DOE/EE-0238

View from DC – 

Reducing Emissions 

Continued on page 5

300th Partnership Joins Stark Forms PHA

Consortium

National Forum Teams

with Greenprints 2001

Guam Enacts EnergyEfficiency Code

Call for Entries –

Energy Champion Awards

Peter Alexander of Rebuild New Mexico is a

man with vision,always looking toward what could be

and not being constrained by what is. The Rebuild

New Mexico partnership,which began as a

collaboration between the New Mexico Energy,

Minerals and Natural Resources Department and

Rebuild America,is thriving due to commitment.

Contributing to this success has been Alexander’s

insistence that the program put its resources where

the “rubber meets the road”by providing direct

technical assistance to building owners and managers.

Alexander built a team of subcontractors who joined

him in performing basic assessments and in identifying

From left, New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson

congratulates Rebuild New Mexico Director Peter

Alexander on his Green Zia Award.

The October 1999 passage of a

public benefits bill will soon give a

big boost to the Wisconsin Energy

Initiative’s (WEI-2) partnership.

Following a three-year transition

period,the legislation will increase

Wisconsin’s annual budget for

Rebuild America energy-efficiency

programs to $100 million. Utilities

will contribute a share,as well as rate

payers,for demand-side management

programs that were formerly initiated

by the utilities.

Led by the Wisconsin Department

of Administration,Division of Energy,

WEI-2 has a strong track record for

implementing energy improvements

in public and private schools and

technical colleges. WEI-2 has

completed 18 million square feet 

of renovations to date,with an

additional 115 projects in the

pipeline.

Voters in the Appleton,Fond du

Lac,Wausau and Eau Claire school

districts passed referendums to

override state-imposed school

revenue caps to make it possible to

initiate energy-efficiency projects in

their schools. Schools can make

improvements without any up-front

capital by taking advantage of WEI-2’s

0 percent interest,short-term loan

and lease purchase agreement.

"The new funding will offer many

options for all the sectors,from

residential and multi-family to

industrial and agricultural customers,”

says WEI-2 Program Manager Terry

Pease. "I am pleased that schools

will have other options to improve

their facilities other than asking the

voters to accept an increase in

property taxes.”

9

4 6

4

2

2

Visit Our Website:

www.eren.doe.gov/

buildings/rebuild

November – December 2000 Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Wisconsin Partnership

Accelerates Activity

Rooftop photovoltaic panels at Waunakee

High School near Madison, WI.

Rebuild New Mexico

Gains Recognition

Continued on page 3
U.S. Department of Energy

View from DC

By Mark Bailey & Daniel Sze

Reducing polluting emissions by reducing energy

consumption has long been a target of the Rebuild

America program. As our partnerships gain

momentum in their retrofit activities,there is a

proportionate decrease in the volume of emissions

that are released into the environment. Our

partnerships take an important step in the direction

of cleaner air with each building that is retrofitted.

Some of our partnerships have fresh numbers that

show us the impact they are having on cleaner air in

their communities:

The Wisconsin Energy Initiative-2 partnership,

covered in this issue of Partner Update,reports that

its retrofit of 18 million square feet statewide has

resulted in 23,900 tons of avoided CO2 emissions.

The partnership is saving $2.3 million in energy costs

annually.

Rebuild Iowa reports it has avoided 14,421 tons

of emissions and saved $700,000 annually with the

retrofit of commercial,public and industrial buildings.

The Rebuild Boston Energy Initiative (MA)

has reduced emissions by 11,116 tons with the

retrofit of 18 million square feet in the public

housing,schools and business sectors.

In Kansas City,MO,Metropolitan Energy Center’s

EnergyWorks partnership has managed to decrease

emissions by nearly 33,000 tons with energy

improvements to schools,public buildings and street

lighting.

Rebuild Duke University Facilities has

avoided 11,877 tons of emissions by making energy

improvements to 3.25 million square feet of academic

buildings on campus. The partnership has completed

lighting retrofits campus-wide and is now involved in

HVAC improvements.

The Portland Partners for Energy Efficiency

(OR) partnership has retrofitted over 52 million

square feet since 1996,avoiding 98,126.8 tons in CO2,

SOx and NOx emissions and saving $8 million in

annual energy costs. Rebuild America is one of

several energy-saving initiatives underway in Portland.

Despite a growing population,the City reports that its

greenhouse gas emissions have decreased 3 percent

per capita,from 1990-99.The City’s continued

Continued on page 11

300th Partnership Joins

Rebuild America

Rebuild America has blown past its initial goal of signing on 250 partnerships by

2003,reaching the 300th partnership in October 2000. Our 300th partnership hails

from Anchorage,AK. The Facilities Energy Efficiency Program partnership

combines the efforts of the state of Washington,the Alaska Energy Authority and

various energy services companies. The partnership hopes to implement energy

improvements at five state-owned government facilities. Improvements are slated

for installation in spring 2001 and estimated savings are projected to be 10-to-30

percent. Congratulations to the Seattle Regional Office for bringing number 300

on board,and to all of our partnerships for their continuing contributions to

Rebuild America’s success.

Roll Call

Rebuild America welcomes the following new Business Partners:

• Baystone Financial Group – focuses on cost-effective financial solutions

for municipal entities, commercial entities and not-for-profit organizations.

