Alliance to Save Energy

As light bulbs become a hotter topic on the Hill, the Alliance’s President Kateri Callahan was featured on E&E TV. As Congress becomes embroiled in a broader debate over the government’s role in regulations, it’s unfortunate that it’s happening around the light bulb law, she said, where the consumer could be the loser. Senior Vice President for Programs Jeff Harris went on Washington’s NBC-4 to explain how new light bulb regulations actually provide consumers with more choice and savings, as 90 percent of the energy that’s paid for with traditional incandescent is radiated as heat, not light. In other news, while the tax credit for hybrid vehicles expired at the end of 2010, there is still a tax credit of $2,500 to $7,500 for plug-in electric vehicles. The credits can significantly reduce what consumers will end up paying, Senior Policy and Research Associate Tom Simchak told USA Today. As the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rolls out new guidelines as part of the Clean Air Act, Callahan reminded readers of the National Journal’s Energy and Environment blog that while the EPA’s actions might be controversial, enhancing energy efficiency is a sensible answer that transcends politics.

  As U.S. oil prices continue to spike due, in part, to Middle East unrest, both sides of the aisle are beginning to weigh in on what the federal government can do to ease prices. Alliance President Kateri Callahan reminds readers of the National Journal that it’s necessary for the U.S. to reduce its dependence on foreign oil and focus on clean energy options instead. A government shutdown could have serious implications for the Department of Energy, draining it of any capabilities but national security operations. Closing the office this year would shutter many of the new energy initiatives President Obama is advocating. Executive Vice President of Programs and Development Brian Castelli, who served as chief of staff to DOE’s assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy during the last government shutdown, recalled the impact the shutdown had on the agency’s staff with Politico. Despite extensive media coverage, myths about the efficient lighting phase-in still persist. The new lighting changes not only will do good for the public's wallet, Callahan told the Chicago Tribune, and maintain the quality of lighting in consumers' homes.  Callahan was a featured guest on Platt’s Energy Week, where she chatted with Bill Platt about why energy efficiency is important to the average American, the need for bipartisan legislation and the upcoming light bulb changes. [WUSA-9.com video] The Green Schools Program got a shout from the Alliance for Climate Education (ACE). Green Schools worked with ACE to get its staff into 17 schools across three states in two weeks to find out how students have been saving energy at home and school.

With the federal budget’s release and Capitol Hill events like Great Energy Efficiency Day (GEED), the Alliance has had a busy month. President Kateri Callahan took to the National Journal’s Energy & Environment Expert Blog to comment on House legislation that would cut billions of dollars to clean energy research and Environmental Protection Agency programs. While the national deficit must be addressed, said Callahan, cutting energy efficiency programs won’t make a meaningful difference to the deficit but will “rob American families today of savings in avoided energy costs.” As budget woes continue, energy efficiency advocates are looking toward Secretary of Energy Steven Chu as he defends President Obama’s budget proposal, said Floyd DesChamps, the Alliance’s Senior Vice President of Policy and Research. [Politico] Director of Development Chuck Wilson not only works on spreading the word about energy efficiency while in the office — he does it in his community, too. He brought about an idea to his University Park, Md.,’s town council to start a community-wide effort to save energy, which he hopes will serve as a model for others. “There are dozens of towns like this across the United States that are small and run by volunteers,” he said. “This is designed to work with those.” [The Washington Post] Sen. Richard Lugar, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, garnered attention after advocating for oil sands pipeline approval during his keynote speaker speech at GEED. [Scientific American, Reuters Africa] Kevin Kampschroer, Director of the Federal High-Performance Green Building Program at the General Services Administration — the “landlord for the civilian federal government” — was honored by the Alliance with its Unsung Hero award. The recognition is particularly timely as the House tries to slash funding for building operations, much of which is under the Green Building Program’s purview. [Natural Resources Defense Council]

President Obama’s State of the Union address put energy efficiency back into the national spotlight. As Alliance President Kateri Callahan stated, cost-effective investments in energy efficiency will “save consumers money and create clean-energy jobs, all while helping the nation maintain its competitive edge.” We’re excited for technological innovations that will help Americans get ahead. [The White House Blog] Also this week: In 2010, Green Campus interns in California saved their universities $485,000 in energy bills by implementing savvy policies. As California’s public colleges face deep budget cuts, these energy-and-money saving programs become even more meaningful. [Earth Techling] Alliance Senior Vice President of Policy and Research Floyd DesChamps weighed in on NPR about President Obama’s proposal to make office buildings and factories more energy efficient.

Did you watch President Obama’s State of the Union address? We did, and we are excited by the administration’s commitment to investment in energy efficiency for the 2012 fiscal year. “We commend the president’s plans to unleash the power of American ingenuity and innovation in the energy arena to move us towards economic recovery and continued global competitiveness,” said Alliance President Kateri Callahan. Our Green Campus program is tackling energy efficiency challenges throughout California college campuses — and succeeding. [Daily 49er] For example, California State University-Long Beach Green Campus interns replaced vending machines on their campus with more efficient dispensers. As Long Beach's Gazettes.com reports, the swap is expected to save $5,000 a year. Case studies like these will be presented at the 7th annual Green Campus Energy Efficiency Summit in Long Beach, Calif., hosted by the Alliance along with PG&E, Southern California Edison, Southern California Gas Company and San Diego Gas & Electric.

