SEP, Rebuild America to Tackle

Key Issues at National Conference

Up to 500 people are expected to converge on New

Orleans for the 2002 State Energy Program/Rebuild

America National Conference, July 29-August 1, 2002.

The conference will be held at the Inter-Continental

Hotel, located on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line –

just steps from the French Quarter.

This marks the first time that these two U.S.

Department of Energy (DOE) programs – both housed

in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable

Energy – join forces to host a single conference.

Diverse sessions and excellent opportunities to

network and learn about community enhancement through smart choices about energy

will draw energy-efficiency decision makers from all corners of the country.

“The All States Conference and the Rebuild America National Forum are excellent

places to learn the latest about energy-saving technologies and initiatives,” says Rebuild

America Program Manager Dan Sze. “With a combined conference this year, we benefit

by sharing added perspectives and a broad base of practical experience.”

The conference planning committee has designed the event for two audiences that

share common ground – the Rebuild America family and SEP representatives. With the

increased attention energy issues have received the past 18 months, the committee

wanted to ensure a variety of topics for sessions and workshops designed to help

participants successfully implement energy-saving initiatives in their communities.

Agenda Notes

The conference will largely take place through 90-minute concurrent sessions organized

into five tracks that include: Technology Advancement; High Performance Buildings;

Interconnections: Energy, Environment, Economy; Program Development; and Market

Development and Transformation. Topics explore tapping geothermal resources,

connecting with Clean Cities, the latest on EnergySmart Schools, how to win with the

media and how to market community energy partnership projects, showcasing success

through metrics and energy’s impact on the economy.

On July 29, SEP will hold its Parade of States as part of the pre-conference activities.

Rebuild America, DOE and state and local dignitaries will officially launch the event on

Tuesday, July 30.

The conference agenda provides sessions geared toward energy-efficiency efforts of all

sizes from multi-faceted, state-wide initiatives to individual building projects. Presenters

come from diverse areas of both programs to share best practices and real-world lessons.

Pleasant Diversions

Join us for Celebrate New Orleans! on July 31. This main event, held off site, offers

opportunities to network and enjoy some of the finest cuisine at Generations Hall, an

PartnerUpdate

INSIDE

REBUILD AMERICA•BUILDING AMERICA

U.S. Department of Energy • Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy www.rebuild.gov • DOE/EE-0267

May – June 2002

Continued on page 9

Continued on page 9

2 Emerging Technologies Program

Plays Vital Role

4 ORNL Geothermal Report on

Colorado Schools

5 NAESCO Brings Partnership

Opportunities for Performance

Contracting

6 Three Federal Agencies Partner to

Revitalize Urban Housing

7 Rebuild Representative Earns Ph.D.

in Energy Management

8 Spotlighting the Gateway Center

for Resource Efficiency

Weatherization

Works!

The U.S. Department of Energy’s

Weatherization Assistance Program is a

key factor in President Bush’s National

Energy Policy. In fact, funding for this

program is planned to increase $1.4

billion over the next 10 years. It is

evidence that weatherization will be in

the forefront as the country adapts to

the new future of energy.

In a March presentation to the lecture

series sponsored by DOE’s Office of

Energy Efficiency and Renewable

Energy (EERE), Gail McKinley explained

how the program has fared since its

inception.

What is Weatherization?

DOE began the Weatherization

Assistance Program in 1976 to help lowincome families deal with unpredictable

utility bills. Weatherization reduces the

ongoing expenses of needy families by
2 U.S. Department of Energy

At the Rebuild America quarterly Strategic Partners meeting

in February, Emerging Technologies Program representative

Brad Holloman asked Strategic Partners for ideas and

recommendations about how this U.S. Department of Energy

(DOE) program could forge links with Rebuild America and

its partners. The discussions focused attention on the mutual

benefits to both programs.

Established through legislation in 1992,

the Emerging Technologies Program

identifies energy-efficient technologies and

helps speed their way into the commercial

market by fostering demand. It focuses on

short-term projects involving products that

are nearly or recently commercialized.

“Rebuild America communities want

competitively priced, energy-efficient

products,” Rebuild America Program

Manager Dan Sze says. “The Emerging

Technologies Program looks to bring these

products to market. It’s a natural fit.”

Emerging Technologies has helped expedite

the introduction and early market adoption of

numerous products, including sub-compact

fluorescent lamps (sub-CFLs), resource-efficient

clothes washers, energy-efficient apartment-sized refrigerators, and

a wastewater and heat-recovery system for commercial laundries.

Current projects include highly efficient commercial unitary

air conditioners, airtight recessed CFLs – both pin-based and

screw-in – rated for use in insulated ceilings (IC-rated), efficient

portable lamps and residential heat pump water heaters. 

These types of Emerging Technologies products can help

Rebuild America partnerships achieve community goals in

energy savings, building retrofits, building preservation and

economic revitalization. 

To date, Rebuild America partners, such as the New York

State Energy Research and Development Authority

(NYSERDA), have participated in the Emerging Technologies

Program. Program officials hope to increase participation.

How the Program Works

Emerging Technologies’ demonstration/evaluation projects help

new products penetrate the marketplace “by providing objective

measurements and credible third-party verification of real-world

performance that increase buyer confidence and build demand,”

according to DOE Program Manager James Brodrick.

For example, since 1995 Emerging Technologies has

conducted several evaluations and demonstrations of

resource-efficient front-loading clothes washers. One study,

conducted in the small town of Bern, KS involved replacing

standard washing machines in 100 homes – most of the town

– with energy-efficient front-loading washing machines.