• Energy Masters International (EMI) – a wholly owned subsidiary of

Northern States Power Company that specializes in energy cost savings in

cost-effective energy purchasing, building retrofits, lighting upgrades and

demand-side management programs.

• Environmental Support Solutions – an environmental technology

company whose goal is to help organizations develop, implement and

maintain world-class environmental regulatory compliance programs.

• FICO-Facility Improvement Corporation – provides a full range of

HVAC and controls systems design, installation, maintenance,

commissioning and diagnostic services to commercial customers to

enhance the comfort, efficiency, reliability and safety of their facilities.

• Precision Lighting (PLI) – utilizes its patented technology to create

energy-efficient, cost-effective and personalized fluorescent lighting

environments.

• Advanced Transformers – designs, develops, manufactures and sells

fluorescent and high-intensity discharge (HID) ballasts for commercial,

industrial and institutional lighting.

• CMS Viron Energy Services – assists Rebuild America partners in

evaluating opportunities for implementing energy conservation projects

and for revitalizing facilities.

• Energy Design & Consulting (EDC) – serves schools, businesses and

industry with strong emphasis on energy management systems, lighting,

thermal storage and time-of-use electric rates.

• Metro Energy Solutions – provides comprehensive energy services

to government and industry.

For more information about Rebuild America Business

Partners, contact Doug Avery at 310-798-6927 or email 2 davery@lbl.gov.
In designing its program,WEI-2 studied

the energy-efficiency programs of other

states. “Programs like the U.S.Department

of Energy’s EnergySmart Schools and

ENERGY STAR® have enabled us to extend

our energy awareness efforts to all the

citizens of Wisconsin,”Pease says.

WEI-2’s retrofit activity is paying

environmental dividends as well. Building

improvements have resulted in the

avoidance of an estimated 23,900 tons of

carbon dioxide. With improvements

completed in 160 buildings,WEI-2 is saving

21.9 million kilowatt hours,2.4 million

therms and $2.3 million annually.

Cooperative Educational Service Agencies

in the state assist the Division of Energy by

providing services directly to the schools.

With 426 school districts,many of which

include aging school buildings,there is a

desperate need to add staffing to cover the

new construction and retrofit projects. "The

partnership is in the process of adding

additional representatives so that no project

escapes us,”Pease says. “We live in a large

state and want to ensure that people from

every corner of the state receive an

economic and environmental benefit."

Here are some recent WEI-2 highlights:

Cool Daylighting

The Appleton School District will realize a

guaranteed savings of $118,934 annually for

three years by saving 1.15 million kWh

hours and 120,738 therms. The district is

installing “cool daylighting”in 22 buildings

and installing $3 million worth of digital

control systems. Cool daylighting practices

are applied to achieve high-quality lighting,

control glare and reduce the need for

artificial lighting while simultaneously

decreasing the need for space heating and

cooling. Its successful application provides

a solution to the contemporary challenge of

managing internally load-dominated

buildings. Cool daylighting may reduce the

energy load of a building to a point where

its heating and cooling systems can be

downsized,creating additional savings.

The cool daylighting models in the

Appleton schools will help create awareness

among school officials of the benefits of

adopting this energy-saving and comfortenhancing approach to lighting schools,

notes Pease. Meanwhile,the state has

become a big proponent of cool daylighting

strategies: The Wisconsin Division of

Facilities Development plans to introduce

cool daylighting to all new state buildings.

Geothermal Heat Pump

Building new,high-performance schools is

part of WEI-2’s agenda for improving the

learning environments of students. One of

the largest geoexchange systems in the U.S.

is currently being installed in a high school

in the Fond du Lac School District. The

school will also feature advanced lighting

technology,daylighting and heat recovery.

Indoor Air Quality

In the Wausau School District,a 275,000

square-foot high school built in 1968 has

undergone a major retrofit to dramatically

boost building performance. Long plagued

by poor indoor air quality,Wausau West High

School now uses 100 percent outdoor air

for heating and cooling. The air quality has

improved by 300 percent,according to tests

by the Wisconsin Division of Public Health.

The new regenerative double-duct HVAC

system features indirect and direct heating

and cooling using evaporative technology.

Pease notes that today the air outside of the

school contains more measurable carbon

dioxide compared to the air inside the

building. Adding to the building’s efficiency

is a heat recovery system that is 90 percent

effective in capturing and redirecting air

before it escapes from the building. The

school has also managed to cut its natural

gas costs in half,saving $100,000 per year,

despite the building’s block construction

and the absence of any insulation.

“This strategy produces a clean,quiet and

comfortable environment for students and

staff and is in step with EnergySmart

Schools’(ESS) objective to improve the

teaching and learning environment”says 

ESS Technical Advisor Lorenz (Larry) V.

Schoff,who recently visited Wausau West

High. Schoff believes more school board

members and administrators would adopt

this strategy if they heard about the

experiences of the school’s staff and

students before and after the HVAC system

renovation. The school retrofit has been so

successful that the Wausau District is

looking to apply similar strategies in the

design of two new schools.

