*News and Events
- Energy Star Program Aims to Cut Energy Use in Power Supplies
- EPA Launches Partnership for Energy-Efficient Freight
- Maryland Launches High-Tech Program to Boost Mass Transit
- Ski Areas Buy Green Power, Use Solar to “Keep Winter Cool”
Energy Star Program Aims to Cut Energy Use in Power Supplies
Here’s an energy fact that’s sure to appeal to the paranoid: little boxes plugged into outlets around your home and hidden in your electronic equipment are sapping about six percent of the nation’s electricity. No, this is not a result of some conspiracy, but rather a consequence of the many electronic devices that run on direct current (DC), the same kind of power produced by batteries. Since our power lines supply alternating current (AC), these devicesour cell phones, telephones, computers, and most other electronic devicesuse an AC/DC power supply (generally a transformer) to convert that AC power into the DC power the devices need. Unfortunately, some energy is lost in that power conversion, and for the nation as a whole, that adds up to about 207 billion kilowatts per year.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more efficient power supplies could reduce that energy use by about 15 to 20 percent. To help achieve that energy savings, on Monday the EPA released new proposed energy efficiency specifications and a test procedure for external power supplies, the type you might use to recharge a cell phone. The EPA intends to create strong market incentives for more energy-efficient power supplies through the DOE/EPA Energy Star program, and the new specifications are a first step toward that goal. The EPA and the California Energy Commission also launched a new international design competition for energy-efficient power supplies. The Power Sources Manufacturers Association has endorsed the competition, which will run through 2004. See the EPA press release, and for more information, including the proposed power supply specification, see the Energy Star Power Supplies Web page.
EPA Launches Partnership for Energy-Efficient Freight
If you’ve bought a product online recently, you may have paused along the way to think about the energy used to ship your product to you. Of course, nearly everything we buy involves shipping, and whether it comes by truck or by rail, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) intends to improve energy efficiency of that freight, cutting air emissions along the way. EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership, unveiled early this month, is a collaborative voluntary program between EPA and the freight industry that aims to improve the energy efficiency of freight through such actions as the better use of rail and the elimination of unnecessary idling of trucks and locomotives. The partnership was started more than a year ago by 15 charter partners, including both major users of shippingcompanies like Coca-Cola Enterprises, Nike, and Home Depotand by major shippers such as FedEx Express and UPS.
At the unveiling, EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt welcomed 37 new partners, each of which has committed to measure and improve the efficiency of their freight operations. EPA estimates that the partnership will save 150 million barrels of oil each year by 2012. See the EPA press release or go directly to the SmartWay Transport Partnership Web site.
UPS, which is one of the partners, set a goal last November of increasing its fuel efficiency by 3 percent by 2007. In 2002, UPS burned 0.1038 gallons of fuel per delivered package; the company aims to reduce that to 0.1008 gallons per package by 2007. See the UPS press release.
Maryland Launches High-Tech Program to Boost Mass Transit
Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. announced in early February that the Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) plans to use a new high-technology computer system that will make taking the bus more convenient for customers. By the end of 2006, the MTA plans to install digital signs at 200 of the region’s busiest bus stops that will carry real-time information about when the next bus will arrive at the stop. Called the NEXT system, it uses global positioning satellite systems and wireless technology to monitor the progress of each bus and accurately predict its arrival time. The system will also monitor the performance of bus systems, including the engine and heating and cooling systems. The NEXT system was developed by NextBus Information Systems, Inc. See the governor’s press release.
The Maryland Energy Administration (MEA) has been busy in recent months. The Maryland legislature adopted new energy efficiency standards for appliances in January, which the MEA has pledged to work quickly to adopt. The standards are meant to be in place by March 2007. Governor Ehrlich is also promoting the Energy Star program in Maryland. In January, the MEA offered $35,000 to help install a 12-kilowatt solar power system on an educational farm, and back in November, the state launched a Green Building Tax Credit to encourage the construction of energy- and resource-efficient buildings. The state has allocated $25 million for the tax credit through 2011. See the MEA press releases.
Ski Areas Buy Green Power, Use Solar
to “Keep Winter Cool”
For the second year in a row, ski areas throughout the United States are teaming up with the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) for the “Keep Winter Cool” campaign to fight global warming. To demonstrate their leadership, 10 ski resorts are purchasing large quantities of green power, which is electricity produced from renewable energy sources. In addition, California’s Mammoth Mountain continues to use solar energy to provide heat and power to its lift shacks, Utah’s The Canyons is using solar power for lighting, and the River Run Information Center at Colorado’s Keystone Resort is powered by a solar energy system and relies heavily on natural lighting during the day.
Last Saturday, participating resorts also hosted outreach campaigns aimed at skiers. For instance, Alpine Meadows in California had representatives of the Green Builders Association on hand, and also provided information to guests about hybrid electric vehicles. See the “Keep Winter Cool” Web site and press release (PDF 190 KB).
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