Emerging Technologies Program Plays Vital Role

The changeover produced a 38 percent savings in water

and a 58 percent savings in energy. The results were widely

disseminated to build consumer confidence in energy-efficient

washing machines. Over 600,000 high-efficiency washers were

shipped in 2000 alone, raising their market penetration from 2

percent in 1995 to 8.5 percent and growing. Five U.S.

manufacturers now produce this washing

machine, as opposed to one five years ago.

Emerging Technologies also uses technology

procurements, a method developed from the

International Energy Agency’s Co-operative

Procurement of Innovative Technologies for

Demand-Side Management. Just as ENERGY STAR®

encourages the purchase of readily available

energy-efficient products, these procurements

encourage the purchase of new products.

The idea is to bring large-volume potential

buyers together with manufacturers. The

buyers influence the product specifications

and, by meeting them, the manufacturers

reduce the risks associated with new product

research and development. Potential suppliers

bid on the “job” and the winners enter into

ordering agreements, ensuring faster recovery

of development costs for the new products.

For example, the Emerging Technologies program worked

with the New York Power Authority, the Consortium for

Energy Efficiency, and the New York City Public Housing

Authority to develop technology procurement for efficient,

affordable apartment-sized refrigerators. The public housing

authority needed 20,000 refrigerators per year to replace its

aging, inefficient stock. 

The technology procurement process allowed a new

refrigerator 30 percent more efficient than required by DOE

energy standards to penetrate the market at a very

competitive price. Other housing agencies added purchases

onto that bulk contract, resulting in the sale of more than

100,000 units during DOE’s 2-year involvement with the

program. NYSERDA might “piggyback” on this order.

DOE is now conducting technology procurement for

efficient commercial unitary air conditioners – the roofmounted systems used to cool two-thirds of all commercial

floor space in the United States – with help from its Pacific

Northwest National Laboratory. Large-volume purchasers

participating in the project include McDonalds, Wal-Mart,

Lowes, 7-Eleven, and the Defense Logistics Agency. 

To find out more about technology procurement and other

opportunities to get involved with the Emerging Technologies

program, contact James Brodrick at james.brodrick@ee.doe.gov,

or visit the Emerging Technologies website at

www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/emergintech/.

Nearly every home in Bern, KS got an

energy-efficient washer as part of a unique

study by DOE and Maytag that showed

substantial savings in both water and

energy consumption.
Some Rebuild America partnerships are taking a

fresh look at how partnerships are structured in their

states, and taking steps to re-tool to function more

effectively at the community level. New York and

Texas are taking decisive steps to change the way

Rebuild America operates in their states. In New York,

the New York State Energy Research and

Development Authority (NYSERDA) has launched

New York Energy $mart Communities to redefine

its partnerships. Partnerships have been reorganized

into seven regional partnerships in Upstate New York,

with plans for two additional partnerships to serve

New York City and Long Island. Partnerships are

managed by regional coordinators who are partnering

with established community groups to share

information and provide access to funding and

technical resources.

The partnerships are focusing on Energy Target

Zones in each region and on bringing resources to

bear at the grassroots level to help raise awareness

through energy education and save energy in

buildings. The Energy $mart Communities approach

involves setting up pilot building projects and offering

financial and technical incentives through NYSERDA to

help get projects done. The partnerships serving the

seven regions have been renamed as well, to reflect

consistency and their new Energy $mart Community

status. Rebuild Capital/Saratoga has been folded into

Capital/Saratoga Energy $mart Communities and

encompasses seven counties. Rebuild Buffalo/Niagara

has become Western New York Energy $mart

Communities and now covers five counties. Energy

$mart Communities is seeking a high profile in the

communities in which it operates, using storefronts,

signage and posters to publicize its pilot projects and

link to Rebuild America. In the process, the state is

creating models to share with other partnerships in the

state and in the Rebuild America network. 

In Texas, legislation passed by the state in the form

of Texas Senate Bill 5 is changing the landscape of

energy-saving efforts – and Rebuild America in Texas.

SB 5 was enacted in 2001 to assist the state in

complying with the federal Clean Air Act. The bill

contains new energy-efficiency measures that are

designed to decrease energy consumption and

incorporates the new 2000 International Energy

Conservation Code. All political subdivisions in 38

urban and surrounding counties, except school

View From DC

By Daniel Sze

U.S. Department of Energy 3

EnergySmart Schools is

Making News

Continued on page 11

Rebuild America’s spring media push is off to a great start.

Much of the focus is on getting media attention for EnergySmart

Schools’ efforts towards school building retrofits, new school

construction and energy education. Designated spokespeople

for the media program are National K-12 Schools Sector

Coordinators Blanche Sheinkopf (energy education) and Larry

Schoff (technical analyst).

When kids get involved things change. A growing number of

schools are forming student energy patrols to evaluate how

their schools are using energy and make recommendations for

improving energy-efficient practices. The “Light Up My Life”

chapter of the Active Physics curriculum that DOE partially

funded, which is also being promoted to the media, focuses on

measuring energy use in a variety of venues.

Sheinkopf was featured in a news story on Washington D.C.’s

Channel Eight discussing Rebuild America’s partnership in

School Building Day and WTOP Radio did a story too. WGGO,

a large radio station in Des Moines, IA, featured EnergySmart

Schools’ energy saving tips for students on Earth Day. Florida

Today did a story on Sheinkopf’s work with Broward County

schools to improve energy efficiency and energy education.

And the Scripps Howard News Service did a feature article on

EnergySmart Schools and student energy patrols in the

Philadelphia region.

The media push is taking a market by market approach using

success stories in markets such as Contra Costa, CA, RaleighDurham, NC and Worthington, OH to get attention for the

program in regional newspapers. Event-driven media will

concentrate on EnergySmart Schools events and those of its

partners such as NEED’s Youth Awards Program in Washington,

DC this June.

