FINAL REPORT
PNW Extension Energy Initiative
July-September, 2007
The Extension education network is being used to facilitate adoption of EERE technologies and practices by citizens in the Pacific Northwest (Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Alaska), a subset of the Western Region. The WSU Extension Energy Program is providing technical assistance-consultations for clients of Extension in the Pacific Northwest through the existing EERE Information Center service, in particular for the primary target audience, those interested individuals from local governments and agencies.
JOINT STATE ACTIVITIES
A number of conference calls were held between the energy extension specialists, Lyla Houglum and Mike Harrington to coordinate, finalize and deploy the state surveys. The survey instrument included a standard set of questions as well as state-specific questions. The intent of the survey was to obtain information on the experience of Extension professionals in each state in terms of what energy related questions are being received; current Extension activity in relation to energy; what resources Extension staff and faculty already know about and use, and what additional resources might be useful. After pilot testing, the surveys were deployed to extension staff in each state using Zoomerang.
Survey Results Overview: There were 176 responses to the survey proving a good mixture of feedback a relative to a variety of EERE topics. All survey results are appended below.
There is clearly a great interest in renewable energy issues and perceived role for Cooperative Extension. While there is some variation in priority on interest, the topics that the public are most frequently looking to answers are related to biofuels/bioenergy and energy efficiency and conservation in the home and on the ranch.
Two mechanisms for information support elicited the strongest interest: web sites and phone numbers and referral information for clientele use. Fortunately, this project has a plan to provide the latter. The former might be another approach to consider for further development; however one important goal may be to promote existing services as none appeared to be widely known.
STATE ACTIVITIES
Alaska: Alaska Extension continues to work with a variety of state and local partners to assist communities in the state. Two staff members contribute to energy efficiency and renewable energy issues in the state. Specific activities include:
· Participation in the Tanana Valley state fair, an important outreach and extension effort, and it reinforces the identify of Alaska Cooperative Extension as a credible and best resource for housing and energy information resource. An information booth was manned continuously for nine days in August.
· Contributed to the Alaskan Solar Homes Tour, which is a collaboration with the American Solar Energy Society. AK Cooperative Extension is full partner with the Cold Climate Housing Research Center (CCHRC) which is the only Alaskan location where a solar homes tour will occur. Interested people will tour eight different homes and properties with varying solar energy applications ranging from fully off-grid homes to solar photovoltaic systems feeding the grid, and even one wind system.
· Entered into a cooperative agreement and shared proposal with the Washington State University Energy Extension Service to be a part of their major expansion to become a US Department of Energy Building Technologies Applications Center (this also was a collaboration with the Cold Climate Housing Research Center and we have great confidence that this proposal will be successful and that work will expand our capabilities greatly in our energy extension work. The decision should be known on the proposal during the week of October 1, 2007.
· With the CCHRC developed a proposal to US-EPA to develop and execute a plan to provide a full service energy audit and retrofit of existing housing through our Extension system here in Alaska and in collaboration with our State Housing Finance System. The proposal addresses what is thought to be the most crucial need for improving Alaska's preparedness for accelerating energy costs and future fuel availability: the retrofit of our housing stock. Unfortunately there is no organized way to deal with this difficult but important need at this time.
· Daily inquiries include CCHRC tours, calls from clients on everything from mold to vapor barrier integrity, and our schedule of normal educational workshops on Cold and Marine Climate Homebuilding techniques (these are typically 7-hour courses given around the state during the winter season, beginning this month). Teaching manuals have been revised and updated with new material in the "Walls" chapter, and have revised and included in the latest manual version several new versions of our extension publications relating to housing construction details.
· Deployed the state energy survey to both Extension staff and partner agencies.
· Other efforts continue to update and improve Alaska’s Energy Web Portal, www.akenergy.net.
Oregon: Oregon continues to utilize its renewable energy group to coordinate efforts. Members of the group meet with a variety of potential end user groups including county officials, commodity groups, and interested individuals. A collaboration MOU was developed with the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE). Evidence of success of the project are taken from new cases requesting EERE information. Examples include:
· Office of Sustainable Development: An energy specialist asked about switching the current street lighting technology in their city after being approached by an energy service company about a product they are promoting.
