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DOE investing $19 million in building efficiency, with four of 18 awards to ORNL

Posted at 7:51 pm July 19, 2016
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Ernest Moniz

Ernest Moniz

The U.S. Department of Energy announced Friday that it is investing $19 million to improve the efficiency of the nation’s homes, offices, schools, hospitals, restaurants, and stores. The projects will develop advanced building technologies that will help American consumers and businesses save money on their utility bills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create jobs, a press release said.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory received four of the 18 awards.

Buildings are the largest energy consumer in the nation—accounting for more than 40 percent of the nation’s total energy demand and greenhouse emissions, and resulting in an annual energy bill totaling $430 billion, the press release said. On average, nearly a third of this energy is wasted. It’s estimated that if the U.S. reduced energy use in buildings by 20 percent, the nation could save nearly $80 billion annually on energy bills.

The 18 innovative projects announced Friday will develop sensors and energy modeling tools to make buildings smarter, reduce refrigerant leaks and improve the efficiency of heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) systems, and produce a low-impact, gas-powered heat pump that can operate efficiently in colder climates. The projects will also support renewable energy market penetration through energy storage, pinpoint air leaks and reduce energy losses through the building envelope, and cut electricity use by transmitting sunlight to building interiors, the press release said. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Front Page News, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy Tagged With: air-conditioning, building efficiency, building technologies, Carnegie Mellon University, Clemson University, Columbia University, EERE, energy bills, Energy Department, energy use, Ernest Moniz, Glint Photonics, heating, HVAC, Ingersoll Rand, Iowa State University, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, LBNL, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Optimized Thermal Systems, ORNL, PARC, refrigeration, sensors and controls, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy, University of California–Berkeley, University of Miami, ventilation

Anderson school system celebrates energy-efficiency project

Posted at 8:12 am February 4, 2014
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Anderson County Schools ESG Groundbreaking

Anderson County officials and ESG representatives celebrate the kickoff of a $9.7 million energy-efficiency project in Anderson County Schools. (Photo courtesy Pam Crawford)

On Friday morning, the Anderson County school system celebrated the kickoff of a $9.7 million energy efficiency project that will make significant improvements to all 17 county schools, all with the aim of improving the learning environment, reducing energy use and, subsequently, the cost of energy across the system.

The Anderson County Commission recently approved a 15-year contract with Energy Systems Group—or ESG—to design and implement a $9.7 million energy efficiency and building modernization project throughout Anderson County Schools. All 17 county schools will receive energy improvements, including upgrades to the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning—or HVAC—systems and electrical systems as well as energy-efficient lights, water conservation measures, and advanced energy management controls—including sensors that will detect when a room is occupied and adjust heating and lighting automatically, and new suspended ceiling systems. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Anderson County, Education, Government, K-12, Top Stories Tagged With: air-conditioning, Anderson County Commission, Anderson County school system, Anderson County Schools, electrical systems, energy efficiency, energy improvements, Energy Systems Group, ESG, heating, HVAC, Larry Foster, ventilation, WYSH

Four AC units swiped from OR church

Posted at 11:09 am June 17, 2013
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

Oak Ridge Police are investigating the thefts of four air conditioning units from a church in two separate incidents.

Three Sundays ago, members of the West Village Christian Church discovered that the lines to a pair of AC units on one side of their building had been cut when they went to see why the air wasn’t working. The next day, those two units were stolen. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Oak Ridge, Police and Fire, Top Stories Tagged With: AC units, air-conditioning, Oak Ridge Police Department, West Village Christian Church, WYSH Radio

Oak Ridge Animal Shelter lowers adoption fee to install air conditioning

Posted at 9:33 am August 16, 2012
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Puppies at Oak Ridge Animal Shelter

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter has temporarily reduced its adoption fee from $110 to $45 so air conditioning units and new insulation can be installed. Puppies are pictured above in the front kennel area of the animal shelter.

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter has temporarily cut its adoption fee by more than 50 percent—from $110 to $45—so air-conditioning units and new insulation can be installed in a rear kennel area.

“We can’t have the animals in here when we re-apply the insulation,” said Julie Armes, Oak Ridge Animal Shelter supervisor.

The rear kennel area has 40 dog runs, but it has never had air-conditioning. Temperatures there can exceed 90 degrees. Although the shelter hasn’t had any heat fatalities, Armes said the heat is hard on cats and short-nosed dogs, such as pugs.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Community, Government Tagged With: adoption fee, air-conditioning, Julie Armes, Oak Ridge Animal Shelter

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Classifieds

Availability of the draft environmental assessment for off-site depleted uranium manufacturing (DOE/EA-2252)

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) announces the … [Read More...]

Public Notice: NNSA announces no significant impact of Y-12 Development Organization operations at Horizon Center

AVAILABILITY OF THE FINAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE OFFSITE HOUSING OF THE Y-12 DEVELOPMENT … [Read More...]

ADFAC seeks contractors for five homes

Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties (ADFAC) is a non-profit community based agency, … [Read More...]

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