Rebuild America’s workshops are also getting media

attention. Two geothermal workshops held in New Hampshire

this spring were featured in the Concord Monitor and Union

Leader. Rebuild America’s partnerships were also featured on

radio stations in Fairfield and Greenwich, CT and San

Francisco, CA. 

If you have a Rebuild America or EnergySmart Schools success

story please share them with the media team. Contact Michelle

Dietz at 202-466-7391 X1121, or email mdietz@pcgpr.com.

2002 Energy Champion Awards

Did you get your nominations in on time? Look for this years’

winners to be announced August 1 in New Orleans at a special

luncheon to top off the 2002 National Conference. Don’t miss it!
Matrix of ground

heat exchangers in

vertical bores

4 U.S. Department of Energy

A report published by the U.S. Department of Energy’s

(DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) concludes that

geothermal heat would often provide the greatest comfort at

the lowest cost for Colorado schools. ORNL conducted the

research for the Colorado Governor’s Office.

The findings could lend credibility to the use of geothermal

heat pumps in school designs over traditional energy, heating

and cooling options. DOE engineers caution that the report

looked only at Colorado’s climate and geological conditions.

Geothermal heat pumps may not be as cost-effective in other

regions of the country.

Linda Smith of Colorado Gov. Bill Owens’ Office of

Energy Management and Conservation requested the report

from ORNL. As the designated leader of Rebuild Colorado,

Smith is responsible for overseeing partnership activity in the

state. And because Colorado functions as an umbrella

partnership with partners across the state, the energy projects

are numerous.

Most of those projects involve schools. Jefferson County

Public Schools based in Golden undertook major retrofits as

the district expanded schools to meet the growing student

population. Four schools in the Poudre School District in

Fort Collins earned the ENERGY STAR® label for energy

efficiency in 2000, with a fifth earning the label in 2001.

But as education moves to the forefront – a focus of the

Bush administration – the state must improve learning

environments, meet air quality standards and accommodate

the influx of new students. That requires building new

schools in addition to renovating and expanding existing

ones. Choosing the right energy source will impact the state’s

energy purchases and education budget in the future.

The Report

Smith requested the report because “there has been an

expanding interest in the past two years among school

districts in this technology,” she says. But before encouraging

geothermal energy’s use, Smith contacted Rebuild America’s

Bill Mixon about doing a cost-effectiveness study “particular

to Colorado.”

ORNL examined four new schools in Lincoln, NE equipped

with geothermal heat pumps in order to approximate the lifecycle cost for geothermal heat pumps in elementary schools

– and compared these costs to alternate HVAC technologies.

By reviewing the data from existing schools in an area

geologically similar to Colorado, the report’s authors could

apply those findings to Colorado schools.

While it is known among building and energy engineers

that geothermal heat pumps have an excellent track record

for efficiently heating and cooling buildings, the guidelines

for their application have never been fully established. For

example, geological, building design and climate-related

factors impact how a geothermal heat pump system will

perform in a given location.

The ORNL report, written by John Shonder and Jeff

Thornton, shows that “when capital, operating and

maintenance costs are considered for this elementary school

application, geothermal heat pumps have the lowest life-cycle

cost, about 15 percent lower than the next most attractive

option.” The report focused on geothermal energy use in

three different parts of Colorado, representing the three

climate and geological regions in the state.

Shonder and Thornton’s analysis showed that for

ORNL Report Shows Low Life-Cycle Cost for

Geothermal Heat in Colorado Schools

TECHNOLOGY

Through a system of pipes, geothermal heat systems transfer heat to the ground in order to cool, and harness energy from the ground in order to heat.

An anti-freeze-water solution acts as a heat exchanger in the pipes, regulating this flow of energy depending on building temperature. The air or water

delivery systems in the building operate like conventional systems.

Continued on page 10

Wells to groundwater Surface water loops

Surface water loops

Ground heat

exchanger

horizontal loop

Standing

column well

Ground heat

exchangers in

vertical bores
U.S. Department of Energy 5

STRATEGIC PARTNER PROFILE

As a Strategic Partner since 1997, the National Association

of Energy Service Companies (NAESCO) has played a key

role in bringing performance contracting to Rebuild America

partnerships around the country. NAESCO educates

customers about the importance of energy efficiency and

performance contracting and works with policy makers to

shape legislation that benefits the various market sectors in

the energy industry as well as the public.

NAESCO’s partnership with Rebuild America is mutually

beneficial. Funding from Rebuild America allows NAESCO to

produce educational materials for states and public facility

owners and promotes awareness of the energy service

company industry. Since 1997, NAESCO has produced five

books that address Rebuild America’s partnership needs: 

• The Energy Efficiency Project Manual: The Customer’s

Handbook to Energy Efficiency Retrofits, Modernizing

Facilities & Maintaining Budgets 

• Energy Efficiency Retrofits in Local Government Facilities,

Reducing Operating Costs and Improving the Facility

Infrastructure 

• Energy Efficient Capital Upgrades in Colleges &

Universities, Reducing Operating Costs and Improving the

Student Learning Environment 

• Energy Efficient Capital Upgrades in K-12 Schools and

Reducing Operating Costs and Improving Patient Comfort 

• Energy Efficient Capital Upgrades in Hospitals and

Medical Centers.

“These case studies highlight the tangible benefits that can

be generated by an energy-efficiency retrofit,” said Terry

Singer, Executive Director of NAESCO. “The projects

demonstrate how schools, colleges, universities, hospitals,

and municipal facilities have successfully reduced their

energy consumption, generated dollar savings, upgraded their

physical infrastructure, and improved occupant comfort and

productivity.”

