PartnerUpdate

This issue heralds both a new scope

for Rebuild America and a new look for

Partner Update. The redesigned

newsletter will accommodate news of

Rebuild America’s sister programs,

beginning with Building America and

High Performance Buildings. An

introductory story about Building

America can be found on p. 2 and

additional coverage can be found on 

p. 7. An article about High Performance

Buildings also appears on p. 7. Stories

found in the center section of the

newsletter are organized into the

following categories: Building Retrofits,

New Construction, and Technology/Best

Practices. We have also added a new

feature, Partner-at-a-Glance, to highlight

the activities of the lead partner of a

Rebuild America partnership. Our

featured partner in this issue is the

College of Engineering, Southern Illinois

University (see p. 5). As always, we

welcome your story ideas, news, photos

and comments. (See photographic

requirements on back page.) Contact

Elise G. Rand, Potomac Communications

Group, at 202-466-7391 or

erand@pcgpr.com with your information.

2 Expert Presenters Network

2 Building America Program

3 View From DC

5 Partner-at-a Glance

7 High Performance Buildings

9 Bat Cave Explored 

CONTENTS

REBUILD AMERICA

Dear Partners in Energy Efficiency,

Energy-efficiency programs and initiatives in the U.S.

Department of Energy’s Office of Building Technology, State and

Community Programs (BTS) have always worked toward a shared

goal of a more energy-efficient and prosperous America. The

new year ushers in a new era for Rebuild America and its BTS

affiliates.

While pursuing their respective goals, Building America, High

Performance Buildings, ENERGY STAR® and the Million Solar

Roofs Initiative have collectively covered building energy retrofits, new residential

construction, green building, schools, renewable energy technologies, outdoor lighting

and alternatively fueled vehicles, among other areas. We at BTS have amassed

considerable information about how to implement energy-saving measures and

improve quality of life in communities across the country. Now is the time to combine

these capabilities and practices and advance to the next level. Ultimately, the goal is to

weave energy-saving practices into the fabric of American society. The country would

greatly benefit if energy-efficient practices became “business as usual” for Americans

both at home and at work.

Toward this end, Rebuild America, Building America and High Performance

Buildings are taking the first steps by joining together to broaden the reach of their

energy-saving efforts. Partner Update is one of the first endeavors, incorporating a new

look and expanding its scope to include coverage of Building America and High

Performance Buildings activities. In the coming months, the newsletter coverage will

continue to expand into other areas of BTS. 

This integration of information and practices presents new opportunities for the

constituencies that these BTS partners represent. Rebuild America partnerships looking

to expand their efforts may elect to explore the residential sector, or perhaps new

commercial construction. Through Building America and High Performance Buildings,

Rebuild America partnerships will learn how to put into practice the efficiencies that

home builders and commercial developers are discovering. Building America and

High Performance Building participants, on the other hand, will be introduced to the

activities of each another and those of Rebuild America and may find common ground

and opportunities for collaboration. 

By linking all these partners, we will broaden the range of information and resources

available to you. I am confident that the cross-fertilization of ideas among participants

will create positive results. The coming year promises to be a very productive one and

I look forward to working with all of you to continue to develop energy solutions to

incorporate more fully into the everyday lives of Americans.

Sincerely,

Mark Ginsberg

Deputy Assistant Secretary

U.S. Department of Energy

U.S. Department of Energy • Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy www.rebuild.org • DOE/EE-0242

Partner Update

Gets New Look

January–February 2001

Mark Ginsberg
Building America, a partnership

between the U.S. Department of

Energy (DOE) and the housing

industry, is dedicated to improving

the performance of new homes

through increased efficiencies in

design and construction. 

“Building America is dedicated to

demonstrating that new homes can

be both cost-effective to build and

energy-efficient to live in,” according

to George James, Building America

program manager. 

In fact, the energy consumption of

new homes can be effectively

reduced by 30 to 50 percent with

little or no impact on the construction

costs. 

The basic premise of Building

America revolves around the house as

an integrated system of components.

It aims to achieve an ideal

combination of efficient and costeffective design and engineering in

home building by involving the entire

development team from the start,

including the architect, builder,

building materials suppliers,

developer, utilities and financial

backers.

Building America demonstrates

how builders can use a systems

engineering approach to increase

quality and performance without

significantly increasing price. By

refining building envelope and

mechanical system components,

builders can save money while

producing more comfortable houses.

Building America has five consortia,

comprised of more than 150 different

companies. These teams, which

include both Fortune 500 companies

and small businesses, are producing

energy-efficient, environmentally

sensitive, affordable and adaptable

homes on a community scale. 

The five Building America consortia

are: 

• Building Science Consortium, 

Westford, MA

• Consortium for Advanced

Residential Buildings, Norwalk, CT

• Hickory Consortium, West

Wareham, MA 

• IBACOS Consortium, Pittsburgh, PA

• Industrialized Housing Partnership,

Orlando, FL. 

As of October 2000, these consortia

had nearly 3,000 houses under

construction in 17 states. DOE cost

shares research and development

support with the consortia, while the

industry teams pay for construction

costs. Building America has built

these highly efficient residences in a

number of

communities. 

Building

America

estimates

that “word

of mouth”

promotion

to builders

and

developers

will allow

for widespread information dissemination,

yielding 15,000 houses incorporating

system integration methods.

Meanwhile, Building America is

pressing steadily toward its goals:

• Developing cost-effective systems

solutions for housing production

that reduce energy use by an

average of 50 percent while

increasing comfort, quality and

durability.

