DOE, NREL Release Reports on Cutting Energy Use in Half in Commercial Buildings

September 24, 2010

The U.S. Department of Energy and its National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have released two technical reports that provide recommendations on how to achieve 50 percent energy savings in large office buildings and large hospitals. Conducted by NREL's Commercial Buildings Group, under the direction of DOE's Building Technologies Program, the studies support DOE's goal of significantly improving the energy efficiency of new and existing commercial buildings across the United States.

Technical Support Document: Strategies for 50% Energy Savings in Large Office Buildings evaluates the potential for new large office buildings to achieve a 50 percent net onsite energy savings compared to a baseline standard (as defined by ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004). The report found 50 percent energy savings can be achieved in both low-rise and high-rise office buildings in a broad range of U.S. climates. The analysis was conducted in 16 cities that represented different climate zones, such as hot and humid, hot and dry, marine, cold and humid, and cold and dry. The following energy-efficiency measures helped researchers reach the 50 percent energy-savings target:

• Lighting power density was reduced in office spaces and occupancy sensors were used in infrequently occupied spaces.
  
• High-efficiency boilers, chillers, air distribution units, and service water heating equipment were installed.
  
• Plug loads were reduced by purchasing high-efficiency electronic equipment and using special controls that shut off equipment when not in use.

Large Hospital 50% Energy Savings: Technical Support Document details the technical analysis performed and the resulting design guidance that will enable large hospitals to achieve whole-building energy savings of at least 50 percent over the above standard. The large hospitals report also documents the modeling methods used to demonstrate how the design recommendations will help institutions meet or exceed the 50 percent energy-savings goal. This report found 50 percent energy savings can be achieved in large hospitals across all eight U.S. climate zones. Energy savings range from 50.6 percent to 61.3 percent, with the smallest savings in humid climates and extremely cold climates. The highest energy savings were achieved in marine climates, with relatively high energy savings achieved in dry climates. In general, for each climate type (humid, marine and arid), savings were seen to decrease as the climate became progressively colder.

DOE commissions these types of technical reports, called technical support documents (TSDs), to describe the assumptions, methodologies, and analyses used to achieve certain levels of energy performance.

In addition to the recently released TSDs, DOE has commissioned documents in the following categories of commercial buildings:

50 percent Energy Savings

• General Merchandise
  
• Grocery Stores
  
• Highway Lodging
  
• Medium Box Retail
  
• Medium Office

30 percent Energy Savings

• Highway Lodging
  
• K–12 Schools
  
• Small Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities
  
• Small Office
  
• Small Retail
  
• Small Warehouse

The technical support documents are available on the NREL Web site.

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scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Solar on the White House and my letter to the Pres

B Scott Address Removed for Blog Posting  Saint Louis, MO 63109-3558

October 5, 2010

The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW Washington, DC 20500

Re: Solar power on the White House roof

Dear President Obama:

I am glad to hear that you have agreed to have solar panels installed on the roof of the White House to provide electricity and hot water from a clean, inexhaustible source. Quite apart from reducing the daily cost of running your residence, this action is significant in showing the country how practical and ready solar power is to be used today. I have previously said that by your failing to have Solar installed on the White House all the while promoting Green Energy Production was "failing to lead by example". I now rescind these comments and commend your action and will be posting such information on my Green and Eco Friendly web sites. Though I don't allways agree on your Stance and the Policies that you support. This action is one that we are both in agreement upon. I wish you the best in your up-coming battles, the direction of the Country is headed and the bi-partisonship that is needed to accomplish what is best for the Country. Thank you for taking this action, Build Green, Scotty PS: My votes this Nov will be for Fresh Faces in Washington. I will not continue supporting Leaders that have led us into the mess we are in, Regardless of which party they are on.

Sincerely,

B Scott

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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Scotty has shared a Huffington Post article with you

Scotty has shared a Huffington Post article with you:
The Force That Fights Deep-Pocketed Polluters and Wins

- sent by Scotty

Department of Interior responds to our comments

--- On Tue, 10/5/10, Union of Concerned Scientists <action@ucsusa.org> wrote: From: Union of Concerned Scientists <action@ucsusa.org> Subject: Department of Interior responds to our comments Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2010, 12:27 PM       Strengthening Science at the DOI After receiving more than 10,000 comments from UCS supporters—Interior Secretary Ken Salazar issued a strong scientific integrity policy.  Department of Interior Responds to Our Comments Dear Scotts Contracting, Last month, we asked UCS supporters like you to submit comments regarding the Department of the Interior's (DOI's) draft scientific integrity policy. The policy would have done little to prevent the kind of manipulation and distortion of science that has skewed decisions on everything from underwater oil drilling to endangered species. Last Wednesday—after receiving more than ten thousand comments from UCS supporters—Interior Secretary Ken Salazar issued a radically different scientific integrity policy that addresses most of the issues we raised. Read our reaction here. I heard personally from staff at the DOI that they relied heavily upon our input in shaping the new policy, and it's clear that this public pressure convinced them to do the right thing. Together, we made sure the DOI heard loud and clear that the public supports strong actions to protect government science. On the heels of this victory, we need to ensure strong scientific integrity standards like these are in place throughout the federal government. In September, UCS released the results of a survey of government scientists who work on food safety—hundreds reported political interference in their work over the past year. These results clearly illustrate the need for better protection for whistleblowers, the right for scientists to speak publicly about their work, and other critical reforms to defend science from political interference. In March 2009, President Obama asked the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to create a detailed plan to protect the integrity of science throughout the federal government. In September, the president's science advisor told us a plan would come by the end of 2010, and we intend to hold the White House to this promise. In the meantime, you can track the administration's progress here.  Sincerely, Michael Halpern National Field Organizer UCS Scientific Integrity Program   The Union of Concerned Scientists is the leading science-based nonprofit working for a healthy environment and a safer world. UCS is a 501(c)(3) organization. All gifts are tax deductible. You can be confident your donations to UCS are spent wisely. Union of Concerned Scientists 2 Brattle Square Cambridge, MA 02138-3780 phone: 800-666-8276 | Fax: 617-864-9405 ucsaction@ucsusa.org www.ucsusa.org About UCS | Take Action | Donate | Contact Us | Privacy Policy | © Union of Concerned Scientists. All rights reserved.   nonprofit software