Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP)

From the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy:

This #hospital, dedicated to taking care of Northern California’s military #veterans, improved its #energy efficiency in large part due to an Energy Department program. For #TBT, we go back to 1997 when our Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) awarded the first in a series of six regional “Super Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs)” to help government agencies improve their energy efficiency and reduce taxpayer costs. The San Francisco VA Medical Center (pictured) was among the first federal facilities to award an ESPC to an energy service company using our contract. ESPCs enable federal agencies to fund building upgrades such as heating, cooling, lighting, and building automation systems without up-front costs. Recently, we announced a new solicitation that will spur more energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements at federal government facilities across the #US. Learn more: http://go.usa.gov/3grPJ.

Historic Marsac Building, Park City, Utah

From the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy:

Park City, #Utah, known for skiing and hosting one of America’s most popular film festivals, is also gaining a reputation for renewable #energy and energy efficiency. As the Sundance Film Festival begins this week, we highlight #solar atop the historic Marsac Building that houses City Hall. For #TBT, we go back to 2010 when we introduced this project to #America on Energy.gov:http://go.usa.gov/uXbm. 

Pictured above is the 18-kilowatt solar energy system in use today on the Marsac Building, which was originally constructed in 1936.

Offshore Wind Energy

From the U.S. Department of the Interior:

Today, the Interior Department announced a new milestone that makes offshore wind energy development in federal waters off the coast of North Carolina one step closer. Learn more:http://on.doi.gov/1ClRtLI

#ActOnClimate

From NREL:

NREL Reports Examine Economic Trade-offs of Owning versus Leasing a Solar Photovoltaic System

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Two new reports from the Energy Department's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) examine the economic options customers face when deciding how to finance commercial or residential solar energy systems. NREL analysts found that businesses that use low-cost financing to purchase a photovoltaic (PV) system and homeowners who use solar-specific loans can save up to 30 percent compared with consumers who lease a PV system through a conventional third-party owner.

The first report, "Banking on Solar: An Analysis of Banking Opportunities in the U.S. Distributed Photovoltaic Market," provides a high-level overview of the developing U.S. solar loan product landscape. The analysis covers the range of consumer and commercial loan products available for financing solar in the United States, discusses the potential and active market players in the distributed solar loan space, and provides qualitative and quantitative analyses of how solar loans of varying maturities stack up against third-party financing. Key findings include:

• The levelized cost of energy (LCOE) for residential systems with solar loans was lower than the LCOE for residential systems with power purchase agreements (PPAs) by 19-29 percent (varying by the term of the loan), because of the higher cost of capital necessary for the sponsor and tax equity in a PPA transaction.
• There are additional operational and financial risks associated with owning a solar asset, and many of the savings calculated depend on market environment and the specific situation of an individual homeowner or business. For example, changes in a homeowner's credit rating and the term of the loan can more than double the interest rate payments on the loan.

"Market interest rates on solar-specific loans currently range from 2 percent with special provisions to 8 percent," said Travis Lowder, an energy analyst and coauthor of the report. "Compare this to a weighted average cost of capital of 9-10 percent for third-party systems financed through tax equity investments. Using the lower cost rates provided by the loans could help to make solar power more affordable to more consumers, and more competitive with utility rates in more states."

The second report, "To Own or Lease Solar: Understanding Commercial Retailers Decisions to Use Alternative Financing Models," examines the tradeoffs between financing methods for businesses installing onsite PV systems. The authors present case studies of PV financing strategies used by two large commercial retailers that have deployed substantial PV capacity in the United States: IKEA, which owns its PV, and Staples, which leases its PV through PPAs. In addition to carrying out in-depth interviews with both organizations for the report, the authors analyze the considerations that influence any company's choice of PV-financing strategy using corporate and solar industry data. The report's goal is to clarify the economic and institutional costs and benefits of financing strategies and to inform other companies that are considering launching or expanding similar PV programs. Key findings include:

• The LCOE for the modeled self-financed system is approximately 30 percent lower than the LCOE for the PPA-financed system, given a commercial customer's pre-tax discount rate of 10 percent; however the LCOEs are equivalent when the discount rate rises to 23 percent.
• Companies may view the risks of ownership differently than those for a PPA-financed system. If a company assumed a 10 percent pre-tax discount rate for a PPA versus a 23 percent pre-tax discount rate for self-financing, then the LCOE would be 14 percent lower using the PPA.

"The most appropriate PV financing option for a particular business depends on the characteristics and circumstances of that business," said David Feldman, a senior financial analyst and lead author of the report. "A company must work across its different business groups to decide what is most appropriate for its situation. With that said, if a company has less expensive sources of financing and is comfortable with the risks, it can often save on its energy bills by owning a PV system."

The research was supported by funding from the Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, in support of its SunShot Initiative. The SunShot Initiative is a collaborative national effort that aggressively drives innovation to make solar energy fully cost-competitive with traditional energy sources before the end of the decade. Through SunShot, the Department supports efforts by private companies, universities, and national laboratories to drive down the cost of solar electricity to $0.06 per kilowatt-hour. Learn more at energy.gov/sunshot.

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for the Energy Department by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

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From NREL:

NREL Releases the 2013 Renewable Energy Data Book, Detailing Increases in Installed Capacity

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

The newly released 2013 Renewable Energy Data Book illustrates United States and global energy statistics, including renewable electricity generation, renewable energy development, clean energy investments, and technology-specific data and trends. The Data Book is produced and published annually by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) on behalf of the Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

"The 2013 Renewable Energy Data Book is an important resource for policymakers, analysts, and investors worldwide," NREL Energy Analyst Sean Esterly said. "Renewable energy trends are displayed in an accessible format for a variety of audiences."

