Energy Department Investments to Develop Lighter, Stronger Materials for Greater Vehicle Fuel Economy

Press release from the U.S. Dept. of Energy:

Energy Department Investments to Develop Lighter, Stronger Materials for Greater Vehicle Fuel Economy

August 13, 2012 - 9:14am

WASHINGTON – As part of the Obama Administration’s all-of-the-above energy strategy to reduce the United States’ reliance on foreign oil and save drivers money at the pump, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today seven new projects to accelerate the development and deployment of stronger and lighter materials for the next generation of American-made cars and trucks. These projects include the development and validation of modeling tools to deliver higher performing carbon fiber composites and advanced steels, as well as research into new lightweight, high-strength alloys for energy-efficient vehicle and truck engines.

“With strong, lightweight materials we have an opportunity to dramatically increase vehicle fuel economy, while helping America maintain its competitive edge in automotive design and manufacturing,” said Secretary Chu. “Today’s investment in new lightweight materials builds on the Obama Administration’s historic fuel economy standards that are already helping drivers save money at the pump.”

The Obama Administration has taken unprecedented steps to improve the fuel efficiency of American vehicles, reaching historic agreements to improve fuel economy standards for passenger cars and light-duty trucks through Model Year 2025. These standards are expected to save consumers $1.7 trillion at the pump, or about $8,200 in costs over the lifetime of each vehicle. In fact, the initial set of standards for Model Years 2011 to 2016 is already having an impact for American families and businesses. The Energy Information Administration estimates model year 2011 cars achieved record average fuel economy at 34.4 miles per gallon, representing a 2 percent increase over 2010 model year cars.

Achieving the goals of this historic agreement will rely on innovative technologies and manufacturing that will spur economic growth and create high-quality domestic jobs in cutting edge industries across America. The projects announced today will help provide additional technologies and innovations that will enable manufacturers to continue to improve vehicle fuel efficiency beyond the regulated levels. Advanced materials are essential for boosting the fuel economy of cars and trucks while maintaining and improving safety and performance. Replacing cast iron and traditional steel components with lightweight materials – including advanced high-strength steel, magnesium, aluminum, and carbon fiber composites – allows vehicle manufacturers to include additional safety devices, integrated electronic systems and emissions control equipment on vehicles without increasing their weight. Using lighter materials also reduces a vehicle’s fuel consumption. Reducing a vehicle’s weight by just 10 percent can improve the fuel economy by 6 to 8 percent.

The new investments announced today support materials innovation in two critical areas:
Improving Carbon Fiber Composites and Advanced Steel through Computational Design
The Energy Department will award two projects to validate existing modeling tools to optimize the performance and cost-effectiveness of carbon fiber and other specialized composite materials for vehicle body, chassis and interior uses. For example, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, based in Richland, Washington, is receiving a $1 million investment to validate carbon fiber composite models.

Additionally, the Department is investing $6 million to develop new modeling tools to advance third-generation high-strength steels. Through this project, Detroit-based United States Automotive Materials Partnership will leverage an additional $2.5 million in private investment to help create modeling tools for deploying high-strength steels for lighter passenger vehicles.

Advanced Alloy Development for Automotive and Heavy-Duty Engines
Today’s investment also includes four project that will develop lightweight, high-strength alloys for automotive and heavy duty engine blocks and cylinder heads. For instance, Caterpillar Inc, based near Peoria, Illinois, is leveraging a $3.4 million Energy Department award, as well as $1.5 million in private investment, to develop high-strength iron-based alloys to allow for higher cylinder pressures and increased engine efficiency.

Read the full list of awards HERE.

The Energy Department will provide $8 million this year for these awards, and has requested an additional $13.75 million next year, subject to congressional appropriations, to support the completion of these projects over the next two to four years.  The Department’s investments are leveraging an additional $11 million from the private sector. These projects support the Materials Genome Initiative, an ambitious effort announced by President Obama to double the speed and cut the cost of discovering, developing, and deploying new high-tech materials in the United States.

From developing stronger, safer and lighter materials for today’s automobiles, to lowering the costs of electric vehicle batteries and better combustion engines, the Energy Department has supported a range of technological advances in vehicle efficiency that has helped maintain America’s competitive edge in this global industry. More information on these investments is available HERE.  

