Alicen Kandt National Renewable Energy Laboratory

1. Alternative Energy & Energy ConservationClimate Friendly Parks WorkshopRocky Mountain National ParkMarch 21, 2007 Alicen Kandt National Renewable Energy Laboratory

2. Realize the Benefits • Reliable, distributed power supplies and fuel diversification, which enhance energy security • Fewer (or no) emissions or greenhouse gases associated with energy production • Greater energy price stability • Lower utility bills • More power for peak-use • Lower risk of fuel spills in environmentally-sensitive, remote locations • Less need for imported fuels • Reduced O&M costs

3. Conserve Energy • Efficiency First! • EPAct 2005 & E.O.13423 • Reduce utility-billed energy consumption • Increase use of renewable energy • Apply “High Performance & Sustainable Buildings” MOU Guidelines • Lighting • Implement Lighting Retrofit Workbook: A Practical “How To” Guide for National Park Service Visitor Centers • O&M • Utilize Best Practices (several DOE/FEMP guides) • Employ commissioning & metering when possible

4. Tap into Renewable Energy Sources • Electricity • Solar Photovoltaics (PV) • Wind • Micro-hydro • Thermal • Daylighting and Passive Solar • Solar water heating • Solar ventilation preheat • Geothermal heat pump or GeoExchange • Biomass • Conversion: produce electricity and heat • Combustion or Gasification • Biofuels: ethanol, methane, bio-oil, and biodiesel • Green Power Purchase

5. When to Consider Solar PV • Small or Stand Alone Loads • Emergency call boxes or security gates • Parking lot lights or sign lighting • Communications/monitoring equipment • Comfort station lights and ventilation • Fee collection stations • Avoided Line Extensions • $20k/mile or more • New loads beyond electrical distribution system • Water pumping • Remote Diesel Generators • Producing power at $0.20/kWh or more • Buildings Integrated PV • Peak shaving and UPS or emergency power • PV replaces part of building skin costs

6. Heating Mode Earth When to Consider Geothermal • New construction or existing facility with hydronic piping • Major renovation when existing systems obsolete • High water table or relatively moist, damp soil • Ground-level parking area or open land for loop installation, or access to ground or other water • Mixture of heating and cooling needs: • Multiple zones, both core and perimeter • Water heating, snow melt, and process applications

7. When to Consider Biodiesel • Diesel vehicles and engines • B20 is most common use, 20% bio and 80% petroleum diesel blend • B100 has cold start and storage shelf life limitations • Purchase B20 through DESC at prices similar to diesel • Hundreds of engines already use biodiesel in 20+ Parks • Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Glacier • Pictured Rocks • B20 blended into diesel fuel tanks • Soy-based lubricants, hydraulic fluid, 2-cycle oil, crankcase oil

8. Purchase Green Power • Three methods • Regulated Utility Green Pricing Programs • Xcel Energy WindSource program • Competitive Renewable Power • Currently does not apply in Colorado • Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) • A.k.a. tradeable renewable certificates, renewable energy credits, green energy certificates, or green tags • Represent environmental attributes of renewable generation and can be sold separately from the electricity • GSA, DESC, and WAPA can assist with purchases • Wind energy is the most common form • Good option when on-site renewable energy is not possible or cost effective

9. Get Started • What renewable resources are available in my area? • What applications are best for my facility? • What are the objectives of my renewable energy project? • How big (or small) should my project be? • What are the costs and benefits of my project? • How much funding do I need? • What kind of assistance can FEMP, State Energy Office, NREL or others provide?

10. In closing …