PartnerUpdate

Early December marked a milestone in

the energy-efficient efforts of the

University of New Hampshire (UNH),

as a leader in building energy

performance joined forces with Rebuild

America. This alliance is unique because

of the level of information sharing that is

bound to occur, benefiting colleges and

universities, as well as other

partnerships, across the country.

Making smart energy decisions for 25

years, UNH, located in Durham, ranks in

the top 5 percent of energy-efficient

research universities in the country,

based on data analyzed by the U.S.

Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge

National Laboratory. Even with this

ranking, reported in Higher Education

INSIDE

REBUILD AMERICA•BUILDING AMERICA

U.S. Department of Energy • Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy www.rebuild.org • DOE/EE-0259

January – February 2002

Continued on page 11 

Continued on page 7

3 View from DC 

4 Garman Speaks on US Energy Policy

5 Solutions – Window Upgrades 

Provide Energy Benefits

6 Technology – Reflective Roofs Save

Energy and Money

8 Active Physics Makes Science Fun

10 Building America Solves Problems

with Energy-efficient Solutions

Portland Pushes Ahead with

New Fuel Technologies

The City of Portland and

the Portland Partners for

Energy Efficiency (P2E2) are

paving the way for American

cities to aggressively explore

cleaner and less expensive

sources of fuel for city

projects. With several active

projects throughout the city, a

case could be made that

Portland is fast becoming the

most energy-efficient city in

America.

7 p.m. – Lights Out

One major project underway

is the installation of a light sweep control in the famous, downtown Portland Building.

The city is installing new controls in the government office building that will

automatically shut off the lights every evening after employees have left for the day.

Controls will be put in floors 2 through 15. The technology already was tested on one

floor and showed a 29 percent reduction in lighting energy use. 

The project will cost $70,000 to complete, but Portland General Electric is working

with the City of Portland to offer a $26,000 rebate to help with costs. The city is

funding the remaining $44,000, with the investment projected to pay for itself in only

1.2 years. The project was completed in December, and energy savings are expected

to be about 500,000-kWh per year.

The Portland Building, designed by Michael Graves in 1980, resides on a 200-

square-foot city block and has been hailed as an icon of the post-modern movement

among American architects. It was seen as both innovative and controversial when it

was completed 21 years ago, and over time the building has become a defining

feature of Portland.

Taking Rebuild America to the Streets

Energy-efficient efforts are moving outside Portland’s buildings to the city streets.

Portland energy management officials are busy making traffic lights throughout the city

energy efficient by replacing traditional incandescent lights with highly efficient light

emitting diode (LED) lamps. Portland officials had tested this technology before, but

until recently LED lamps were cost prohibitive given the low electric rates in the

Northwest. Now, LED prices have dropped, just as electricity prices have risen, and

utilities are offering worthwhile incentives to convert to the more efficient technology. 

The project is moving quickly, thanks in part to the city’s option to lease LED lamps

rather than purchase them. The approach allows a leasing subsidiary of Washington

UNH Bolsters

Energy

Leadership

The historic Portland Building will be modernized with an

efficiency sweep that will shut down lights throughout the

building at the same time every evening. 

Photo Credit: Andrew Hall
2 U.S. Department of Energy

November’s EnergySmart Schools Roundtable, hosted by

the National Association of Counties, provided the setting for

industry and organizational representatives to discuss

educational tools, information pathways, and how to integrate

efforts to improve EnergySmart Schools.

Energy efficiency leaders, architects, teachers and

policymakers sat down on November 15 to find common

ground in their quest to provide comfortable learning

environments for students and faculty, while boosting the

energy efficiency of educational buildings across the country.

“We want to give people a campaign that’s customizable,”

one attendee said, explaining that energy information tailored

to its recipients is far more beneficial than general material.

Rebuild America EnergySmart Schools is dedicated to

improving energy efficiency in K-12 schools. Through handson learning exercises in the classroom and energy retrofits on

facilities, schools save money, lower pollution and educate a

new generation on the benefits of efficient energy use.

The roundtable served as a forum for representatives from

various groups involved in schools and energy education or

energy-saving improvements to convene and share ideas.

Representatives from the National School Board Association,

Project Learning Tree, Association of School Business

Officials, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as

well as EnergySmart Schools, among other groups, attended

the roundtable. Norma Dulin of the Growth Factor and

EnergySmart Schools Coordinator Blanche Sheinkopf

presided over the meeting.

A primary focus of the discussion was how various parties

could share knowledge and disseminate information more

effectively. Organizations like the Alliance to Save Energy,

which runs the Green Schools program, and Project Learning

Tree, host of theme-based workshops in all 50 states, offered

to share information on their projects and educational tools.

Some members suggested that a Web site with customized

information from all these groups through a single portal –

like EnergySmart Schools – would be helpful. 

Roundtable participants also discussed some of their less

successful efforts at information sharing and provided

suggestions for improvement. Several architects pointed to

efforts in Pennsylvania, Georgia and Virginia to standardize

school building design that were hampered by poor

information sharing. Representatives from EPA emphasized

the need to integrate indoor air quality requirements for

schools into discussions on energy efficiency to “bring a

more holistic view of the school” into decision-making.

For more information on EnergySmart Schools and the

roundtable, contact Blanche Sheinkopf at 321-779-376 or

bsheinkopf@energysmartschools.net.

Collaborating on energy-efficient issues in education at the November

EnergySmart Schools Roundtable.