In the Eau Claire School District in

southern Wisconsin,24 schools are

undergoing extensive retrofitting that

includes lighting,roofing and other

improvements including water conservation

measures via a performance contract with

Siemens Building Technologies. Six schools

have been completed to date with water

savings of over 1 million gallons.

For further information,

contact Terry Pease at 

608-267-797 or

Terry.pease@doa.state.wi.us.

U.S. Department of Energy

3

Wisconsin Partnership Activity

Continued from page 1

Madison East High School expects to achieve 20

percent in energy savings by sealing air leaks

throughout the building.
U.S. Department of Energy

Rebuild Ohio partner Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority

(SMHA) is forming a consortium of public housing authorities to

take advantage of bulk purchasing opportunities for natural gas and

electricity services in the deregulated market. SMHA is coordinating

this effort with the Ohio Housing Authority Conference,the Ohio

Department of Development,the Midwest Energy Research Center

and Rebuild America through Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Comprised of six Ohio public housing authorities as of October

2000,the consortium is especially advantageous for smaller housing

authorities (those with less than 300 units) that want to increase

their buying power. Prior to launching the consortium,SMHA pilot

tested an aggregate buying arrangement for utility services with

Jefferson Housing Authority for an 18-month period.

“We are now ready to apply these concepts on a larger scale,”says

SMHA Maintenance Director Mike Williams.

SMHA plans to structure a bulk purchasing agreement to take

advantage of a U.S.Department of Housing and Urban Development

incentive that allows public housing authorities to retain 75 percent

of energy savings to

invest back into energyefficiency

improvements. The

housing authority may

broaden participation in

its aggregate purchasing

consortium by looking

beyond the public

housing sector. It has

notified neighboring communities of its plans for a consortium and

has heard from two small townships that are interested in joining.

“This shows the potential that public housing has for making a

positive community contribution,”notes Williams. “The townships

are not large enough to go out individually and do this.”

For more information, contact Cherrie Turner, executive

director of SMHA at 330-454-8051 or email info@starkmha.org.

Stark Makes Its Move In Deregulated Market

National Forum Partners with Greenprints 2001

After our successful forums in San

Antonio and Las Vegas,the planning

committee for the National Forum 2001 is

orchestrating an exceptional event at the

Westin Peachtree Plaza in Atlanta,

March 13-15.

This year’s Forum is unique in that,for the first time,Rebuild

America will be partnering with Southface Energy Institute’s

Greenprints Conference to reach a greater number of people in the

energy efficiency and design fields and to expand the scope of the

conference. Greenprints 2001 will be held March 15-16.

Southface is a natural choice for collaboration. Established in 1978,

the Institute has earned a national reputation for its educational

efforts and research in energy,building science and environmental

technologies,receiving awards from the U.S.Department of Energy,

U.S.Environmental Protection Agency,American Institute of

Architects,American Society of Heating,Refrigeration and Air

Conditioning Engineers,American Concrete Institute

and the Georgia Environmental Council. Each year,the

Institute hosts the Greenprints Conference and

Tradeshow for architects,engineers and designers.

The National Forum 2001 and

Greenprints 2001 will combine their

synergies on March 15. This will be the

not-to-miss day,when Rebuild and

Greenprints agendas will integrate to offer

attendees a day of innovative sessions that

cover new building technologies,sustainable land uses,ecological

approaches to town planning,downtown revitalization,rethinking

construction waste and the eco-impacts of construction.

The National Forum 2001 promises to be your gateway to connect

with people from across the nation who are actively working toward

an energy-efficient future for communities and citizens. Be on the

lookout for more news of the Forum in upcoming editions of the

Partner Update,in the electronic Flash Report and on the Rebuild

America website (www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/rebuild).

For more information about the Rebuild America National

Forum 2001, contact Christina Van Vleck at 301-588-4229 or at

rebuildamerica@drintl.com. To sign up for the Flash Report,

contact Anita Denning at adenning@drintl.com.

Metropolitan Arms, an SMHA seniors’ property

4
U.S. Department of Energy

Profile

Continued from page 1

energy-efficiency opportunities and strategies. The team assists by

drafting requests for proposals and qualifications; identifying

suppliers,contractors and financing sources;and reviewing bids and

contracts to ensure that each project works for both the partner and

the contractor.

“Basically,we’re providing a really good one-on-one education,and

it pays off – especially in larger facilities,”Alexander says.

Since its inception in 1999,the partnership has far exceeded its

original goal of assisting municipalities,schools,housing authorities

and businesses in reducing energy consumption by implementing

energy-efficiency measures into their buildings.

Seeing Beyond Today

Through Rebuild New Mexico,Alexander has shown that Rebuild

America can function as a gateway for community projects.

One particularly successful endeavor is a collaborative project

called the Youth Conserving Energy (YCE) program,which provides

young people who are at-risk

with energy-efficiency

vocational training,helping to

prepare them for careers that

can benefit communities across

the state. The YCE program has

formed an unusual alliance with

the Youthbuild New Mexico

Coalition,the San Cristobal

Ranch Foundation,Rebuild New

Mexico,Rebuild Central New

Mexico,the City of Albuquerque,and the state’s Energy

Conservation Office and Youth Conservation Corps.

