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Home Retrofits Save Money, Climate
A new white paper from the Federation of American Scientists takes
a refreshing and compelling look at the impact that improving existing
housing stock could have.
The paper analyzes how a system of residential energy efficiency
improvements would enable cost effective improvements financed by
homeowners and utilities.
The paper advocates that in order to improve residential energy
efficiency and implement this policy, policymakers should:
- Account for environmental costs of inefficiency in existing homes.
- Decouple sales volume from utility profits to promote energy
efficiency.
- Implement a system of cooperative investment by homeowners and
utilities in household retrofits
F.A.S. White Paper
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Western News Lauds Exchange Value
The current issue of Western Area Power Administration's Energy Services
Bulletin details how the Utility Efficiency Exchange events are
providing industry professionals with a forum to discuss
energy-efficiency programs: what works for them, what doesn't and why;
and how the programs affect customer service, operation costs and the
environment.
"Utilities are coming to see that they can take a leadership role in
addressing our country's energy issues, and that it is actually good for
business, too," said Western Energy Services Manager Ron Horstman in
the article.
The article tracks the development of the events from the first
utility-oriented one in Aspen,. Colorado in 2007 to the expansion into
adjacent consumer-oriented events in Durango, Colorado and Cheyenne,
Wyoming with several quotes from participants.
The article concludes with Horstman saying that, "Even in tough
economic times, utilities should be stepping up their programs because
energy efficiency and conservation are the cheapest resource
available," said Horstman. "Utility exchanges are a great place
to start programs or take them to the next level."
Western newsletter
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Repair
Programs Up Customer Satisfaction
Plan now to learn about "Home Repair Programs: Increasing Customer
Satisfaction With No Added Costs" at a Utility Web Exchange
tentatively set for Wednesday, February 11 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
(Eastern time).
The web-based panel presentation will feature case studies of
investor-owned electric and gas utilities in various parts of the United
States that are discovering that residential customer service
enhancements such as home emergency repair programs can be key drivers
behind increases in customer satisfaction scores among program
participants.
Best of all, these are programs that can be added as revenue-enhancing
during times when budget constraints may be leading to service cutbacks
elsewhere. This Utility Web Exchange event will be hosted by Home
Service, the world's premier provider of managed home emergency repair
programs to utilities.
Home Repair Utility Web Exchange
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Greetings!
"Scaling up" appears to be the hottest topic as
utility industry folks grapple with how all the energy efficiency
programs will grow. The collapse of the new housing market, along
with gyrating energy costs, has put the focus squarely on existing
homes and what some are now calling "green home energy
upgrades."
Thank goodness few are seriously suggesting that we need to go back to
the free "clipboard" home energy audits. It's
refreshing that so many are talking about making sure the delivery of
air/duct sealing and other real improvements are closely tied to home
energy assessments with pre- and post- "smart meter" data to
track results.
The value of web-based events and regional in-person workshops has
never been stronger. That's why I'm making "event
management" my primary focus. I look forward to working with
you to create and deliver fresh approaches to leverage all of this unprecedented
interest in home energy efficiency and renewable energy.
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Ed Thomas forms Utility Exchange with EGIA
 Ed Thomas has founded Utility
Exchange as an affiliate of the Electric & Gas Industries
Association (EGIA), a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing
energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions. Prior to
joining EGIA, Ed was with Market Development Group. Through the
new Utility Exchange entity, Ed will plan and produce activities where
utilities, allied organizations, and contractors can learn and
network. Initial program offerings will include:
Utility Exchange - Regional workshops and national webcasts for
utilities focused on the marketing and integration of energy efficiency
and renewable energy programs
Contractor Exchange - regional workshops and national webcasts
for residential and commercial building contractors covering business
management, energy efficiency and renewable energy topics.
Home Energy Makeover - contests and workshops that demonstrate
the value of home improvements that pay for themselves through energy
savings and non-energy benefits.
Ed is perhaps best known in the energy utility industry as an engaging
presenter and innovative program designer. In 2009, Ed will
present on Home Performance Contractor Marketing Techniques at the
RESNET Conference in New Orleans and Affordable Comfort Conference in
Kansas City, and present a poster session on the Home Energy Makeover
Contest at the eceee Summer Study in Côte d'Azur, France.
New Utility Exchange web site
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Learn About Home Energy
Makeover Contests
Online on
Wednesday, January 14 at 2 p.m.
 The first in a new series of
"Utility Web Exchanges" will spotlight "Home Energy
Makeover Contests: Motivating Homeowners to Embrace Energy
Efficiency" online on Wednesday, January 14, 2009 from 2 p.m. to
3:30 p.m. (Eastern).
The web seminar will detail how this innovative contest approach
illustrates that there is a viable market to encourage homeowners to
make more comprehensive home energy improvement choices. This
web-based panel presentation will compare and contrast Home Energy
Makeover Contests conducted in Colorado, Maine, and California, as well
as a workshop variation conducted in Colorado and Wyoming.
Presenters will be Phil Hayes, Anaheim Public Utilities; Bruce
Matulich, Electric and Gas Industries Association; and Ed Thomas,
Utility Exchange.
The three presenters recently worked together to develop and implement
a successful Home Performance Makeover Contest to showcase Anaheim
Public Utilities' Home Investment Program that leverages the national
Home Performance with ENERGY STAR initiative. See the contest
website at www.egia.org/anaheim.
Also, EGIA has been a co-sponsor of Home Energy Makeover Workshops in
Colorado and Wyoming at www.homeenergymakeover.org.
This Utility Web Exchange is the first in what is expected
to be an on-going series of web-based events that leverage the success
of the in-person Utility Exchange regional workshops.
Makeover Contest Utility Web
Exchange details
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How Green are your Peak Load Programs?
Find Out on Thursday, January 8 at 2 p.m.
 "Demand Response and
Renewable Energy: What to Do When the Winds Stops Blowing"
is the compelling title for the next Peak Load Management Alliance Web
Workshop to be presented on Thursday, January 8, 2009; 2 p.m. to 3:30
p.m. (Eastern).
On February 26, 2008, wind turbine output in Texas was significantly
below the "hour ahead" wind resource plans. Suddenly, Demand
Response resources became critical to halting frequency decline and
restoring the ERCOT grid to stable operation.
Learn how Demand Response and Renewable Energy are natural partners in
providing clean, reliable energy to consumers. Discover how
Demand Response resources are being integrated into the control rooms
of transmission system operators.
The presenters will be:
· Robert Burke, Markets Development Principal
Analyst, Demand Response Department, Independent Systems Operator New
England (ISO-NE)
· Paul Wattles, Supervisor, Demand Response, Electric
Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT)
· Steve Isser, Vice President and General Counsel,
Good Company Associates
PLMA Web Workshop details
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