Green Energy News | March 22, 1998

March 22, 1998 – Vol.2 No.51

ENERGIES... week of March 22,1998

AWARDS FOR EFFICIENCY. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency gave honors this week to corporate citizens who made best the contribution to clean air and energy efficiency through its Green Lights and Energy Star Buildings program. Energy Star expands Green Lights beyond lighting systems into other areas such as heating and cooling equipment. Green Lights began in 1991 as a voluntary partnership with industry to promote energy efficient lighting. There are more than 2500 partners now enrolled.

While an award might be just a plaque on the wall, each recipient made a significant reduction in pollution and greenhouse gases - of benefit to all. But further, each company saved money. For example...

American Electric Power promoted energy efficiency to its customers while cutting its own energy use by 23.3 million kilowatt hours. The results - a reduction of 39.9 million pounds of carbon dioxide and 501,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide. $1.2 million saved.

McDonald’s Corporation cut energy consumption by 40% or 48 million kilowatt hours in 5,073 company franchises. The results - a reduction of 40 million pounds of carbon dioxide and $1.9 million saved.

The Trane Company promoted energy efficient technologies and upgraded its own buildings. The results - a reduction of 1.9 million pounds of carbon dioxide and 16,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide. $82,000 saved.

All tolled, the energy used to run commercial and industrial buildings in the U.S. produces 19% of the nation’s CO2 and costs $110 billion per year. If the Energy Star and Green Lights programs were used nationwide in these buildings, by 2010 total energy bills would be reduced by $130 billion, according to the EPA. The cuts in greenhouse gases would be the equivalent of taking 20 million cars off the road.

ACKNOWLEDGING CHANGE. Speaking at the National Petroleum Refiners Association meeting on March 17 in San Francisco, Thomas F. Glenn, marketing manager at Kline &Co (business consultants) of Fairfield, New Jersey said, “... it is quite possible that the lubricants industry could experience a 30% decline in consumption by the year 2015 as a result of the use of fuel cells brought on by rapidly advancing fuel cell technology.” Automobiles powered by fuel cells don't require engine oil.