News: efficiency Archives

East Tennessee schools recognized for sustainability efforts

By Shelley Phillips on March 13, 2012 1:02 PM

Education around East Tennessee is getting a little greener on both the inside -- through student programs -- and on the outside -- including upgrades to campus buildings and equipment.

Maryville College received a STARS Bronze Rating in recognition of its sustainability achievements in January of this year.

In February, several area high schools and elementary schools were recognized by the East Tennessee chapter of the US Green Building Council at the High Performance + Healthy Schools Symposium.

The recipients included the Knox County Schools in the Outstanding School District category; Oak Ridge High School and White Pine Elementary School for Outstanding School; E.L. Ross Elementary School for Outstanding School Group; and Johnson City Power Board for Community Outreach.

Continue reading East Tennessee schools recognized for sustainability efforts.

New facility will test smart grid technology

By Shelley Phillips on February 29, 2012 7:51 AM

EnerNex, Knoxville-based electric power research company, will test, evaluate and demonstrate smart grid technology at its new Smart Grid Labs facility. It will also be used for education and training.

The company will be able to model the connection and disconnection of equipment and demonstrate how it will affect its local grid.

"EnerNex's commitment to innovation, grid modernization, and interoperability is woven throughout the Lab's design. We plan to continue to invest in the Lab's testing infrastructure to meet the evolving Smart Grid architecture and technologies," said Brad Singletary, Deputy Director.

The independent facility simulates a utility substation, control center, residential or light commercial service entrance, residential utility room (washer, dryer, water heater), kitchen, and a living space. These will be used to help vendors, utilities and regulatory elements to evaluate and understand technology readiness for Smart Grid in ongoing and emerging technology efforts.

EnerNex is the administrator for the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel. In August 2009, the company was awarded an $8.5 million contract by the National Institute of Standards and Technology to sustain the accelerated development of the standards that will be required to build a secure, interoperable smart electric power grid.

TVA, Clayton Homes launch energy efficiency program for manufactured housing

By Shelley Phillips on January 20, 2012 10:38 AM

Clayton Homes has announced that all manufactured homes it builds locally will qualify for the Energy Star label thanks to an energy efficiency cash incentive of $1,450 per home from TVA.

TVA pays the incentive directly to producers of new manufactured homes to offset most added costs of building Energy Star homes.

Energy Star homes can lower electric bills by $70 a month on average, TVA said.

Since 2002, only about 150 Energy Star manufactured homes have been located in Tennessee. Under the new program, Clayton Homes projects an additional 2,200 Energy Star homes in the TVA region this year.

The Systems Building Research Alliance, the research arm for the factory-built housing industry and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's national quality assurance oversight agent for the manufactured and modular home Energy Star programs, helped TVA and Clayton identify ways to grow the program and will help manage it.

Only electrically-heated homes with a heat pump are eligible for TVA incentives. The manufacturer must also meet stringent thermal envelope requirements and install other energy efficiency features. Features can include efficient heating and cooling systems, lighting and appliances, and high-performance windows, insulation systems and construction systems to reduce leaks and drafts.

Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant earns LEED Platinum

By Shelley Phillips on December 13, 2011 8:41 AM

Judith Webb, chief marketing officer of US Green Building Council, presents platinum certificates to Volkswagen executives.

Volkswagen's Chattanooga manufacturing plant has received a platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design green building certification program.

The facility is the first automotive manufacturing plant in the world to receive Platinum certification, the program's highest level.

"Volkswagen Chattanooga's LEED Platinum certification is the fulfillment of a promise that Volkswagen has made around the world and in this community that we will work in harmony with the environment," said Frank Fischer, CEO and chairman of Volkswagen Chattanooga.

Continue reading Volkswagen's Chattanooga plant earns LEED Platinum.

Funds still available for Knoxville's Green Building Incentive Program

By Shelley Phillips on December 1, 2011 12:49 PM

The city of Knoxville still has money available to help qualified homeowners and businesses make energy saving improvements to their homes and buildings.

The city's Green Building Incentive Program, launched in September and administered by the Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee, helps pay for everything from simple improvements like weather stripping to more significant changes like installing solar technology with rebates on a portion of the total costs of improvement.

$200,000 remains available of the program's original $270,000 funds. The money is part of an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant the city received as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"There is still plenty of funding available and we want to see more people involved and benefiting," said Jake Tisinger, the city's sustainability coordinator. "I think this is a great opportunity to make some money-saving improvements, but the program is temporary and if people are interested they need to apply now."