• Facilitating adoption of the systems

engineering approach in 30 percent

of the new housing market.

By offering improved comfort and

lower utility bills, builders applying

Building America practices have a

distinct advantage over those offering

less efficient housing. Reduced energy

consumption, increased affordability

and greater comfort increase the

appeal of these homes for prospective

buyers. 

For more information contact

George James at george.james@

ee.doe.gov or Ren Anderson at

ren.anderson@ee.doe.gov.

Presenters’ Network

Up and Running... 

Need an energy-efficiency expert 

for an upcoming event? Rebuild

America can help with its Network of

Expert Presenters, a newly launched

web-based service that enables you

to browse speaker availability by

topic and region and reserve the

presenter(s) best suited for your

event. The Network also provides

photos and bios on the presenters.

The Network of Expert Presenters is

comprised of members of the

Rebuild America program team,

including many from Department of

Energy laboratories and

representatives from Rebuild

America’s Business Partners. To find

out more, acces the network by

visiting the www.rebuild.org home

page or contact Doug Avery at

davery@lbl.gov.

Building America: Improving

New Home Performance

“Building America

is dedicated to

demonstrating

that new homes

can be both 

cost-effective 

to build and

energy-efficient 

to live in.”

George James

Building America 

Program Manager

This home in

the IBACOS

Washington’s

Landing

development 

is a model 

of efficient

design.

2 U.S. Department of Energy
The new year brings new meaning to the word

“partnering” for Rebuild America partnerships. Our new

collaborations with Building America and the High

Performance Buildings initiative open the door to fresh

possibilities and opportunities for shaping sustainable

communities. A look at how Building America and

Rebuild America are working toward a common goal of

community sustainability by revitalizing urban areas of

Pittsburgh underscores the potential of such

collaborations. 

For example, Building America’s IBACOS (Integrated

Building and Construction Solutions) team is working

with developers of the Summerset community at Frick

Park in Pittsburgh to transform an abandoned slag heap

– a byproduct of the City’s steel industry – into a new

community of cutting edge, efficient homes. 

Summerset is a redeveloped Brownfield that is using

land recycling, smart growth planning and urban infill to

create a new urban community of traditionally styled

single family homes, townhomes and apartments that

offer the latest in technology. The new homes will

feature the latest advances in building materials and

technology and embody a commitment to quality,

energy efficiency, low monthly operating costs and

value. 

The project goes beyond the residential development

to address the needs of the larger community. In

redeveloping the site, almost 140 acres will be dedicated

to the expansion of Pittsburgh’s historic Frick Park and

the creation of new neighborhood parks. A stream,

watershed and the surrounding hillsides will be restored

and a trail system developed to provide riverfront

access. Rebuild America Program Representative Mike

Myers visited the site in 1999 and met with Michael

Dickens, president of IBACOS, to learn firsthand about

the project. 

Elsewhere in the City, exciting developments are

underway on the Rebuild America front where Rebuild

Pittsburgh is striving to educate the

View From DC

By Mark Bailey &

Daniel Sze

Details for the National Forum 2001 are coming together,

and the event is shaping up to be a real crowd pleaser.

Activities begin on March 13 at 2 p.m. and continue through

March 15. Here’s a sampling of what’s in store:

Tuesday, March 13: Unanswered Rebuild America questions?

Find out all the answers at the Rebuild 101 pre-conference

tutorial, which will present a program overview and will

provide experts to answer your specific questions. Other

tutorials, including The State of the States, will also be featured.

After the main event at 4 p.m., be prepared to meet and greet

at the evening event. 

Wednesday, March 14: Kennedy Smith,

director of the National Main Street

Program, will serve as our keynote

speaker. Local Main Street programs serve

communities by evaluating commercial

districts’ opportunities and long-term needs,

which is in line with the Rebuild America

mission. For more information about the

Main Street program, visit

www.mainstreet.org. 

Throughout the day, educational sessions

will be held in five tracks or keys – HighPerformance Partnerships, Connecting with

Classrooms and Campuses, The Changing

Energy Landscape, Tomorrow’s Technologies Today, and

Innovative Approaches to Reaching Key Audiences. Sessions

include: Seven Habits of Highly Effective Partnerships,

Reaching School Decision Makers, Leveraging Public Benefits

Funds, HVAC and Benchmarking, and The Keys to Energy

Efficiency in Housing: Public, Affordable, New Residential.

During a luncheon ceremony, Department of Energy’s Mark

Ginsberg will present the Energy Champion Awards. 

Thursday, March 15: This shared day of activities with

Greenprints 2001 will open with a plenary and keynote

speaker that appeals to both audiences. Opening events will

be followed by breakout sessions in five environmental/design

keys – Sustainable Community Design, Construction Ecology,

Clean Energy and Transportation Technology, High

Performance Buildings Process & Programs, and Getting to a

Green and Efficient Future. 

For more session and speaker updates, online registration

and information about the National Forum 2001, visit

www.rebuildforum.org. For registration information, contact

Christina Van Vleck at 301-588-4229. Continued on page 4

Gearing up for 

ATLANTA

Building

America’s

IBACOS 

team 

at the

Summerset 

site.

U.S. Department of Energy 3

The National

Forum’s

collaboration with

the Southface

Energy Institute’s

Greenprints

conference adds

an exciting

dimension to this

year’s event.
Snap Shot

Vital Statistics: 

Lives on Bainbridge Island in

Washington with his wife, Marilyn,

who is a pre-school director. Has four

grown children and two grandchildren. 