In addition, NAESCO collaborated with other Strategic

Partners to create state guides for Illinois and Texas on

energy-efficiency retrofits, performance contracting and

model legislation and standards for states that do not

currently have legislation that supports performance

contracting. The models include details for government

facilities entering into performance contracts and sample

regulations for implementing legislation. The models were

widely distributed nationally and used by the Maine

legislature in drafting their enabling legislation.

Certifying the Industry’s Best

One of NAESCO’s greatest strengths is its national

accreditation program. The group conducts rigorous

examinations of an ESCO’s core competencies and business

practices and renders NAESCO certification based on the review.

Accreditation certifies that a company has the experience

and expertise to implement energy-efficiency projects under a

performance contract and helps assure customers that they

are using a reputable and experienced energy service

provider. Public sector facility owners are, in many instances,

indicating preference in the evaluation process for NAESCOaccredited ESCOs, and some require that the selected

provider be accredited. 

The program will expand in 2002 to include energyefficiency contractors, single technology providers and

providers of other types of services as well, such as brokering

power or taking full outsourcing responsibility.

Documenting Rebuild America Successes

NAESCO has also worked with Lawrence Berkeley National

Laboratory to double the number of projects to 1,600 in the

industry database managed by the lab. The database tracks

energy-efficiency projects completed by NAESCO members.

Rebuild America strongly supported this effort. The collection

of project implementation data is an important metric for the

success of Rebuild America, FEMP and other DOE programs.

Documenting industry practice and achievements enables

Rebuild America and its many partners to determine which

types of projects are successful and their level of market

penetration, and increases the ability to replicate those

successes in other areas and market sectors. 

The projects in the database represent $2.6 billion in ESCO

project investment, an estimated 15 percent of market activity.

The database program manager is also working with six state

energy offices to capture additional available data.

Spreading the Word

NAESCO conducted two workshops with the New York

State Energy Research & Development Authority

(NYSERDA) on the benefits of energy-efficiency retrofits in

public buildings. The workshops were held upstate and

reached about 40 potential end users in schools, hospitals,

and local government facilities.

NAESCO joined the National Association of State Energy

Officials (NASEO) at their annual conference to host a

workshop. The session focused on the use of energy

efficiency retrofits as a tool for reducing emissions and

helping states meet federal Clean Air Act requirements.

Participants focused on techniques and technologies that

NAESCO Brings Partnerships Opportunities

for Performance Contracting

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

ENERGY SOLUTIONS

The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Rebuild America

program joins the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

(EPA) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

Development (HUD) to change the face of public housing in

Miami-Dade County, FL. The community houses the two

largest public housing structures in Florida, which have fallen

into disrepair and been overrun by crime in past decades. 

The Scott and Carver Housing complexes are housed on

one city block and suffer from 40 years of structural and

infrastructure defects. Scott has 754 units and is the largest

public housing complex in the state; Carver, with 96 units, is

second. Both high-rise buildings suffer badly from poor

infrastructure and are riddled by problems with drugs and

crime. Officials from the Miami-Dade Department of

Environmental Resources Management (DERM) targeted the

site which adjoins a brownfield, an abandoned and often

environmentally contaminated piece of commercial property,

as an area in need of revitalization.

Ernesto Perez, an EPA employee on loan to DERM,

assumed lead in the project and turned to officials in the

region’s HUD and DOE offices for help. Project Manager for

Community Initiatives in the Atlanta Region Steve Hortin, and

Atlanta Regional Rebuild America Program Manager Greg

Andrews, lead the way for DOE’s Rebuild America to ensure

that the new structures are efficient and environmentally

sound.

“The most satisfying part of this project for me was

bringing together 13 expert organizations and 10 local

government agencies, many of which do not traditionally

work together on a project of this type,” said Hortin. 

Enlisting the Help of HOPE VI

With plans underway for demolition and new construction,

the Sustainable Development Office and the Miami-Dade

Housing Agency (MDHA) applied for a HOPE VI grant from

HUD. The HOPE VI program forges partnerships with other

federal, community and non-profit agencies to leverage

support and resources to eradicate severely distressed public

housing. HUD awards roughly 20 grants per year, allocating

approximately $30 million for each project.

The Scott and Carver homes project won the grant in 1999

with committee and design plans taking shape ever since.

Multiple design charettes have produced a plan to tear down

the high-rises and replace them with town homes. The most

recent, held in December of 2001, brought together

individuals from 20 different organizations in government,

education and private industry to brainstorm about design. 

Southface Energy Institute, an Atlanta-based non profit

energy and environmental organization, facilitated the

Three Federal Agencies Partner to Revitalize

Urban Housing

charette, and divided participants into several “building

teams” to identify strategies for site planning, building

science, materials and pollution prevention. Mark Ternes from

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Greg Andrews and

staff from the Florida Solar Energy Center (FSEC) participated

on the building science team and advised on energy-related

design, implementation and education issues. The charette

was funded through a community pilot grant from the Atlanta

Regional Office in partnership with the Florida Energy Office.

Jim Nelson of Lithonia Lighting, a Rebuild America

Business Partner, served on the site planning team to provide

technical information for lighting issues.

Replacing Old Buildings, Recharging A

Community

The “building science” team produced a plan that reduces

energy use by 50 percent compared to traditional

construction. The design goal can be achieved at little or no

additional cost. Rebuild America and DOE would provide

ongoing technical assistance throughout the course of the

project. Florida Power and Light (FP&L) and FSEC will work

with HOPE VI design teams to identify the energy

technologies and features that will yield the 50 percent

savings. ORNL and FSEC will work with design teams on

energy specifications and inspection procedures. FP&L and

FSEC will perform the inspections and analysis necessary for

the new buildings to receive ENERGY STAR® certifications.