The city plans to distribute all the money by June 2012.

Continue reading Funds still available for Knoxville's Green Building Incentive Program.

Tennessee improving in energy efficiency

By Shelley Phillips on October 21, 2011 9:18 AM

Tennessee is becoming an energy efficiency leader in the Southeast said Michael Sciortino of the American Council for an Energy Efficient economy in a recent story by Nicole Young in the Tennessean.

Tennessee has been named one of the six most improved states for energy efficiency, according to the fifth annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard released Thursday by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy.

Tennessee is ranked 30 in the U.S., up five spots from last year's ranking. Tennessee scored 18.5 points out of 50 on the scorecard.

Points are given for

-- utility and public benefits programs and policies;

-- transportation policies; building energy codes;

-- combined heat and power;

-- state government initiatives; and

-- appliance efficiency standards.

State accepting third round of energy efficiency grant apps

By Shelley Phillips on October 18, 2011 1:46 PM

The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development today announced it will accept applications for a third round of Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants starting this week.

The department has previously awarded $12.1 million in grants to 135 communities throughout the state to implement energy efficient projects.

The grants will be used to fund a variety of energy efficiency and conservation programs in the local communities, including retrofits to lighting and HVAC systems, as well as the installation of renewable energy systems.

Applications will be scored on the local government's overall conservation strategy, project feasibility, readiness to proceed, community impact, partnerships and the ability to extend funding impact beyond a one-time use.

Applications will be accepted and scored on a first-come, first-served basis until the funds are depleted. Previous recipients of the EECBG grants are not eligible.

For more information and to apply for a grant visit the department's Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants website.

The EECBG program is projected to cumulatively produce more than 92 million kWh of energy savings annually, resulting in an estimated cost-savings of $8 million per year for Tennessee communities. The EECBG program is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Team Living Light displays finished project at open house

By Shelley Phillips on August 26, 2011 1:41 PM

UT's Solar Decathlon participants, Team Living Light, will host an open house Monday for the community to view its completed energy-efficient house for the U.S. Department of Energy's 2011 contest.

The open house will be held from 5-7 p.m. at 5372 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville. Students will provide tours of the home and answer questions about the project. For directions visit the Living Light website.

The home will be taken to Washington, DC for display and contest participation in September.

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive.

UT students turn home into living experiment in sustainability

By Shelley Phillips on August 26, 2011 9:04 AM

University of Tennessee students and faculty from multiple departments and disciplines have worked since 2008 to design and build a model home to showcase cutting edge sustainable building practices.

Now, thanks to their work -- along with multiple grants from local, state and federal partners -- and partnership with Clayton Homes, the test home is complete. The project was estimated to cost $300,000 to $400,000, said Matt Lyle, a former research assistant on the project, although future homes would cost less than the prototype.

The home's first occupants, Mary Leverance, a UT graduate student, and her husband, Ken McCown, chair of the landscape architecture department, moved into the 750-square-foot house in July, reports Megan Boehnke in the Knoxville News Sentinel. A team of students will monitor their energy and water use to evaluate the effectiveness of green technology used in the home. Tours of the home will be available next month.

Features include:
floors made of sustainable materials,
efficient appliances,
solar panels to heat water
a rain water collection system

The team is also seeking LEED Platinum status on the home.

Once the project is complete, the home will be sold and funds from the sale will go to fund other similar projects.

For more information about the project as well as a blog from the residents, visit A New Norris House.

Forum discusses future of renewable energy in Tennessee

By Shelley Phillips on July 21, 2011 8:51 AM

The Tennessee 25x'25 State Alliance, in association with the University of Tennessee's Center for Renewable Carbon, will host the Tennessee 25x'25 Renewable Energy Forum Thursday, July 21, from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., in Rooms 156-157 of the Plant Biotechnology Building at 2505 E. J. Chapman Drive, on the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture campus in Knoxville.

Forum participants will examine the economic impacts associated with the use of energy crops, agricultural and forestry residues, and other clean, renewable energy technologies in the state.

Featured speakers at the event:

--Commissioner of Agriculture Julius Johnson, who will provide an overview of Tennessee agriculture's role in renewable energy
--Dr. Stuart Thomas, VP of Technology and Licensing with DuPont Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol, who will give an update of the firm's commercialization progress.
--Dr. Steven Bares, of the Memphis Bioworks Foundation will discuss development of markets for biobased products.
--Dr. David Millhorn, University of Tennessee, will discuss the school's alternative energy research initiatives.