Utah is making progress with efficiency
Achievements so far are sizable, report states
Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. in 2006 announced he wants Utah to increase its energy efficiency 20 percent by 2015.
"Achievements to date, while sizable, lag behind interim targets because of limited funding," the report states.
Huntsman's appointed state energy adviser Dianne Nielson said the report proves the state is doing what it said it would two years ago.
"We have set an aggressive target and we're moving forward to accomplish it," Nielson said about progress so far. "I'm comfortable with where we are."
More than $2.4 million invested in state-owned buildings on new lighting systems, fixes to existing buildings or using "High Performance Building Design Standards" on 20 new construction projects over the past two years is eventually expected to reap over $11.7 million in actual savings. Five of the new projects were completed last year and Utah Valley State College's Digital Learning Center, with the new design standard, is supposed to be complete this summer.
"The projects undertaken so far show that significant inroads toward its energy efficiency target will require the state to invest in making its facilities more energy efficient," according to the report, which calls for $5 million a year to help fund efforts to reach 15 percent energy efficiency by 2015 in state buildings only.
Nielson didn't make any predictions about getting those funds, but she lauded the Legislature for being focused on making Utah a leader in energy efficiency.
The 142-page report highlights successes of the State Building Energy Efficiency Program, with utility cost savings estimated in the millions and carbon emission reduction expectations in the thousands of tons statewide.
For example, Utah's Department of Corrections is using a geothermal spring to heat 332,000 square feet of building space. About 150 employees for the state's Department of Commerce have pledged to replace 592 light bulbs in their homes with new compact fluorescent bulbs.
The Utah National Guard is using wind energy at Camp Williams to meet 22 percent of the facility's energy requirement and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2,915 tons. And the state's Department of Natural Resources reduced annual fuel consumption by 11,700 gallons when it switched to using compact trucks instead of the one-ton models.
Last August Huntsman ordered the state's Department of Administrative Services to purchase more high-efficiency vehicles like hybrids or alternative fuel vehicles.
Comments
- Hollywood glamour at Gaultier 1:58 p.m.
- Canal breaks, causes landslide in Logan 1:52 p.m.
- Reptile Lou won't eat 1:06 p.m.
- Three injured in South Ogden shooting 1:05 p.m.
- Upsets at Saturday's State Am 12:27 p.m.
- Luxury home market stalls 12:02 p.m.
- Kirk Douglas classic on DVD 11:38 a.m.
- Zion fire moving southeast 11:36 a.m.
- More school-money than expected 11:24 a.m.
- Virginia 'Freedman's' project done 11:12 a.m.
- Jazz brass debate Millsap match
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- 2 men cited on LDS plaza
- Jazz finances not quite so bleak
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- HBO defends U. logo use in 'Love'
- Utahns among Texans' investors
- Cash for Clunkers to get rolling soon
- Jazz rookies quiet Thunder youngsters
- 10 years after the flood
- LDS seminary principal arrested
267 - Jazz brass debate Millsap match
176 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
140 - 2 men cited on LDS plaza
132 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
124 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
99 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Letters: Single-payer system best
75 - Services bids farewell to Jackson
70
As more and more dads are put out of work in this economy, I've been...
The photographs are mysterious, brooding, dark. They show dimples and...
I am confident that Glen Beck has the read the book by Gary Allen,NONE DARE...
The best thing we could do would be to get rid of all the people in DC who...
He would not pull out a whip, that's for sure. You people must read a...
i havent read anything about 20 mil. i read 32 to 36 mil not confirmed. 15...
Enter comment Introduzca comentario ¡¡Por Dios!! Esto no es cosa del...
When I was 16, I thought the world of my seminary teachers. They all talked...
Girls/Ladies/Women, let me first introduce reality into this discussion. In...
Obviously you don't get my point. They were non-violent resisters. They were...
PRESIDENT CLINTON was guilty of the SAME KIND OF CRIME. An older man in a...
Ah, The Religion of Peace! :-)


You can be the first to comment on this story.