Current Role with Rebuild: 

Rebuild America Regional Team Leader for the Seattle Region.

Most rewarding aspect of your work:

Making the most of local resources and skills by and adding

peer-to-peer assistance to create sustainable local projects.

How did you become involved with Rebuild: 

Due to a promotion, there was an opening in the Seattle

Regional Office. My past experience as program manager for

the Weatherization, HERS and Building America programs all

provided me with the knowledge to participate in Rebuild

America.

What do you do in your spare time: 

Biking, hiking, reading, and keeping in touch with family.

What is your dream job: 

To be the director of a foundation with unlimited grant money

to provide technical assistance to affordable and sustainable

projects.

What would you like to try that you haven’t: 

Long distance biking.

development community about green building. Led by the

nonprofit Green Building Alliance, Rebuild Pittsburgh has

set its sights on two revitalization projects: the Pittsburgh

Convention Center and Middle Hill, an inner city

neighborhood. Rebuild Pittsburgh’s involvement has led

the convention center to incorporate energy-efficiency

features into the building design and make optimal use of

natural light and ventilation to provide a better quality

indoor environment. The partnership is also assisting

Middle Hill in applying principles of green development to

all new construction and renovation projects that are part

of its revitalization efforts. 

Working independently, both Building America and

Rebuild America have benefited Pittsburgh communities on

multiple levels. An alliance between the two programs

will serve to further strengthen the benefits and services

both can provide to a community. 

While Rebuild America partnerships have begun to

branch into renewable technologies and green building,

most partnership activity has focused on improving existing

buildings. The emphasis for Building America has been on

increasing efficiencies in new residential construction and

on enhancing performance through the research, testing

and adoption of new practices. For High Performance

Buildings, the focus is on highly efficient, new commercial

construction. Rebuild America works with communitybased partnerships, Building America teams with major

residential builders and High Performance Buildings works

with commercial developers, architects and engineers.

No doubt the future will bring frequent and participatory

collaborations between Rebuild America, Building America,

High Performance Buildings and other energy-saving

initiatives. Stay tuned for developments.

Continued from page 3

View From DC

4 U.S. Department of Energy

The Stark Metropolitan Housing Authority (SMHA), a

partner of Rebuild Ohio, was honored on January 3 with a

Governor's Award for Excellence in Energy Efficiency.

SMHA's winning project was the Energy Conservation

Appliance Replacement Program. The project involved the

purchase of over 1,700 Magic Chef Maytag refrigerators that

cut energy consumption in half compared to the

refrigerators they replaced.

The new refrigerators are reducing SMHA energy bills 

by over $90,000 annually and have a life expectancy of 

19 years. They can also be credited with helping the

environment by reducing harmful emissions. Each year

about 2.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide, 8,508 pounds

of nitrogen oxide and 22,807 pounds of sulfur dioxide will

be avoided due to the refrigerator replacements, according

to SMHA Executive Director Cherrie Turner. 

Ohio Lt. Gov. Maureen O'Connor congratulates SMHA. From left:

SMHA Energy and Compliance Supervisor Steve Ewing; two Maytag

representatives; SMHA Maintenance and Development Director Mike

Williams; United National Bank's Monica Graves; Lt. Gov. O'Connor;

SMHA General Accountant Marvin Fox; SMHA Finance Director Diana

Kolm; SMHA Energy Assistant Salene Cater; and SMHA Executive

Director Cherrie Turner. 

Richard Putnam

SMHA Wins Governor’s Award
U.S. Department of Energy 5

What led the University to pursue a path of

energy efficiency?

Ours is a comprehensive university with the top Carnegie

Research status. We have a very active Coal Research Center

dedicated to clean coal technologies, various integrated

energy and environment initiatives within the colleges of

Engineering & Agribusiness Economics and a commitment

by the administration to making our campus facilities energy

efficient and up-to-date. We also have the only Mining

Engineering program in the state that addresses energy

efficiency issues in mining operations. We are fortunate to

live in a community that is very active at the forefronts of

renewable energy, sustainability and the environment. 

How did College of Engineering become

involved in Rebuild America?

The College of Engineering at SIUC has been very active in

energy conversion and utilization. Current energy conversion

initiatives include fuel cells, biomass derived energy and

establishing a high-efficiency, environmentally clean energy

technologies center. With grants from the state, we have or

are pursuing initiatives such as Creating Energy Management

Opportunities for Industry and Developing Energy Resources

for Business and Industry. We also helped organize the first

Southern Illinois Energy Expo, held on campus in 1999. The

engineering curricula includes course offerings such as

Energy Management and Energy & Society. In view of all

this, it is quite natural for SIUC’s College of Engineering to

become involved in Rebuild America. 

What is the partnership’s goal?

To make the concept of energy efficiency as commonplace

and as widely understood as recycling is today.

What is the partnership’s current focus?

Our current focus is on the energy retrofitting and energyefficiency research of buildings belonging to the campus and

selected Rebuild America partners that represent 300,000

square feet. This involves: 

• Performing five energy assessments per year

• Researching improvements to electric motor efficiency 

• Conducting energy-related workshops and seminars

• Developing a directory of regional energy service providers

• Partnering with high schools to encourage studentconducted home energy assessments

• Partnering with community businesses and lenders to

promote energy-efficient mortgages

• Implementing a leveraged CFL/LED lamp initiative and

promoting programmable thermostatic controls and

occupancy sensors. 

