Text of Press Release
National Association of Energy Service
Companies
1615 M St., NW, Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DOE Energy Fitness Program Study Shows ESCOs Make Major
Contributions to the Environment
National Association of Energy Service
Companies
1615 M St., NW, Suite 800, Washington, D.C. 20005
CONTACT:
Mary Johnson, NAESCO: (202) 822-0950
Michael Arny, Leonardo Academy: (608) 280-0255
DOE Study Shows ESCOs Make Major
Contributions to the Environment
SAN DIEGO, CA (May 20, 1998) - Energy Service Companies (ESCOs)
make a major contribution to the reduction in electric energy use, demand for electricity,
direct fuel use & ultimately, environmental emissions, according to a report prepared
for the U.S. Department of Energy's Energy Fitness Program by Leonardo Academy based in
Madison, Wis.
The report, released at the National Association of Energy Service
Company at the NAESCO spring meeting in San Diego this week, provides an initial
assessment of the energy efficiency and environmental benefits delivered by the ESCO
industry based on current estimates. NAESCO is an industry trade association, with
about 40 ESCO members in the United States.
"The report shows that energy efficiency projects implemented by
the ESCO industry in the competitive marketplace will reduce the U.S. carbon dioxide
emissions in 2010 by 110 million tons. This is 6 percent of the emission reduction that
will be needed to reduce U.S. carbon dioxide emissions in 2010 to the 1990 level. This is
a tremendous contribution to environmental improvement by this 1.2 billion-dollar- a-year
industry," says Michael Arny of the Energy Fitness Program, which is managed by Oak
Ridge National Laboratory as part of the Department of Energy's DOE Rebuild America
Program.
"ESCOs make contributions to increased energy efficiency and
emission reduction by working with customers to develop and implement cost-effective
projects that upgrade buildings arid increase their energy efficiency," Arny says.
The study indicates that the cumulative total lifetime energy and demand
savings from ESCO efficiency projects implemented between 1990 and 2010 will produce $
94.6 billion in total energy savings; 1.4 million GWh in electricity savings; 18,000 MW in
electric demand reduction; and 7.9 billion MMBTU reduction in direct fuel use.
Using standard industry calculations, Amy estimates the implementation
of energy efficient retrofits will result in tremendous environmental emission reductions
over their lives. For instance as a result of ESCO projects implemented between 1990 and
2010, some 1.9 billion tons of carbon dioxide, 7.6 million tons nitrous oxide, 10.4
million tons sulfur dioxide; and 179,010 tons of particulates (PM 10) will be eliminated
from the atmosphere. Additionally, about 100,000 lbs. of mercury, 9,200 lbs. of cadmium
and 175,000 lbs. of lead emissions will be eliminated.
- MORE -
NAESCO/Add One
The study indicates that since ESCO energy efficiency projects have
10-to-15 year project lives, more than half of the emission reduction will be delivered
before 2010 and the balance will be delivered over the projects remaining lives after
2010.
"From these results, it is clear that ESCOs make a major
contribution to the reduction in energy use and environmental emissions. Removing the
barriers to increased delivery of energy efficiency by ESCOs will allow them to deliver
even more building upgrades, energy savings, and reductions in environmental emissions for
their customers," says Terry B. Singer, executive director of NAESCO.
"According to the study, the emission reduction impacts of ESCO
projects that will be implemented between 1990 and 2010 are equivalent to taking 18
million cars off the road or eliminating the need for 45 new power plants with 400 MW
capacity or planting 148 million acres of trees," Singer says.
Amy notes that the DOE Energy Fitness Program is working with its
program partners to remove the barriers to the increased delivery of energy efficiency and
educate the public about the tangible benefits of implementing energy efficiency projects
in buildings and facilities.
The Energy Fitness Program also is supporting the development of
detailed, project-by-project reporting of these impacts by NAESCO. Updates of this Initial
assessment report will be made available with results based on verifiable individual
project reporting of the energy efficiency and environmental impacts of the ESCO industry.
NAESCO is a national trade association that represents the energy
services industry. Its members include energy service companies; utilities; manufacturers,
suppliers and distributors of energy efficient technologies, financial institutions and
other energy service providers.
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