YCE has touched many lives already,helping students who never

completed high school to earn their diploma. Instead of facing a

future of minimum wage jobs,YCE provides them with an

opportunity to excel in a meaningful and rewarding career. The

program consists of an intense classroom curriculum and supervised

fieldwork,where students learn the basics of energy-efficiency

analysis and remediation. They also learn about political and market

issues that impact energy use,prices and policy. The students are

paid for their time and receive credit toward their high school

diplomas. (See July-August 2000 Partner Update.) 

Thanks to YCE,Estevan Jordon,once a troubled teen with an

unclear future,is considering a career in engineering. "I like working

with my hands and being active,and I've done a lot already,from

roofing to construction and drywall,”he says. “This program is giving

me a lot of basic knowledge in energy efficiency.Eventually,I want to

work in the field of renewable energy,like solar,so I can help reduce

pollution and make the environment better." 

According to Robert Baade,classroom coordinator for the

program,both students and teachers are excited about the program.

“Every day we get presentations from volunteer local experts in

everything from energy policy to water conservation. It's a lot for

the kids to take in,but they're highly motivated to keep up," he says.

A Role Model for the State

Alexander’s hard work has not gone unnoticed. At a ceremony on

October 4,New Mexico Gov.Gary Johnson and Environment

Secretary Pete Maggiore presented a Green Zia Award to Alexander

for the Rebuild New Mexico program,citing in particular its

strengths in “Leadership”and “Customer Involvement.” The voluntary

program is designed to support and assist New Mexico businesses

and subscribes to the basic premise that waste is the result of

inefficiency and that by reducing waste,an organization can increase

its productivity and,therefore,its profits. Green Zia Awards are

presented on three levels:

commitment,achievement,and

the highest level – excellence.

Alexander was especially

pleased that his commitmentlevel Green Zia was awarded

specifically for energy efficiency.

“The Rebuild New Mexico

program provides free technical

assistance and financial advice to

help building owners and

managers reduce utility bills while improving building performance,”

Alexander explained to the 155 attendees as he accepted the award.

Alexander also noted an important new strategic partnership

between the Green Zia program and Rebuild New Mexico. “The

analytical processes and end results of both programs are

complementary,”he said. He noted that Rebuild New Mexico and

Green Zia have already collaborated to host a workshop at the 

Santa Fe City Hall,where they identified more than $200,000 in

potential annual energy savings in one building.

To date,the Green Zia program has not yet awarded an excellence

level award,which would indicate complete integration of values and

systems for environmental improvement into every level and aspect

of an organization’s operations. Needless to say,Peter Alexander has 

settled on a new goal.

For further information, contact Peter Alexander at 

505-243-5703 or Pat Gallagher of the New Mexico

Environment Department at 505- 827-0677. 5

YCE program participants get hands-on experience in energy efficiency.
At its National Forum 2001,the Rebuild America program will

recognize excellence among its partnerships and partners through

the Energy Champion Awards. The 2001 Energy Champion Awards

present a special opportunity to highlight people and organizations

of distinction,and a chance to publicly recognize the hard work and

measurable improvements brought to communities nationwide

through Rebuild America. The 2001 Energy Champion Awards

recognize accomplishments and activities that substantially occurred

during the period January 1 - December 31,2000.

The awards ceremony will occur during the Rebuild America

National Forum 2001,March 13-16,2001,in Atlanta. The winners will

be notified in advance. The categories for the 2001 Energy

Champion Awards are as follows:

1. Partnership Leader of the Year

2. Partnership of the Year

3. Business Partner of the Year

4. State Partnership Program

5. Commercial Buildings

6. K-12 Schools

7. Universities and Colleges

8. Local Government

9. Public and Affordable Housing

10.Native American Partnership

Rules 

• Entrants must be participants in the Rebuild America program

during the year 2000,including individuals and organizations

representing partnerships,local partners and Business Partners.

• You may enter yourself or your organization,or you

may nominate another person or organization. You

may enter the same person or organization in up to

three categories;each entry requires a separate form.

• A panel of judges will evaluate the entries using a point system to

determine the winner.

• All entries become the property of the U.S.Department of Energy

and will not be returned.

Deadline for Entries: February 1, 2001

How to Enter

• Download an entry form from Rebuild America’s web site at

www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/rebuild or contact Maureen O’Brien

of Potomac Communications Group at mobrien@pcgpr.com or

202-466-7391 to receive an entry form by email or fax.

• For each category entered,submit four copies of both the entry

form and a write-up of no more than 850 words that responds to

the selection criteria. Entries cannot be submitted electronically.

Entries should include relevant supplementary materials such as

photographs,outreach materials,letters of commendation,news

clippings,etc. Photo prints,slides and digital photos on disk are all

acceptable. Each copy of an entry must include an identical set of

supplementary materials.

• Send your entry to: Maureen O’Brien,Potomac Communications

Group,2025 M Street,NW,Suite 350,Washington,DC 20036.

Award Categories and Criteria

For a more complete description of the criteria,download an

entry form from the Rebuild America web site or contact Potomac

Communications Group.

Partnership Leader of the Year

Eligibility: Designated leader or main representative of a Rebuild

America partnership

Criteria:

• Leadership and Commitment - What steps has the individual

taken to shape and lead the partnership toward its goals? 