Jeff Brown has worked with

Rebuild America for over five

years, beginning with grant

writing in 1995 and most recently

enlisting as sales and customer

service manager in 1998.

Vital Statistics

Lives in Spring Hope, NC, with wife, Kristen, an auditor

with the North Carolina Department of Revenue. Has four

children – three daughters and one son. Kelly is a senior at

the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Lindsey is a

junior at Southern Nash High School; Ryan is in fifth grade;

and Matthew attends preschool.

Snap Shot How long have you been working with

Rebuild America?

I’ve been active in Rebuild America at the state and

national level since 1995. In 1995, I wrote the first Rebuild

America Special Projects Grant for North Carolina while I

was the buildings and community program manager for the

North Carolina Department of Commerce, Energy Division. 

From 1995 to 1997 I managed the implementation of North

Carolina’s Rebuild America activities, incorporating $800,000

worth of oil overcharge funding to support the development

and expansion of 17 Rebuild America Community

Partnerships. 

In 1997, I joined Aspen Systems Corporation as a national

Rebuild America program representative. And in 1998, I

began managing Rebuild America’s national sales and

customer service activities. 

Jeff Brown

School Energy Officials Share at

EnergySmart Schools Roundtable

Continued on page 10
With a new year upon us, it’s time to take a look back

at our achievements, identify areas for improvement and

look to the challenges and the promise of 2002. Here are

a few of the Rebuild America highlights of 2001:

In cities – Two major cities formed Rebuild America

partnerships in the latter part of the year. The City of

Houston and the City of Denver are on board with

progressive plans for using energy-saving measures as a

catalyst for community improvement.

In schools – Rebuild America continues to make

headway in efforts to improve the learning and teaching

environment through energy-efficient improvements.

Fairfax County Public Schools District, VA, the largest

school district in Virginia and the 11th largest in the

nation, joined in July and is incorporating energy-efficient

features in its schools. California’s West Contra Costa

Unified School District partnership began retrofitting

two middle school classrooms to demonstrate energyefficient technology, with help from over 10 Business

Partners, including Lennox and Phillips, 

In small towns – Ford City, PA, a town that suffered

economically with the closing of a glass manufacturing

plant in the early 1990s, is on the rebound with help

from Rebuild America. The Ford City partnership is

incorporating energy-efficient technologies in its efforts to

redevelop the site of the abandoned plant and create

incubator office space to attract new businesses to the

waterfront site. (See the September/October 2001 issue

of Partner Update for more details.)

In public housing – Stark Metropolitan Housing

Authority, a partner of Rebuild Ohio, serves as an

example of how partnerships can improve housing for

seniors. Stark’s redevelopment of low-income, senior

housing in Canton, OH, included an extensive retrofit

and installation of a geothermal heating and cooling

system. (See the November/December 2001 issue of

Partner Update for more details.)

On campuses – The University of New Hampshire

(UNH), a partner of Rebuild New Hampshire, was

formally recognized in December. Its energy-efficient

practices are an integral part of campus life, involving

administrators, maintenance personnel, faculty and

students. (See page 1 of this issue for more on UNH.)

In energy education – GetSmart About Energy, an

interactive CD-ROM for teachers and students, was

introduced. The program contains energy activities

aligned with National Science Foundation standards.

View From DC

By Daniel Sze

As Rebuild America

surpasses the 400th

partnership mark, the

state of Michigan

holds a celebration of

its own – launching

the first Rebuild

America partnership in

the state and

becoming the last state

in the union to join

the U.S. Department

of Energy (DOE)

program.

Rebuild Michigan will encourage the development of

community energy projects throughout the state. The state

partnership will look for one or two communities with strong

civic ties among businesses and neighborhoods, as well as some

experience in energy efficiency. But ultimately decisions on

retrofits and financing will be made at the local level.

“The type of building retrofits will depend largely on what the

community feels they need,” says Kelly Launder, Rebuild

Michigan program coordinator. 

Michigan officially ended its streak as the only state in the

U.S. without a Rebuild America program by signing up at the

state level. Launder says that the state applied for DOE support

in Rebuild America’s first year but was not chosen. The state

tried again in 2001 and received that assistance.

“The DOE Chicago Regional Support Office was instrumental

in encouraging our 2001 application. ... It was always in our

minds to reapply, but other priorities and program needs

intervened,” says Launder.

According to a bulletin announcing its launch, “The primary

focus of Rebuild Michigan is to reduce energy use in

commercial, institutional and multifamily buildings. However,

each community will determine its own needs and may decide

to include other components, such as developing renewable

energy and the use of alternative transportation fuels.”

Rebuild Michigan has yet to decide on an organizational

structure for the partnership, Launder says. But they plan to

launch a pilot-scale program “to see what works best for

Michigan communities,” she explains. 

“In the meantime, we will talk with people who have more

Rebuild America experience than we do to explore options and

to build a model for success here,” Launder says.

For more information on Rebuild Michigan, contact Program

Coordinator Kelly Launder at klaund@michigan.gov.

U.S. Department of Energy 3

Continued on page 7

Rebuild

Michigan

With New Rebuild

Michigan Now All

States are Partnerships
4 U.S. Department of Energy

Focusing on energy efficiency,

Assistant Secretary for Energy

Efficiency and Renewable Energy

David Garman detailed the

president’s plan for ensuring the

nation’s energy security. Garman

delivered his mid-November address

to a gathering of professionals,

students, government workers and

other interested parties.