Other plans for the community involve a residential

education program to ensure energy goals are maintained.

Upon moving into the new buildings, tenants will participate

in workshops that teach efficient practices and utility-bill

management. In addition, one or two residents will be

trained to help other residents control high utility costs. 

In addition to energy-saving technologies, MDHA’s vision

The “building science” team from the Sustainable Design Charette worked

on energy-related design, implementation and education.

Continued on page 7
U.S. Department of Energy 7

ENERGY SOLUTIONS

Continued from page 6

Three Federal Agencies Partner to Revitalize Urban Housing

for the project includes the use of alternative energy sources,

water conserving landscape design, healthy indoor air quality

and a comprehensive recycling plan to serve the new Scott

and Carver single-family home developments.

The redevelopment of Scott and Carver homes is a major

part of the greater community revitalization in Miami-Dade

County. State and federal funds will assist in creating “traffic

calming” elements for the urban setting such as roundabouts,

pedestrian-friendly streets and route-diffusing traffic patterns.

Neighborhood streets of varying types and widths will

include on-street parking, landscaped medians and

aesthetically pleasing traffic signage.

The project is slated for completion in 2005. According

to Andrews, the project, even in its early stages, provides

an excellent example for communities in need of public

housing redevelopment. A copy of the Sustainable Design

Charette Final Report is available on the Rebuild America

Web site at:

www.rebuild.org/news/newsdetail.asp?NewsID=1140.

For more information, contact Greg Andrews at

greg.andrews@ee.doe.gov.

As energy management issues become

increasingly complex in buildings,

managers must be experts on the subject

to ensure buildings run at optimal

efficiency. Fortunately, the academic

world is responding with many

universities offering advanced degrees to

individuals working in the field.

Dr. Elizabeth Raman, an Energy

Conservation Program Specialist with Hawaii’s Department

of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, is the

first Rebuild America representative to earn a doctoral degree

in energy-management studies. In December of 2001, Raman

completed her dissertation, entitled “Evaluating Energy

Performance Contracting: The University of Hawaii at Hilo,”

and her five years of study and research to earn a Doctor of

Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree from California Coastal University

with her specialty in energy management.

Raman’s dissertation, as its title suggests, is an in-depth,

200-page assessment of performance contracting at the

University of Hawaii at Hilo (UH-Hilo) and Hawaii

Community College. Performance contracting has been a hot

topic in energy circles in past years, so when Raman needed

a specific focus for her research, this seemed a clear choice.

“Risk was a key aspect in performance contracting, because

so little was known about it,” Raman said. “Laws didn’t exist

for tax-exempt savings or third-party financing.”

An opinion survey conducted as part of her research

showed that prior to implementation of a project, managers

are concerned with many elements of risk, but after the

project is accepted, the concern becomes achieving savings

and the reliability of maintenance services. 

The element of risk associated with performance

Rebuild Representative Earns Ph.D. in 

Energy Management 

contracting has prohibited its widespread acceptance in state

government. Raman’s research shows that the financial risk of

using borrowed money to perform upgrades that cannot

guarantee a pay-back or continued savings is important in

most projects prior to the implementation of a performance

contract. However, Raman’s study of UH-Hilo shows

performance contracting to be successful and to add value to

the university infrastructure.

Projected energy and maintenance cost savings were

achieved at the University of Hawaii buildings, and financing

through an energy services company (ESCO) proved more

efficient than financing through budgeted or appropriated

funds. Government costs dropped while the local economy

benefited from extra work. Raman projects that as demand for

electricity increases, ESCOs will need to provide a wider range

of services to meet consumer needs for high performance,

sustainable buildings. Officials at the state level will need to

learn and analyze the details of performance contracting to

ensure efficient upgrades for aging local buildings.

Raman also holds a B.A. and an M.S. in Information

Systems from American University in Washington, DC, an

M.B.A. from the University of Hawaii and has published more

than 50 articles and reports on energy and project

development. She credits her varied experience in energy

conservation, economics and business as factors in her

professional success.

“The whole area of energy requires so many skills,” she

says. “You need to be educated in finance, economics,

statistics and marketing. You need to have broad knowledge

and narrow concentrations to make an impact. Now, if only

I had a degree in engineering!”

For information, contact Dr. Elizabeth Raman at

eraman@dbedt.hawaii.gov. 
8 U.S. Department of Energy

STRATEGIC PARTNER PROFILE

The Gateway Center for Resource Efficiency is a leader

for the city of St. Louis, MO and the U.S. Department of

Energy’s (DOE) Chicago Region in promoting the benefits

and practices of energy efficiency, waste reduction, recycling

and sustainability – particularly in area schools.

The center has been a division of the Missouri Botanical

Garden since November 2000, and was formerly known as

MERP – the MidAmerica Energy & Resource Partners. MERP

joined Rebuild America in 1996 as one of the first

partnerships in the country. It hosted the Chicago Regional

Peer Forum in St. Louis last fall.

Recently branching out into other market sectors, Gateway

Center historically has targeted K-12 schools. In June 2000,

the center was part of a pilot initiative called Missouri

EnergySmart Schools funded by Rebuild America and the

Missouri Department of Natural Resources’ Energy Center.

The Missouri EnergySmart Schools pilot grants qualified

districts partial funding for energy analysis and projects that

incorporate quantifiable energy improvements. In addition,

these districts receive – at no cost – Gateway Center’s

School Energy Efficiency Development (SEED) program

for students, as well as specialized energy efficiency training

for building operators and maintenance staff.