• Challenges and Solutions - What challenges has the individual

encountered and overcome in their efforts to build an effective

partnership and implement energy-saving measures? 

• Partnership Progress/Improvement - How has the

partnership progressed or improved as a result of this 

individual’s efforts? 

• Results - Indicate gains for the partnership this person leads.

U.S. Department of Energy

Call for Entries: 2001 Energy Champion Awards

6

1999 Energy Champion Award winners pose with Mark Ginsberg,

lower right.

Continued on page 7
U.S. Department of Energy

Partnership of the Year

Eligibility: Designated Rebuild

America partnerships

Criteria:

• Partnership Progress/

Improvement – How has the

partnership progressed and

improved since its inception?

• Challenges and Solutions –

What challenges has the

partnership encountered and

overcome in an effort to grow in strategic directions and implement

energy-saving measures? 

• Community Improvement/Contributions – How has this

partnership made a difference in its community? 

• Results – Indicate gains the partnership has produced.

Business Partner of the Year

Eligibility: Designated Rebuild America Business Partner

organizations

Criteria:

• Commitment to Rebuild America - How has the Business

Partner demonstrated a commitment to the program?

• Program/Partnership Contribution - What specific

contributions has the Business Partner made to the Rebuild

America program or to specific partnerships?

• Value (tangible/intangible) of Service(s) Provided - 

Describe how the Business Partner’s contribution brought

value to the program or to a partnership(s).

• Results - Describe any program,partnership or environmental

gains (e.g.,dollars and energy saved,emissions reduced) that

have resulted from the Business Partner’s involvement in

Rebuild America.

State Partnership Program Award

Eligibility: Partnerships operated by a state government 

department or agency,such as a state energy office.

Criteria:

• Leadership and Commitment - What steps has the 

partnership taken to shape and lead an effective statewide

partnership program? 

• Challenges and Solutions - What challenges has the 

partnership encountered and overcome in its efforts to create an

effective statewide partnership network? 

• Partnership Development/Support - How has the state

partnership contributed to helping partnerships in its state

develop,grow and succeed?

• Results - Indicate gains the state has made overall with the

Rebuild America program that can be attributed in part to activities

of the state partnership.

Market Sector Awards

Commercial Buildings Award • K-12 Schools 

Award • Universities and Colleges Award • Local

Government Award • Public and Affordable Housing

Award • Native American Partnership Award

Eligibility: Rebuild America partnerships and partner organizations

active in the designated sectors

Criteria:

• Partnership Progress/Improvement - How has the

partnership progressed and improved since its inception?

• Challenges and Solutions - What challenges has the

partnership encountered and overcome in an effort to grow in

strategic directions and implement an action plan? 

• Community Improvement/Contributions - In what ways has

the community benefited from the partnership’s activities?

• Results - Indicate gains the partnership has achieved.

Enter today! 

Don’t miss this opportunity to highlight your partnership’s

achievements in implementing energy-saving projects. Visit

Rebuild America’s web site www.eren.doe.gov/

buildings/rebuild to download an entry form or

contact Maureen O’Brien of Potomac

Communications Group at mobrien@pcgpr.com

or phone 202-466-7391. 7

Curt Nichols accepts the 1999

Partnership of the Year Award for

the Portland (OR) Partners for

Energy Efficiency.

Rebuild America Business Partners and Strategic Partners at the 1999 Forum.

Continued from page 6
U.S. Department of Energy

Atlanta Peer Exchange...More than 60 people attended the

first Atlanta Regional Peer Exchange in Orlando,FL on September 18-

20. Presentations and work groups addressed a variety of topics

including the “Seven Habits of Effective Partnerships,”EnergySmart

Schools,multi-family housing,historic preservation and downtown

revitalization. The event offered an opportunity for partnerships

from across the southeastern U.S.to share both challenges and the

keys to their success. Partnerships and Business Partners worked

together to identify actionable solutions. Other activities included a

tour of the Nature Conservancy’s Disney Wilderness Preserve

Conservation Learning Center and Disney’s Planning Community

Celebration,which highlighted sustainable building practices and

traditional neighborhood design. The event was sponsored by

Tampa Electric Company and the Florida Gas Transmission

Company. For more information, contact Greg Andrews at 

404-562-0573 or greg.andrews@ee.doe.gov.

Ohio Partners Honored...Stark Metropolitan Housing

Authority,partner of Rebuild Ohio,and Neighborhood Housing

Services,partner of Rebuild Toledo,both have been selected to

receive a Governor’s Award for Excellence in Energy Efficiency for

their activities to improve communities through energy efficiency.

Gov.Bob Taft will present the award in November 2000.

CHA Focuses on Seniors... The Chicago Housing Authority

(CHA),a Rebuild America partnership,plans to begin comprehensive

rehab work at all of its senior properties next year,completing

approximately 500 units. By the end of 2003,all 10,000 senior units

will be fully rehabbed. The work planned is part of CHA’s ambitious

10-year,$1.5 billion Plan for Transformation to improve its properties

and give residents better access to social services. “This plan reflects

my belief that we need to take care of our most vulnerable people

first – our seniors,our children and families struggling to

find work,raise their kids and improve their lives,”says

CHA Chief Executive Officer Terry Peterson. “That’s

what’s on the front burner for next year.”