Garman spoke at the National

Building Museum, explaining that it

serves as an example for the future.

He said the structure blends classic architecture with 21st

century energy efficiency and building performance.

“It makes sense to meld our best technology with the

past,” he added.

His speech discussed the U.S. Department of Energy’s

(DOE) vision for the future. He said emerging technology

will enable the U.S. to substantially trim its energy use, while

avoiding current pollution loads. 

Garman highlighted President George Bush’s National

Energy Policy which contains a series of recommendations

for securing our nation’s energy supply. The president and

DOE envision homeowners selling electricity back to the

grid, generating power with wind turbines or solar shingles,

vehicles running on fuel cells, and melding information

technology with architectural and building technology. This

will ensure building operations run in a “transparent,

seamless manner,” critical to the nation’s energy security.

More than half of the plan’s 105 recommendations focus

on energy efficiency and the use of renewable fuels, he

continued. Energy-efficient renovation and construction

efforts supported by Rebuild America and Building America

will help secure our energy supply, protect the environment

and begin the cultural shift, Garman said.

Noting that industrial and commercial buildings consume

the greatest amount of energy in the US, and that buildings

are directly and indirectly responsible for one-third of carbon

dioxide emissions, Garman emphasized that citizens, business

and government can preserve the nation’s energy security

and reduce pollution by improving building performance.

He continued that energy education is vital, because

builders usually only examine first costs – or the cost of

construction – yet rarely the costs after the building is sold.

“They’re not paying the bills,” Garman said, as he explained

that programs, like Rebuild America and Building America ,

are working to change that mindset.

Garman Highlights President’s Energy Plan,

Focuses on Energy Efficiency

Assistant Secretary for

Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy 

David Garman

The Uptown Shelby Association – the lead partner for

Rebuild Shelby in North Carolina – held a ribbon cutting

ceremony to celebrate its new energy-efficient offices. The

offices are part of a multi-business development approach

that has revitalized the surrounding neighborhood of Shelby.

While the building has actually been in use for about a

year, the Uptown Shelby Association hosted an October

ceremony to celebrate its opening. These offices were the

second of three businesses to move into the renovated

abandoned warehouse. 

At the ceremony, Uptown Shelby Association Board of

Directors Chairman Mike Alexander said, “In every town,

there are those who dream and talk, but more rare are those

who dream, talk and do.”

Rebuild Shelby, led by Ted Alexander, executive director

of the Uptown Shelby Association, has turned its dreams into

reality. Renovation of a seven-year vacant warehouse allowed

for lighting changeouts, heating, ventilation and cooling

system upgrades, insulation and weatherstripping. The project

changed the internal design of the layout so that “dead

space,” such as closets and bathrooms were on the exposed

side of the building, providing a cushion of insulation. The

building also has a cool roof painted white and a vestibule,

which acts as an air lock. 

New Offices for Rebuild Shelby’s Lead Partner

The Uptown Shelby Association – lead partner of Rebuild Shelby –

holds a ribbon cutting ceremony for their new highly energy-efficient

offices that were part of the Uptown Shelby revitalization effort.

Continued on page 6
U.S. Department of Energy 5

TRACO, a leading

manufacturer of energyefficient aluminum and

vinyl windows and doors,

joined Rebuild America in

April 2001. TRACO

provides expertise to all

Rebuild America sectors

with a strong base in the

K-12 market. Experts from

TRACO visit project sites

and discuss individual

school needs with school

boards, principals, teachers

and facility managers. 

Recently, TRACO undertook the challenge of restoring and

replacing windows in the Empire State Building and the Statue

of Liberty. Its officials faced the task of searching for energyefficient solutions while respecting the historic integrity of the

landmark buildings. Last May, TRACO also served as an

official sponsor for the Rebuild America’s Energy Treasure

Hunt Program in Northern California’s West Contra Costa

Unified School District. 

Partner Update spoke with Tony Bartorillo, architectural

services manager and main Business Partner contact, about

trends in retrofitting, working with historic buildings, and why

partnerships should consider window upgrades when striving

for energy efficiency.

Question: What are the most important

trends in the retrofit market?

As material and construction costs increase for new

construction projects, it becomes more affordable and cost

effective to renovate existing buildings. There is an abundance

of buildings available for renovation. For instance, many

schools were built for baby boomers. Later generations are

smaller and require less school space. These properties

provide an excellent source of assisted living facilities, senior

housing and even office space. Not only are these properties

available at a very competitive price, the renovations are

typically minimal and, therefore, cost effective. A renovation

project also shrinks construction time allowing for quick

occupancy.

Q: Is energy efficiency top-of-mind for today’s

customers?

Energy efficiency is a major factor in product selection.

Heightened awareness frequently comes from accessibility of

information through the Internet. For example, a few years

ago, Low-E glass was considered a little known, additional

cost that didn’t provide much value Today, Low-E glass is

standard glazing for many manufacturers. It also is required

to meet federal, state and local energy codes.

Q: You have done extensive work with the

Statue of Liberty and the Empire State

building. What were some of the challenges

in tackling these projects?

TRACO is very proud of our selection as window

manufacturer for the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State

Building. These projects posed many challenges. Did you

know that the Statue of Liberty is the most recognized

structure in the world? Well, it is, and that made our job

tricky. We had to maintain the statue’s aesthetics while

developing material for renovation. 

