State Energy Conservation Office Programs
LoanSTAR Revolving Loan Program: has saved taxpayers more than $200 million through energy-efficiency projects for state agencies, institutions of higher education, school districts, county hospitals and local governments. Borrowers repay loans through cost savings generated by the projects. LoanSTAR-funded projects have also prevented the release of 7,130 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx), 2.1 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) and 4,832 tons of sulfur dioxide (SO2).
Schools/Local Government Energy Program: has helped more than 3,500 schools and other units of local government set up and maintain effective energy-efficiency programs. SECO provides facility preliminary energy assessments, energy management training workshops, technical support in designing new facilities and on-site training for student energy awareness projects. Clean energy technologies are demonstrated at public facilities and school districts to increase awareness and address air quality at the community level. Texas schools also employ the computer power management software that puts monitors to “sleep” when not in use. Over 136,000 school computers now use this software, saving 42 million kWh and reducing energy costs by $3 million annually.
Energy Education Curriculum Program: promotes energy conservation and efficiency through education. The program strives to lay the foundation for environmental stewardship in teachers and students through critical-thinking and problem-solving investigations in Texas Education Agency approved workshops. Over 2,500 teachers have attended these workshops and utilized the materials in their classrooms reaching over 375,000 students. The program also supports fuel cell technical training curriculum development at the college level.
State Agencies/Higher Education Program: ensures that new facilities are designed and built with energy efficiency and water conservation in mind. Projects include administration and maintenance of the Energy and Water Conservation Design Standard for new state buildings and major renovation projects. Other initiatives include development of statewide employee energy awareness through workshops on how energy efficiency and employee behavior can reduce energy use. The program provides educational materials on how to use energy more efficiently through product procurement, innovative technologies and sustainable design practices. This program also provides education and outreach on residential and commercial energy codes statewide. The goal is to demonstrate the clear benefits of energy codes and standards in improving the quality of life, the environment and the safety and health of communities.
Energy Management Services: a comprehensive energy management program designed to significantly reduce energy and utility expenditures in state-owned facilities. The State of Texas spent over $216 million in electricity expenditures in 2006. Program components include construction of a state-of-the-art energy and utility information management system, a comprehensive analysis of historic and future utility bills, energy procurement at the lowest possible rates and best available terms, and Owner’s Representative services on ongoing and future energy-conservation projects. Institutions of higher education, state university systems and local governments are eligible to participate in the program.
Innovative Energy Program: promotes the use of renewable energy and sustainable building practices through technology demonstration, hands-on instruction and renewable energy education. Renewable energy has significant economic, security and reliability benefits and opportunities for Texas communities and individuals as they develop and use these resources. SECO increases public awareness of Texas’ vast renewable energy resources and provides the public better access to vendors, financing options, and renewable energy incentives through its educational web site, The Infinite Power of Texas.
Alternative Fuels Program: demonstrates the positive environmental impact, technical feasibility and energy efficiency of domestically-produced alternative fuels. The Alternative Fuels Program is designed to assist state agencies, school districts, local government and private fleets to operate more of their fleets on alternative fuels. Initiatives include support for the Clean Cities Program, Clean School Bus USA Program, Mechanics Education Outreach and Air Quality Demonstration Projects.
Transportation Program: focuses on reducing fuel consumption, air pollution and traffic congestion. Projects include traffic signal synchronization, intelligent traffic management systems, and colonias vanpools and telehealth programs. Local partners (governmental units, hospitals, school districts, and not-for-profit providers) maintain, dispatch and operate the equipment, and each year these vans cover more than one million passenger miles.
Housing Partnership Program: promotes the efficient use of energy in low-to-moderate-income housing through partnerships among nonprofit organizations, community action agencies, local governments, utility companies, public housing authorities and social service organizations. The program encourages community and residential involvement in energy-efficiency projects such as housing retrofits, model demonstration projects, technical training assistance and energy education workshops and seminars.
Pollution Mitigation Program: assists political subdivisions in 41 urban counties to reduce electric consumption in their facilities by implementing cost-effective energy-efficiency projects. SECO provides technical support and guidance through the Texas Energy Partnership, a joint initiative involving SECO, the U.S. Department of Energy, and EnergyStar®. Information, planning tools and electronic reporting are offered at the Texas Energy Partnership web site.
Pantex Program: The Pantex Nuclear Weapons plant, located in Carson County, is responsible for assembling and disassembling nuclear weapons. The U.S. Department of Energy funds the Texas Agreement in Principle, which SECO has administered since 1990. SECO contracts with a variety of state and local governments to ensure that human health and safety, and the environment, are protected around the plant. The Pantex Program also administers a DOE grant to train local emergency responders along routes that have shipments of radioactive waste going to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant near Carlsbad, New Mexico, and eventually shipments of spent fuel tentatively scheduled to go to Yucca Mountain in Nevada.