New Efficiency Standards Mean Big Energy Savings for Consumers

New Efficiency Standards Mean Big Energy Savings for Consumers

May 16, 2012 

April Saylor

New Media Specialist, Office of Public Affairs

What does this mean for me?

• By 2030, energy efficiency standards passed since 2009 will save nearly $350 billion total for consumers.
• Energy efficiency standards for residential clothes washers and dishwashers alone will save consumers approximately $20 billion in energy and water costs through 2030.

As part of the Obama Administration’s energy strategy, Energy Department officials have been hard at work helping American families save money by saving energy. Since 2009, we’ve issued nearly 40 common-sense energy efficiency standards for appliances -- which will save consumers nearly $350 billion on their energy bills through 2030, and give them more efficient machine choices. This breaks down to significant energy savings annually for households over the next two decades.

As part of this effort, today the Department announced new energy efficiency standards for residential clothes washers and dishwashers that will save consumers approximately $20 billion in energy and water costs through 2030. The clothes washer standard alone will save households approximately 25 percent on their machine’s operational costs -- the equivalent of approximately $350 in savings over the lifetime of the washer.

While the new energy efficiency standards clearly impact families and individual consumers in a big way, the U.S. as a whole has a lot to gain, as well. These utility savings per family adds up to approximately $600 million in energy and water savings per year for the next 10 years nationally.

Energy efficiency standards for everyday appliances like these have already saved American families hundreds of billions of dollars. These standards have laid the groundwork for additional improvements for appliances -- ensuring consumers have more efficient, less costly appliances without sacrificing performance.
The new standards for clothes washers and dishwashers were developed in partnership with industry experts and national environmental organizations, and will go into effect over the next few years.

Today, clothes washers and dishwashers account for approximately 3 percent of residential energy use and more than 20 percent of indoor water use in homes across the country. These new standards willreduce the energy consumption of front-loading clothes washers by 15 percent and reduce water consumption by 35 percent, while top-loading washers will save 33 percent on energy and 19 percent on water consumption. New standards for home dishwashers will use approximately 15 percent less energy and more than 20 percent less water.

Visit the Department’s Building Technologies Program to find out more about the minimum efficiency standards for residential appliances and commercial equipment.

New Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential Clothes Washers and Dishwashers to Save Consumers Billions on Energy Bills

Press release from DOE:

New Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential Clothes Washers and Dishwashers to Save Consumers Billions on Energy Bills

May 16, 2012

WASHINGTON – As part of the Obama Administration’s focus on taking sensible steps to save families money while also reducing energy consumption,  the Department of Energy today announced common-sense energy efficiency standards for residential clothes washers and dishwashers that will save consumers $20 billion in energy and water costs. The new standards for both clothes washers and dishwashers were informed by important feedback from manufacturers, consumer groups and environmental advocates, producing significant savings while retaining consumer choice. The clothes washers standard announced today will save households approximately $350 over the lifetime of the appliance, while offering consumers a variety of more efficient machine choices, and as a result of the standards for dishwashers, home dishwashers will use approximately 15 percent less energy and more than 20 percent less water, directly providing consumers with savings on monthly bills.

Today’s announcement is only the most recent in a series of common-sense efficiency standards made by the Obama Administration that have covered nearly 40 different products, and will together save consumers nearly $350 billion on their energy bills through 2030.

“Working with consumer, industry and environmental groups to develop common-sense energy-saving appliance standards is an important part of the Obama Administration’s all-of-the-above approach to American energy and the Energy Department’s efforts to reduce energy costs for consumers,” said Secretary Chu. “Collectively, these energy efficiency standards for everyday appliances have saved American families hundreds of billions of dollars and offered consumers more efficient, less costly appliances without sacrificing performance.”

“DOE’s implementation of these new standards reflects the consensus agreement reached by stakeholders. It will result in tremendous energy savings for the consumer while preserving product choice and minimizing manufacturer impact. The home appliance industry is proud of its long history of energy efficiency advancements benefiting consumers and applauds DOE for working with stakeholders to increase energy efficiency,” said Joseph McGuire, President of the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.
“Clothes washer and dishwasher energy efficiency has improved dramatically over the past two decades while also improving clothes washing performance and maintaining dish washing performance,” said Steve Nadel, Executive Director of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.  “These improvements have been driven by a combination of manufacturer and utility efforts, Energy Star, federal tax incentives and minimum efficiency standards.  We support the new DOE minimum efficiency standards which will raise the floor, helping to spur further efficiency improvements.