The first challenge was that the windows were

manufactured from solid bronze. Plus the windows were

varying sizes, shapes, angles and curvatures. A template had

to be made for each individual opening, with each solid

bronze window handcrafted to fit its opening. As an added

feature, the new windows pivot to the interior. This allows

the exterior of the windows to be cleaned from inside the

statue’s crown.

The Empire State Building also had special requirements.

TRACO had to design a window product that would

withstand the stringent design

pressures of a 102-story

building. After scraping

through many layers and years

of paint, we realized that the

original windows were

actually red. We had to stay

true to the original color. The

new windows also have a tilt

feature that allows for safe

and inexpensive cleaning from

inside the building. 

Q: How does working on historic buildings

differ from retrofitting more modern

structures?

When working on historic buildings, we have to

coordinate closely with the National Park Service, Historic

Preservation Society and many state, county and local

historical societies. Each project is unique and governed by a

different set of rules and guidelines. Producing a window

and pane system that maintains sightlines, profiles, muntin

configurations and overall aesthetics is difficult. 

Window Upgrades Provide Energy Benefits to

New and Existing Construction

ENERGY SOLUTIONS

Continued on page 11
6 U.S. Department of Energy

shows that white reflective roofs substantially cut summertime

air-conditioning energy use and costs. Specifically, the study

looked at the savings and power-demand associated with a

Sarnafil EnergySmart® reflective roof, retrofitted on a large

retail store in Austin, TX.

The new roof reduced the average summertime roof

temperature of the store from 168°F to 126°F. Peak airconditioning demand fell by 35-kilowatts – a 14 percent drop

that translates into monthly savings of $490. With an 11

percent decrease in total air conditioner energy use, this

100,000-square-foot building is expected to save about

$65,000 over the life of the roof.

California Incentives Draw Businesses to Use

Cool Roofs

The State of California is the first to offer cash rebates for

companies to replace dark roofing surfaces with highly

reflective surfaces, such as single-ply vinyl roof membranes.

The incentives, offered through the California Energy

Commission Cool Roof Retrofit Program, apply to low-slope

roofs on non-residential or multi-family buildings that are

mechanically cooled in the summer. The program offers

financial incentives to replace dark roofs reflecting less than

30 percent of sunlight with non-metallic cool roofs reflecting

at least 65 percent.

While the incentives save money up front, the most

significant savings come in reduced energy consumption over

years of use. According to the California Energy Commission,

cool roofs reduce peak electricity demand, the “heat island”

effect and air pollution, as well as improve building comfort.

For more information on cool roof technology, contact Bill

Miller with Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Buildings

Technology Center, at 865-574-2013, visit

http://www.ornl.gov/roofs+walls/facts/RadiationControl.htm, 

or contact Peter D’Antonio with Sarnafil Inc, at 800-576-2358.

We all have felt the effects of dark versus light clothing on

a sunny summer day. Because dark colors reflect less solar

energy, we know a navy blue shirt is hot and a pale yellow

top is cool. The same principles govern roof temperatures.

Reflective roofing systems are based on the simple principle

that light-colored roof materials make for a cool roof by

reflecting more of the sun’s rays. All of which translates to

energy conservation and costs savings. Recent successes in

cool roof technology, including studies by the U.S.

Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA) and retrofit-incentive programs in California,

point to interest in temperature-controlling roofing systems.

Studies by the Florida Solar Energy Center and the EPA

confirm that reflective roofs made of polyvinyl chloride

membranes, or other single-ply materials, can reduce airconditioning utility costs by as much as 50 percent. And

cooling demand during peak hours can be decreased by 10

percent to 15 percent, reducing demand on the electrical

grid. According to the EPA, $40 billion is spent annually in

the United States to air condition buildings, which is nearly

17 percent of all electricity generated in the U.S. each year.

Sarnafil’s EnergySmart® White Reflective Roof

Provides Bright Savings

A recent DOE and EPA study, conducted by the Heat

Island Group at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory,

Reflective Roofs Save Energy and Money: 

Recent Studies and New Financial Incentives

Bolster Use of Cool Roofs 

TECHNOLOGY

In spite of the energy improvements, much of the inside of

the building remains the same. Original ceilings were left

intact, as were the plaster, building materials and filigree. 

Uptown Shelby Association’s ribbon cutting is big news for

an organization vital to the town’s economic revitalization

and energy-efficient efforts. Leading by example, the

Association has brought attention to Rebuild Shelby and the

greater Rebuild America program. 

The warehouse project, an initiative of Rebuild Shelby,

received technical support from Rebuild America and the

U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory,

as well as a grant from the state.

For more information on Rebuild Shelby, contact Ted

Alexander at 704-484-3100.

Continued from page 4

New Offices for Rebuild Shelby’s Lead Partner

A cool roofing system, like this one on an Arizona high school, 

is a durable, attractive and energy-efficient technology.
U.S. Department of Energy 7

Continued from page 1

Portland Pushes Ahead with New Fuel Technologies

Mutual Bank to receive a 35 percent state business energy

tax credit. Through the lease agreement, the credit is shared

between the private and public sectors.

“Saving energy is nice, but it’s always nice when you can

save money on the capital cost of the project too,” says Curt

Nichols, Portland’s energy manager and a 1999 Rebuild

America Energy Champion. Nichols, who was given the

Association of Professional Energy Managers’ “Energy

Manager of the Year” award in 2000, is proud of the city’s

accomplishments. “Based on projects completed as of last

summer, our energy projects have saved the city – and our

taxpayers – more than $9 million,” Nichols adds.