In addition, we are promoting renewable energy through

passive solar homes, solar panels for a hog farmer, and

photovoltaics for outdoor lighting.

How do your partnership activities benefit

the university?

These activities impact our recruitment and retention

efforts in a very positive way. Under a state grant, area high

schools students have an opportunity to work as paid

summer energy interns. Our undergraduate students get

hands-on project management experience in a professional

setting and have found key positions in the industry. Our

graduate students benefit from the opportunity to pursue

various applied research topics for their theses and have

found employment with Fortune 500 companies. Our first

graduate has started an Energy Management program at the

school in Cyprus where he teaches. We are also working

with our partners on a solar powered fuel cells project.

What is the greatest challenge facing your

partnership?

The response has been overwhelming. We had a

successful kickoff meeting on November 15 attended by

about 70 persons. Twelve Rebuild America partners

participated in discussions and set up exhibits. By now we

have signed on about 20 partners. Thus our greatest

challenge is to sustain the momentum that we have

generated and to continue to build upon it.

For more information, contact Manohar Kulkarni at

kulkarni@siu.edu or 618-453-3221.

SIUC Commits to Energy Efficiency

PARTNER-AT-A-GLANCE

Lead Partner/Name of Partnership: College of

Engineering, Southern Illinois University Carbondale

Executive Officer: Dean George Swisher, PhD, PE

Main Contact: Associate Professor Manohar

Kulkarni, PhD, PE

Student Enrollment: 22,552 (Fall 2000)

Carbondale 

City Manager 

Jeff Doherty, left, 

and Engineering

Dean George

Swisher
Communities in Fort Collins, CO, are discovering both the

joys and the rewards of energy efficiency. On November 14,

four elementary schools in the Poudre School District were

awarded the ENERGY STAR® label for buildings by the U.S.

Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency (EPA). DOE’s Rebuild America and EPA’s

ENERGY STAR® have worked hand-in-hand to assist school

projects in gaining recognition and in developing local

champions for energy efficiency. 

The event attracted publicity and drew attendees from the

school board, the Western Area Power Administration, Fort

Collins Utility, EPA and DOE. Accepting the awards on

behalf of the schools were principals Dave Benson, Olander

Elementary; Bill Chenoweth, Werner Elementary; Larry

Slocum, Harris Bilingual Elementary; and head custodian Jim

Lofink,The Lab School of Creative Learning. 

The school system’s dedication to energy efficiency was

instrumental in encouraging district-wide change. Poudre

School District hired Stu Reeve to serve as its first energy and

technical systems manager. Reeve has helped the district

reduce energy costs by replacing outdated equipment with

high-efficiency systems. He also ensures that all renovations

and additions incorporate high-efficiency equipment. The

district supports his efforts by continuing to provide

necessary funding each year. 

During the ceremony, Linda Smith, program manager of

Rebuild Colorado, praised the school district as “a leader in

Colorado, demonstrating the result of a long-lasting and

steady commitment to energy efficiency.” 

Each of the four schools has implemented a variety of

efficiency measures. Some have converted their steam

heating systems to more modern hot water heating systems

and natural gas steam heating with heat registers. Others

have installed new doors and windows with automatic

motorized shades, energy-efficient window glazing,

fluorescent lighting with dimming systems, and daylighting

measures. The schools’ outstanding performance is the result

of innovative design elements, integrated energy systems and

staff dedication to energy efficiency.

Because of these efforts, the schools got high marks using

the ENERGY STAR® benchmarking tool, the only national rating

system for building energy performance. The rating system

provides useful baseline information to help building owners

set energy performance targets and plan energy-efficiency

improvements.

For more information about the ENERGY STAR® label, visit

www.energystar.gov. For more about the partnership, contact

Stu Reeve at 970-490-3502 or email at stur@psd.k12.co.us.

Schools Earn 

ENERGY STAR® Label 

BUILDING RETROFIT

Schools were the focus of the Wisconsin Energy Initiative-2 (WEI-2)

partnership’s annual symposium on energy efficiency on Oct. 27, which

drew over 200 participants. WEI-2 took this opportunity to honor a top

performer. From left, Wisconsin Division of Energy Administrator John

Marx and WEI-2 Program Manager Terry Pease recognize Patrick

Bruckhart for his work to save energy in Wisconsin schools. The

partnership has completed 18 million square feet of improvements to

date, most of it in school buildings. 

The Poudre School District in Colorado honored four schools that

received the Energy Star Label. Accepting the awards, from left, 

are Dave Benson, Bill Chenoweth, Jim Lofink and Larry Slocum. 

(See story at left.)

The Portsmouth (OH) Metropolitan Housing Authority (PMHA)

partnership was recognized on Oct. 26 for executing a performance

contract for energy-efficiency improvements to 700,000 square feet of

public housing with CMS/Viron Energy Services, a Rebuild America

Business Partner. The $3 million performance contract is expected to cut

energy costs by 25 percent for an estimated $200,000 in annual savings,

according to George Horsley, PMHA modernization coordinator. From

left, Richard Grimm, PMHA executive director, accepts an award from

Sara Ward, chief of the Office of Energy Efficiency/Ohio Dept. of

Development, at a press conference while PMHA Board Chair 

Emily Cobb looks on.

Rebuild America partnerships and the people behind

them have been receiving honors from many

quarters. Some snapshots of recent activity:

6 U.S. Department of Energy

Awards Corner
NEW CONSTRUCTION

Across the nation, Building America teams are constructing

homes that offer the comfort and energy efficiency that

homeowners want at costs that are comparable to that of

traditional housing. Consortia members monitor the performance

of Building America houses once families move in. Using test

results and real-life data, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

documents the benefits of energy technologies and then 

supplies builders with case studies that show how to adopt

similar strategies.