The new standards – developed in partnership with companies like Whirlpool, General Electric and LG Electronics, industry advocates, national environmental organizations, consumer groups and other stakeholders – build on previous minimum energy efficiency requirements for clothes washers and dishwashers and go into effect starting in 2015 and 2013, respectively.

Today, clothes washers and dishwashers account for approximately 3 percent of residential energy use and more than 20 percent of indoor water use in homes across the country.  The new standards for clothes washers will reduce the energy consumption of front-loading clothes washers by 15 percent and reduce water consumption by 35 percent, while top-loading washers will save 33 percent on energy and 19 percent on water use.

As companies look for ways to further boost the efficiency of their products,  companies will continue to undertake additional research and development, partner with entrepreneurs working on new efficiency technologies and invest in manufacturing innovations that will help drive better, more efficient appliances and broader job creation across the economy. For example, according to a 2011 trade report, standards laws signed by President Reagan and both Presidents Bush and DOE rulemakings generated approximately 340,000 jobs in 2010 alone.

The standards announced today are part of the Obama Administration’s broader all-of-the-above approach to American energy and the Department of Energy’s efforts to help families save money by saving energy.  Other energy and cost-saving standards adopted under the Obama Administration include:

• March 2009 - 14 consumer and commercial products with standards prescribed in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007), including dishwashers, general service incandescent lamps and residential clothes washers
• April 2009 - Microwaves, kitchen ranges and ovens
• July 2009 - General service fluorescent lamps and incandescent reflector lamps
• July 2009 - Commercial heating, air-conditioning and water-heating equipment
• August 2009 - Beverage vending machines
• December 2009 - Commercial clothes washers
• February 2010 - Small electric motors
• March 2010 - Residential water heaters, direct heating equipment and pool heaters
• April 2011 - Residential clothes dryers and room air conditioners
• June 2011 - Residential furnaces and residential central air conditioners and heat pumps
• September 2011 - Residential refrigerators, freezers, and refrigerator-freezers
• October 2011 - Fluorescent lamp ballasts
• November 2011 - Direct heating equipment
• May 2012 - Residential clothes washers
• May 2012 – Residential dishwashers

A full list of appliance efficiency standards is available on the Department of Energy website HERE.
DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy invests in clean energy technologies that strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and reduce dependence on foreign oil. Learn more about the test procedures and minimum efficiency standards for residential appliances and commercial equipment developed by DOE’s Appliances and Commercial Equipment Standards Program and other building technologies projects

Energy Department Announces Funding to Develop “Plug-and-Play” Solar Energy Systems for Homeowners

Energy Department Announces Funding to Develop “Plug-and-Play” Solar Energy Systems for Homeowners

April 24, 2012 

Washington, D.C. – As part of the Energy Department’s SunShot Initiative, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced up to $5 million available this year to develop “plug-and-play” photovoltaic (PV) systems that can be purchased, installed and operational in one day. This effort is part of the Department’s broader strategy to spur solar power deployment by reducing non-hardware, or “soft” costs, such as installation, permitting, and interconnection, which currently amount to more than half of the total cost of residential systems. The funding will help drive innovations to fundamentally change the design and installation of residential PV systems, reducing costs for homeowners and simplifying installations and grid connectivity.
"Providing families and businesses with new choices to use American energy resources that can save them money is an important part of President Obama's all-of-the above energy strategy,” said Secretary Chu “The Department's announcement today supporting plug-and-play solar energy technologies will help make it easier and cheaper for consumers to adopt clean, affordable solar energy, while supporting U.S. manufacturing leadership in the next generation of clean energy technologies and diversifying America's energy portfolio."

As the costs of solar PV modules continue to come down, "soft" costs and other non-module hardware costs, such as electronics and mounting hardware, now account for a majority of the total costs of systems. This offers significant opportunities to bring down costs through more efficient installation and permitting processes or new ways to affordably and effectively connect solar panels to the grid.