It will cost $2.2 million to retrofit more than 14,000 traffic

signal lamps throughout the city, but the savings are

projected to be 5,262,000-kWh annually. That’s enough

electricity to power nearly 440 typical Portland homes. At

current electric rates, it will save the city $368,000 per year.

Utility rebates from Pacific Gas and Electric and Pacific

Power equal $797,000, and the business energy tax credit

will net the city $522,000. 

The traffic lighting project, which includes a retrofit of all

red and green traffic signal lights, flashing amber beacons

and light rail transit signals was completed in late 2001.

Timing is Everything

Future energy-efficient projects are already in the works.

The City of Portland recently received notice from the

Climate Trust that its proposal for traffic signal optimization

has been approved. The city, the Oregon Department of

Transportation and Washington County created this joint

proposal.

Traffic signal optimization is a low-cost, effective way to

save fuel and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This is

accomplished by evaluating the old equipment that controls

traffic signals to better facilitate traffic flow on major and

minor roadways.

The project will begin next year. Funding from the Climate

Trust will provide three quarters of the cost for 16-signal

optimization projects over five years.

This past year, Rebuild America’s Strategic and Business

Partners made progress in finding new approaches to getting

information about energy efficiency before key audiences

and engaging their participation. And Rebuild America

Regional Peer Forums were held across the country,

strengthening the bonds among partnerships, partners and

program team members as they shared ideas and information

to help meet the challenge of providing community-based,

energy-saving solutions. Over 400 partnerships and growing,

Rebuild America is positioned to make substantial progress

this year in reaching decision makers and stakeholders in the

effort to build an energy strong America.

Daniel Sze is National Program Manager of Rebuild

America.

Continued from page 3

View From DC

A Portland street

light with

incandescent

bulbs in retrofitted

with highefficiency light

emitting diodes.

Reduce, Renew

Reducing energy is a goal for Portland. However, the city

is working on renewable energy projects too. Portland is in

the process of adding four 30-kilowatt biogas-powered

microturbines at the city’s primary wastewater treatment plant

to operate beside award-winning fuel cells. Both

environmentally friendly technologies – the fuel cells and the

microturbines – will turn waste methane into electricity and

usable heat.

Portland also is planning to erect a wind turbine on

property near the Portland International Airport. This will be

the first modern “urban windmill” in the United States. It will

generate power for city facilities on that property, and any

surplus power will be directed back to the electric grid

through a net metering agreement with the local electric

utility, Pacific Power.

The city is currently obtaining bids for solar-powered

parking pay stations. Pay stations are placed in the middle of

a block and will replace individual parking meters. The new

pay stations will provide additional payment options for

anyone parking in Portland, as well as eliminate the

maintenance problems associated with old, mechanical-style

parking meters. The pay stations also will provide a highly

visible example of solar energy for Portland residents.

As a further commitment to reducing fossil fuel use, cutting

carbon dioxide gas emissions, and encouraging others to use

new, more efficient technologies, the city has ordered 30

Toyota Priuses to become part of the city’s fleet. While this is

likely the largest single purchase in the Pacific Northwest, it

is just the start of many hybrid electric vehicle purchases

Portland expects to make over the next few years. 

The P2E2 partnership was launched in 1996 and has

surpassed its partnership goals by over 64 percent. The 

partnership has retrofitted more than 64-million square feet 

of building space in the public and private sectors. 

For more information on Portland Partners for Energy

Efficiency contact Curt Nichols at curt@ci.portland.or.us.
8 U.S. Department of Energy

Members of the

Rebuild America

community are teaming

up with the National

Science Foundation to

shore up support for a

new high school science

curriculum called Active Physics. The program is geared

toward ninth grade students and teaches them how to

uncover the physics of every day life. 

Fifteen thousand students in Arkansas’ Little Rock School

District already benefit from the curriculum each year. The

school district, along with its partnership, Rebuild Little

Rock, is the first to successfully integrate Active Physics into

its curriculum. Energy efficiency and building performance

are now an integral part of the district’s science curriculum,

helping students understand the effects of science on their

daily activities and teaching them how science can improve

their environment. The program also encourages students

who fall behind, or aren’t inspired, in science and

mathematics to take a physics class.

Students in Arkansas have actually learned to like physics,

thanks to Active Physics. A Little Rock student was quoted

in The Christian Science Monitor last winter saying, “I always

thought physics sounded evil, but anything that makes you

think can’t be bad. And it’s a really fun class.”

Rebuild America Lights Up the Classroom

Working with textbook company It’s About Time, several

Rebuild America partnerships are helping to produce a

physics chapter titled Light up My Life. The chapter uses an

inquiry-based, or problem/solution, approach to physics

curricula. The chapter analyzes how school lighting works

and how it can be made more efficient. Students tackle a

variety of challenges that enable them to determine how

lighting is part of physics. For example, as part of the

course, students are instructed to “develop and present a

lamplighters plan for improvement of the existing

environment of your choosing.” As part of the plan, students

analyze existing lighting-environment functions, energy

consumption and costs, and then decipher and propose an

improved system based on the findings.

