and resource efficiency as a first priority for California’s energy policy. PG&E will spend $2.3 billion over ten years on energy efficiency programs. (Please click here for a copy of Mr. Kuga’s presentation).

Providing an overview of the initiatives the City of San Francisco has undertaken to reduce energy consumption and air pollution was Cal Broomhead, Energy Programs Manager and Ann Kelly, Senior Energy Specialist at the San Francisco Department of the Environment. They showcased the city’s sustainability plan which was developed in 1996, the electricity resource plan developed in 2002, and the climate action plan initiated in 2004. Mr. Broomhead and Ms. Kelly highlighted the many projects the city has undertaken to encourage energy efficiency and conservation throughout San Francisco. (Please click here for a copy of Mr. Broomhead’s presentation).

PG&E’s Pacific Energy Center Tour
Jim Chace, the Director of the Pacific Energy Center, provided the group with an overview of the Center and focused specifically on the advancements that have been made over the years on the development of efficient lighting technologies. The Pacific Energy Center offers educational programs, design tools, advice, and support to create energy efficient buildings and comfortable indoor environments. Most of the Center’s efforts are focused around commercial buildings. (Please click here for a copy of Mr. Chace’s lighting technology timeline.)