Plug-and-play solar energy systems will make the process of buying, installing, and connecting solar energy systems faster, easier, and less expensive, potentially unlocking major cost reductions in this area. Plug-and-play PV systems could be installed without special training or tools, and simply plugged into a PV-ready circuit, through which an automatic detection system would initiate communication between the solar energy system and the utility. Plug-and-play systems are already in wide use in the computer and automotive industries. The Energy Department believes that similar innovations can be made in the solar energy industry to reduce costs and simplify installations.

As part of a planned five-year program, the Energy Department will invest an initial $5 million this year for two projects that will develop innovative plug-and-play prototypes through partnerships with universities, industry, utilities, and other stakeholders. The Department plans to make an additional request of $20 million to Congress over the next four years to support these efforts.  For more information, see the full solicitation.
The SunShot Initiative is a collaborative national effort to make solar energy cost competitive with other forms of energy by the end of the decade. Inspired by President Kennedy’s “Moon Shot” program that put the first man on the moon, the SunShot Initiative has created new momentum for the solar industry by highlighting the need for American competitiveness in the clean energy race.

DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy accelerates development and facilitates deployment of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and market-based solutions that strengthen U.S. energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality.

Deputy Under Secretary Cheryl Cook Announces Obama Administration Accomplishments Supporting Renewable Energy

Posted by Dawn Knepp, USDA Pennsylvania Public Information Officer, on March 22, 2012 at 10:00 AM

David Fink, owner of Heidel Hollow Farm, described the farm’s energy savings from the 896 panel solar array funded by USDA Rural Development to USDA officials and others gathered at his farm.

The sun shone brightly on the 896 panel solar array at Heidel Hollow Farm in Germansville, Penn., as USDA Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Cheryl L. Cook, other USDA officials and guests celebrated the farm’s successful renewable energy project and the announcement of a new USDA Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Report. Heidel Hollow Farm, a family-owned, 1,600 acre hay farm, was awarded two USDA  Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants in 2010. The grants were used toward a solar energy project that provides approximately 252,800 KW of electricity used in the hay compressing operation of the farm and an energy efficiency project that replaced one diesel engine with five electric motors, saving over 8,000 gallons of diesel fuel each year.  The compactor increases the density of baled hay by 2 1/2 times for more efficient shipping to overseas customers.

According to Deputy Under Secretary Cook, “Rural Development’s REAP grants to Heidel Hollow Farm are excellent examples of funding that contributes to making farm operations more energy efficient and economical. This funding for renewable energy projects helps rebuild and revitalize rural America.”   The Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency report, released by Secretary Vilsack, highlights the ways in which USDA’s REAP program contributes to U.S. energy independence. Heidel Hollow Farm is one of 79 renewable energy projects funded in Pennsylvania since 2009. In total, Rural Development invested over $5.6 million in Pennsylvania energy projects.  Click here to find out how REAP is making a difference and saving energy in Pennsylvania.

USDA Rural Development Deputy Under Secretary Cheryl L. Cook, Esq. lifts one of the 35 lb. compressed hay bales currently being produced at Heidel Hollow Farm in Germansville for overseas shipment. Energy used to compress the bales comes from solar power.

The deadline for some 2012 Energy applications is approaching. To find out more, contact your local USDA Rural Development office or click here.

Energy Department Launches Apps for Energy

Energy Department Launches Apps for Energy

March 22, 2012 

Q&A

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Have a question about Apps for Energy? Let us know!

Design by Hantz Leger

Matthew Loveless

Data Integration Specialist, Office of Public Affairs

How can I participate?

• For competition news and updates, sign up for our email list using the box on the right.
• Have a great idea for an app? Let us know at apps@hq.doe.gov.

Get ready to change the way you think about your utility bill data.

With the Energy Department’s new Apps for Energy competition, we’re challenging developers to use the Green Button data access program to bring residential and commercial utility data to life.

The Energy Department – in partnership with Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Itron, and Gridwise Alliance – is offering $100,000 in cash prizes to the software developers and designers that submit the best apps, as judged by a prestigious panel of judges selected from government, the energy industry, and the tech community.

Apps for ENERGY leverages Green Button, an initiative that gives access to energy usage data in a streamlined and easy-to-understand format (learn more about the Green Button open  standard here). In addition to leveraging Green Button, app developers are encouraged to combine data from a variety of sources to present a complete picture of the customer’s energy usage.

