ACEEE Recognizes Leading State Energy Efficiency Programs
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) announced on September 15 its first awards for exceptional state energy efficiency programs.
Colorado's Energy Star New Homes Program, which promotes Energy Star certification in new residential construction, was lauded for its "excellent model where the state energy office forms regional partnerships with counties, cities, nonprofit organizations, and utilities to offer locally tailored programs."
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) earned kudos for its Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Demonstration Program, which has helped pay for CHP system integration at 65 locations, and its Wastewater Efficiency Program, "a model program for states intent on improving the energy efficiency of wastewater systems."
Hawaii was chosen for its Lead by Example Program, in which state agencies demonstrate the benefits of energy efficiency. Hawaii's state agencies used 5.8% less electricity in 2009 than in 2008, saving about $10 million.
Also in the top 5 is the Maryland Statewide Farm Energy Audit Program invests carbon allowance proceeds to offer energy audits and technical and financial assistance to agricultural producers.
Three emerging programs won awards for their innovative approaches: a California program that gives fleet owners vouchers to halve the extra cost of buying hybrid versions of heavy-duty trucks and buses; a Massachusetts program that provides incentives for creating higher-density, mixed-income housing in smart-growth locations; and a New Jersey program that takes a comprehensive, whole-building approach to energy efficiency in existing commercial and industrial buildings. See the ACEEE press release and report .
UNEP: Clean Energy Investments Help Reduce Poverty
Investing in clean energy is an essential part of meeting international goals to reduce poverty, according to a UN Environment Programme (UNEP) report.
"A Brief for Policymakers on the Green Economy and the Millennium Development Goals," released on September 20, asserts the "green economy" and poverty reduction goals are inextricably intertwined.
Focusing on the Millennium Development Goals, which include a goal to halve the number of people in extreme poverty by 2015, the UNEP report contends that a shift to a green economy will not only reduce environmental risks and ecological scarcities, but will also improve human well-being and lessen inequalities. For instance, solar power and efficient lighting can replace oil-based lighting sources, on which the "energy poor" in Africa spend about $17 billion per year. See the UNEP press release and report .
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EREE Network News is a weekly publication of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).
