School registration due by Feb. 10 for event on April 27

DOVER – Delaware middle school students are encouraged to test their model car engineering skills and power up their solar panels for the 23rd annual Junior Solar Sprint race – a statewide challenge of creativity, engineering and speed that will culminate Thursday, April 27 with a day of racing at the Delaware State Fairgrounds in Harrington. Co-sponsored by DNREC’s Division of Energy & Climate and the Delaware Student Technology Association (TSA), the state’s Junior Solar Sprint competition is part of the National Junior Solar Sprint program sponsored by the U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program.

The deadline for team registration is Friday, Feb. 10. Delaware middle schools – 5th through 8th grade students – are invited to register one or two teams for the Junior Solar Sprint race, with two to four students on each team. The Division of Energy & Climate will provide each participating team with a materials kit including wheels, a motor and a solar panel that converts the sun’s energy into electric power. Over several weeks, team members use these standard materials to design and build their own unique cars. Awards will be presented for the fastest time, as well as for design creativity.

“Junior Solar Sprint presents a hands-on, multidisciplinary exercise in renewable energy education that encourages teamwork and fosters student interest in STEM fields – science, technology, engineering and mathematics,” said Energy Program Administrator Rob Underwood, Division of Energy & Climate. “Junior Solar Sprint has been a Delaware tradition for more than 20 years, allowing students to flex their creative ingenuity and apply real-world problem solving in a fun and educational atmosphere.”

Full rules, guidelines and registration forms can be found on the Division of Energy & Climate’s renewable energy webpage, or the Delaware TSA State Conference webpage. Schools are not required to have a TSA chapter in order to participate. Interested educators can send their registration forms by email to mailto:Caren.Fitzgerald@delaware.govor by U.S. mail to: DNREC Division of Energy & Climate, 100 West Water Street, Suite 5A, Dover, DE 19904. For more information, email or call Caren Fitzgerald at 302-735-3480.

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

Vol. 47, No. 25

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DOVER – Governor Jack Markell joined DNREC Secretary David Small, DNREC staff and project partners today to announce that DNREC’s downtown Dover campus, the Richardson & Robbins (R&R) Building, has earned Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification in the category of Existing Buildings: Operation and Maintenance from the US Green Building Council.

LEED certification is a globally-recognized benchmark for environmental sustainability. Beginning in 2009, DNREC staff and partners implemented a series of energy efficiency and sustainability projects which, among other benefits, resulted in a 40 percent reduction in energy use and a 24 percent reduction in water use in the building, bringing significant savings to the state’s utility costs.

“My Executive Order 18 asked state agencies to lead by example towards a clean energy economy and increased sustainability for Delaware, including goals for reducing energy use, increasing recycling, promoting clean transportation and saving money while benefiting the environment,” said Governor Markell. “The announcement of LEED certification of the Richardson & Robbins Building epitomizes the type of results we aimed to achieve in this process and I applaud the hard work and commitment to environmental stewardship by the DNREC staff involved in this effort.”

“LEED certification for existing buildings in operations and maintenance is based on a rating system that holds facilities to the highest standards of sustainability. Earning this certification is a prestigious achievement that recognizes sustainability in every aspect of a building, its systems and its employee activities,” said Secretary Small. “It’s a testament to the perseverance and dedication of our staff and to the benefits of forging partnerships with other agencies and organizations that we are here today to celebrate the success of this low-cost, high-return project.”

Inspired by Executive Order 18 and building on the earlier energy efficiency upgrades made to R&R, DNREC’s LEED team formed in 2011 with the goal of “walking the walk” on sustainability and reducing environmental impacts, said LEED Team Manager Bahareh van Boekhold, calling the results “a triumph of inter-departmental teamwork and coordination.” Staff from seven DNREC divisions joined forces with staff from the Office of Management and Budget’s Division of Facilities Management and Government Support Services, working with partners including LEED consultant Lorax, energy upgrade contractor Ameresco and state vendors and service providers including Goodwill, the state’s janitorial contractor.