· Briggs Hill Orchids: A commercial greenhouse needs to find a more efficient heating system; possibly geothermal heat pumps might be a solution.
· City of Eugene Water and Electric Board: Client’s customer needs help with BAC cooling towers that are difficult and expensive to maintain. Requested help in installing and using VFD technology with project as well as motor selection.
· City of Newberg: Client is interested in using renewable energy at the Wastewater Treatment plant to improve the energy efficiency of the city’s compost facility and reduce costs.
· McMinnville Water and Light: Client read "Principles of Heat Transfer" on the EnergyIdeas Clearinghouse website and found it very informative and helpful.
Idaho: Participants in Idaho continue to inform county commissioners, school districts, and community and county liaisons about EERE topics and to inform growers with particular emphasis on energy crops. The Extension specialist assisted with organizing Harvesting Clean Energy Conference; met with biodiesel faculty; met with industry representatives (biodiesel, ethanol, and conventional petroleum); met with the four state EERE team, prepared and executed the EERE survey; answered questions from state and county faculty. Examples of other activities include:
· Participation in the NC Idaho Renewable Energy working group,
· Providing input and review of "Biofuels 101" manuscript, a primer on biofuels, for rural communities and farmers.
· Participation on a renewable energy and global warming committee formed in Sandpoint, ID to analyze government buildings for use of renewable energy sources and involving other issues around climate change, renewable energy, and environmental issues.
· Providing information to the Idaho Grazing Association regarding solar powered pumps for stock waterers.
· Providing information about the program to the city council of the City of Arco, A local newspaper article included description of the presentation to city council.
Washington: The WSU Energy Extension Program continues to provide information via the web including the development a weekly electronic newsletter “Energy Newsbriefs” to the participating states which provides links to resources, recent news and emerging issues. The Information Center is tracking 30 new cases (see below) and the energy extension specialist made a number of new contacts with interested stakeholders. In addition Jake Fey, Director of the Information Center, made a presentation the PNW Extension Energy Initiative to the REE Undersecretary of the US Department of Agriculture.
New Cases:
Clearinghouse / NASULGC / Topic / Bustype / StateEERE / NASULGC-funded / Architecture - Design/Build / Research/Ed (Univ or Lab) / AK
EERE / NASULGC-funded / Biomass - Methane Digestion / Research/Ed (Univ or Lab) / AK
EERE / NASULGC-funded / Biomass - Methane Digestion / Research/Ed (Univ or Lab) / AK
EERE / NASULGC-funded / Economics - Feasibility/Cost Analysis / Research/Ed (Univ or Lab) / AK
NEEA / NASULGC-funded (Utility) / Lighting - Fluorescent Lamps / Utility / OR
NEEA / Leveraged with another funder (Utility) / HVAC - Heat Pumps / Utility / OR
NEEA / Leveraged with another funder (Utility) / Energy Use - End Use / Utility / WA
NEEA / Leveraged with another funder (Utility) / EnergyIdeas Clearinghouse - Utility PTR / Utility / WA
EERE / Leveraged with another funder / Energy Use - (General/Other) / Consulting Firm / WA
NEEA / Leveraged with another funder (Utility) / Energy Use - End Use / Utility / WA
NEEA / NASULGC-funded / EnergyIdeas Clearinghouse - Utility PTR / Utility / WA
NEEA / Leveraged with another funder (Utility) / Utility - Demand Side Management / Utility / WA
NEEA / Leveraged with another funder / HVAC - Cooling Systems / Government / WA
NEEA / NASULGC-funded / Environment - Lamps / Organization / WA
NEEA / Leveraged with another funder (Utility) / HVAC - Heat Pumps / Utility / WA
NEEA / Leveraged with another funder (Utility) / Energy Use - Building Type / Utility / WA
NEEA / NASULGC-funded / Agriculture - (General/Other) / Inventor / WA
LIBR / NASULGC-funded / Education - (General/Other) / WSU/EEP Staff / WA
NEEA / Leveraged with another funder (Utility) / Codes/Standard/Laws - (General/Other) / Utility / WA
NEEA / Leveraged with another funder (Utility) / Pumping Systems - (General/Other) / Utility / WA
NEEA / Leveraged with another funder (Utility) / HVAC - Heat Pumps / Utility / WA
EERE / NASULGC-funded / Biomass - (General/Other) / Research/Ed (Univ or Lab) / WA
NEEA / NASULGC-funded / Power Production - Cogeneration / Consulting Firm / WA
NEEA / Leveraged with another funder (Utility) / EnergyIdeas Clearinghouse - Utility PTR / Utility / WA
