Tennessee Valley Authority
TVA To Emphasize Energy Efficiency During National Energy Awareness Month
October 6, 2011
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Valley Authority today announced the kickoff of a month-long public focus on energy efficiency in observance of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Awareness Month.
Throughout the month of October, TVA will emphasize its efforts to increase the adoption of energy efficiency measures in the Tennessee Valley by working with local utilities, businesses and consumers to accelerate future growth.
Bob Balzar, TVA vice president of Energy Efficiency and Demand Response, said the theme of Energy Awareness Month 2011 is "Turning Words into Action; Turning Action into Results."'
"That's exactly what we, along with our distributor partners, have been doing over the past year when it comes to energy efficiency," Balzar said. "We are truly entering a new era of energy efficiency focus, acceptance and awareness in both the Tennessee Valley and TVA."
TVA and local utilities have provided a suite of home and business energy efficiency programs for several years, but last year TVA's long-term plans to meet future growth in the region put increased emphasis on energy efficiency.
In 2010, the TVA Board of Directors adopted a renewed corporate vision that calls for steep energy efficiency gains to help make TVA the nation's leading provider of low-cost and cleaner energy by 2020.
TVA's energy efficiency team has been aggressively working in cooperation with local distributors to achieve the goal of leading the Southeast in improved energy efficiency by 2015.
TVA is implementing significant energy efficiency and sustainability improvements at its own office buildings. The Knoxville Office Complex was awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star certification in 2010, placing it in the top 25 percent of buildings nationwide in energy performance.
Improvements at the Knoxville facility include:
- More efficient lighting projected to save 295,488 kilowatt hours per year, or $29,100 annually.
- Replacement of lighting in exterior TVA signs with more efficient LED lighting projected to save 11,940 kilowatt hours and $1,200 yearly.
- Low flow equipment on all sinks and bathroom fixtures projected to save 2.2 million gallons water and $18,000 per year.
- Completed design of a solar hot water system for installation on the West Tower roof to serve the Livewell fitness center.
In 2000, the Chattanooga Office Complex earned the EPA's Energy Star award. Renewal of the certification last year included:
- More efficient lighting projected to save 378,484 kilowatt hours and $44,100 annually.
- Sensors to automatically turn on/off lights, computer monitors and other office equipment to save an estimated 1,865,500 kilowatt hours and $156,700 annually.
- Low flow equipment on all sinks and bathroom fixtures projected to save 6.5 million gallons of water and $56,800 annually.
In addition to helping consumers and businesses use energy wisely and lower power costs, energy efficiency has the cumulative effect of lowering energy demand, which reduces emissions from power plants, along with the need to build new plants.
TVA programs that help offset the cost of installing efficiency upgrades also support economic growth of the energy efficiency business sector.
"We want to raise everyone's awareness about the importance of energy efficiency and open a new chapter on making the Tennessee Valley a leader in energy efficiency," Balzar said.
TVA's EnergyRight Solutions program is available for homes, businesses and industries. To find out about these or other TVA energy efficiency programs, visit TVA's energy efficiency website at www.EnergyRight.com.
The Tennessee Valley Authority, a corporation owned by the U.S. government, provides electricity for 9 million people in parts of seven southeastern states at prices below the national average. TVA, which receives no taxpayer money and makes no profits, also provides flood control, navigation and land management for the Tennessee River system and assists utilities and state and local governments with economic development.
Media Contact
Mike Bradley, Knoxville, (865) 632-8600
Media Relations, Knoxville (865) 632-6000