“Richardson & Robbins is the first state-owned building and one of only three buildings in Delaware to achieve this specific LEED certification – an especially significant achievement for a building constructed as a cannery in 1881 that was modernized into a state office more than 30 years ago,” said van Boekhold. “Our DNREC staff and the Office of Management and Budget formed a strong and continuing relationship while working collaboratively and persistently with our partners for nearly five years to establish cutting-edge 21st century sustainable processes that will continue to improve operations even after certification,” she said.
Project achievements include:

• Lower energy and water usage, resulting in utilities cost savings
• Sustainable purchasing and waste management practices
• Green no-irrigation landscaping with native species and restored habitat
• Integrated pest management and green cleaning practices
• Lower-impact employee commuting supported by preferred parking for “green” cars and carpool vehicles
• Improved work environment inside the R&R Building for the health and comfort of employees through indoor air quality monitoring and reduced exposure to hazardous chemicals

“Most importantly, the LEED Team has demonstrated that by working together on a common goal and finding creative solutions, state buildings can be operated in a sustainable and healthy way, while saving the state money,” said Susan Love, Climate & Sustainability Section Lead, Division of Energy & Climate. “This project and its LEED certification ‘greens’ the way for other state-owned buildings to operate more sustainably and efficiently, providing a template for other state buildings to achieve similar savings and improvements.”

The Richardson & Robbins Building was built in 1881 by food-canning pioneers Alden B. Richardson and James Washington Robbins to house their Dover canning operation, which produced a popular line of products including canned meats, locally-grown fancy fruits and vegetables and their award-winning plum pudding. In 1959, the company and its cannery complex were sold to the William Underwood Company, which continued to make some of R&R’s products. The landmark Dover cannery was closed by Underwood in 1976.

In 1979 – the same year the State of Delaware purchased the empty cannery complex – R&R was placed on the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Victorian Dover Historic District. The abandoned complex was extensively renovated, while retaining its tall arched windows, ornate exterior brickwork and massive, rough-hewn exposed ceiling beams. It was dedicated as the new main office of Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control in April 1983.

The US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program is a green building certification program that recognizes best-in-class strategies and practices. To receive LEED certification, building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. The LEED Rating System for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance provides a set of performance standards for operations and maintenance of existing commercial or institutional buildings of all sizes, both public and private. The intent is to promote high performance, healthful, durable, affordable and environmentally sound practices in existing buildings. LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance is used by owners and operators of existing structures to implement sustainable practices and reduce the environmental impact of their buildings over their functional life cycles.

Issued in February 2010, Governor Markell’s Executive Order 18: Leading by Example towards a Clean Energy Economy & Sustainable Natural Environment, states that the State of Delaware’s agencies shall integrate the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) practices into all new construction, renovation and operation of state facilities, with a particular focus on integrating technologies and design/material/construction elements that generate lower long-term operating expenses. EO 18’s mandates include implementation of energy conservation and efficiency measures; use of clean, renewable energy; environmentally-responsible and energy-conscious construction; environmentally-sensitive procurement and recycling practices; and reduction of emissions from state vehicles.

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

Vol. 47, No. 2

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DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Energy & Climate is expanding its popular Clean Vehicle Rebate program to include rebates for bi-fuel vehicles – propane or natural gas powered vehicles that also run on either gasoline or diesel. Delaware drivers will be eligible for a $1,350 rebate on bi-fuel vehicles purchased on or after Jan. 1, 2017.

Propane and natural gas provide lower-emissions alternatives to gasoline and traditional diesel. These alternative fuels can be used by drivers and businesses to lower costs and make transportation more environmentally friendly. Bi-fuel vehicles are designed to run on propane or natural gas, but also can run on diesel or gasoline, allowing drivers an alternative if they don’t have access to propane or natural gas refilling stations.

“Switching to propane or natural gas vehicles saves businesses money and keeps harmful greenhouse gases out of our atmosphere,” said DNREC Clean Transportation Planner Kathy Harris. “Bi-fuel vehicles can be a good option for fleets looking to introduce clean fuels into their operations while Delaware continues to build its alternative fuel infrastructure.”

The Division of Energy & Climate offers a $1,500 rebate for vehicles that run exclusively on propane and natural gas. Within the first 18 months of this program, several Delaware businesses and drivers have made the switch to propane and natural gas, receiving rebates for their alternative fuel vehicles.

Energy & Climate also offers rebates for battery electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, and for electric vehicle charging stations. Since the program’s inception in July 2015, about 300 drivers have received rebates for electric vehicles, representing a savings of 1,150 tons of carbon dioxide kept out of Delaware’s atmosphere per year.

For more information about the Clean Vehicle Rebate program, or to apply for a rebate, visit de.gov/cleantransportation.

About the Clean Transportation Incentive Program
The Clean Transportation Incentive Program was launched in July 2015 to encourage Delaware drivers and businesses to purchase and lease alternative fuel vehicles, including vehicles that run on propane, natural gas and electricity. Alternative fuel vehicles produce fewer or no tailpipe emissions, reducing both pollution and the greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change.

Delaware’s Clean Transportation Incentive Program is made possible through Delaware’s participation in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), a regional market-based emissions cap and trade program. Delaware’s proceeds from RGGI are invested in energy efficiency, renewable energy, emissions reductions programs and programs that benefit energy consumers. In addition to providing funds, RGGI encourages innovation, growing a clean energy economy and creating green jobs.

