Washington, DC Projects Office

International Energy Efficiency Studies

Berkeley Lab staff in DC provide technical support and on-site coordination with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and other clients sponsoring energy efficiency programs in other countries. In partnership with developing countries and international organizations, we contribute to a range of international energy efficiency projects, such as providing technical assistance to other governments on public sector energy management and supporting the efforts of the North American Energy Working Group (NAEWG) to harmonize energy efficiency activities in North America.

PEPS

LBNL has joined with the Alliance to Save Energy, the International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC), ICLEI: Local Governments for Sustainability, and Mexico's Energy-Saving Commission (CONAE) to form PEPS ("Promoting an Energy-efficient Public Sector"). PEPS aims to help government agencies around the world achieve direct energy and cost savings, and to mobilize public buying power and leadership to move markets toward energy-efficient products and services. PEPS projects, coordinated out of LBNL's DC office, are sponsored by the US Agency for International Development (USAID), US Department of Energy (USDOE), US Environmental Protection Administration (USEPA), the Energy Foundation, and the International Copper Association. PEPS maintains an inventory of policies, programs, and administrative practices that improve government sector energy efficiency. The PEPS initiative draws on experience in public sector energy management from the US Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) as well as programs in many other countries. In addition to maintaining the PEPS website, carrying out regional workshops, and developing tools such as the "Guide to Efficient Energy Use in the Public Sector" (due in 2007) and the Energy Savings Tool (EST) to calculate potential energy savings from energy-efficient purchasing, PEPS collaborates with in-country partners to promote energy conservation programs in governments (federal, state, and municipal) around the world. Current PEPS technical assistance programs include:

• Mexico: In 2004-05, PEPS completed a municipal energy-efficient procurement pilot project with eight cities, building on ICLEI's Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) network. The municipal component is expanding and the program is partnering with CONAE to expand to the state and federal government level.
• China: Partnering with the China Standardization Center (CSC, formerly CECP) and other organizations, PEPS helped China initiate a federal-level energy-efficient purchasing initiative, and is currently helping develop an expanded public sector efficiency initiative.
• India: PEPS is working with the Maharashtra Public Works Department to carry out a state government project on energy-efficient public buildings and procurement.
• South Africa: PEPS has taken part in energy-efficiency workshops in South Africa, and contributed to a municipal-level pilot project in Ekurhuleni.
• APEC: PEPS participated in the International Symposium on Government Sector Energy Management (Kunming, China, 8/04) and performed a scoping study for APEC procurement harmonization; other projects in this region are in the planning stages.

Support to the North American Energy Working Group—With support from USDOE, LBNL provides technical support for the Energy Efficiency Experts Group of the trilateral North America Energy Working Group (now the energy arm of the Security and Prosperity Partnership).