Growing Cooler

Growing Cooler: The Evidence on Urban Development and Climate Change
by Reid Ewing, Keith Bartholomew, et. al.

Author Organization: Urban Land Institute
A comprehensive research report that explains why it is essential to use urban growth strategies to curb CO2 emissions from automobiles, how much transportation-related benefit we can expect to see from creating more compact growth, and what policy changes will make such growth possible. This series of articles challenges communities, planning agencies and energy committees to make a difference with policies and behavioral change.

Dell: We're Going Carbon Neutral

Yet another company seeing that going "green" makes sense for making "green" ($$)

Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Increases for fist time since 1987

News for Release: Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2007

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

New Report Shows Increase in Fuel Efficiency for 2007

Contact: Jessica Emond, (202) 564-4355 / emond.jessica@epa.gov

(Washington, D.C. - Sept. 26, 2007) Reversing a long-term trend of slightly declining fuel economy, EPA is reporting an increase in fuel efficiency for 2006 and 2007, an average of 20.2 miles per gallon (mpg) for cars and light duty trucks. For the first time, real-world fuel economy values are based on the new, more realistic EPA test methods that have taken effect for model year 2008 vehicles.

"America's drivers want the biggest bang for their fuel buck, so this report is great new for both our wallets and our environment," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "Automakers are answering President Bush's call to improve fuel economy and decrease our nation's dependency on foreign oil."

EPA's annual report, "Light-Duty Automotive Technology and Fuel Economy Trends: 1975 through 2007," provides data on the fuel economy and technology characteristics of new light-duty vehicles (cars, minivans, sport utility vehicles, and pickup trucks). The report projects average real-world fuel economy for model year 2007 to be 20.2 mpg, the same as 2006.

This report confirms that average fuel economy improved in both 2005 and 2006, the first consecutive annual increases since the mid-1980s. The 20.2 mpg value for 2006 and 2007 is 0.9 mpg higher than in 2004, reversing a long term trend of slightly declining fuel economy since its 1987 peak. Most of the increase in overall fuel economy since 2004 has been due to higher light truck fuel economy. Fuel economy standards have risen each year since 2005 for light trucks. Another reason is slightly lower light truck market share, which peaked in 2004 at 52 percent and is projected to be 49 percent in 2007.

For recent model years, the improved method yields industry-wide combined city/highway fuel economy estimates that are about six percent lower than past estimates. Accordingly, year-to-year comparisons only should be made between data listed in today's report.

The Bush Administration is taking several actions to promote better fuel economy. First, the Department of Transportation (DOT) has raised fuel economy standards for light trucks for every year from 2005 through 2011. Additionally, President Bush has issued an Executive Order directing EPA, DOT and other federal agencies to initiate a Clean Air Act rulemaking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from new vehicles, aimed at improved fuel economy as well.

The new report can be found at: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/fetrends.htm

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Change a light, change the world

The City of Nashua has made a commitment to do our part to save energy and help protect the environment. Join us and help us reach our goal of over 500 citizens signing the ENERGY STAR Change a Light Pledge to change at least one light at home to an energy-efficient one!
It's a small step that's already making a big difference.

Take the pledge to say how many light bulbs you'll change to energy efficient fluorescents. Follow the link below and select "Join Us" to make a pledge on behalf of the City of Nashua!

Take the change-a-light pledge for Nashua!