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

Vol. 46, No. 426

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DOVER – With winter just around the corner, it’s a good time to prepare your home and car for cold weather. You want to stay warm, of course, but that can mean using more energy in your home and more fuel in your car – and having less money in your pocket. To tip that balance more in your favor, DNREC’s Division of Energy & Climate offers the following no- and low-cost tips to help you use less energy and save more money this winter and year-round.

Home:
• Be smart about your thermostat. Set your thermostat lower at night and during the day when you might be away. Turn the heat down an hour before bedtime or before leaving the house. When you get home, be patient – don’t turn the thermostat higher than its normal setting in an effort to warm the house faster. Adding a programmable thermostat to your home system will allow you to “set and forget” day and night temperatures.
• Snuggle up to save. Before deciding to turn up the heat, put on a sweater, hat and warm socks, and keep throws or blankets on the couch to use while watching TV or hanging out. Reduce heating in unoccupied areas and, if possible, close off rooms with the greatest northern exposure. Make family gathering places in sunny or southern-facing rooms. Put warm winter bedding – flannel sheets, warm blankets, comforters or quilts – on beds to keep the family comfortable with the house cooler at night.
• Weather-proof your windows and doors. Close shades or curtains at night to help keep cold out and open them during the day to let the sun’s warmth in. Keep windows completely closed and latched. Check doors and windows for drafts and add weather-stripping if needed. Place a towel along the bottom of the door jamb as a temporary block for cold air until you can install more permanent weatherproofing like a door skirt. Remove or cover window unit air conditioners to keep out drafts.
• Improve home comfort and efficiency through regular maintenance. Have your furnace and/or HVAC system cleaned and serviced as soon as possible for maximum efficiency and reliability over the winter months. Replace air filters to help systems run better and more efficiently. Check to make sure your water heater and hot water pipes are well-insulated; add pipe insulation or wrap-around insulation to those that aren’t. Turn down the temperature on your water heater by 10 degrees (staying above 120 degrees) to save on the energy and cost it takes to heat water. To feel warmer and alleviate dryness, increase home humidity by using an energy-efficient humidifier or by evaporating water in open containers. Take note of home improvement projects like adding insulation, caulking cracks, or replacing your old hot water heater or furnace with a more energy efficient model.
• Visit de.gov/wap to see if you qualify for free weatherization assistance. The Division of Energy & Climate’s trained professionals can weatherize your home with actions like these and help cut your energy bill.
• Use less hot water. The less hot water your family uses, the less you pay to heat it. Install flow restrictors on faucets and shower heads. Run the washing machine or dishwasher only with full loads, and use warm water to wash and cold to rinse.
• Cut your energy use throughout the house. Turn lights off when you leave the room, and turn off or unplug appliances, chargers and electronic devices when they are not in use. These items can sneakily drain energy from your home, even if you’re not using them. Use a power strip to easily turn multiple items off all at once. Looking to buy new appliances, or replace old ones? Compare Energy Star-rated appliances and look for the Energy Guide label on refrigerators, washing machines, heaters, and more. You’ll pay less to run the appliance over its lifetime.
• Be efficient in the kitchen. Plan to use the oven for three or four items at a time so you only have to heat it once. Choose a day when everyone is home to enjoy the extra warmth and delicious scents. Set your refrigerator at 38°F to 40°F and your freezer at 10°F. Keep your freezer full, and try to minimize the number of times you open refrigerator and freezer doors.
• Do lower-impact laundry. Use a clothesline or drying rack instead of the dryer. When items require a dryer, run full loads and separate heavy and lightweight items to avoid using the machine longer than necessary to dry each type. Dry in consecutive loads; once the dryer is warm, it cuts down on initial energy consumption to dry the next load.

Car:
• Skip the morning warm-up. Idling your car to warm it up wastes fuel and creates air pollution. Bundle up and just start driving – modern car engines are better warmed up by driving than by idling.
• Plan ahead with friends and co-workers. Consider joining a workplace carpool or using public transportation – you’ll save on fuel costs, tolls, and wear and tear to your vehicle. On weekends, save gas and time by planning errands in the shortest circular route starting and ending at home instead of traveling in random directions or making several trips. You can also plan to take care of errands during the week along your daily route to work or school.
• 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.
• Check your tire pressure. Underinflated tires decrease fuel efficiency.
• Schedule regular maintenance checks. Oil and filter changes and other recommended maintenance keep your vehicle operating efficiently.
• Play favorites. If you have more than one vehicle, use the one with the best gas mileage more frequently. Smaller cars with smaller engines typically get better gas mileage than larger vehicles.
• Know your options before buying a new vehicle. Gasoline isn’t your only option. Major manufacturers like Ford, Chevy, Nissan, and BMW make electric cars that offer all the same design, comfort and safety standards as gas-powered cars, with a fraction of the maintenance and ‘fuel’ costs. Plus, federal tax breaks, manufacturer rebates and rebates from Delaware’s Clean Transportation Incentive Program (de.gov/cleantransportation) may significantly lower the cost of your vehicle. If you’re set on a gas-powered car, consider size and fuel efficiency in your purchase.