Findings of the Building America teams include the following:

• Improvements in the thermal integrity of a home’s envelope

allow for a reduction in the size and cost of its mechanical

systems. 

• Using advanced framing systems, such as setting wood studs

farther apart and eliminating double top plates, allows more

room for insulation and cuts labor and material costs. 

• A tightly sealed house envelope, such as an integrated airbarrier system combining rigid foam sheathing glued to the

framing with air-tight caulking of drywall, eliminates the need

for separate polyethylene barriers and house wrap. For added

comfort, a controlled ventilation system allows occupants to

regulate airflow.

• By placing the heating system in a central location, installing

energy-efficient windows, and improving the insulation,

homebuilders can use shorter duct runs and cut material and

installation costs by over 50 percent while saving energy. 

• Reworking the infrastructure by placing ductwork, plumbing

and wiring inside the conditioned space avoids interrupting the

house envelope with entry and exit points. 

Building America team research improves the quality and

performance of today’s homes and provides valuable information

for homes of the future. By supporting the development of

innovative building methods and technologies that achieve

significant energy and cost savings, Building America is helping to

guide the future of home building in this country.

For further information, visit www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/

building_america.

In 1998, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

began working with the building industry to

develop a 20-year plan for research, development

and deployment activities in commercial buildings.

DOE acted as facilitator and brought more than 250

people from 150 building organizations together

during four workshops. The result of these efforts

is High Performance Buildings: A Technology

Roadmap, completed and released in October

2000. The Roadmap recommends four strategies

for commercial building activities: 

• Performance Metrics: Establish key definitions

and metrics for high performance commercial

buildings.

• Technology Development: Develop systems

integration, monitoring and other technologies

that enable commercial buildings to optimally

achieve targeted performance levels over their

life cycles.

• Process Change:

Create models of

collaborative

commercial

whole-buildings

design and

development, and

establish the tools

and professional

education programs

needed to support

these processes.

• Market Transformation:

Stimulate market

demand for high

performance

commercial buildings

by demonstrating and

communicating

compelling economic

advantages.

More information and background on the

Roadmap can be found on DOE’s web site:

www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/commercial_roadmap.

The web site includes downloadable copies of the

roadmap in PDF format.

DOE has restructured its Commercial RD&D

activities to match those

Building A Better

Mousetrap

High Performance

Buildings Initiative

Provides Roadmap

Continued on page 10

This cutting edge Pulte Home in Tucson, AZ, a collaborative effort of Building

America’s Building Science Consortium, was designed to reduce energy costs 

by as much as 50 percent.

U.S. Department of Energy 7
Power parks...micro-grids...

BCHP...6 nines...a whole new

vocabulary is being created by energy

professionals that reflects a growing

interest in fuel cells and other

distributed generation (DG)

technologies. Why the interest?

For starters, utility restructuring is

creating market demand for more

energy-efficient systems, the nation’s

energy grid is becoming more costly

and less reliable, end-users are tired

of unpredictable energy prices, and

diesel has fallen out of favor as a

backup fuel. 

The result is growing market

demand for DG – energy production

by small-scale, low-emission power

generation and energy storage

systems that are located near the enduser. Technologies such as

microturbines, fuel cells, photovoltaics

and wind turbines deliver more

efficient, reliable and eco-friendly

power to the end-user. Power parks

may be set up in industrial parks,

with DG power distributed via small

grids, or microgrids. 

Fuel Cell Specifics

In a fuel cell, an electron stream is

produced when hydrogen-rich fuel

passes over an anode and oxygen

passes over a cathode, creating water

vapor and heat as its byproducts.

The fuel cell itself has no moving

parts, making it a quiet and reliable

source of power. 

The phosphoric acid fuel cell is the

only type of fuel cell commercially

available for stationary applications.

Fuel cells require auxiliary equipment

to be integrated into existing systems,

including a reformer, which isolates

hydrogen from natural gas through

steam reforming. Other equipment

includes an inverter to convert DC to

AC, controls to let systems

communicate, and load-shedding

devices for back-up fuel cell systems.

Fuel cells are currently providing

clean power to the 4 Times Square

Conde Nast Building in New York

City, the First Bank of Omaha, NE, a

New York Central Park police

substation, a post office in Alaska,

and several other locations. Rebuild

America partnerships that have fuel

cell projects include Sacramento, CA,

Municipal Utility District and the City

of Portland, OR. San Antonio's

Bracken Bat Cave, home to over 40

million bats, and the City of Austin,

with a burgeoning energy demand

from data centers, are both interested

in fuel cells and other DG

technologies. Data centers require

high reliability – in the order of

99.9999% – thus the "6-nines"

reference. 

Fuel cells can provide byproduct

heat to

cogeneration

technologies and

to microturbines

for greater

generation

efficiency. Energy

managers from

the U.S. Army

and intelligence

base in Fort

Meade, MD are

installing a

Siemens-Westinghouse fuel

cell/microturbine system that will

generate 1,000 kW of electricity. The

system nearly doubles the efficiency

of conventional power plants and will

have the lowest environmental impact

of any power plant using fossil fuel.

The most significant barrier to

widespread stationary fuel cell

application is the high cost of

installation. Currently, 1 kW costs

$4,000 to install. Larger office and

multi-family units would require 

100 kW at a cost that would be too

burdensome for most building

engineers. 

