DOVER – DNREC, in conjunction with Delaware’s Energy Efficiency Advisory Council, invites stakeholders to attend an upcoming workshop to give comments on proposed new regulations for the evaluation, measurement and verification (EM&V) of energy efficiency projects. Two workshop dates are scheduled:

• 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 3, DNREC Auditorium, Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway, Dover, DE 19901
• 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 10, DNREC Division of Waste & Hazardous Substances New Castle office, Conference Room A, 391 Lukens Drive, New Castle, DE 19720

The Energy Efficiency Advisory Council (EEAC) was established to create and implement programs for consumers that encourage energy efficiency and wise energy use practices across the state. As utilities make their plans for providing energy-efficiency solutions, DNREC is developing a set of regulations that will outline methods for evaluating projects and measuring their effectiveness, known as EM&V regulations.

The Council has set an ambitious goal for energy-use reduction in the state, aiming for a 2.1 percent reduction of Delaware’s total energy use over three years.

The public is encouraged to attend the workshops to learn more about the regulations, ask questions and provide input.

Interested parties may obtain a copy of the draft regulations online at EM&V Regulations or by emailing Emily.StClair@delaware.gov. To submit written comments regarding the proposed regulations, email Emily St. Clair or send comments to:

ATTN: Emily St. Clair
Division of Energy & Climate
100 West Water Street, Suite 5A
Dover, DE 19904

Questions also may be directed to Emily St. Clair by email or phone at 302-735- 3366.

About the Energy Efficiency Advisory Council
The Energy Efficiency Advisory Council is comprised of representatives from DNREC, energy providers, large and small businesses, manufacturers, low-income and residential populations, the Sustainable Energy Utility and other interested parties affected by energy efficiency standards, including environmentalists and agriculturalists. The Council also collaborates with the Public Service Commission and the Public Advocate. Together, the council members work to reach Delaware’s energy efficiency goals while ensuring that all energy efficiency and reduction programs are cost-effective.

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 152

DOVER – With spring flowers popping up and trees budding as winter’s chills subside, spring cleaning and home improvement projects are probably close to foremost on your mind. While you’re cleaning out closets, tidying storage areas and getting into those often-forgotten crevices of your home, the Delaware Division of Energy & Climate suggests some easy home improvement projects and everyday actions that will make your home more energy efficient. Making home updates while the weather is nice will help you use less energy and save more money now and in the months ahead.

Home:

• Remember that drafty window or door? Add weatherstripping or apply caulk to cracks to keep air conditioning in this summer and chills out next winter.
• Check window and door screens for needed repairs so you can enjoy the fresh spring air.
• Add insulation in attics, basements, crawl spaces and other areas to keep your home’s temperature regulated through seasonal ups and downs.
• Check to make sure your water heater and hot water pipes are well-insulated; if not, add pipe insulation or wrap-around insulation. Turn down the temperature on the water heater by 10 degrees (but no lower than 120 degrees) to avoid using excess energy by over-heating water.
• To save water and the cost of heating it, install flow-restrictors on faucets and shower heads.
• Weary from high winter energy costs? Consider replacing your old hot water heater or furnace with a more energy efficient model.
• No central AC? Replace that wheezing old window air conditioner with a more efficient energy-saving unit.
• Replace air filters and have your furnace or other primary HVAC unit cleaned and/or serviced for maximum efficiency and reliability.
• Add a programmable thermostat to your home’s HVAC system. You can set and forget it, so the thermostat will automatically adjust itself throughout the day. This way, you’re not heating/cooling an empty house when no one is home.
• Ceiling fans are a great addition to circulate air and keep cool, with or without AC.

Appliances:

• To reduce energy usage inside your home, turn off or unplug any appliances, electronic devices and chargers when they are not in use, and encourage family members to turn off lights when everyone leaves a room.
• When using the oven, plan to cook three or four items at a time for the same energy cost as one.
• Set your refrigerator at 38 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit and your freezer at 10 degrees. Keep your freezer full, and try to cut down on how frequently you open refrigerator and freezer doors (the food is the same as it was last time you checked!)
• Run the washing machine or dishwasher only with full loads, and use warm water to wash and cold to rinse.
• Use the dryer only for full loads, and separate loads into heavy and lightweight items to avoid using the machine longer than necessary to dry each type. Dry loads directly one after the other; once the dryer is warm, it requires less initial energy to start up another load.
• Use a clothesline to hang laundry outside in dry weather. Use a drying rack inside for small or delicate items, or in bad weather.
• When purchasing new or replacing older appliances (heaters, refrigerators, etc.), look for the Energy Star rating or Energy Guide label. These appliances are verified energy-savers and could yield lower electricity costs to run.

Simple tips for family comfort:

• For cool spring nights, stay comfortable by putting on a sweater or warmer socks, and keep throws or blankets on the couch and in family rooms instead of turning up the heat.
• On warm days or nights, open windows to catch a breeze instead of turning on the AC. You’ll bring a breath of fresh air into your home and save energy.
• Pull shades or curtains at night to help keep cold out and open them during the day to let sun in.

Auto:

Warmer, longer days also mean more time out and about, so don’t forget energy-saving habits for transportation!