Active Physics Is

Practical Science 

City and local officials also

have hailed the program as a

means to get young people

enthused about science and

community issues. In addition

to learning about earth sciences

– like why sunsets glow orange

and what determines the force

of a tornado – according to

Barbara Pardue, executive

director of the Arkansas

Department of Economic Development, students learn

practical skills like how to build insulation, study its heat

consumption and determine where it’s losing energy

The program is building support among a variety of

sources. Representatives from Rebuild America, the National

Science Foundation, It’s About Time, Business Partners and

Little Rock School District met in Washington, DC in midNovember to discuss the future of Active Physics within the

Rebuild America program. Issues discussed included

strategies for implementing the Light Up My Life chapter,

incorporating the chapter into Rebuild America K-12

partnerships and recruiting new schools.

For more information on Active Physics, contact Kirk Bond

at kirk.bond@pnl.gov.

Active Physics Puts a Friendly Face on 

High School Science

February Energy Technology Seminar 

Southern California Edison, Rebuild America and its

Business Partners will present the first of several Energy

Technology Seminars on February 13 in Irwindale, CA,

located near Los Angeles. Attendees will learn how the

latest energy-saving technologies in buildings can result

in significant cost savings. The event’s centerpiece will be

“Virtual Building Solutions,” a seminar where experts in

the field will present real-life solutions for energy

challenges. 

For more information, contact Doug Avery at

davery@lbl.gov.

Call for Sponsors and Exhibitors!

State Energy Program-Rebuild America Conference 

Host an exhibit or help sponsor the 2002 State Energy

Program-Rebuild America Conference. This is a great

opportunity to raise your visibility or get a product or

service noticed. There are many levels of participation.

The conference, sponsored by the U.S. Department of

Energy, is scheduled for July 28 to August 1 at the Hotel

Inter-Continental in New Orleans, LA. 

For more information call 202-466-7868 or email

rebuildamerica@pcgpr.com.
U.S. Department of Energy 9

partnership success stories and challenges, and information

on new and emerging energy-efficient technologies. 

Boston Region Team Leader Greg Davoren together with

Deborah Lamm and Cyane Dandridge from Customer

Service organized a line-up of speakers, sessions and

networking events. The peer forum was kicked off by the

University of New Hampshire partnership launch event on

December 4, which drew local television news coverage. 

Maryann Manoogian, director of the New Hampshire

Governor’s Office of Energy and Community Services, lauded

the university’s achievement and emphasized that is was

possible to gain both economic and environmental benefits

through energy-efficient practices. With energy savings of $4

million annually, UNH has been reducing greenhouse

emissions by 14,000 tons, she said. Christine Reinfelds,

assistant director of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Boston

Regional Office, noted that UNH was “ready to be a leader”

in energy efficiency and credited the tireless efforts of

Rebuild New Hampshire Manager Kirk Stone, a catalyst

behind the UNH partnership, and Maryann Manoogian for

their strong leadership and support at the state level.

Customer Service Team Leader Jeff Brown and UNH Energy

Manager Jim Dombrosk joined Stone in offering public

comments about the university and Rebuild America. (See

page 1 of this issue for more on UNH.)

Program, state and customer service representatives met on

the first day of the forum to discuss the framework and

services provided through Rebuild America. The second day

focused on Rebuild America’s relationship with partnerships.

Representatives of the University New Hampshire and City

of New Haven, CT, partnerships presented the highlights of

their substantial energy-saving initiatives. Forum attendees

also gained insight into current energy security and

technology issues through information sessions given by

DesignLights Consortium/ Northeast Energy Efficiency

Partnerships, Inc., the Conservation Law Foundation 

and others. 

For more information on the Seattle Regional Peer Forum,

contact Richard Putnam at richard.putnam@ee.doe.gov.

For more information on the Boston Regional Peer Forum

contact Greg Davoren at greg.davoren@ee.doe.gov.

Recently, Rebuild America partnership, program and

customer service representatives gathered on the East and

West coasts for regional peer forums that highlighted team

building, partnership successes and challenges, and new and

emerging technology.

The three-day Seattle Regional Peer Forum took place in

November. Over 60 participants contributed to workshops

that focused on energy challenges and solutions for city

management, K-12 schools and commercial buildings. 

Cyane Dandridge, Rebuild America program

representative for Rebuild Presidio, and Sue Sieffert,

Rebuild Idaho lead, coordinated with Paul Johnson and

Richard Putnam of the Seattle Regional Office to create a

unique meeting, moderating panel discussions and

presentations from partnership leaders, Business Partners and

government officials. Speakers like Mayor Garret Nancolas

of Calwell, ID, and Seattle City Councilman Richard Conlin

proved that local government officials are hearing and

responding to Rebuild America’s efforts.

The high point of the meeting occurred on day two when

attendees gathered in teams to develop step-by-step

approaches to addressing hypothetical energy problems. To

do this, individuals analyzed issues in their respective

challenge and consulted different stations hosted by energy

industry experts. The groups then reconvened to talk about

their findings. Challenges were issued in six categories:

affordable housing, schools, city energy management,

commercial buildings, small business and university

campuses. These activities were followed by sessions based

on actual challenges Rebuild America partnerships are facing

in schools, public housing and local government.

In early December, the Boston Regional Peer Forum

brought Northeast Rebuild America program representatives

and partnerships together in Nashua, NH, in a similar

fashion. The two-day forum incorporated team building,

Seattle and Boston

Regional Peer Forums

a Success 

At the Boston Regional Peer Forum, customer service, state and partnership

representatives tackle community partnership challenges together. 

