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The New York State Department of Transportation announced that today, July 28, 2009, is an Air Quality Action Day, a day when air quality will be unhealthy, especially for sensitive individuals, such as children, seniors and people with asthma and other respiratory ailments, due to forecasted high levels of ground-level ozone pollution. The alert is issued for the New York downstate metropolitan region (the five boroughs, Long Island and lower Hudson Valley). This is the second alert of the week.

Recent studies have shown that poor air quality can cause respiratory and heart disease, restrict fetal growth and even cause premature death. Transportation -- primarily cars and trucks -- accounts for about 30 percent of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. While today will still be a day when New Yorkers can go about most of their daily activities, such as going to work, the New York State Department of Transportation encourages metro area residents to leave their cars at home and/or stay indoors as much as possible.

To help prevent air pollution on an Air Quality Action Day, New York area residents are asked to take the following simple steps:

• Stay indoors when possible.
• Combine errands into a single trip, rather than separate trips.
• Take the subway, bus or train to and from work or other destinations.
• Share a ride by carpooling or vanpooling. To find a carpool partner or vanpool, visit nycommute.org or 511ny.org.
• Refuel after dark. This prevents certain pollutants from being emitted into the air that react with sunlight and heat to create ground-level ozone.
• Bring lunch to work instead of driving out to get it to save time and money while helping to improve air quality.
• Avoid car idling.
• Avoid operating gas-powered gardening equipment such as lawn mowers. Such equipment releases chemicals that form ozone into the atmosphere.
  

To receive real-time Air Quality Action Day updates, text AIR to 42269 or visit cleanairny.org. You can also receive automatic updates on Facebook and Twitter -- search for "Clean Air NY" to opt in.

About Clean Air NY

Clean Air NY is an initiative sponsored by the New York State Department of Transportation in support of regional air quality efforts. Clean Air NY's network of individuals and businesses believes that every person has the power to help make New York's air healthier and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change. Clean Air NY educates the public on simple everyday changes that reduce driving and provides real-time updates on Air Quality Action Days via text messaging, e-mail and media notifications. To learn more, visit CleanAirNY.org.

SOURCE The New York State Department of Transportation

PPL Electric Utilities on Wednesday (7/1) requested Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission approval of an energy efficiency and conservation plan to help its customers use electricity more wisely.

The submittal is part of Pennsylvania Act 129 of 2008, which was passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor last fall as a way to reduce electricity use, expand the use of advanced metering technology and set requirements for electricity supply purchases by utilities.

The plan includes more than a dozen energy efficiency and conservation programs, ranging from energy-efficient equipment rebates to expanded home weatherization services for eligible customers.

"As electricity users, we all have the potential to save energy," said David G. DeCampli, president of PPL Electric Utilities. "Sometimes it just takes knowing where to start and getting a little help."

DeCampli said the company's plan offers opportunities for every customer group, from large commercial customers and institutions to small businesses, homeowners and renters. The plan aims to reduce customers' electric use by more than 1.3 billion kilowatt-hours a year by mid-2013.

"The plan we've proposed lays out programs that will dramatically expand our existing e-power campaign to promote wise energy use and help our customers save money, conserve resources and contribute to protecting the environment," he said.

In the last 50 years, customer electric use has surged nearly 500 percent - PPL Electric Utilities delivered 38 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2008 compared with just 6 billion kilowatt-hours in 1960.

"With bigger homes, more air conditioning, and more appliances, gadgets and home electronics, customers are using far more electricity than they did decades ago, and they're spending more as a result," DeCampli said.

"That's why it's important that electricity users make the best decisions they can, from purchasing energy-efficient appliances to taking actions that reduce their electric use," he said.

Among measures PPL Electric Utilities has proposed are:

• Rebates to customers who install energy-efficient equipment, including lighting, appliances, programmable thermostats, and heating and cooling systems.
• Nearly doubling the company's funding of home weatherization and conservation services for low-income customers.
• Financial incentives for customers to weatherize their home or get a home energy audit.
• A compact fluorescent lighting campaign to distribute more than 7 million energy-efficient light bulbs through a combination of giveaways and discount programs.
• A program to promote construction of energy-efficient homes, and grants to help offset higher construction costs.
• Rebates to encourage recycling of old, inefficient refrigerators and freezers.
• Energy efficiency education and take-home kits.
• Rebates for commercial customers who have their heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems tuned up and improved to increase energy efficiency.
• A time-of-use pricing option that would allow residential customers and some businesses to save money by shifting their electricity use from periods when demand is high.
• Financial incentives for customers to reduce use during peak hours or install remote-controlled devices on certain appliances so that the company can scale back electric use when summer demand is highest.
• Financial incentives for customers to install solar energy systems or geothermal heat pumps.

The plan proposed by PPL Electric Utilities will help the company meet the energy efficiency mandates of Act 129, which requires electric utilities to reduce customers' annual energy use 1 percent by mid-2011 and 3 percent by mid-2013. It also requires utilities to reduce customers' peak demand, or peak hourly use, by 4.5 percent by mid-2013.