The U.S. Department of Energy's

National Energy Technology

Laboratory (NETL) has launched the

Solid State Energy Conversion

Alliance (SECA) in an effort to

substantially lower the cost of fuel

cells. SECA will seek to develop a

3kW to 10kW solid-oxide fuel cell

system with a factory cost of $400 per

kW by 2010. The basic building block

of the proposed future fuel cell 

will be a compact and light-weight, 

5kW solid state module that can be

accurately mass-produced.

Potential Benefits

Rebuild America has traditionally

looked at energy efficiency as a way

to cut back on coal and oil-based

energy generation. Since its fuel is

converted directly to electricity, a fuel

cell can operate at much higher

efficiencies than conventional

technologies. DG's efficient energy

production adds to the energyefficient technologies and practices

that Rebuild America promotes. 

Rebuild America, Building America

and High Performance Buildings

participants should be aware of

potential applications for fuel cells as

the technology evolves into a viable

energy source for buildings. Fuel

cells can be an ideal alternative for

hospitals, data processing centers,

schools and other buildings that

require a reliable back-up power

source to maintain equipment.

Locations with high-energy demands,

unreliable generation and few sources

of fuel are prime candidates for fuel

cell installations. As fuel cells

continue to advance and become

available and affordable for many,

Rebuild America partnerships and the

communities they serve are likely to

benefit from this clean and highly

efficient means of generating

electricity and heat in buildings.

For more information, contact

Anne-Marie Borbely-Bartis of Pacific

Northwest National Laboratory at

am.borbely@pnl.gov; Doug Hinrichs of

Rebuild America and the D&R Office

of Distributed Resources at doug@

drintl.com; or Distributed Energy

Resources at www.eren.doe.gov/der.

Taking A Closer Look At Fuel Cells

TECHNOLOGY/BEST PRACTICES

"The benefits

to the nation

of widespread

fuel cell 

use are

significant."

NETL Fuel Cells 

Product Manager

Mark Williams

8 U.S. Department of Energy
A cave in Texas that houses an estimated 40 million bats

may soon be equipped to tell its story to a broad audience.

Rebuild America joined Bat Conservation International (BCI)

and other organizations at the San Antonio Renewable

Energy Charette on November 27-28 to address design

options for a visitor’s center for this unique natural wonder. 

The charette was a first of its kind for Rebuild America, the

event sponsor. Experts spent a full day brainstorming

proposed plans for two San Antonio area projects: Bracken

Bat Cave and facilities in the Alamo Community College

District. 

Situated in the midst of a 400-acre site just north of San

Antonio, Bracken Cave is home to one of the largest

communities of mammals in the world. The site is under the

auspices of BCI, who acquired the site to permanently

protect the bats and to create a visitor and research center

that is as eco-friendly and energy-efficient as possible.

Through this facility, BCI will educate visitors about the

ecological and economic importance of bats and demonstrate

the interdependence of humans, wildlife, land and aquifers.

At the same time, the facility will model environmentally

sensitive building design, innovative construction and

resource conservation.

Charette participants considered strategies for new

construction on a sensitive hill country site over the Edwards

Aquifer Recharge Zone. The proposed facility is also in an

off-grid remote location. John Thornton from the National

Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) provided guidance on

solar energy options. BCI and Overland Partners, AIA, are

interested in using photovoltaics and fuel cells to provide

peak-shaving power to the center, as well as geothermal

storage and natural water treatment systems.

The session that focused on improvements to buildings in

the Alamo Community College District was aimed at

retrofitting existing buildings to improve energy efficiency

and realize operational savings for the college district. The

Charette Explores Bat Cave, College Facilities

session generated some solid ideas on reflective roofing,

daylighting, efficient T-8 lighting and electronic ballasts,

improved motors for HVAC applications, and control systems

for increased communications among energy systems. 

The goal of the daylong charette was to provide energy

consumption and generation solutions that meet

environmental and budget criteria. Overland Partners,

architects for the proposed Bracken Cave project, hosted the

event. Laurence Doxsey of the U.S. Department of Housing

and Urban Development coordinated the event locally.

“One outcome of the charette is to explore ways to initiate

charettes in other Rebuild America communities,” says

program representative Mike Myers, who helped arrange the

charette.

Participants included NREL, Office of Distributed

Generation, University of Texas, Texas A&M University, CPS

Solar Serve, Solar San Antonio, MetalOptics and Enlink

GeoEnergy Services. 

A presentation to City leaders and the public, held at the

San Antonio Museum of Art, capped off the two-day event.

For more information, contact Mike Myers at mt4myers@

aol.com or Doug Hinrichs at doug@drintl.com.

Are Green Roofs The Answer?

When Greek soldiers returned from their travels in 600

B.C., they brought with them tales of the Mesopotamian city

of Babylon and its lavish “hanging gardens.” The city was

overflowing with lush green plants and brightly colored

flowers that dangled from atop temples and houses,

providing its citizens with a relaxing atmosphere and a break

from visual monotony. But all that’s ancient history, right?

Not so, says Katrin Scholz-Barth, director of sustainable

design at HOK Planning Group, based in Washington, DC,

who recently presented a lecture on green roofs as part of

the Buildings for the 21st Century lecture series, hosted by the

U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and held at the National

Building Museum in Washington, DC.

In an effort to “begin a dialog between and among city

planners, architects, engineers, artists, building owners and

designers about green roofs’ role in ecological planning,”

Scholz-Barth explored the design element she views as the

natural choice for marrying the goals of energy-efficiency,

environmental improvement and economic feasibility. 