The competition is all about creating tools and products that help consumers get the most out of their Green Button data – from apps that track personal energy savings goals to software that helps businesses optimize building energy usage. In addition, the 27 million households that will have access to Green Button data by the end of the year represent an untapped market that can serve as a catalyst for an active, energy focused developer community.

The competition will be open to all U.S.-based developers and designers who are at least 13 years old. Companies or organizations that are incorporated in the U.S. can also participate. Submissions can be any kind of software application, including apps for the web, personal computers, mobile devices, or any software broadly available to the public.

Apps for Energy will release the official rules and open for submissions on April 5th, but there are several actions you can take right now. First, sign up for competition news and updates using the form on the right. Second, start getting your team together. Finally, even if you aren't a software developer we want you to help make Apps for Energy a success. Tell us what type of energy app you'd like to use and maybe someone in this contest will build it.

You can share your ideas in a couple different ways:

·      Tweet at us at twitter.com/energy (@ENERGY) and he hashtag #appsforenergy
·      Leave a comment on Facebook.com/energygov
·      Submit an email to apps@hq.doe.gov
Check in with energy.gov for more Apps for ENERGY updates in the next coming weeks. 

Green Button Giving Millions of Americans Better Handle on Energy Costs

Green Button Giving Millions of Americans Better Handle on Energy Costs

March 22, 2012 

Image courtesy of the National Institute of Standards and Technology.

John P. Holdren and Nancy Sutley

What does this project do?

• Green Button provides millions of utility customers with easy access to a downloadable copy of their electricity usage data.

This article is cross posted from the White House.

More information about Apps for Energy, the Energy Department's software development competition, is here. On that page, you can submit app ideas and sign up for competition news and announcements.

This afternoon President Obama is visiting Ohio State University to highlight some of the nation’s most advanced energy-related research and development projects. Technological innovation is a key element in the Administration’s “all-of-the-above” strategy to reduce energy costs for consumers while protecting health and the environment—a strategy that focuses on developing cleaner and more efficient energy sources and also on novel ways to help consumers conserve energy and save money right now. That’s why we are pleased to co-host a White House event today at which utility company CEOs from across the country are committing to participate in the “Green Button” initiative.

Green Button is an industry-led effort that responds to a White House call-to-action to provide consumers with easy-to-understand data about their household energy use. At today’s event, nine major utilities and electricity suppliers will sign on to the initiative, committing to provide more than 15 million households secure access to their energy data with a simple click of an online Green Button. That builds on similar commitments made by utilities in January to provide Green Button capability to nearly 12 million households this year. With that information in hand, consumers can take advantage of a growing array of online services that can help them manage energy use and save on their bills.

In fact, companies are already developing Web and smartphone applications and services for businesses and homeowners that can use Green Button data. These tools can help consumers choose the most economical rate plan for their energy use patterns; deliver customized energy-efficiency tips; provide easy-to-use tools to size and finance rooftop solar panels; and conduct virtual energy audits that can cut costs for building owners and speed the initiation of retrofits.  A number of companies today added their names to the growing list of innovators developing Green-Button-compatible apps and services.

Federal agencies are doing their part as well. The Department of Energy today announced today an Apps for Energy contest to spur the invention of tools and services that will help consumers gain information, take action, and save on their utility bills. The contest complements $8 million in grant funding  that is helping consumers use new smart-grid technologies to better manage their energy consumption. The Department of Energy today also launched today an online map that shows the progress utilities are making towards providing their customers access to their own energy data in consumer-friendly and computer-friendly formats.

The Environmental Protection Agency has also joined the Green Button team.  The agency has committed to working with entrepreneurs and utilities to take advantage of Green Button data to help commercial building owners benchmark the energy use of their buildings and deliver ENERGY STAR performance scores using the EPA's measurement and tracking tool, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.

We are excited about Green Button, which in its simplicity and innovative power is helping Americans track their energy use and save them money—all while helping the Nation achieve the important goals of saving energy and reducing pollution.

For more information about Green Button and a complete list of utilities, electricity providers, apps developers, and other companies supporting the Green Button initiative,view the press release.

John Holdren is Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy

Nancy Sutley is Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality