Alliance to Save Energy--e-FFICIENCY NEWS: The Energy Efficiency Newsletter of 20 Thousand Readers

In the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, many have delivered remarks and written articles on the present condition of energy efficiency, supply, and security and the various seismic changes energy policy may undertake in the near future.

Prominent Economist Robert J. Samuelson writes "America's cars and light trucks -- pickups, minivans and sport-utility vehicles -- consume a tenth of annual global oil production, about 8 million barrels a day out of 77 million. Tempering oil demand requires lowering the thirst of U.S. cars. The current CAFE standards are 27.5 miles per gallon for cars and 20.7 mpg for light trucks. With existing technologies, fuel economy could be raised by 17 percent to 36 percent for cars and by 27 percent to 47 percent for light trucks without harming safety and performance, according to the National Research Council."

On October 4, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) issued a news release regarding energy security, in which she said, "Perhaps our best opportunity to reduce our reliance on foreign oil is to improve efficiency."

Senator John Kerry (D-MA), in an article for the newspaper, Roll Call, wrote: "A sound national energy policy must recognize that America has a limited supply of oil, accept the realities of the global oil market and embrace the fact that improving energy efficiency and renewable energy will immediately provide our nation with greater independence from foreign oil. . . . We should recognize that a national commitment to accelerating the development and deployment of energy efficiency and renewable-energy technologies will advance national energy security in a volatile and unpredictable world."

The Administration of George H.W. Bush gave an indirect nod to efficiency in its 1991 National Energy Strategy, which said "[O]ur vulnerability to price shocks is not determined by how much oil we import" The number one factor making us vulnerable is "how oil dependent our economy is."

Alliance to Save Energy President David Nemtzow said in a speech before the Consumer Federation of America "….We should acknowledge the enormous uncertainty that we face in trying to understand what September 11 means for energy and consumers. There are five questions that we should keep in mind in the coming months to understand this issue. The questions pertain to The macroeconomy, Mideast oil Supplies, U.S. energy infrastructure, national energy policy, and the implications for regular Americans "

After our call for responses from last month's terrorist attacks, many readers wrote their thoughts to us. We have collected a sample and posted them on our website. Here is an example:

"It should be obvious now that we need to cut our reliance on oil imports from the Middle East. . . . [W]e should reduce our reliance on the region to reduce our strategic vulnerability, and quarantine, to the extent possible, the fanatics who place no value on human lives. We have the technology and the investment capital necessary to cut our vulnerability to the extremists substantially over time. The question is do we have the will?

"Energy efficiency is now job one.

Ron Lehr
Englewood, CO

It is never inappropriate to express grief for the fallen, and the Alliance stands with the rest of the country in our pride for the rescue workers and our sadness for the families of the dead. Please read the condolence message that was the preface for our last issue, and if you have a personal story you'd like to share, please send it to the editor.

Read the Alliance condolence message from the September 17 e-FFICIENCY NEWS:
http://www.ase.org/e-FFICIENCY/archives/2001_09.htm#1a

Read Robert J. Samuelson's article:
www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40471-2001Oct10.html

Read a further excerpt from David Nemtzow's Speech
www.ase.org/e-FFICIENCY/documents/dncfaspeech.htm

Read more letters:
www.ase.org/e-FFICIENCY/911letters

Send a letter to the editor:
webmaster@ase.org

In Memory of Lost Colleagues

Carlton Bartels, CEO and founder of the Cantor Fitzgerald Environmental Brokerage Firm, worked on the 105th floor of One World Trade Center. Carlton helped create CO2e.com (formed by Cantor Fitzgerald with PricewaterhouseCoopers) as an on-line entity dedicated to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions by creating a marketplace for web-based emissions trading. Through CO2e.com and his earlier work at the non-profit energy consulting group, the Tellus Institute, Carlton was a very highly respected member of the energy and climate change community. The Alliance to Save Energy had the pleasure of working with Carlton and feels the loss of a colleague, a friend, and key ally in making the marketplace more friendly to sustainable energy and sustainable energy more friendly to the marketplace.

Carlton previously worked at the non-profit energy consulting group, the Tellus Institute. David McAnulty of Tellus spoke at Carlton's funeral for Carlton's friends and colleagues at Tellus:

"Tellus Institute lost a loved and respected colleague in the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. Carlton Bartels was a senior member of the Tellus Energy Group for approximately five years from the late 1980's through the early 1990's. His research contributions were characterized by intelligence and creativity. His presence at the Institute was a source of personal pleasure to his colleagues; all who knew and worked with him enjoyed his wit, good humor, insight and boundless energy. Tellus has sent its heartfelt condolences to his wife Jane and two daughters, and has made a contribution to the September11 Fund to honor Carlton's memory."

Adam White's "vision of merging the market with technological support helped define our company's presence in an emerging global market…a truly extraordinary person with immense drive, and an inspiration to us all."

John Willett was "responsible for keeping us all operational; patient, good humoured, effective, and the hub of The Global Hub for Carbon Commerce….He enjoyed every day of his life and helped make the minor irritations of daily living seem insignificant."

Fortunately, Beth Arner also of CO2e.com - who many in the efficiency community know from her work under Energy Secretary Hazel O'Leary and Assistant Secretary Dan Reicher - had recently transferred from the World Trade Center to their Alexandria, Virginia office, where she was on September 11.

Expedition of Energy Bill Sought, Controversy Eschewed

Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) has asked Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Chair of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, to cease plans for mark-up of an energy bill in the committee. He asked instead that Sen. Bingaman prepare an energy policy bill that could be brought directly to the Senate floor under Rule 14, which gives the Majority Leader discretion to bypass the committee process. This move appears to have been made primarily to keep provisions allowing for drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge out of a bill going to the floor from the Energy Committee.

Read the AP Story, "Push for Energy Legislation Stalled"
dailynews.yahoo.com/h/ap/20011010/us/energy_legislation_1.html

For more information, please see the Committee's press release from yesterday: energy.senate.gov/press/dem/press_template.cfm?id=179119

Alliance Lauds Increased Funding for Energy-Efficiency Research, Development, Deployment

The Conference Committee meeting between the House and Senate on the fiscal year (FY) 2002 Interior Appropriations bill resulted in $913 million for energy-efficiency programs at the Department of Energy. That is an overall 11 percent increase for energy-efficiency programs over FY 2001. The lion's share of the increase went to low-income weatherization assistance ($230 million, +50 percent) and state energy programs ($45 million, +18 percent) , but selected programs also saw increases. DOE Energy Star program funding will rise from $2.2 million to $3 million for FY '02, while industrial best practices will be increased 7 percent over last year. In addition, the $10 million shortfall in the Senate bill for the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) was restored to House levels. While that results in a $2 million overall cut for FEMP, it is a much smaller bite than was originally feared.

The Alliance regards the final Committee numbers as a victory in what has been a long year of debate and controversy over energy-efficiency funding. The Bush Administration's original FY 2002 budget request -- while increasing weatherization significantly -- would have cut core research and development programs by more than $200 million, roughly 30 percent. The massive effort to get the word out about the effectiveness and contribution of these programs was ultimately productive with both the Administration and Congress -- which agreed to restore the cuts. In a year of significant energy crises and a dearth of real solutions to them, this could be regarded as far too small an increase than was warranted by our national needs. But the increased number of low-income Americans that will get help with their energy situation, the increased ability of Energy Star to get its message out, and the prevention of significant harm to DOE energy-efficiency programs puts this year's effort in the victory column.

See the House Committee press release at www.house.gov/appropriations/news/2002/02inconf.htm

Higher Transportation Fuel Economy Would Boost National Security

Average fuel economy is at its lowest point in 21 years, according to a new report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is especially disturbing, as the EPA also reports that oil price shocks from 1979 to 1991 cost the U.S. economy about $4 trillion. This figure is almost as much as Americans spent on national defense over the same time period and more than the interest payments on the national debt.

The Energy Information Administration estimates that the transportation sector is the second largest consumer of energy in our nation and in the year 2000, transportation accounted for 67.2 percent of total U.S. oil consumption and 26.1 percent of total U.S. energy consumption. Last year, the U.S. imported nearly 2.5 million barrels of oil per day from the Persian Gulf. As a dominating force in our economy, our dependence on foreign oil is a national security issue.

Full EPA report:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

Energy and National Security:
http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/oildep.shtml

Read the Alliance-prepared page (with several helpful links):
http://www.ase.org/e-FFICIENCY/documents/transportationsecurity.htm

Distributed Power Generation: Decentralized Power, Increased Security

One way to decentralize our energy supplies-and thus render them less susceptible to terrorist attack-is through distributed power generation. The idea behind distributed power generation is that instead of an entire city being run by a single 500 megawatt generator, a neighborhood could be run by a 50 kilowatt generator. Distributed generation is as complex as it is promising and the Department of Energy (DOE) has a site dedicated to the issue.

Visit the DOE site:
http://www.eren.doe.gov/distributedpower/

Five Ways to Regain Control

Energy is the life force of America -- getting us to work and school in our cars and buses, running our lights and appliances, cooking our dinners and chilling our leftovers, and heating and cooling our homes and offices. Energy efficiency helps protect our energy supply and in turn protects America. The first thing each American can do to advance energy efficiency is consider the many ways they use energy and how they can reduce this demand - here are five steps to get you started.

Read the five steps to get you started
www.ase.org/e-FFICIENCY/documents/5ways.htm

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ALLIANCE NEWS

Energy Security, Energy Policy Hot Topics at Alliance Summit on Energy Efficiency
- Energy Secretary Keynotes Conference -

* Register Today *

Energy security, the national energy policy debate, current trends in energy markets, the impact of the energy situation in California, and new challenges in energy supply will be the topics at the Alliance to Save Energy's Summit on Energy Efficiency October 25 in Washington, DC.

Energy Secretary Spencer Abraham
will be the keynote luncheon speaker. Other speakers include:

- Senator Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Alliance chair and chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources;
- James Woolsey, former CIA Director;
- Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Alliance vice-chair;
- S. David Freeman, chair of California Consumer Power and Conservation Financing Authority;
- Adam Sieminski, global energy strategist, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown;
- Dean T. Langford, president, OSRAM SYLVANIA, Inc., Co-Chair, Alliance to Save Energy;
- Dr. Philip Verleger, president, PKVerleger LLC.
- Michael P. Kane, senior vice president, Johns Manville Insulation Group
- Mark M. MacCracken, CEO, Calmac Manufacturing Corporation
- David Parks, president, Goodman Manufacturing, Goodman Global Holdings, Inc.
- Steve McCarty, director, customer energy management, Pacific Gas & Electric
- Mark Cooper, director of research, Consumer Federation of America
- Dr. Amory Lovins, chief executive officer, Rocky Mountain Institute

A night before, on October 24, the Alliance will honor New York Governor Geroge Pataki, Dean Langford, and others at the Annual Stars of Energy Efficiency Dinner. Read more:
www.ase.org/profess/associates/dinner/

To see the summit agenda and registration:
http://www.ase.org/profess/summit/summitinfo.pdf

To read the news release on the summit:
http://www.ase.org/media/newsrel/summitrelease.htm

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EYE OPENERS

US Gets Less Mileage out of Its Energy Dollars

In 1998, the U.S. consumed over 8 million barrels of gasoline per day, or 43% of world gasoline consumption, despite only representing 5% of world population. Last year, the U.S. used more than 7 times the amount of gasoline that Australia, New Zealand and Japan combined consumed and overall used twice as much energy per unit of GDP as Japan. (Source: EIA) According to the EPA in the meantime, average new light vehicle fuel economy continues to decline. Since peaking at 22.1 mpg in 1987 and 1988, average light vehicle fuel economy has declined nearly eight percent to 20.4 mpg, and for 2001 is lower than it has been at any time since 1980. Fuel consumption by this class of vehicle, which includes passenger vehicles, minivans, SUVs, and light pickups accounts for 40% of total U.S. oil consumption. (Source: EPA)

Sources
http://www.eia.doe.gov/emeu/iea/table35.html

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/cert/mpg/fetrends/s01001.pdf

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EFFICIENCY EVENTS

Energy Services Association Seeks Awards Nominations

The Association of Energy Services Professionals International (AESP) announced that its awards program nominations will be accepted through November 11, 2001. Awards will be announced at the 12th National Energy Services Conference and Exposition, scheduled December 3-5, 2001 at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

Speaking on December 3 will be Alliance Board Member Dean T. Langford and Alliance President David Nemtzow. Nemtzow will also be speaking on October 23 on a panel addressing the future of energy efficiency programs at AESP's National Capital Regional Chapter annual workshop.

Nomination Forms can be obtained from the AESP web site at
www.aesp.org./

For further information, contact Elliot Boardman at (561) 432-8000 or eboardman@aesp.org

Facility Energy Cost Management Conference January 31-February 1, 2002, New Orleans

The Conference will help attendees reduce usage; manage costs and risks; and develop a successful long-term program
Register by November 2nd and Save $300 (Use Reference code PB200167561BD).
To register or download brochure, visit
http://www.cbinet.com/

Peak Load Management Alliance Fall Conference, Washington, DC November 7-8

Peak Load Management Alliance (PLMA) will hold their fall conferences, "Demand Response Programs: Results, Status and Future" in Washington DC November 7-8 at the Doubletree Hotel. This conference will focus on demand response programs currently used across the country, results and current status of the programs from the summer of 2001 and their future.

For more information, contact Elliot Boardman at eboardman@aesp.org.

To register online, visit:
http://www.aesp.org/forms/form.cfm?id=14

Burlington, VT Residential Efficiency Class: 'Managing Your Indoor Climate,' October 27, November 3

This class covers a wide range of issues related to staying warm and comfortable inside when it's cold and miserable outside. Topics include heating fuels and systems, insulation, air tightness, ventilation, indoor air quality, windows and doors, along with programs and organizations that may be helpful. It's appropriate for both new and existing homes. No prior technical knowledge is needed, and there will be ample time for questions.

For more information or to sign up, please call Mary at Vermont Gas Systems: 802-863-4511, extension 321.

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EFFICIENCY PEOPLE

Energy Job Openings

Alliance to Save Energy:
Senior PR/Media Relations Associate

Excellent and proficient writer of news releases, statements, feature articles, op-eds, white papers, newsletters, reports, funding proposals. Strong media pitching/publicist/strategist skills with demonstrated results -- send samples that include news releases and resulting placements. Work on hot energy issue with major media for energy-efficiency Alliance of prominent business, government, consumer, environmental leaders. Demonstrated interest and work in policy.