Why Green Roofs? 

“Green roofs make environmental sense, serving as

ecological multi-functional systems that Continued on page 10

TECHNOLOGY/BEST PRACTICES

U.S. Department of Energy 9

© Merlin D. Tuttle, Bat Conservation International

Bats depart Bracken Cave on a moonlit night.
identified in the roadmap. 

To promote high performance commercial building design

and construction, DOE recently launched the High

Performance Buildings initiative. The purpose of this project

is to:

• Promote and create examples of high performance

buildings

• Provide tools and resources to support design,

construction, commissioning, and retrofit

• Provide technical assistance

• Document process, successes and lessons learned

Efforts undertaken as part of the High Performance

Buildings project include:

• Developing and documenting case studies, tools,

guidelines and web-based resources. 

• Developing and conducting workshops and charettes —

training building owners, designers and occupants about

Continued from page 7

High Performance Buildings Initiative Provides Roadmap

substitute for lost green space,” says

Scholz-Barth. “Vegetated roofs reduce

the effects of urban heat islands,

mitigate airborne dust, absorb carbon

dioxide and release oxygen into the

atmosphere.”

Vegetated roofs also mitigate

flooding, which accounts for an

estimated 40 percent of natural

disasters globally, she notes. Many

environmentalists attribute the current

increase in the frequency of flooding

to the high rates (up to 75 percent) of

rainwater run off in urban areas.

Since plants and soil are able to

absorb rainwater, green roofs can

reduce run-off by as much as 75

percent.

“Green roofs are the single most

effective solution to providing storm

water retention,” Scholz-Barth

maintains. 

Green roofs can also maximize the

energy-savings of other efficiency

measures in a structure. Temperatures

atop traditional gravel roofs can climb

as high as 175°F and cause dramatic

temperature increases within a

building, requiring sizeable energy

how to create high performance buildings. 

• Supporting building projects that set performance goals

substantially higher than those typically in practice today:

• For projects with energy-efficiency goals of 25 percent

less than Standard 90.1, DOE and its team will provide

project-specific technology evaluation/information.

• For projects with energy-efficiency goals of 50 percent

less than Standard 90.1, the DOE team will provide

ongoing consultation for the project, beginning in early

design, and commissioning through the first year of

occupancy.

For more information about the High Performance

Buildings project, visit http://www.eren.doe.gov/buildings/

highperformance/. DOE is actively seeking candidate projects.

If you know of a potential project, contact Dru Crawley of

DOE at drury.crawley@ee.doe.gov.

Continued from page 9

Are Green Roofs The Answer?

outputs for cooling. By forestalling

indoor heat gain in the summer and

insulating against colder air in the

winter, vegetated roofs decrease the

temperature differential within a

structure and minimize energy costs

year-round. The useful life of a green

roof is four to five times as long as

traditional roofs, making them

economically feasible, as well. And

finally, green roofs provide a relaxing

visual stimulus as well as a habitat for

birds, butterflies and other creatures. 

Getting Started

Scholz-Barth says that for the most

part there are no building codes that

limit the construction of these roofs

and, likewise, there is no guidance to

follow. However, many states offer

incentive programs for businesses that

undertake energy-efficient

construction projects. 

She suggests that a structural

engineer determine the load that your

building can bear. For extensive

green roofs, which rely on just 1 inch

to 3 inches of soil and sedum for

plant growth, the minimum

acceptable load is 15 lbs. per square

foot. Intensive green roofs can serve

as a habitat for humans and are much

larger scale projects, requiring more

than one foot of soil and sedum and

as much as 100 lbs. per square foot

load capabilities. 

Scholz-Barth suggests that schools,

which are often already involved in

energy-efficiency projects, are prime

candidates for vegetated roof

installations. These projects do not

interfere with or prohibit other

energy-efficiency measures.

Photovoltaic arrays can be placed

alongside the roofs, which can also

accommodate and air conditioning or

ductwork.

“In the very near future, technology

will permit photovoltaics to be

installed as wall panels or windows,

allowing buildings to integrate several

energy-efficiency measures and

leaving the roof to be vegetated,”

notes DOE Deputy Assistant Secretary

Mark Ginsberg.

For more information about green

roof applications, contact Katrin

Scholz-Barth of HOK Planning Group

at katrin.scholz-barth@hok.com. For

technical information contact Dru

Crawley at drury.crawley@ee.doe.gov

10 U.S. Department of Energy
Since its inception in 1997, Sue

Seifert and Ken Baker have devoted

themselves to taking Rebuild Idaho to

the next level. As Rebuild Idaho

program leader, Seifert spends her

time facilitating partnership formation

in Idaho school districts and

communities. Ken Baker, assistant

program leader, is there to supplant

her efforts. 

Taking a Team Approach

Baker and Seifert both work for the

Idaho Department of Water Resources

Energy Division. A team consultant

and performance coach, Baker

handles strategic plan development,

program design, group facilitation and

mediation for Rebuild Idaho, while

Seifert’s focus is on program design,

organization and coordination, grant

unity, contract development and

community networking. 

Both Seifert and Baker were

prompted to action by Rebuild

America’s strong technical and policy

support from the national level. They

felt that this type of community-based

program would allow them the

freedom to meet their state’s specific

needs. The national program’s

flexibility and support structure

helped pave the way for Rebuild

Idaho to become the Energy

Division’s foundation program for

community energy efficiency. Seifert

and Baker have made good use of

the program team’s support and of

Rebuild America’s extensive materials. 

