(Image: California Academy of Sciences)

The California Academy of Sciences is a shining example of dedication to energy efficiency and energy awareness. The newly renovated museum is now the largest public LEED platinum building in the world. It harbors a variety of green features including radiant floor heating, natural light and ventilation, renewable energy, water efficient fixtures, recycled building materials, and a living roof. In addition to building green, the Academy focuses on sustainability education, offering interactive exhibits to encourage visitors to reduce their carbon consumption and take daily action to save energy. Exhibits are designed to instill a sense of wonder about the natural world and to allow visitors from around the world an opportunity to learn about our planet, and how best to preserve a sustainable future.

• View the winners of the 6th Annual Flex Your Power Awards
• Read Flex Your Power’s Best Practices Guide for Commercial Office Buildings
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January 29, San Diego

January 29, San Diego

January 29, San Diego

(Image: Next 10)

The positive benefits of energy efficiency in California’s economic growth have been highlighted in Next 10’s 2009 Green Innovation Index. This is the second annual report released by the Palo Alto public policy group and prepared by the consulting firm Collaborative Economics.

Along with powerful indicators on transportation, energy generation and climate change, the report made it clear that increasing energy efficiency is good for the economy. California began investing in energy efficiency in 1974 with the establishment of the California Energy Commission and the start of efficiency planning. Data from this report shows that 35 years of investments have yielded impressive returns.

• California’s energy productivity is 68 percent higher than that of the rest of the country. Measured as the ratio of energy consumed (inputs) to GDP (economic output), growth in energy productivity equates to more dollars of GDP generated per unit of energy consumed.
• Californians, per capita, pay lower utility bills and spend billions less of their state economy as a whole on electricity than the rest of the country due to energy efficiency innovation.
• The average monthly residential electricity bill in California is less than half of the average monthly bill in Texas, representing a total savings for Californians of nearly $25 billion in 2007. As a fraction of the state economy, Texas’ overall electricity bill is almost double California’s bill.
• Over 1.5 million jobs have been created as a result of energy efficiency policies forged by California over the last 35 years, generating $45 billion in payroll.

The Green Innovation Index also reports on the carbon intensity of our economy, transportation trends, and alternative energy development. This data is key to moving California forward towards a cleaner, greener economy; because you can not plan for where you’re going if you don’t know where you are.

• Read more about Next 10
• Download the 2009 Green Innovation Index, (PDF, 8.9 MB)
• Download the Press Release or the Index at a Glance
• Learn how energy efficiency helps fight global warming

January 28, San Diego

(Photo: Hydromatic Technologies Corporation)

A recent breakthrough in clothes dryer technology, coined DryerMiser by Hydromatic Technologies Corporation, may reduce dryer energy consumption by up to 50 percent and cut drying time by up to 41 percent, according to developers. Dryers are currently one of the home’s most avid energy consumers, second only to refrigerators as the largest electricity zapping appliance. Unlike other appliances, the clothes dryer cannot achieve ENERGY STAR status because there is currently little difference in energy use between available models. DryerMiser technology may create a point of differentiation. While traditional clothes dryers heat the air inside the drum using a natural gas burner or electric heating elements, the DryerMiser system uses heated fluid to warm the air inside the dryer, increasing efficiency.

Developers hope to see the new technology brought to market in the near future, including a conversion kit which would allow DryerMiser installation on existing machines. In the meantime, home energy bills can be cut dramatically with other energy saving appliances, including ENERGY STAR qualified washing machines, which can save you up to $875 in energy and water costs over the life of the machine, as well as significantly reducing dryer time thanks to faster spin cycles. No-cost options to save energy also exist, including using your dryer wisely to maximize efficiency.

• Read background: “It Works for a Car, Why Not for Clothes,” by Leora Broydo Vestel (The New York Times, Green Inc, 1/12/09)
• Find energy efficient appliances for your home
• Find rebates on appliances and more in your area

(Photo: PVTech.org)

Despite the challenging economic climate, installations of photovoltaic (PV) solar systems on commercial and residential buildings in California are growing, and prices are falling. Until recently the demand for rooftop systems outstripped supply and kept prices high, but global production has ramped up and a glut of panels has led to cheaper prices. Prices have fallen 8% to 10% since October and are expected to drop another 15% to 20% this year.

The pace of installation continues to increase for large commercial solar systems in California. Notable recent projects include: a SunPower-installed 3 MW system at Grundfos Pumps in Fresno, a total of 1.1 MW installed by SunPower at several facilities owned by the Trinchero Family Estates winemaking concession, and a 669 kW power purchasing agreement at the Marshal Medical Center in Cameron Park..

PG&E, Northern California’s largest utility, has also committed to invest in rooftop solar panels on commercial buildings. Details were not final, but CEO Peter Darbee acknowledged that the investment would be similar to Southern California Edison’s $850 million program.

Residential solar also got a recent boost as falling prices combined with increased state and federal incentives to reduce payback for systems. Last fall the federal government removed the $2,000 cap that had accompanied the 30% tax credit on new systems.

Commercial and residential solar systems are becoming more commonplace and there has never been a better time to consider solar as an option. The variety in both technology and financing has grown dramatically in a few short years and the economic viability is being proven on rooftops large and small across the state.

• Read more “solar news” from Flex Your Power
• Get information on state and federal incentives

January 26 - 29, San Diego