  Along with the close of 2011's first month and the halfway point of President Obama's term, there was ample news coverage of a wide range of energy efficiency topics: from rising oil prices to heating bills during the cold winter months. As always, the Alliance was quick to respond in the national media:  Energy experts, including Alliance President Kateri Callahan, promote cautious optimism as policy makers attempt to "electrify" the transportation sector to ward off a hike in oil prices. “In order for an expensive item to displace an existing product, it has to offer more for the consumer,” Callahan said in The Atlantic. With cold weather enveloping much of the country, many people turn to space heaters as a way to heat rooms and use less energy. But are they actually more efficient? As Senior Policy Research Associate Tom Simchak told Mother Jones, “In terms of energy per heat output, small space heaters will rarely ever be as efficient as a central heating system.” The upcoming Duke Energy and Progress Energy merger could bring more energy-efficient programs to the Southeast. “Leadership in that region and those states will have a much more positive impact than anything outside the region,” said Callahan. [The New York Times]

Welcome to 2011! If you’re searching for ways to make this year your most efficient one yet, check out three articles the Alliance wrote for The Daily Energy Report. [Articles: Energy Efficient Audit Is The First Step To Building A Road Map, How To Be Energy Efficient With A Low Budget and How To Make The Office Energy Efficient On A Low Budget] Before the end of the year, the Alliance also had several honorable mentions throughout the media landscape. Senior Research Associate Tom Simchak invited WUSA-9 viewers into his home to see the energy efficient improvements the 2010 federal tax credits allowed him to make. However, for those hoping to take advantage of tax credits in 2011, the credit has been reduced to only $500. “We’re sorely disappointed that Congress did not see fit to make the incentives more generous,” said Alliance President Kateri Callahan. “That would have increased their use by consumers.” [The Washington Post] While phasing in more efficient lighting will be mandatory by 2014, Ikea is leading the pack — the home retailer will no longer be selling incandescent light bulbs. Other retailers are probably not far behind, a benefit for consumers, said Callahan. “You’re simply going to see a quicker transition because we’re going to be getting the junk…out of the marketplace.” [American Public Media]

The good news: The federal tax bill extended tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements. The not-so-good news: The 2011 credits are much lower than last year’s, down from 30 percent with a $1,500 maximum to 10 percent with a $500 maximum.  Alliance President Kateri Callahan told Consumer Reports the home energy upgrades incentives will help consumers slash their energy bills, but said she is “sorely disappointed that Congress did not see fit to make the incentives more generous.” [Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog] Columnist Kenneth Harney quoted Callahan on how  higher incentives “would have increased their use by consumers, to the benefit of our economy, energy security and environment." [Los Angeles Times] Just days before the new year, Alliance Senior Research Associate Tom Simchak joined a public affairs radio program to discuss how to make the most of the outgoing 2010 and incoming 2011 tax credits, as well as how the decreased credits could affect homeowners’ decisions to invest in energy efficiency upgrades. [Southern California Public Radio] A Nashville, Tenn., TV station provided tips on federal tax credits for windows and cited an Alliance study finding that nearly two-thirds of U.S. homes have single-pane windows that contribute up to 35 percent of wasted energy, whereas energy-efficient windows can cut cooling and heating costs by about the same percentage. [WXUP-TV 30] A Raleigh, N.C., TV station quoted Callahan and Alliance Associate Johns Manville on the importance of installing insulation to save money and energy.  "Homeowners are always looking for ways to stretch their household budgets, and there's no better time than now to be proactive about reducing your home's energy use," Callahan said. [RDC-TV 28] Although the federal government is the largest U.S. energy consumer, National Geographic noted that energy use per square foot in U.S. government buildings has fallen nearly 30 percent since 1985. “I've always found these figures striking. ... I think we often haven’t given enough credit to work that has been accomplished,” said Alliance Vice President for Programs Jeff Harris. [National Geographic News]  

The holiday season might be upon us but the Alliance is still bustling with activity. While consumers prepare to light up their homes for the festivities, we’ve reminded shoppers that switching incandescent lights to LEDs will earn you big savings. [U.S. News and World Report, The Bellingham Herald] Speaking of lights, Randy Moorhead, Vice President of Alliance Associate Philips Electronics, set the record straight on upcoming changes to incandescent bulbs. FYI: they are not being banned, they’ll just be up to 30 percent more efficient. [NPR] Murietta Valley Unified School District has saved nearly $900,000 since 2007. It’s the same year that it began working with the Green Schools program to reduce energy consumption at schools. The district is being honored by the Green California Schools Summit. Congrats on a great job! [The Press-Enterprise]

While Congress debates how to solve the country's budget woes, Alliance President Kateri Callahan set the record straight on two important efficiency programs — weatherization and ENERGY STAR — caught in a tug-of-war over budget deficits in her letter to Politico’s editor.  Floyd DesChamps, the Alliance’s Senior Vice President of Policy and Research, has been named a new member of the American Geophysical Union’s board of directors, reflecting the organization’s commitment to applying scientific research results to global challenges. Congratulations, Floyd! [American Geophysical Union] Consumers haven’t been as enticed by water heaters as other stimulus-funded appliances, a USA TODAY analysis found. Although they are often the second-largest energy hogs in homes, water heaters aren’t shoppers’ lists until their current ones break. Are you decorating this holiday season? Good news: your lights and decorations aren’t costing as much as they did in previous years. [Market Watch] Sounds like Indianapolis noticed — the city’s Circle of Lights event is hoping to replace 4,800 incandescent lights with energy-efficient LED bulbs by the event’s 50th anniversary in two years. [The Indianapolis Star] Making energy-efficient improvements is tough when you’re a renter. Luckily, there are still steps you can take to ensure you save energy in your home, whether you own or not. [Grist]