The 2013 Renewable Energy Data Book compiles recently available statistics for the 2013 calendar year. Key findings include:

• Renewable electricity, including hydropower and biopower, grew to nearly 15 percent of total installed capacity and 13 percent of total electricity generation in the United States in 2013.
• In 2013, renewable electricity accounted for more than 61 percent of all new electricity capacity installations in the United States.
• In 2013 in the United States, solar electricity was the fastest growing electricity generation technology, with cumulative installed capacity increasing by nearly 66 percent from the previous year.
• Renewable sources accounted for 23 percent of all electricity generation worldwide in 2013.

The 2013 Renewable Energy Data Book is produced by NREL's Strategic Energy Analysis Center.

NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for the Energy Department by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

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Johnson Controls to unveil improved energy and cost efficient heating and cooling solutions for buildings worldwide

From Johnson Controls:

Johnson Controls to unveil improved energy and cost efficient heating and cooling solutions for buildings worldwide

Company to demonstrate new variable refrigerant flow and building automation systems at International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating Expo

MILWAUKEE – (January  22, 2015) – Johnson Controls will introduce its new variable refrigerant flow (VRF) and building management solutions to create and maintain better performing buildings worldwide at the International Air-Conditioning, Heating, Refrigerating (AHR) Expo, January 26-28, in Chicago, Illinois.

Johnson Controls, a global multi-industrial company, will unveil its new VRF solution, a benefit of the company’s recent Hitachi joint venture. The ductless and modular HVAC solution heats and cools multiple building zones to increase energy savings, improve occupant comfort, and lower construction costs. VRF features Hitachi’s high-efficiency compressors and is complemented by energy modeling and selection tools to measure and compare VRF to other HVAC technologies.

“We recognize that heating and cooling strategies are not one-size-fits-all. That’s why we’ve developed new digital selection and configuration tools that will help owners, operators and consultants compare heating and cooling solutions,” said Bill Jackson, president, Johnson Controls Building Efficiency. “When VRF is your best choice, our solution uses compressor technology that operates at unmatched efficiency levels.”

Johnson Controls will also unveil the new user interface for its Metasys building automation system, which connects HVAC, lighting, security and fire protection systems on a single platform. New system configurations, programming capabilities, and additional IT features will improve productivity, reduce energy costs and enhance security.  

“We’ve improved Metasys by making the tool more intuitive, easier to use and more mobile-friendly in today’s fast-paced world. The new interface transforms data into building intelligence to help owners and operators make better informed decisions to improve bottom lines and meet building needs,” said Jackson.

In addition to its VRF and Metasys advancements, Johnson Controls will also feature the following in Booth 5023:

• Connected Chiller technologies to remotely monitor chiller performance in real-time to ensure system performance, proactively manage maintenance, and extend the chiller’s lifecycle.
• York magnetic centrifugal chiller (YMC2) which offers up to 13 percent better efficiency than conventional, variable-speed chillers and is recognized as the quietest chiller in its class.
• New design-through-delivery process for York custom air handling units orders to lower specification risk, reduce manufacturing and installation time, and ensure system quality.
• New Unitary Products Group direct-fit commercial rooftop units and the soon-to-be-released residential HVAC product line including a new residential packaged unit, air handling unit and an outdoor condenser.

More than 40,000 people are expected to attend the AHR Expo. For more information, please visit www.johnsoncontrols.com/ahr.

Follow us at @JCI_BEnews

Visit www.johnsoncontrols.com/benews

About Johnson Controls:

Johnson Controls is a global diversified technology and industrial leader serving customers in more than 150 countries. The company's 170,000 employees create quality products, services and solutions to optimize energy and operational efficiencies of buildings; lead-acid automotive batteries and advanced batteries for hybrid and electric vehicles; and interior systems for automobiles. Johnson Controls' commitment to sustainability dates back to its roots in 1885, with the invention of the first electric room thermostat. Through its growth strategies and by increasing market share, Johnson Controls is committed to delivering value to shareholders and making its customers successful. In 2014, Corporate Responsibility Magazine recognized Johnson Controls as the #12 company in its annual "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. For additional information, please visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com or follow@johnsoncontrols on Twitter. 

2013 Renewable Energy Data Book

January 20, 2015

From the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL):

NREL's newly released 2013 Renewable Energy Data Book illustrates United States and global energy statistics, including renewable electricity generation, renewable energy development, clean energy investments, and technology-specific data and trends.http://www.nrel.gov/news/press/2015/15450.html

Carbon Cycle Power advances in Florida waste conve - Renewable Energy From Waste

Representatives will meet with St. Lucie County selection committee about its gasification technology.



Carbon Cycle Power advances in Florida waste conve - Renewable Energy From Waste

Research predicts second-generation biofuels marke - Renewable Energy From Waste

Report from Allied Market Research cites advantages of waste-derived biofuels over those from other renewable sources.



Research predicts second-generation biofuels marke - Renewable Energy From Waste

Green Transportation

From Energy Saver:

Employees at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are resolving to save #energy by using alternative transportation to get to work! 

You can also make an #EnergyResolution to commute greener by biking, taking public transit, or using Energy Saver’s transportation tips→ http://go.usa.gov/eWux.#GoGreen

Solar Capability and Home Prices

From the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy:

“Kitchens and baths sell homes,” is one of the oldest sayings among many real estate professionals. #Solarmight be added to that saying following a recent report by the Energy Department’s Berkeley Lab that said owning a home with solar equates to an average $15,000 premium on sale prices. Read the full report that was supported by our #SunShot Initiative:http://go.usa.gov/zt5C.