u.s. department of energy july 2000 focus · to avoid reoccurrences. 3. examine whether enough...

FOCUS

FEMP isYour Partner

in MakingProjectsHappen!

U.S. Department of EnergyEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

SPECIAL ISSUEJuly 2000

continued on page 7

ELECTRIC SYSTEM RELIABILITYExtreme temperatures during the

summer of 1999 stretched the capabilitiesof electrical generating and transmissionsystems in parts of the country. As a result,utilities in many areas implemented rollingblackouts, requested voluntary reductions,and asked companies to operate emergencygenerators.

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Bill Richardson, in a July 19, 1999speech (www.doe.gov/news/speeches99/julss/naruc.htm) to the NationalAssociation of Regulatory Utility Commissioners, announced a six-pointinitiative to help prevent power outages:1. Step up development of new standards to get more efficient air

conditioners in people’s homes.2. Form a team to investigate major power outages and recommend ways

to avoid reoccurrences.3. Examine whether enough generating capacity exists, and whether

planned additions will meet future demand.4. Organize regional summits to examine Summer 1999 problems and

avoid future problems.5. Devise a plan for Federal agencies to take emergency actions to cut

electricity consumption.6. Work with Congress to ensure full funding for advanced

generation and transmission technologies and energy efficiencyprograms.To address these points, the Department of Energy is undertaking

the following efforts:• DOE’s Office of Building Research and Standards plans to

issue proposed rules for more efficient air conditioners inAugust 2000.

Plan of ActionEmergency ElectricityReduction Measures-Federal Facilities ..........3

Motivating EndUsers this Summer ......6

Secretary of Energy’sReliability Summits ......8

Contents

2SPECIAL ISSUE: JULY 2000

SPECIAL ISSUE: POWER OUTAGES

3FEMP Help Line: 1-800-363-3732 . Web Site: www.eren.doe.gov/femp


PLAN OF ACTIONEMERGENCY ELECTRICITY REDUCTION MEASURES-

FEDERAL FACILITIES

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BACKGROUNDExtreme temperatures during the summer of

1999 stretched the capabilities of electricalgenerating and transmission systems in parts of thecountry. This resulted in: (1) Rolling blackouts;(2) Voltage reductions; (3) Requests from utilitiesfor voluntary reductions; (4) Interruptible powercurtailments; and, (5) Requests from utilities forcompanies to operate emergency generators.

Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, in a July 19,1999 speech to the National Association ofRegulatory Utility Commissioners, announced asix-point initiative to help prevent power outages.Secretary Richardson’s speech is available at:www.doe.gov/news/speeches99/julss/naruc.htm.This plan addresses point five of the initiative:“Lead by Example - So that the federalgovernment is ready to take emergency actions tocut electricity consumption in its buildings andfacilities when utilities make urgent appeals forconservation, we will work with the GeneralServices Administration to devise a plan of action.”

Many Federal facilities already realize thefinancial benefits of planning for electrical loadreductions, and have excellent plans in place. Theexperience gained by these facilities forms the basisof this Federal-wide plan to be implemented by allFederal facilities in support of local electrical usereduction efforts. Individual facility plans shouldbe customized to site specific conditions. Therequirement for emergency conservation plans iscontained in Title 10, Code of Federal Regulations,Part 436, Subpart F, Paragraph 436.105.

GENERAL1. Establish/enhance communications with the

local utility company. Understand theirneeds for load reductions. Work with thelocal utility to develop the individual facilityplan. An example is the Potomac Electric

Power Company’s (PEPCO’s) CurtailableLoad Program. During the summer of 1999,participating Federal agencies in theWashington, DC area provided an estimatedeight megawatts of peak load reduction onfive occasions when requested by PEPCO,assisting PEPCO, and enhancing gridreliability.

2. Identify load reduction measures appropriatefor the facility. Investigate separating loadsinto: (1) Life, health and safety driven; (2)Mission critical; and, (3) Non-critical. If notseparately switchable, investigate modifyingsystems to allow terminating or reducingnon-critical loads.

3. Establish a system to alert employees ofexpected high demand days including, butnot limited to E-mail, voice mail, or publicaddress announcement to all employees.Communicate early to allow employees to takeload reduction measures at home and todress appropriately.

4. Monitor total facility demand and demandsfor individual major loads (if separatemetering is available). Monitor weatherforecasts to predict high demand days and beproactive in communicating with the localutility to assess need to reduce load.

5. Initiate load reduction measures. Employeescan take steps to reduce lighting, personalcomputers and appliances electricity use.While energy efficiency should be encouragedon a daily basis, stress the need for increaseddiligence to alleviate the emergency. Airconditioning operating changes and othersystem-wide measures should beaccomplished by facilities management.Federal facilities that have energymanagement and control systems are wellsuited for this task. Facilities should also



consider additional measures appropriatefor site specific circumstances.