Rebuild America colleagues at the Seattle Regional Peer Forum included

(starting in the front, from left) Melissa Podeszwa, Sue Seifert, Cyane

Dandridge, Heather Mulligan, Paul Johnson, Glenn Sato, Richard Putnam
10 U.S. Department of Energy

A recent peer reviewed article from Building America

details how problem solving that focuses on improving

building energy efficiency leads to solutions that quickly and

inexpensively benefit consumers, manufacturers and society.

At issue were concerns that many homes in the Southeast

United States had moisture accumulating in their

infrastructure. This moisture damaged wood parts, enabled

the growth of mold and softened wallboard. Building

America, a sister program of Rebuild America, investigated

the problem from an energy performance standpoint and

made a series of recommendations that corrected the

moisture problem.

“Rather than install something else to try and fix the

problem or, worse, ignore it altogether, the team examined

the buildings’ energy performance, found flaws and fixed

them,” Building America’s George James says.

The focus of the investigation by the Building America

Industrialized Housing Partnership (BAIHP), and led by

the Florida Solar Energy Center, was 25 manufactured homes

debilitated by moisture. These Housing and Urban

Development-code (HUD) homes were built in a factory and

transported to their present location.

Researchers with BAIHP conducted several intensive field

tests that revealed pertinent information. The BAIHP team

found the moisture problem did not stand alone. It was

partially caused by the inadequate design of heating,

ventilating, and air conditioning systems, and other aspects

of the homes. In many homes the air conditioning thermostat

was set below the exterior dew point temperature, airconditioning systems were oversized, and unbalanced air

pressures existed across and within the building envelope. The

homes also were located in hot, humid states, had ventilation

systems that were either not in use or broken, and crawl

spaces that were inadequately drained or ventilated. 

To solve the moisture problem, BAIHP recommended

keeping the inside temperature above the exterior dew point,

tightly sealing ductwork and installing properly sized

equipment. Action was taken, and at least one HUD-code

home manufacturer and a BAIHP partner reported “no

moisture vapor related failures on new homes” last year. The

recommendations also save thousands in energy costs for

consumers and call-back costs for the manufacturer. Most

interestingly, it cost the factory at most $10 per home to

incorporate the BAIHP suggestions. 

Dr. Subrato Chandra with the Florida Solar Energy Center

shared this experience with Assistant Secretary of Energy

Efficiency and Renewable Energy David Garman during

Garman’s November address at the National Building

Museumin November. (Please see page 4 of this issue for full

coverage of Garman’s speech.) The BAIHP investigation is an

example of how improving the efficiency of buildings can save

money and energy by eliminating other visible and unforeseen

problems.

In 1999, the Florida Solar Energy Center was competitively

chosen to lead BAIHP in its goal to “serve the manufactured

housing industry by fostering technology-based innovations that

will increase energy efficiency through a systems engineering of

the whole house.” Cavalier Homes, Clayton Homes, Fleetwood

Homes, Palm Harbor Homes and Southern Energy Homes,

whose homes were the focus of the investigation, are BAIHP

team members.

For more information, contact George James at

george.james@ee.doe.gov.

Building America 

Solving Problems with

Energy Efficiency

How did you get into this line of work?

After receiving my undergraduate degree in Business

Administration and Economics from Campbell University, 

I worked for a large, international, forest-products

manufacturing company. In 1980, I moved on to regional

management of a national, retail food chain, and in 1985 I

joined the North Carolina Department of Commerce, 

Energy Division. 

Being a licensed building contractor at the time, I had

knowledge of, and interest in, how buildings performed, as

well as how they are built. I wanted to be in an environment

where I could acquire even more knowledge. And of all the

programs I worked with in the Energy Division, I saw

Rebuild America as the perfect platform for communities to

find solutions to their energy problems.

Continued from page 2

Snap Shot What is the most rewarding aspect of your

work? 

Working with an extremely dedicated team and successfully

interacting with people on the local level who are acting on

their desire to improve their community. There is an end

product that has clear economic and societal benefits.

What do you like to do in your spare time?

Coach soccer, work our land, be with my family.

What is your dream job?

Teaching high school political science or social studies and

coaching the United States Women’s National Soccer Team.

What is your dream vacation?

A month in a bungalow over a quiet lagoon in Tahiti with

no telephone, cell phone or laptop. 
U.S. Department of Energy 11

Energy Performance Indicators, a Rebuild America/

Association of Higher Education Facilities Officers report,

campus leaders realized the potential for learning from and

providing insight on successes to Rebuild America. 

“The University of New Hampshire is a terrific example of

an energy-efficient university campus. ... Rebuild America is

pleased to help UNH increase its efficiency even beyond

where it is now,” said Mike MacDonald of Oak Ridge

National Laboratory.

UNH has incorporated energy-smart measures into the

design and operation of campus buildings over the course of

four decades. Through a series of building retrofits and

educational programs, the university has saved $4 million

annually in energy costs compared to the national average.

Efforts included lighting changeouts, revamped building

control systems and new motors, and educating maintenance

and operations staff, students and faculty on energy

efficiency.

The driver behind this cut in energy consumption is

actually two-fold – upper-level campus officials who are

keenly aware of energy efficiency and its benefits, and an

aggressive program in operation for decades. Assistance from

the New Hampshire Energy Office and the U.S. Department

of Energy’s programs helped UNH stay focused on its

energy-efficient goals.