How DNREC can help you save on energy costs
The Division of Energy & Climate works with local non-profit agency Catholic Charities to provide energy conservation services for the homes of low-income Delawareans. For example, a family of four making less than $46,000 per year may qualify for free in-home weatherization services that can save owners and renters hundreds of dollars in annual heating bills. For more information about the Weatherization Assistance Program, please contact the Division of Energy & Climate at 302-735-3480, or visit de.gov/wap.

Delaware’s Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU) offers the Home Performance with Energy Star Performance Program for all Delaware residents, regardless of income. Homeowners can receive an Energy Star Audit for just $100, along with free energy-saving items up to a $220 value, including light bulbs, showerheads, faucet aerators, pipe insulation and smart power strips installed during the audit. The program also offers incentives for completing energy efficiency improvements identified during the energy audit. Visit http://www.energizedelaware.org/for more information.

Electric cars or alternative fuel vehicles provide low-fuel, cost-saving transportation opportunities – the Division of Energy & Climate’s Clean Transportation Incentive Program offers rebates for purchasers or leasees of electric or alternative fuel vehicles, and cost assistance for charging equipment as well. The program has already provided rebates for almost 300 electric and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in Delaware across all three counties. For more information, visit de.gov/cleantransportation.

For more information on the Delaware Division of Energy & Climate and its programs, including the Energy Savers Guide, call 302-735-3480, or visit http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/energy/Pages/Portal.aspx.

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

Vol. 46, No. 415

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DOVER – DNREC’s Division of Energy & Climate today announced changes to the Green Energy Fund grant program for Delmarva Power residential customers. Projects with contracts signed on or after Dec. 1 will see slightly reduced grants for customer-owned solar energy systems. Another change to the program is that grants will no longer be offered for systems installed using a lease/power purchase agreement (PPA) financing model.

In addition to the incentive changes, the program requirements are being streamlined based on comments received during stakeholder workshops. In response to stakeholder feedback, the energy audit requirement for existing non-residential construction has been removed from the program.

Projects will not be affected if the Green Energy Fund application was received by the Division of Energy & Climate before Dec. 1, or if the system contract was signed prior to that date.

“We review the grant levels for the Delmarva Power Green Energy Fund program periodically in response to changing market conditions to ensure that the program continues to be cost effective,” said Energy Program Administrator Robert Underwood, Division of Energy & Climate. “Because the economics of solar energy continue to get stronger, we have seen the market for solar energy in Delaware grow even as we have reduced incentives in recent years.”

Past and new incentives are shown in the table below.

New Green Energy Fund Incentives

The Green Energy Fund grant program is being updated following an analysis of the program, public comment, stakeholder workshops, consultation with the Delaware Sustainable Energy Utility Oversight Board and a presentation before the Renewable Energy Taskforce. The Fund received a record-breaking number of applications in 2016. High program participation was factored into program changes, which are necessary for the Fund’s continued operation and sustainability. The Green Energy Fund supported more than 1,000 solar energy projects in Delaware in fiscal year 2016 alone.

Underwood added that the alterations will have a minimum impact on the solar market in Delaware. The analysis conducted by the Division of Energy & Climate considered the fiscal impact of the changes for both customer-owned and lease or PPA systems in terms of internal rate of return, net present value and payback period.

For more information, visit Green Energy Fund, or email Jessica Quinn with additional questions at Jessica.Quinn@delaware.gov, or call the Division of Energy & Climate at 302-735-3480.

Solar Energy in Delaware
Solar energy capacity in Delaware has increased more than 3,000 percent since 2008, from 2.3 MW to more than 77 MW of capacity. Solar energy installations across the state power homes, schools and businesses without producing the pollutants generated from fossil fuels that threaten our public health, air quality and vibrant natural resources. Renewable energy systems including solar energy allow Delawareans to achieve the quality of life they desire while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting our environment. For more information on renewable energy in Delaware, visit de.gov/greenenergy.

Vol. 46, No. 412

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