• On warm days, open car windows to the fresh spring air instead of using the air conditioner.
• For better fuel economy, use your air conditioner only when absolutely necessary, and set the temperature higher and the blower lower for comfort.
• Save fuel through mindful driving habits: accelerate from stops slowly, drive at moderate, steady speeds, and avoid unnecessary braking by coasting to red lights and anticipating traffic speed changes.
• Avoid idling as much as possible. Idling wastes fuel and significantly contributes to air pollution.
• To save gas (and time), plan errands in a circular route starting and ending at home instead of traveling in random directions or making several trips.
• Plan for errands during the week, such as picking up grocery items along the route you take home from work or school.
• Combine car trips with family, friends or neighbors; join a carpool or use public transportation if available.
• Smaller cars with smaller engines typically get better fuel mileage, so if you have more than one vehicle, research the average fuel efficiency of each and use the most efficient one most frequently.
• Looking to purchase or lease a new vehicle? Electric and alternative fuel vehicles are cleaner, cheaper to fuel, and often require less maintenance than gasoline cars. The Division of Energy & Climate offers rebates to purchasers or leasees of these vehicles in Delaware, and other manufacturer rebates and federal tax credits may be available. For more information on clean vehicle rebates, visit de.gov/cleantransportation.

For more information on the Division of Energy & Climate and its programs, including the online Energy Savers Guide, visit dnrec.delaware.gov/energy or call 302-735-3480.

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 121

DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Energy & Climate invites fleet managers, businesses, public organizations and transportation professionals to attend Fueling the Future: Clean Transportation for a Greener Delaware, presented in conjunction with the Delaware Clean Cities Coalition from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 24, at Dover Downs Hotel and Casino, 1131 North DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901.

At this interactive one-day event, attendees will explore the benefits of cleaner alternative fuels for transportation including propane auto gas, natural gas and electricity. Fueling the Future features presentations, discussions and vendor displays, plus a ride-and-drive opportunity to get behind the wheel of alternative-fueled cars and ride in alternative-fueled commercial vehicles.

Expert panels and vendors will showcase options for transitioning fleets to alternative fuels; present funding opportunities and success stories, and dispel common misconceptions. Alternative-fueled vehicles are available in almost every vehicle class, from passenger sedans and pickup trucks to school buses and heavy-duty trucks, making them ideal for virtually any fleet.

“The costs of fueling a fleet and the carbon footprint of traditional gas and diesel vehicles can be substantial,” said Clean Transportation Policy Analyst Kathy Harris, Division of Energy & Climate. “The transportation sector in Delaware accounts for about 34 percent of the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. Cleaner alternative fuels improve a fleet’s environmental stewardship while offering more consistent and often lower fuel costs than conventional fuels.”

The grant recipients of the Alternative Fueling Infrastructure Grant Program also will be announced at the Fueling the Future event. This program supports projects that reduce harmful climate change-inducing emissions in Delaware through alternative fuel development.

“When it comes to climate preparation and resiliency, the importance of using alternative fuels cannot be overstated,” Harris said. “Delaware’s growing alternative fuel network offers progressive opportunities for improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions threatening our state. We invite Delaware’s transportation professionals to be part of this environmentally-responsible movement.”

To register for the event, or for more information, visit de.gov/fuelingthefuture. Registration is open now through Wednesday, May 11.

Fueling the Future is hosted by the Delaware Clean Cities Coalition, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Program. The coalition is housed within the Delaware Division of Energy & Climate, and comprises more than 40 stakeholders from state and local governments, fuel suppliers, vehicle retailers, fleet owners, non-profit organizations and other interested parties.

For more information on clean transportation initiatives, rebates and funding opportunities offered through the Division of Energy & Climate, visit de.gov/cleantransportation.

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 114

DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Energy & Climate has announced that the Energy Efficiency Investment Fund (EEIF) is no longer accepting new applications for the prescriptive portion of the funding program, and that custom applications will be considered on a modified basis. In addition, Energy Assessment Grant applications will no longer be accepted.

Established in 2011, the EEIF was created to help Delaware businesses make strategic investments in capital equipment and facility upgrades to help lower operating costs, reduce energy consumption and improve environmental performance. The fund was intended to be capitalized annually with the first $5 million in public utility tax receipts. The program was fully funded for its first two years of operation, and continued with reduced funding for two additional years. For fiscal year 2016, no new funding was appropriated, necessitating the suspension of select portions of the program.

All prescriptive and custom applications received prior to July 1, 2015 will continue to be reviewed and approved accordingly. However, prescriptive applications – including prescriptive lighting and lighting controls, vending misers, and natural gas heating and water heating equipment – that were received on or after July 1, 2015 will not be considered. Custom applications received on or after July 1, 2015 will be considered on a modified basis, as the custom portion of the program is still accepting modified custom applications for process and manufacturing improvements, compressed air systems, pumping systems and variable speed drives.

“The EEIF program has experienced a significant increase in the number of applications resulting from the prescriptive application process that was introduced with the re-launch of the program in July of 2014,” said Energy Program Administrator Robert Underwood, Division of Energy & Climate. “In the first three years of EEIF through Fiscal Year 2014, there were 56 applications awarded. By comparison, 322 applications were awarded in Fiscal Year 2015 alone.”

“We understand that these changes will affect our valued business partners and contractors in the short term, but we continue to work on innovative ways to reestablish funding for the program that will allow us to fully open EEIF in the future,” Underwood added.

For more information the EEIF, please visit the Energy Efficiency Investment Fund pages.

Media Contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 51