“The key factor here is ‘continuous’ – we never let up,”

UNH Campus Energy Manager Jim Dombrosk explains.

The campus seeks to incorporate Rebuild America’s knowhow into designing and constructing new buildings. UNH

wants to learn from Rebuild America about new and

emerging operations and maintenance procedures to ensure

the campus’ ranking as one of the most efficient research

institutions around. The university also hopes to soon be

able to monitor and track energy use and savings in order to

find flaws, identify solutions to

correct them and document best

practices. 

UNH decided that joining

Rebuild America would boost the

school’s ability to procure

information on energy efficiency

and disseminate what it has

learned. Rather than reinvent the

wheel, the campus chose to tap

into the vast information and

education bank that Rebuild

America offers its partnerships.

Information pathways are

already in the works. The New

Hampshire Governor’s Office of Energy and Community

Services is active in UNH activities, and Dombrosk hopes

that this partnership resembles a two-direction highway in

the exchange of information and anecdotes.

“Learning, improving, sharing: These are the things I hope

the Rebuild America partnership brings, helping UNH

maintain its high energy-efficiency ranking,” Dombrosk says.

For more information on UNH’s commitment to energy

efficiency, visit www.energy.unh.edu.

Continued from page 1

UNH Bolsters Energy Leadership

Historic muntins, for example, are typically three-quarters

to seven-eighths of an inch wide. It is nearly impossible to

maintain such a narrow muntin profile and incorporate

modern insulating glass, which is twice as heavy as the

original single glazing. Other factors, such as structural

performance and egress requirements, also need to be

addressed. Overall, historic projects require attention to detail

that needs to be developed on an individual, per-job basis. 

Q: How long does it take to benefit

monetarily from an investment in new

windows?

The payback period for fenestration products is a very

important factor. Window replacement can be perceived as

an expensive aspect of an overall renovation project, with a

lengthy payback period. Often this can defer window

replacement, with the money allocated for windows

sometimes spent elsewhere within the project for quicker

paybacks. 

Windows are a big-ticket item, which can account for a

liberal amount of any project’s budget. But the upfront

investment is worth it, because the payback is typically far

more substantial in terms of annual savings. Let’s say new

energy-efficient windows in a school reduce heating and

cooling costs by $30,000 annually, with a payback period of

12 years. This may appear to be a lengthy return on the

original investment. However, after 12 years, the school will

have $30,000 available each year for other projects. 

For more information on window retrofits, visit

www.traco.com, or contact Tony Bartorillo at 724-776-7080 or

tony.bartorillo@traco.com.

Continued from page 5

Window Upgrades Provide Energy Benefits to New and

Existing Construction

Morse Hall

Thompson Hall
Rebuild America is a

network of partnerships –

focused on communities –

that save money by saving

energy. These voluntary partnerships choose to

improve the quality of life in their communities

through energy efficiency. Rebuild America

supports them with customized assistance

backed by technical and business experts and

resources.

Published bimonthly by the U.S. Department

of Energy to report on Rebuild America

activities, Partner Update now incorporates

news from Building America and High

Performance Buildings, energy-efficient

initiatives of the Office of Building Technology,

State and Community Programs.

REBUILD AMERICA 

Office of Building Technology, 

State and Community Programs

U.S. Department of Energy

1000 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20585-0121

Address Correction Requested

Upcoming Events

High

Performance

BUILDINGS

February

7-8 Valuation Modeling for Project Finance

Marriott West Loop, Houston, TX Visit

www.infocastinc.com/advpf0202_agenda2.htm

10-13 National Association of Regulatory Utility

Commissioners Winter Committee Meetings

Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill,

Washington, DC Visit

www.naruc.org/Meetings/winter/2002/index.htm.

11-13 National Association of State Energy Officials

2002 Energy Outlook Conference

Westin Grand, Washington, DC

Visit www.naseo.org/events/outlook/default.htm.

13 Rebuild America and Southern California

Edison Energy Technology Seminar

Irwindale, CA

Contact Doug Avery at davery@lbl.gov

26 Rebuild America and Lawrence Berkeley

National Laboratory Lighting Best Practices

Roundtable

Berkeley, CA

Contact Doug Avery at davery@lbl.gov

March

8-11 TechAdvantage‚ 2002 Expo

Dallas Convention Center, Dallas, TX

Visit www.techadvantage.org.

19-21 Electric Power 2002 Conference & Exhibition

America Center, St. Louis, MO

Visit www.electricpowerexpo.com.

27-28 GLOBALCON 2002

Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA

Visit www.aeecenter.org/Shows.

To submit news or story ideas, contact: 

Maureen O’Brien, 202-466-7391, or email

mobrien@pcgpr.com

NEW!

Check Us Out: www.rebuild.org or 1-800-DOE-3732

New Partnerships

• Montgomery County, OH

• Elmira City School District, NY 

• City of Quincy Community Redevelopment Agency, FL 

• Central State University, OH 

• University of Cincinnati, OH 

• Rebuild Denver: A Sustainability Initiative, CO 

• Nampa School District, ID

• Boise State University, ID

• Heschong Mahone Group, CA

• Virginia Beach City Public Schools, VA

Marketing and Communications Rebuild

America Help Line 202-466-7868

Solar Sounds: The Green Local

High School in Franklin Furnace,

OH, celebrates the dedication of

the school’s new solar panels.