6. Encourage employees to reduce electrical loadsin their homes, to reduce demand on the utilitysystem. If no one is at home during theworkday, unneeded appliances and lightsshould be turned off, and air conditioningthermostats should be set higher beforedeparting for the day. Also, some utilities offercost incentives to residential customers whoallow the utility to remotely cycle off power toair conditioning and electric water heatingsystems. Periods without power are limited, sothat comfort is not sacrificed. Encourageemployees to participate in these programs, toassist the local utility, while reducing theirelectricity bill.

7. Enhance employee awareness of energyefficiency through training and less formalmethods. Provide mandatory and voluntarytraining opportunities on smart energypractices so that employees can practiceenergy efficiency during emergency periodsand year-round. In addition to training, runpublic service announcements about energyefficiency on televisions in cafeterias andother public use areas; send periodic e-mailmessages about turning off lights andcomputers and implementing otherefficiency practices; post signs or billboardsnear light switches or communal printers;and consider holding annual energy fairsprior to seasonal emergency periods toprovide additional information foremployees about how to manage energy usein the work place and in their homes.

LIGHTING MEASURES1. Turn off fluorescent lights when leaving an

area for more than 1 minute. (During non-emergencies, 5 minutes is recommended, tokeep from excessively reducing lamp life).Turn off incandescent lights when leaving

PLAN OF ACTIONEMERGENCY ELECTRICITY REDUCTION MEASURES-FEDERAL FACILITIEScontinued from previous page

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areas for any period of time.2. In areas with sufficient daylighting, turn off

lights. Adjust blinds, if available, to reduceglare.

3. Use task lighting and turn off generallighting, where it is feasible to maintainsufficient lighting levels for safety andproductivity.

4. Turn off display and decorative lighting.

PERSONAL COMPUTERS AND APPLIANCEMEASURES1. Turn off printers when not in use.2. Turn off monitors when not in use.3. Ensure ENERGY STAR power down

features are activated.4. If computers do not have ENERGY STAR

features available, turn them off when leavingthe office for more than 30 minutes.

5. Ensure personal appliances, such as coffeepots and radios are turned off.

AIR CONDITIONING MEASURES1. Precool building(s) below normal

temperature settings prior to onset of peakdemand period. Make sure to tell employeesabout this practice, so that they will notoperate space heaters. During peak demandperiod, allow space temperatures to driftback up to normal settings (or as much as 5degrees Fahrenheit (oF) above normalsettings).

2. Allow casual attire, to make highertemperatures more acceptable.

3. Where systems allow, lower chilled watertemperatures several degrees below normalsettings prior to peak periods, and allow todrift above normal settings during peakperiods.



End users play a key role in managing energyuse. This is especially true in emergency situations,where reducing and managing demand is the keyto avoiding power interruptions. Recent FEMPpilot studies of military housing residents providesuggestions for enlisting energy end users in theeffort to reduce energy consumption this summer.

FEMP’s pilot studies demonstrate the need toboth motivate end users and provide them withpractical information. Residents at Fort Lewis,Washington, and Yuma Marine Corps Air Station,Arizona, responded to motivational andinformational campaigns by decreasing theirenergy use (compared on a weather-correctedbasis with energy use in the previous year). FortLewis had a 10 percent reduction in use for theyear. At Yuma, there was a 15 percent reductionduring the final month of the campaign. TheFEMP You Have the Power campaign was adaptedfor use at both sites.

As these pilots demonstrate, a successfulcampaign for reductions in energy end usecontains several key ingredients. Perhaps mostimportant is the enthusiastic support of all levels ofmanagement - in this case, the base commander,and the housing and energy managers. Messagesshould also come through communicationschannels that people know – such as the facility’selectronic billboard and base newspaper. Forexample, at both sites, energy fairs raisedawareness, and in Yuma, information andeducational activities were made available tochildcare providers for their summer programs.

Moreover, people need to both see and hear aboutefficient behaviors. At both facilities, videotapesshowed an “energy bandit” and residents working tocombat the bandit by turning down thermostats,cleaning AC filters, and so forth.

Most residents who completed surveys at bothfederal installations said that they were motivatedto save energy, first and foremost, because “it’s theright thing to do.” Secondly, they wanted to set agood example for their children. Some suggestedthat saving money would be a powerful motivator ifpeople had to pay penalties for exceeding a set levelof energy use. The threat of energy shortages canalso be motivational, provided that people feel

everybody is making some sacrifices, that what theyare doing is making a difference, and that theirefficient behavior generates benefits for them, suchas more comfortable conditions.