SEED is a year-long energy education program which takes

students from “awareness to action” to improve the energy

efficiency in their school buildings. This program is often

included in district-wide energy retrofit programs, paid for by

savings generated from efficiency improvements.

Its success is widely recognized. Over a span of 16 years,

SEED has worked with almost 300 teachers and 7,000

students in 69 schools as a specialized part of energy

programs, creating energy savings of nearly $9.5 million.

School officials call the program a highly effective tool for

improving science test scores and changing energy use

behavior that saves energy and money for school districts. 

SEED students from one St. Louis public school performed

a musical as part of their energy project at the

“Empowerment 2000: Green Schools and Energy Wise

Students” in Madison, WI. The presentation and musical

were a rousing success, as the students provided an

incredible visual reminder of the impact of energy efficiency.

Currently, two St. Louis area school districts participate in

the Missouri EnergySmart Schools pilot, but there are plans to

expand this initiative’s outreach. These new programs will

teach superintendents, teachers, business managers and

facility directors about energy savings opportunities and

provide the tools to implement projects in their schools. The

Gateway Center staff has always been involved in advancing

energy efficiency in schools by offering information and

Spotlighting the Gateway Center for 

Resource Efficiency

assistance to school facility operators and business managers.

In a previous project funded by Missouri’s Energy Center,

Gateway Center staff conducted site visits to over 50 school

districts in the St. Louis region to discuss potential

opportunities for implementing facility improvements and

energy-saving programs. Funding for other projects and

programs presented by Gateway Center came from the

districts themselves or from incorporating SEED into retrofit

costs, using pre-determined energy conservation savings to

pay for the programs. Rebuild America funding allows

Gateway Center and Missouri’s Energy Center access to those

school districts that otherwise might not be able to afford

investing in energy efficiency. 

Gateway Center’s leadership in energy and resource efforts

has been done in collaboration with a number of Strategic

Partners such as the Alliance to Save Energy and National

Energy Education Development. It has also worked with

Business Partners such as CMS Viron, Philips Lighting

Company and The Trane Company. 

While continuing many of its long-time successful energy

and resource education programs, the Gateway Center is

now expanding its outreach beyond schools. Most recently,

the Gateway Center spearheaded the establishment of the St.

Louis Regional Green Building Council, a local chapter of the

U.S. Green Building Council. Using the Gateway Center for

Resource Efficiency as its hub, over 100 local professionals

have joined this new organization to promote energy-efficient

and environmentally responsible building design and

construction while promoting profitable and healthy places to

live and work.

The Gateway Center has had an exciting year reinventing

itself as a new division at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The

Gateway Center also moved into new headquarters, the

Recycled materials and energy-efficient technologies were used to

renovate the EarthWays Home, new headquarters for the Gateway Center

for Resource Efficiency.

Continued on page 11
U.S. Department of Energy 9

elegant converted sugar mill that is now a showplace for fine

jazz memorabilia.

Rebuild America again will recognize top community

performers with its Energy Champion Awards. The winners

will be announced during a conference-culminating luncheon

on August 1, celebrating those partnerships that best

exemplify how Rebuild America can make a difference in a

community. SEP will announce their annual award winners

during the same luncheon.

Rebuild America welcomes a new award category this year:

Strategic Partner of the Year. While clearly a difficult decision

to make, the Strategic Partner that best promoted the Rebuild

America philosophy and assisted in furthering energy-saving

initiatives will take home this first-ever prize.

But even before participants delve into energy, there are

numerous pre-conference activities to entertain folks. City

Continued from page 1

SEP, Rebuild America to Tackle Key Issues at National Conference

tours, including a Gospel Brunch/French Quarter Stroll,

Neighborhoods of New Orleans, Marshes and Mansions,

Cooking Creole Tour and Gardens of New Orleans offer

pleasant diversions for conference participants on July 28-29.

If you miss out on the various trips and excursions, don’t

worry. Rebuild America and SEP will bring a bit of The Big

Easy indoors by decorating the Exhibit Hall in a French

Quarter theme. Our own Bourbon Street will be lined with

numerous energy-efficient technologies, ideas and displays.

You might even find some Mardi Gras beads.

Exhibitor and sponsorship opportunities remain, but space

is limited so reserve your place today. Remember, the

celebration for Rebuild America and SEP begins July 29 in

New Orleans, LA.

For more information on registering for the conference, visit

www.2002conference.com.

upgrading their homes with energy-saving technology and

educating residents about energy conservation. DOE grants

funds to local agencies in communities in every state across

the country. Agencies, in turn, determine viable candidates

for the program and perform the necessary work.

“Weatherization assistance saves low-income families

hundreds of dollars each year in energy costs – money that

can be spent instead on other necessities,” Secretary of

Energy Spencer Abraham noted last fall. “President Bush’s

National Energy Policy calls for a nationwide increase in

weatherization to lower home energy costs; costs that are

especially high during the winter months.”

Why Weatherization?

Low-income housing accounts for one quarter of the

national housing market. Approximately 27 million households

are eligible for weatherization assistance nationally. Energy bills

are a heavy cost burden on low-income families, who typically

spend 14 percent of their household income on utilities,

compared to 3.5 percent spent by other households. This can

add up to almost $1,500 annually for families whose total

income is less than $15,000 a year.

Participants in the Weatherization Assistance Program have

seen their bills decrease an average of 15 percent, saving

families about $300 each year. Weatherization saves money

for low-income households while improving their health,

safety and comfort. Families also become more self-sufficient

with greater resources to provide for their own welfare.