New Fuel Economy Stickers to Help Consumers Make More Informed Decisions

News for Release: Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2007 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)



Contact: John Millett, (202) 564-4355 / millett.john@epa.gov



(Washington, D.C. - Sept. 5, 2007) To more clearly and fully convey fuel economy information to consumers, all new cars, light trucks, and SUVs produced after Sept. 1, 2007 will feature a newly re-designed window sticker. The new label will allow consumers to make more informed decisions by including the estimated annual cost for fueling the vehicle, how the vehicle's fuel economy compares to others within its class, and a Web site to go to for more information. "EPA's updated fuel economy estimates will help Americans avoid sticker shock when filling up at the pump," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "By considering fuel use when shopping for new cars and trucks, consumers are in the driver's seat to save money and protect our environment." The changes coincide with the adoption of new methods to determine the miles per gallon (MPG) estimates that appear on the stickers. The new methods, which took effect for model year 2008 vehicles, will bring MPG estimates closer to a vehicles actual fuel use by including factors such as driving at high speeds, accelerating aggressively, air conditioning use and driving in cold temperatures. "From AAA's perspective, it is about a simple truth: consumers want to know that the information they see on a government-sanctioned label reasonably reflects what they will experience on the road," said Robert Darbelnet, president and CEO of AAA, which has more than 50 million members. "We believe that the new EPA labeling system will provide motorists a more realistic idea of their fuel performance. This is clearly a step in the right direction." Taking EPA's fuel economy information into account when shopping for a vehicle can help consumers save money, as well as cut down on air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.






For more information on the new label:



http://www.epa.gov/fueleconomy/label.htm

Learn to Install Your Own Solar Panels!

The NH Sustainable Energy Association is pleased to announce the first in a series of Community Energy Education offerings:

ENTRY LEVEL PHOTOVOLTAICS (PV) INSTALLERS COURSE (Solar Electricity)
All sectors of the photovoltaic market continue to grow. Global PV market growth has averaged 25%+ annually over the last 10 years, with worldwide growth rates for the last 5 years well over 35%. Recent legislation in NH has made it likely that there will be a significant increase in the demand for Solar PV in the state. This fall you can learn the skills necessary to enter this profession.

When: Tuesday and Thursday Evenings September 18, 2007 – October 18, 2007 6-9PM (10 classes)
PV Installation Saturday November 3, 2007 and Saturday November 10, 2007. (2 classes)

Where: Classes - NHCTC Laconia
PV Install - Prescott Farm Audubon Laconia

Register today by calling: 524-3207

About the Instructor: Mark Weissflog Is the owner of KW Management, Inc. as a full service electrical and energy services contractor with 20 Employees. Specializing in Solar and Wind energy systems. Mark has been involved in NH Energy policy, is on the board of the NH Sustainable Energy Association and is Secretary of the Electrical Contractors Business Association (ECBA). He has an Associated Degree in Applied Science from NH Technical College. Holds a Master Electricians Licenses in New Hampshire and Massachusetts and is a NABCEP certified PV installer.

Cost: $385 dollars per student
Certification exam $70.00 (optional)

For more information:
Wes Golomb Professor, Energy Services & Technology
NH Community Technical College
379 Belmont Road, Laconia, NH 03246
800 357-2992
603 524-3207 x 763
603 340-4152 (cell)

Big Solar comes to the Northeast region

August 31, 2007

Big Solar Comes to the Northeast

The northeast United States is not usually considered a hot spot for large-scale solar power projects like the ones being developed in California and the southwest. But yesterday Pennsylvania announced it will get the largest photovoltaic solar power plant east of the Mississippi. The 3-megawatt power station will be financed and built by Germany solar company Conergy's Epuron and SunTechnics subsidiaries. Epuron inked a 20-year power purchase agreement with utility Exelon (EXC), which operates the nation's largest fleet of nuclear plants. The 17,000-panel PV plant will be built in Bucks County, outside Philadelphia. The size of the plant is small in contrast to some of the 500-megawatt solar thermal stations being developed for California utilities PG&E (PCG), Southern California Edison (EIX) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SRE) - or even PV plants like the 15-megawatt facility being built by PowerLight (SPWR) in Nevada. But the Pennsylvania project indicates that the market for Big Solar is not limited to the sunbelt. it's also a sign that Conergy, one of the world's biggest solar companies, is serious about its recent move into the U.S.

http://blogs.business2.com/greenwombat/2007/08/big-solar-comes.html