Hawaii Partnership Leaders Honored...Rebuild Hawaii

Island partnership leader Ray Carr and Rebuild Kauai County

leader Glenn Sato have been honored by the Seattle Regional

Office for outstanding leadership of their respective partnerships.

Carr,energy coordinator for Hawaii County,came through for the

County during tough economic times by arranging performance

contracts to implement energy conservation measures. As a result,

the Hawaii County Building,public safety buildings in Hilo and Kona,

and 27 county fire and police stations have all benefited from the

energy-efficiency upgrades and the County has received utility

rebates on these projects. Sato,energy coordinator for Kauai County,

is an energy innovator and proponent of community development

through energy efficiency and of performance contracting to finance

retrofits.He has helped improve the energy performance of

numerous County buildings including base yards,police and fire

stations,and 29 neighborhood centers. Sato helps leverage County

projects with state funds and federal programs such as Rebuild

America,the Federal Energy Management Program and Motor

Challenge. His partnership activities have attracted recent press

coverage in The Honolulu Advertiser and the Garden Island

newspapers. Rebuild America National Program Manager Mark

Bailey and the U.S.Department of Energy’s Seattle Regional Office

Director Kathy Pierce presented recognition awards to Carr and

Sato in September.

City Light Marks Progress...Rebuild America’s Seattle City

Light partnership celebrated the weatherization of the 1,000th

building under the utility’s Multifamily Conservation Program on

October 11. City Light shares weatherization costs with owners of

electrically heated multifamily buildings. The program conserves

electricity and reduces the amount of high-priced electricity City

Light must buy when demand exceeds the supply of its

hydroelectric dams. From 1986 to 1999,the program saved more

than 27,000 megawatt-hours,or enough energy to supply power to

about 2,700 homes per year in the Seattle City Light service territory.

The utility estimates there are about 1,600 more electrically heated

multifamily buildings left to be weatherized,with enough potential

energy savings to power an additional 4,300 homes per year.

Building Above Code...The Wisconsin Energy Initiative (WEI-2)

partnership held its annual symposium on energy efficiency in

schools on October 27,drawing 200 participants. This year’s

symposium presented the many benefits of exceeding the state’s

energy code in the new construction and rehabilitation of school

buildings. The event drew a mix of school administrators,facility

managers,lenders,architects,engineers,utility repesentatives and

energy service companies. 8

Briefs

CHA’s Sullivan Senior House
U.S. Department of Energy

Guam Enacts EnergyEfficiency Code

The Guam Energy Office,lead partner of Rebuild Guam,has

announced the enactment of the Guam Energy Code,an energyefficient amendment to the island’s current building code.

Due to climatic conditions,structures on Guam are designed with

more emphasis placed on withstanding weather phenomena such

as typhoons and earthquakes. In the past,little or no emphasis was

placed on energy efficiency or conservation. With residential

electric bills averaging $400 per month for a 1,500 square-foot

home,energy usage has become a major factor in the cost of living

and doing business on Guam,according to the Guam Energy Office.

Local leaders recognized that lower energy usage and energy costs

would result in long-term benefits for the island community and its

environment and decided to amend the Guam Building Code with

energy-efficient revisions.

Rebuild Guam and the Guam Energy Office,working with the

Department of Public Works and Guam Power Authority,co-sponsors

of the new energy-efficient amendment,began to revise the building

code in 1997. The building code amendments establish minimum

energy-efficient requirements for the design and construction of

new buildings,those undergoing major renovations,and for new

systems and equipment in existing buildings. Funding for this

project was provided by a competitive grant from the U.S

Department of Energy. The Department of Public Works began

enforcing the new code on November 1,2000.

In other news,Rebuild Guam and the Guam Energy Office

sponsored an energy training seminar at the Hilton Hotel Resort and

Spa on September 20-22. John Taijito,director of the Guam

Energy Office,and Madeleine Bordallo,lieutenant governor of

Guam,delivered opening remarks.Charles Eley of the San

Francisco-based Eley & Associates provided training and

demonstrated the compliance software. The new code and the

software can be downloaded from the new Guam Energy Office

web page:www.guamenergy.com. Over 250 professionals,

including local architects,engineers,building contractors,real estate

developers,government compliance officers and officials from other

government agencies,attended the seminar. Local exhibitors were

on hand to showcase various energy-saving products that are

currently available on the island. For more information, contact

James Mummert of the Guam Energy Office at

jammum@netpci.com.

Elaine Barnes of Ohio

Energy, a 1500 Days

partner, gives teachers

pointers on how to

teach solar energy to

their students. Barnes

participated in the

solar array dedication

at Cuyahoga Falls

Elementary School on

October 5. 

Students at Cuyahoga Falls Elementary School elicit audience

participation during a solar quiz show. 

Elementary school students sing during the dedication of a solar panel

array at Science Central, an educational exhibit center in Fort Wayne,

IN. They were joined by Indiana Gov. Frank O’Bannon, Fort Wayne

Mayor Graham Richard, Dr. Thomas Fowler-Finn, superintendent 

of Fort Wayne schools, and many others. The event made a

splash with the press, including local television news

coverage. 