Energy and housing managers should tailortheir campaigns to the existing physical conditionsand cultures at their Federal facility. If they do,they can tap into a large potential source of energysavings. Since the Yuma facility experiences highheat and humidity in the summer, the FEMPcampaign focused on air conditioning and lightingtips, including the following:• Keep your thermostat set to 80 degrees or

higher.• Clean AC air filters at least once a month.• Close windows and doors and use shades

when the air conditioner is on.• Turn outside lights off during daylight

hours.• Use compact fluorescents instead of

incandescent light bulbs.If you would like to conduct a campaign to

reduce energy end use at your facility, theHandbook for Promoting Behavior-Based EnergyEfficiency in Military Housing provides tips andstrategies. It is available at www.eren.doe.gov/femp/yhtp/strategies.html.

If you would like a copy of the videotape,MCAS Yuma’s Energy Bandit, contact Annie Haskinsat [email protected].

Federal agencies and State Energy Offices willbe receiving materials from FEMP to motivate endusers to reduce energy consumption this summer.Limited additional quantities are available from theEnergy Efficiency and Renewable Energy ClearingHouse at 1-800-363-3732 or order from http://www.eren.doe.gov/femp/ordermaterials.html.

Motivating End Users this Summer



4. Duty cycle air handling units off. Ensureadequate outside air flow rates to maintainindoor air quality.

5. Ensure that ventilation grilles and fan coilunits are not blocked by books, flowers,debris, or other obstructions. This willimprove air conditioning system efficiencyand improve comfort.

OTHER1. Operate emergency generators (many agencies

have negotiated financial incentives from theirlocal utility for operating generators). Ensurethat generators have ample fuel for emergencyoperation and have been tested routinely.Turn off shore power to ships in dock andoperate ship power systems. Make mobileutility system electrical generating equipmentavailable to the local utility.

2. Shut off selected elevators and escalators.Ensure accessibility needs are met.

3. Where feasible, schedule high electrical energyuse processes during off peak periods.

4. Encourage employees to not use copiersduring peak demand period. Turn offselected copiers. Ensure power saver switchon copiers is enabled.

5. Turn off unnecessary loads such as fountainpumps.

LONG TERM SOLUTIONS1. Consider purchasing interruptible power for

selected loads with high electrical demand,and which will not suffer adverseconsequences in the event of the utilityturning off power. The cost savings fromthe lower rate may far outweigh theinconvenience of power being turned offwithin the interruption limitations agreed toin the utility contract.

2. Consider installing sub-metering to identifyhigh intensity loads to be shed duringemergencies.

3. Investigate thermal storage systems oralternative energy sources for air conditioning.

4. Install motion sensors and separate lightingcircuits to allow turning off unneeded lights.(Some agencies have installed switching toseparate public areas from agency work spaces).

5. Install an Energy Management and ControlSystem to allow shedding and monitoringloads from one central location. If non-critical loads are not separately switchable,modify systems to allow terminating. Localutilities or energy services companies(ESCOs) can assist with this effort.

6. Consider adding on-site generation using micro-turbines, fuel cells, combined heat and power,renewable, or other appropriate technology.

PLAN OF ACTIONEMERGENCY ELECTRICITY REDUCTION MEASURES-FEDERAL FACILITIEScontinued from page 4

ELECTRIC SYSTEM RELIABILITYcontinued from page 1

• Secretary Richardson brought together a teamof experts to study some of the problems thatthe nation faced during the Summer of 1999.This team, the Power Outage Study Team(POST), issued its final report on March 13,2000 (Visit www.doe.gov under DepartmentHighlights for full report.)

• Secretary Richardson conducted eight regionalreliability summits with governors, localofficials, state public service commissions, stateenergy offices and utilities, and plans toconduct additional summits.

• DOE’s Office of Policy plans to issue a reportthat examines the adequacy of currentgeneration capacity.

• DOE, in consultation with other Federalagencies, developed a plan of action forFederal facilities which is featured on Page 3.The plan was issued to all Federal agenciesalong with Secretary Richardson’smemorandum to Cabinet heads. SecretaryRichardson’s memorandum, which urgeseach agency to develop its own action plan,appears on page 2.

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGYFEDERAL ENERGY MANAGEMENT PROGRAM, EE-90WASHINGTON, DC 20585-0121

OFFICIAL BUSINESSPENALTY FOR PRIVATE USE, $300

Address Correction Requested

Secretary of Energy’s Reliability SummitsThe following is a list of reliability summits that Secretary Richardson has conducted with governors,

local officials, state public service commissions, state energy offices and utilities to discuss the issue of poweroutages. For a transcript of each speech, visit www.doe.gov/news/newsss.htm.

Tallahassee Reliability SummitJune 30, 2000

Richmond Reliability SummitJune 19, 2000

Phoenix Reliability SummitJune 16, 2000

Texas Reliability SummitMay 26, 2000

Northwest Reliability SummitMay 11, 2000

California Reliability SummitApril 28, 2000

Mid-south Reliability SummitApril 24, 2000

New England Reliability SummitApril 24, 2000

Mid-Atlantic Reliability SummitApril 24, 2000

Midwest Electricity SummitOctober 8, 1999

Akron, OhioMay 31, 2000

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