Archive for July, 2009

According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, Pennsylvania’s and Delaware’s State Energy Programs received a federal stimulus funding boost on Monday, some of which will spill out in the form of loans and grants to help businesses and other entities become more energy efficient.

The U.S. Department of Energy awarded Pennsylvania $39,873,600 and awarded Delaware $9,692,400 in Recovery Act funds, which can be used for energy audits, building retrofits, education and training efforts, transportation programs to increase the use of alternative fuels and hybrids, and new financing mechanisms to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy investments, the department said.

Pennsylvania will use the funds for Pennsylvania Green Energy Works, to offer grants to businesses, nonprofits, universities, local governments and utilities for shovel-ready energy projects. Funds will also be used to establish a Green Development Loan Program, a revolving loan fund to provide financing for clean energy technologies and energy-efficiency facilities projects. The state will receive an additional $50 million in funding, for a total of nearly $100 million, once it demonstrates successful implementation of its plans, the department said.

Delaware’s funds will be used to establish a Home Performance Program, to help defray the costs of home energy audits and installation of energy efficient equipment for families above the low-income eligibility threshold for the Weatherization Assistance Program. The state will also use funds to help fund energy efficiency upgrades in small business, commercial establishments and manufacturing facilities and to provide rebates for solar photovoltaic and solar hot water systems, small wind applications and geothermal systems for homes, businesses and institutional buildings.

Delaware will receive more than $12 million in additional funding, for a total of more than $24 million, after the state’s demonstrates successful implementation of its plan, the department said.

Aelux’s turnkey lighting solutions include managing rebate applications in all states where available. Any Aelux team member can assist you in identifying the rebates and financial incentives for which you qualify. 

GreenerBuildings Staff recently reported:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — With Energy Secretary Steven Chu by his side, U.S. President Barack Obama detailed stricter new lighting standards and promised the swift release of $346 million in Recovery Act funds to boost energy efficiency in new and existing commercial buildings and homes.

The president’s move, coming on the first business day after the House passed the climate bill, kept efforts to reduce U.S. energy consumption in the headlines.

“I know light bulbs may not seem sexy, but this simple action holds enormous promise because 7 percent of all the energy consumed in America is used to light our homes and businesses,” Obama said of the new rules that set higher thresholds for energy efficiency in lamps and lighting equipment.

The standards were issued on Friday. Products made in the U.S. or imported for use in the country are required to meet the new parameters starting in 2012. According to the Department of Energy, the changes in lamps and lighting equipment would:

• Prevent the emission of as much as 594 million tons of carbon dioxide from 2012 through 2042, which is estimated as being roughly equivalent to removing 166 million cars from the road for a year.

• Save consumers $1 billion to $4 billion annually from 2012 through 2042.

• Save enough electricity from 2012 through 2042 to power every home in the U.S. for as many as 10 months.

• Eliminate the need for up to 7.3 gigawatts of new generating capacity by 2042, which the DOE says is equivalent to as many as 14 500MW coal-fired power plants.

Source: http://www.greenerbuildings.com/news/2009/06/30/new-lighting-rules-346m-for-buildings