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U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Conservation Update

Conservation Update, the State Energy Program newsletter, has temporarily ceased publication. Below is a selection of featured articles from the Conservation Update archives.

  • May-June 2003: Measuring State Energy Accomplishments
    Metrics have always challenged state energy efficiency programs. How do we account for a program that allows states to set their own energy agendas according to local needs and energy challenges?

  • February-March 2005: Texas Revolving LoanSTAR
    Local government agencies are lining up for energy financing in the Lone Star State. Texas is big on program performance, so it is not hard to envision the Texas State Energy Conservation Office running the largest revolving loan fund for energy efficiency and conservation in the country.

  • January-February 2007: Growth Spurt for Green Power
    Green power markets are flourishing as new programs sprout up across the country. Sales by utilities and green suppliers grew by 37% in 2005, and have increased tenfold since 2000. This growth is budding with possibilities, and new energy policies promise to affect these markets as they mature.

  • January-February 2008: Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority Returns to Its Energy Roots
    What began as an ocean thermal energy experiment 34 years ago has become a major success in diversifying the economy on the Big Island of Hawaii. Now the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority has come full circle and is taking stock of the bountiful renewable energy resources as it seeks to attract investments from around the world.

  • March-April 2008: A Look behind the Texas Renewable Portfolio Standard
    The Texas Renewable Portfolio Standard is widely regarded as the most effective state-level policy to promote the adoption of renewable energy technologies to date. Among other things, it has vaulted Texas into first place for wind power generation in the United States. But what are the conditions in Texas that made this policy so successful? What might other states learn from this experience?

  • July-August 2008: States Explore Financing Options for Solar Photovoltaics
    Solar photovoltaic installations are growing rapidly on public buildings and lands, especially in states with public policies and incentives that support PV. In the last few years, financing options have grown in number and complexity. After taking stock of their options, many state and local officials are settling on third-party owner financing for public PV installations.

  • September-October 2008: A Vision for Energy Efficiency at Data Centers
    Data centers are the unseen workhorses of the global economy. Their numbers have grown rapidly along with their energy use. Now, government and the information technology industry are cooperating to develop solutions to the rapid rise in data center energy consumption. They are developing new technologies and energy benchmarks, training specialists in data center best practice design and operation, and working with the industry to spread information.

  • November-December 2008: The Greening of State Facilities: State Policies to Encourage and Require Green Building Principles in the Public Sector
    State governments across the country are "greening" their facilities—in more ways than one. First, states are implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy measures throughout their facilities to become more environmentally friendly. Second, many of these efforts are cutting energy costs, which frees up more "green"—money that is—for tight state budgets.

  • January-February 2009: The Role of State Policy in Renewable Energy Development
    State policies have been critical to growth of electricity generation from renewable energy resources since 2001, and analysts can now correlate market growth with a greater number of state policies in place that are designed to reduce certain market barriers. If these market barriers are not addressed first, states with financial incentives alone do not experience this level of growth in renewable electricity generation.

  • May-June 2009: Financing Renewable Energy Projects on State and Local Government Property with Clean Renewable Energy Bonds
    Clean Renewable Energy Bonds can be a low-cost way to finance renewable energy projects on state and local government property. The federal government has recently extended the CREBs program, making available $2.4 billion in new funding. But applications to obtain the funds must be submitted by August 4, 2009. Learn how to issue bonds and use this innovative financing for your renewable energy projects.