The Idaho community has

welcomed Seifert and Baker’s efforts.

Since both electric and natural gas

costs have risen over the past year –

natural gas by as much as 25 percent

– there is a new focus on energy

expenditures. Seifert and Baker have

found that Idaho communities are

ripe for participation as they begin to

look more creatively at energy use

and cost-effective efficiency solutions. 

Making Rebuild Work for

Idaho

Initially, Seifert and Baker decided

to market Rebuild America within the

context of economic development for

communities. Business Partner leader

Doug Avery’s presentation materials

proved to be influential in securing

community buy-in. Today, Idaho

communities seek out the program on

their own, freeing

Seifert and Baker to

shift their focus from

marketing to

customer service. 

To ensure effective

customer service,

Seifert and Baker

serve as both

facilitators and staff

to their partnerships.

Rebuild Idaho’s

approach is to hold a

community’s best

interests in mind

while seeking solutions

to its specific issues.

Empowering communities is key,

which is why Seifert and Baker seek

tools such as building operator

training, utility tracking and

performance contracting to allow

partnerships to progress. 

Idaho Champions

Seifert and Baker credit their first

success story, the Idaho Falls School

District, with making a big difference

in the state. The school district met

with quick success by realizing more

than $8,000 in electric savings during

a 10-day winter holiday break. Since

then, Doug McGiffin of Idaho Falls

Power, has created a utility

management program for the school

district that saves more than $45,000

annually through operation and

maintenance procedure changes. 

Another boost for the program has

been its community advocates, such

as Darrell Buffaloe from Idaho State

University, who were willing to talk

to others about their positive

experiences with the Energy Division

and Rebuild America. Other

standouts include: 

The City of Caldwell, led by Mayor

Garret Nancolas, was the program’s

first city partnership – and the first to

successfully use performance

contracting. 

Ada County’s Director of Operations

Dave Logan saw the value of Rebuild

America almost two years ago. Since

then, the County’s Board of

Commissioners has been a strong

advocate of the program,

implementing multiple projects. 

Within five years, Seifert and Baker

predict that all of Idaho’s major

jurisdictions will be Rebuild America

communities. They envision new

efficiency programs created upon the

foundation that has been laid by

Rebuild America. Most importantly,

they see school districts relying on

the program as an investment

structure – where energy and

resource savings can fund the

construction of new schools.

For more information about Rebuild

Idaho, contact Sue Seifert at 208-327-

7973 or email sseifert@idwr.state.id.us.

Rebuild Idaho: A Partnership In Action

Ken Baker and Sue Seifert

U.S. Department of Energy 11
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 where they live, work

and play 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, expanding on

community-focused activities of the Office of

Building Technology, State and Community

Programs.

REBUILD AMERICA 

Office of Building Technology, 

State and Community Programs

U.S. Department of Energy

1000 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, DC 20585-0121

Address Correction Requested

FEBRUARY 

22 Rebuild America Strategic Partner Meeting,

Washington, DC. Contact Ron Shelton at

srl@ornl.gov or Sherry Sykes at Aspen Systems,

919-269-0908. 

25-28 National Association of State Energy Officials

Energy Outlook Conference, Washington, DC 

(Watergate Hotel). Visit www.naseo.org/events.

MARCH 

6-7 Public Technology, Inc.'s Local Government

Brownfield Technology Summit, Fort Worth, TX

(Fort Worth Convention Center). 

Visit www.pti.org/news.

13-16 Rebuild America National Forum 2001, Atlanta

(Westin Peachtree Plaza). Shared day with

Greenprints conference on March 15.

Visit www.rebuildforum.org. 

14-16 Greenprints 2001, Atlanta (Westin Peachtree

Plaza). Visit www.greenprints.org.

22-24 Building Energy 2001 Conference, Boston

(Tufts University). Visit the Northeast

Sustainable Energy Association web site at

www.nesea.org or phone 413-774-6051.

24-27 National School Boards Association 61st 

Annual Conference, San Diego, CA. 

Visit www.nsba.org/conference.

APRIL

1-4 2001 National Town Meeting on Main Street,

Indianapolis. Visit www.mainstreet.org. 

18-21 “Transforming Government through

Technology,” Atlanta (Swissotel). 

Visit www.pti.org.

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

Partner Update

Photographic Requirements

We welcome photos that help tell the story of energy-saving

projects undertaken by Rebuild America, Building America and

High Performance Buildings. We are interested in interior and

exterior photos of your projects as well as photos of the people

involved. 

• Photographic prints are preferred because they allow us more

flexibility in sizing the image. Prints will be returned upon request.

Send prints to Elise Rand, Potomac Communications Group,

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

Ph: 202-466-7391. 

• Electronic images - We can also receive images via email that

meet the following parameters.

• Scanning a print - use resolution of at least 300 dpi 

(dots per inch) and make sure the finished image is at least 

3-by-4 inches, either horizontal or vertical. Do not send

images scanned at 72 dpi. 

• Digital camera images - When shooting use settings that

provide high resolution and the least compression to get 

the best image quality (at least 300 dpi). Save images as

“jpg” files.

• Transmission - You may need to compress image files (using

Zip software) so you can successfully email them. The less

you compress, the better. Email images for Partner Update to

erand@pcgpr.com. 

• Captions - be sure to include a description of the photo and to

identify the people featured. If there are more than 10 people in

the photo, identify one or two key people. 

Upcoming Events

High

Performance

BUILDINGS