How It Works 

Low-income families who live in a single-family home, a

multi-family housing complex or a mobile home are eligible

Continued from page 1

Weatherization Works!

to apply for the weatherization assistance from local

government and nonprofit agencies. Upon approval,

technicians from local businesses conduct energy audits,

identify problems and compile a list of cost-effective

measures for the home. Evaluations like pressure diagnostics

and blower door tests are conducted prior to performing

upgrades that often include the installation of air sealing,

digital monometers, controlled ventilation and insulation.

Preference is given to people over 60, people with disabilities

and those with young children. Households with unusually

high energy burdens may also receive special consideration.

How It’s Working 

Returns are substantial, yielding $2.10 for every $1 invested

by DOE. Weatherization also reduces carbon dioxide

emissions by one metric ton and creates 52 direct jobs for

every $1 million of funding. In addition, weatherization

decreases national energy consumption by 15 million barrels

of oil every year. 

Today, 5 million homes across the United States have been

weatherized, and 970 local and non-profit agencies are

involved in the assistance program. Total savings are

estimated to be $1 billion. 

Other community benefits of weatherization include:

• Support for 8,000 jobs nationwide, often in blighted

communities where jobs are needed most

• Re-investment of energy-cost savings back into the community

• Reduction of power plant emissions and improved local

air quality

• Avoidance of greenhouse gas emissions

• Decreased demand for imported oil

• Education of consumers in energy-efficiency practices.

For more information about the Weatherization Assistance

Program, visit:

http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/weatherization_assistance/.
10 U.S. Department of Energy

Snap Shot: Sharron Brown

Sharron Brown is the Director of

Energy Programs for Strategic Partner

Public Technology, Inc.

Vital Statistics: 

I currently live in Loudon County,

VA but I consider myself a die-hard

Baltimorean.

No marriage, kids, or pets, but I

boast of my “only” nephew and 12

godchildren ranging from ages 28

years to 9 weeks old that are a group of talented, gifted and

enjoyable young people.

How long have you been working with

Rebuild America?

I have worked with Rebuild America since its inception; in

a different role. PTI has worked with Rebuild America for

the past two years.

How did you get into this line of work?

My initial experience in the energy field began in the late

1970s in a low-income weatherization program in Baltimore

City. This program allowed “hands-on” experience for the

installation of insulation, windows and HVAC equipment. 

My next position was Energy Planner for Montgomery

County, MD. This began my career in energy planning and

program implementation in various residential energy

conservation programs. The most rewarding projects were

integrating energy in the land use planning process, creating

a “One-Stop” Energy Conservation Center and developing a

Comprehensive Energy Plan for Montgomery County. 

At the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Clearinghouse, we were involved in the dissemination of

comprehensive, current and reliable information in the areas

of residential energy efficiency, renewable energy

information and technical assistance. Our outreach and

marketing efforts exceeded over 100,000 inquiries from the

general public nationwide.

As Director of Energy Programs with Public Technology

Inc. and in conjunction with the Urban Consortium Energy

Task Force we research, develop and deploy various

innovative energy-efficient and renewable-energy

technologies to reduce energy consumption and expenditures

for municipal governments. We have been involved in

distributed energy resources, photovoltaics in a natural

disaster and technology transfer for over 400 applied research

and development projects for and by local governments.

What is most rewarding about your work?

The Urban Consortium Energy Task Force is a group

of 45 local government leaders who are innovative thinkers

that provide daily challenges to me for various ways to

develop research, and deploy energy-efficiency and

renewable-energy technologies. This group has done

excellent work and has a wealth of experience and technical

resources. It has been my pleasure to work closely with this

group over the last 3-1/2 years. 

What do you like to do in your spare time?

I love to cook, watch I Love Lucy re-runs and enjoy

relaxing time with my family and close friends

What is your dream job? 

After retirement my dream job will be teaching Native

American and African American History at the high school level.

What is your dream vacation? 

A return trip to the lovely state of Hawaii and all its islands,

especially Maui and the big island of Hawaii for a month.

If you could live anywhere in the world,

where would that be?

Cape Town, South Africa.

Sharron Brown

Continued from page 4

ORNL Report Shows Low Life-Cycle Cost for Geothermal

Heat in Colorado Schools

geothermal heat pumps compared to more mainstream chiller

and boiler HVAC systems, maintenance costs are lower,

operating costs are lower, and even implementation costs are

lower. Geothermal heat pumps also have the lowest

consumption of energy.

While the authors do acknowledge a potential 5 percent

margin of estimation, they still conclude that “for school

districts, geothermal heat pumps offer clear advantages in first

cost, operating and maintenance cost, occupant comfort and

life-cycle cost.”

Smith says that, as Colorado expands existing schools and

builds new ones to accommodate the high growth rate of

student populations, the state tells school districts to at least

consider these systems during renovation and new

construction projects. Colorado will distribute the report to area

school districts as soon as her office completes an overview.

For more information, contact Linda Smith with Rebuild

Colorado at Linda.smith2@state.co.us. The full report can be

found online at:

www.eren.doe.gov/femp/financing/espc/ghpresources.html
U.S. Department of Energy 11

Continued from page 8

Spotlighting the Gateway Center for Resource Efficiency

EarthWays Home, a three-story, century-old Victorian home

renovated to demonstrate energy-efficient systems, recycled

products and waste reduction practices. Features of the home

include energy-efficient lighting sources and window options,

recycled and non-toxic building products, cellulose insulation, a

photovoltaic solar system powering high efficiency kitchen

appliances, ground source heating and cooling, a high-efficiency

natural gas furnace and much more. The home is a popular site

for tours by school groups as well as the general public. 