9

Midwestern Schools Celebrate Solar

The 1500 Days Central Ohio partnership,led by 

Glen Kizer of the Foundation for Environmental Education,has

helped introduce solar energy to numerous schools. Several

schools have hosted successful events to dedicate their new

photovoltaic panel arrays. These photos were taken at recent

dedications in Ohio and Indiana.
U.S. Department of Energy

Making Energy

Efficiency Work on a

Tight Budget

Finding the funds to implement energy-efficiency improvements

in public housing can be a challenge for housing authorities on a

tight budget. Rebuild Salisbury (NC),led by the Salisbury

Housing Authority (SHA) and the Housing Authority of Henry County

(HAHC),a partner in Rebuild Kewanee (IL),have managed to

persevere with planned energy-efficiency improvements,proceeding

on a pay-as-you-go basis in the face of budgetary constraints.

Rebuild Salisbury selects properties for improvement on a

“greatest need”basis. Partnership leader Hilary Edwards,SHA

special programs manager,knew that all of the 559 housing units

under their purview could benefit from energy-efficiency

improvements. She also had limited funds and decided to begin

with properties that housed elderly and disabled residents.

Last Spring,Rebuild Salisbury completed upgrades on a 21-

building complex for seniors and disabled persons that has resulted

in a 22 percent decrease in

gas and electric costs.

Upgrades included the

replacement of electric

baseboard heating systems

with central gas heating

and the installation of new

central cooling systems in

a complex that had been

without air conditioning.

New insulation and

weatherized doors were installed as well. The addition of air

conditioning was needed to reduce vacancies and make the housing

units more competitive with the private housing market.

Rebuild Salisbury installed new heating and cooling systems in

another seniors housing property built in 1969. The partnership

plans to provide new insulation and new weatherized doors when

funds become available in about two years.

Next on Rebuild Salisbury’s agenda is the 61-unit,multifamily East

Lafayette property. The partnership has targeted inefficient 30-yearold heating systems for replacement and plans to install new

insulation. SHA expects to save 25 percent in energy costs with

these improvements and reduce maintenance

costs as well. The partnership plans to

introduce central air conditioning to the property once funds

become available.

HAHC Steps up to

Plate

HAHC is a charter partner 

of Rebuild Kewanee,a

Rebuild America partnership

serving the small town of

Kewanee in western Illinois.

Led by the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce,Rebuild Kewanee is

taking a multi-tiered approach to addressing local energy issues and

is developing programs and incentives to increase awareness among

residents and businesses of the benefits of adopting energy-saving

practices.

The housing authority,which is responsible for 465 public housing

units,is doing its part by making energy-saving upgrades to boost the

quality of public housing in Kewanee. Two-thirds of the housing

units in its portfolio were built in 1939. HAHC’s comprehensive

approach to modernization includes evaluating the mechanical,

electrical and architectural design of its buildings,and the

performance of such components as roofing and windows,to best

determine where to focus its efforts.

Despite limited building improvement funds,the HAHC has

managed to implement energy-saving measures and make apartment

living more comfortable for many residents. HAHC has

implemented a number of energy-efficiency measures in four of its

developments since January 1999.

Eight buildings at the 172-unit Fairview property have received

new boiler systems. About 25 percent of Fairview housing units

received low-volume showerheads and toilets,compact flourescent

lighting (CFL) fixtures,and insulation of domestic hot water lines.

New efficient gas ranges with electronic ignition replaced old 

ranges with pilot lights. Ninety units also received new energyefficient windows.

At the 44-unit Lakeland Terrace property,new energy-efficient,

frost-free refrigerators were installed. CFLs replaced incandescent

light fixtures at two other properties and additional energy-saving

measures are planned once funds become available. Additional plans

call for replacing windows at the housing authority’s Hollis House

and installing a new boiler and domestic hot water heater this spring

at the Lincoln House Apartments.

For more information, contact Hilary Edwards of Rebuild

Salisbury at 704-636-1410 or email h.edwards.sha@cbiinternet.

com or Mark Mikenas of Rebuild Kewanee at 309-852-2175 or

email kchamber@kewanee-il.com. 10

A SHA property for seniors and 

disabled persons

HAHC’s Fairview development
U.S. Department of Energy

John Devine is Team Leader

of DOE’s Chicago Regional

Office.

Vital Statistics: Lives in

Westmont,IL,with his

wife,Ruth,and children,

Megan,5,and Kiel,7.

What experiences led

you to your current

role with Rebuild

America? I have worked in energy conservation

and renewables since 1982. Prior to working for

DOE,I worked for Washington State University’s

Energy Program. Most of my work centered on

energy codes,building science research and indoor

air quality research.

When the Rebuild Team Lead position opened up

last August,I quickly made my interest known. I felt

that it represented something different than what I

had been doing – instead of working with just

buildings,I would be working with people and

buildings.

What is the most rewarding aspect of your

work? Since I’ve only been with the program a

short time,I imagine that seeing projects completed

will be the most rewarding aspect. For now,it’s fun

to advocate energy efficiency by helping to establish

partnerships that actively promote and implement

energy efficiency throughout the region.

What has been your greatest challenge?

Figuring out who everyone is,what everyone does,

and whom they work for.

What is your dream job? To be my boss’boss.