NEEA / NASULGC-funded (Utility) / Codes/Standard/Laws - EPACT / Utility / WA
NEEA / Leveraged with another funder (Utility) / Energy Use - Residential Calculation / Utility / WA
NEEA / Leveraged with another funder (Utility) / Water Heating - Demand Water Heaters / Utility / WA
EERE / Leveraged with another funder / Hydrogen - (General/Other) / Water/wastewater / WA
NEEA / NASULGC-funded / Renewable Resources - (General/Other) / Utility / WA
NEEA / Leveraged with another funder (Utility) / Building Envelopes - Windows/Glazing / Utility / WA
Overall Assessment
The project has resulted in increased awareness of EERE information and the need to become more aware of energy issues. As predicted earlier, the project has taken some time to mature; that is for interested stakeholders to seek additional assistance particularly from the EERE Information Center. There was an increased number of “hits” in the Center as reflected above. The results of the state surveys are providing new information about the needs expressed by the general public in each state. Analyses of these data will facilitate the development of focused programming and informational resources. There are new partnerships with state and local agencies as well as the implementation of new energy information resources that are made available through electronic means and in print.
Matching Contributions
AK / 7,922.39ID / 4,220.79
OR / 6,364.00
WA-Energy Center / 4,404.03
H. M. Harrington / 1,000.00
Total / $23911.21
Pacific Northwest Energy Extension Program’s Survey for the State of Alaska
The following are the salient observations we’ve gleaned in our first intensive look at the results of our Statewide Energy Survey to evaluate an expanded role for Energy Extension Outreach.
Interest in Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy:
In Alaska there’s very high interest in renewables with 43% of respondents stating very high interest and 17% with a high interest. 60% of respondents indicate a high or very high interest in RE, but 39%, nearly as many, responded to question 1 that they had a moderate interest in renewables. The 39% who stated a moderate level of interest to question 1 is surprising, but it’s possible that these 39% saw more of a need for conservation instead of new RE production. Three respondents (13%) indicated a higher interest in Energy Efficiency than in Renewable Energy. 66% of the people who indicated a “moderate” interest in EE in question 2 also have a moderate interest in RE in question 1. The sum of people who indicated a high or very high interest level in EE in question 2 is 56%, vs. 60% for RE. Based on these results, we would conclude that the interest in Renewables is very slightly higher than in energy efficiency, and that those who did not see much interest in either RE or EE had a generally negative opinion on the interest in both RE and EE.
With only one response of “low” or below to either question 1 or 2, 96% of respondents saw a moderate to very high interest in EERE. Also, the majority of the ratings for higher levels of interest in RE over EE were from people who recognized a greater than moderate level of interest in EERE as denoted by “high” or “very high” responses to both questions. We believe this indicates a mandate for the need for EERE work.
High to moderate interest is asserted in energy efficiency and conservation in question 2. The vast majority of information requested, however, is in the area of energy efficiency and conservation in homes (74%) in question 8, and 87% of respondents said they had received requests for information on energy efficiency/conservation in their homes. Related directly to this are the responses on energy costs and comparisons, question 7 (91% of respondents). These responses reflect the same level of interest as efficiency and conservation, which is a likely correlation.
RE Technology Inquiries
In questions 7 and 8, wind energy was the most popular form of RE, with 74% of respondents receiving requests for information in the past year, and 39% of respondents having wind as one of their top 3 requests for information. Solar PV was second in both cases at 70% and 35% in questions 7 and 8, respectively. In question 7 Solar thermal was the third most popular request, and in question 8, solar thermal was fifth, behind geothermal and biomass/biofuels. This implies that wind, then PV are the RE technologies with the most interest. It also alludes to the fact the solar thermal is the next most broadly known RE technology, but frequency of requests is lower for solar thermal than for geothermal and biofuels.