This Missouri partnership welcomes visitors to view their

offices to learn more about energy efficiency.

For more information or to set up an appointment to visit the

EarthWays Home, contact Glenda Abney at

Glenda.abney@mobot.org or 314-577-0288. Or you can

contact Deborah Chollet at Deborah.Chollet@mobot.org or 314-

577-0279.

Continued from page 5

NAESCO Brings Partnerships Opportunities

measure and verify energy savings and translated those

savings into a reliable measure of greenhouse gas emission

reductions. This was part of a larger effort by NAESCO to

focus policy makers on how to use energy efficiency as a

cost-effective pollution prevention strategy.

In an effort to build awareness of the benefits of energyefficiency retrofits among potential customers, NAESCO

coordinated the participation of ESCO speakers at several

consumer-oriented conferences. Among these were the Food

Marketing Institute’s Conference on Energy and Technical

Services, which focused on the energy needs of supermarkets

and grocery stores, and the Facility Management and

Technology Conference, which was geared to facility

managers from both the public and private sectors.

During 2002, NAESCO is collaborating with several Rebuild

America Strategic Partners. In May, a NAESCO representative

will speak on performance contracting at the Energy Services

Coalition meeting in Nashville. NAESCO will participate in a

June Energy Institute organized by the National Conference

of State Legislatures in New York. In September, NAESCO

will participate in a session on System Benefit Charges at the

NASEO Annual Meeting. NAESCO will also conduct a

workshop on energy efficiency and indoor air quality at the

Association of School Business Officials International®

Annual Conference in Phoenix in October. 

“Working with Rebuild America has been a very positive

experience,” said Singer. “The partnership has enabled us to

create and disseminate information about the delivery of

energy efficiency which has significantly accelerated energyefficiency project implementation and has helped create

energy savings that would not otherwise have occurred.” 

For information about NAESCO programs, contact Nina

Lockhart at nkl@dwgp.com. To obtain copies of NAESCO

publications, go to www.naesco.org/bookstor.htm.

districts, are required to: 

1) undertake all cost-effective energy-efficiency

projects on existing buildings; 

2) adopt a goal to reduce electric consumption by 5

percent a year for five years, beginning this year;

3) report annually to the State Energy Conservation

Office (SECO) on their progress. 

Rebuild America, with participation from EPA’s

ENERGY STAR® buildings, is collaborating with SECO to

assist the affected counties in complying with the new

law. The 38-county region will be a new Rebuild

America partnership. The region consists of nearly

2000 political jurisdictions that represent more than 70

percent of the population and include the cities of

Houston, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, El

Paso, Corpus Christi, Beaumont/Port Arthur,

Tyler/Longview and Victoria. SECO is working with

Rebuild America to develop an information package

about energy services, management tools and national,

state and industry resources that will help communities

throughout the region meet their goals. Workshops and

training seminars are being planned in partnership with

private industry on a range of topics that include

energy services, financing and building technologies.

The new partnership will focus on 12 model

communities or regions, document lessons learned for

the benefit of other Texas communities and sponsor

workshops. The Metropolitan Partnership for Energy in

San Antonio, formed by the City of San Antonio, Bexar

County and local utility City Public Service, has been

structured to serve as another umbrella partnership.

This newly expanded partnership is poised to serve as

a model for other regions in the roll-out of energysaving initiatives. 

By participating at the state level in collaboration

with NYSERDA and SECO, Rebuild America and DOE’s

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy are

positioned to have a broader and more positive impact

on quality of life in America’s communities. 

Daniel Sze is National Program Manager of Rebuild America.

Continued from page 3

View from DC
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 Energy Efficiency and

Renewable Energy.

REBUILD AMERICA 

Office of Energy Efficiency 

and Renewable Energy

U.S. Department of Energy

1000 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20585-0121

Address Correction Requested

Upcoming Events

High

Performance

BUILDINGS

June

24-25 Strategic Energy Management USA

Sponsored by Sempra Energy Solutions

Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue,

Philadelphia, PA

See www.eyeforenergy.com/sem/

25-26 SBIC High Performance 

School Buildings Workshop

Sponsored by the Sustainable Buildings 

Industry Council

Carrick High School, Pittsburgh, PA

See www.sbicouncil.org/workshops/schools.htm

24-28 Energy Performance Contracting for PHA’s

Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building, Chicago, IL

Contact Eugene Goldfarb at eugene_goldfarb@hud.gov

26-29 Mid-Atlantic Sustainability Conference: Energy,

Buildings and the Bottom Line

Rutgers University, Newark, NJ

Visit www.nesea.org

July 

21-23 Association of Higher Education Facilities

Officers Leadership Forum

Phoenix Hyatt Regency, Phoenix, AZ

Visit www.appa.org

August

18-23 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings

Sponsored by American Council for an EnergyEfficient Economy

Asilomar Conference Center, Pacific Grove, CA

Visit www.aceee.org/conf/bldindex.htm To submit news or story ideas, contact: 

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

mobrien@pcgpr.com

NEW!

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

New Partnerships

• Franklin Redevelopment & Housing Authority, VA

• Barnstable County, MA

• Local Government Commission, CA

• Town of Hamden, CT

• Community Housing Partners, VA

• City of Palo Alto, CA

• City of Richmond, CA

• Valley View Community Unit School District 365-U, IL

Marketing and Communications Rebuild

America Help Line 202-466-7868

University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma President John Feaver,

CMS Viron President John Mahoney of Kansas City, and Bill Becker,

director of DOE's Denver office present a check to Oklahoma Gov.

Frank Keating for $298,000 representing one year’s energy cost savings

for Oklahoma Taxpayers.