What do you enjoy doing with your spare

time? Organic gardening and natural landscaping,

fishing and spending time with my children.

What have you never tried but would like

to? Deep sea diving,because it’s a completely

different environment and you’re flying underwater.

The plants and creatures are like nothing on land --

they’re unique,new and unusual.

If I were to try it,however,I would do it with a

great respect for the natural world. I earned a special

reverence for nature after being stung

on the hand by a stingray while

snorkeling in Mexico. 11

economic growth should help dispel the fears of those who are concerned that

a cleaner environment is at odds with economic prosperity.

The good news continues as more partnerships track the impact their

activities are having on their communities. In 2000,Rebuild America estimates

that its partnerships collectively will avoid over 1.6 million tons in CO2,SO2 and

NOx emissions,most of this amount in CO2 reductions.

By helping to improve air quality,Rebuild America partnerships are making an

important contribution to quality of life in communities across the country.

View from DC

Continued from page 2

In response to feedback from East

Coast energy offices,energy services

companies (ESCOs),contractors and

engineers,the Western Regional

Coalition (WRC) has changed both its

capacity and name. The newly

unveiled Energy Services Coalition

(ESC) is intended to serve the entire

country in much the same way the

WRC served the 18 western states,

promoting performance contracting

opportunities from a grass roots level.

The ESC’s mission is to aid

practitioners working at state and

community levels to increase the

delivery of energy- efficiency services

through performance contracting. It

is committed to rapidly addressing

performance contracting issues that

aid project implementation among

building owners,state energy offices,

ESCOs,finance companies and others.

“This coast-to-coast network will

help organizations at all levels see the

unity and success of the performance

contracting industry,”says ESC

President Bret Hunter of CMS Viron,

a Rebuild America Business Partner.

“The beauty is diversity -- a large

group of people from multiple

backgrounds,all trying to accomplish 

the same goal:to improve

efficiencies and comfort,reduce

utility costs,protect the environment

and control deferred maintenance

issues. This helps everyone across the

board from agencies to ESCOs.”

The organization is changing its

role with Rebuild America as well.

On September 19,the ESC signed a

strategic partnership agreement 

with Rebuild America pledging to

work with the program to increase

the implementation of energyefficient improvements and upgrades

in buildings. By joining Rebuild

America as a Strategic Partner,the

ESC will complement the work of

the National Association of 

Energy Service Companies,another

Strategic Partner that serves as the

primary national advocate for the

ESCO industry.

The ESC was announced to 40

attendees of a performance

contracting conference,co-hosted 

by Rebuild America and Rebuild 

New Mexico,on September 18-19 

in Albuquerque.

For additional information about

the Energy Services Coalition,

contact Michael Arny at

michaelarny@leonardoacademy.org 

Western Regional Coalition

Goes National
Rebuild America is a network of community

partnerships – made up of local governments

and businesses – that save money by saving

energy. These voluntary partnerships, working

with the U.S. Department of Energy, choose the

best ways to improve the energy efficiency of

commercial, government and apartment

buildings. Rebuild America supports them

with business and technical tools and 

customized assistance.

By the year 2003, Rebuild America 

partnerships will be involved in over 

2 billion square feet of building renovations,

which will save $650 million every year in

energy costs, generate $3 billion in private

community investment, create 26,000 new

private sector jobs, and reduce air pollution by

1.6 million tons of carbon dioxide a year.

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

Rebuild America Welcomes 

15 New Partnerships

American Youth Works, Austin, TX

Association for Energy and Affordability, New York, NY

Bedford Urban Enterprise Zone Association, Inc., Bedford, IN

Facilities Energy Efficiency Program, Anchorage, AK

The Gas Co./Kauai Electric Co.–EnergyWise, Honolulu, HI

Greater New Britain, New Britain, CT

Massachusetts Electric Energy Efficient Schools, Northborough, ME 

Maui Community College, Maui, HI

Poudre School District, Fort Collins, CO

San Diego Office of Education, San Diego, CA

Spokane Neighborhood Action Program, Spokane, WA

Tolani Lake Elementary School Academy, Winslow, AZ

Town of Wallingford, Wallingford, CT

Township of Marple, Marple, PA

Visions Five CDC, Cookeville, TN

Share Your Success

To submit news or story ideas, contact: 

• Elise G. Rand, 202-466-7391, or email

erand@pcgpr.com

• Anita Denning, 301-588-9387, or email

adenning@drintl.com

To be placed on the mailing list for Rebuild America

Partner Update, e-mail rebuildamerica@drintl.com.

3

Total Number of Active

Partnerships...........................

Total Square Feet Committed 

For Retrofit.............................

Number of States and 

Territories with Partnerships......

303

544

51

million 

sq.ft.

Check us out: www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/rebuild or 1-800-DOE-3732

Everything’s coming up solar in Ohio. (See p. 9 of this issue.) Attending a PV

array dedication at Cuyahoga Falls Elementary School are, from left: Glen Kizer,

1500 Days Central Ohio partnership; John Devine, Chicago Regional Office; Ohio

State Rep. Kevin Coughlin; Mayor Don Robart; Jack Riordan, Ohio Dept. of

Development; and Mark Shanahan, Ohio Air Quality Development Authority.