PPL Electric Utilities held several daylong meetings to gather input on its draft energy efficiency plan from representatives of economic development organizations, state agencies, consumer advocates, environmental groups and operators of energy efficiency programs. The company plans to partner with community agencies, equipment manufacturers, appliance retailers, contractors and others to carry out some of the proposed initiatives.

The PUC is expected to act on the plan by Nov. 1, and the company hopes to begin offering some of the new programs by the end of the year and most by early 2010.

DeCampli said the company already has taken steps to raise awareness about energy efficiency in recent years. For example, today PPL Electric Utilities is able to provide all of its 1.4 million customers access to detailed usage information like few, if any, utilities can in the country.

The company's online Energy Analyzer at www.pplelectric.com allows customers to view daily and hourly usage information. Customers can experiment with changes, like adjusting their thermostat, to see the difference it makes. They can complete a home profile on the Energy Analyzer to see where their energy dollars are being spent and get personalized tips to save.

The company's e-power team is visiting thousands of customers each year to share energy-saving tips. In addition, the company shares monthly tips in a newsletter that accompanies customer bills. PPL Electric Utilities also funds rebates to small businesses that upgrade to energy-efficient lighting and rebates to residential customers who have their home's energy use evaluated by a certified energy auditor.

SOURCE PPL Electric Utilities

What's the best way to reduce my home's cooling costs? Are there tax credits available for my renewable energy project? What's the most energy efficient hot water heater? Could new lighting fixtures save my business money? These are among the thousands of questions Wisconsin residents are asking themselves every day. Thankfully, there's an easy and accessible resource where they can get their energy questions answered, as Focus on Energy has launched a new interactive Web site titled 'Ask Focus on Energy' (askfocusonenergy.com).

"The purpose of the Web site is to fulfill the public's growing desire for easily accessible information on the timely topic of energy," said Kathy Kuntz, program director for Focus on Energy. "Given the economic and energy climate, consumers and businesses are now, more than ever, looking to learn how energy efficiency and renewable energy relates specifically to their needs."

How the Web site Works

When you visit the 'Ask Focus on Energy' Web site you have the opportunity to submit a question, or search other questions that may relate to your area of interest. Once your question is submitted, if it is similar to a question already on the site, the answer will immediately appear. However, if your question is unique from any on the Web site, it will be sent to a panel of Focus on Energy experts for review. If your question is selected, it will be answered by one of our experts and posted on the Web site.

As so many people have similar questions and shared interests, you can also search a variety of energy-related topics to see what other people are asking. And to stay even more connected, you can now find Focus on Energy on Facebook and Twitter. These communities allow you to stay up-to-date on the questions and answers being added to the new Web site, as well as get regular energy saving tips.

"To date Wisconsin residents and businesses have saved nearly $200 million dollars in annual energy costs with help from Focus. This number could be much higher, as there are millions of homes and businesses in Wisconsin that are eligible for technical and financial assistance from Focus on Energy," continued Kuntz. "Hopefully the Web site will make people more aware of the significant energy saving potential in their homes and businesses. The answer to saving money and energy is out there -- all you have to do is ask."

Want to learn more about energy? Ask the team with energy in its name, Focus on Energy, by visiting askfocusonenergy.com.

SOURCE Focus on Energy

By installing a new metal roof, consumers can reduce their tax burden, cut energy costs, help the environment and protect their biggest investment - their home.

As a result of the new stimulus package, homeowners who make energy-efficient updates to their home, including the installation of a painted or coated Energy Star(R) labeled metal roof, may be eligible for a tax credit worth 30% of the material costs, up to $1,500 per home. To qualify, the metal roof must be installed between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010. The timing couldn't be better to choose a durable, eco-friendly metal roof.

In addition to earning a tax credit, Energy Star-labeled metal roofs keep homes cooler in summer and warmer in winter, resulting in lower utility costs.

Many products made by the manufacturer members of the Metal Roofing Alliance qualify for the tax credit. Visit www.metalroofing.com to find a local contractor.

As more people are choosing to stay in their homes longer, the need to re-roof looms large. "Consumers have figured out that temporary doesn't make sense," said Tom Black, Executive Director, Metal Roofing Alliance. "That's why we call metal roofing investment-grade roofing, because it adds value and it lasts."

A typical asphalt shingle roof has to be replaced approximately every 20 years, making it a short-term solution with a long-term environmental impact. According to the National Association of Homebuilders, asphalt shingles contribute 1.36 billion pounds of waste to landfills every year.

A metal roof features significant recycled content. Metal roofs often outlast the home they're on, require no maintenance and are 100% recyclable at the end of their useful life. As an added bonus for re-roofing projects, metal roofing can often be applied over the original roof, saving removal and disposal costs and reducing landfill waste.

Metal roofing offers a wide variety of finishes, designs and colors that provide greater energy savings compared to most other non-metal roofing products on the market today. Metal roofs resist cracking, shrinking and eroding and stand up to hail, high winds and wildfires.

According to McGraw-Hill Construction and Analytics(R), metal roofing has made a significant climb in the residential roofing market. With a market share of 11% in the re-roofing segment, and 10% overall, residential metal roofing is gaining quickly on competitors' products.

SOURCE Metal Roofing Alliance

Tony Blair joins Senators Bingaman, McCain, Snowe and Stabenow on Capitol Hill for Climate event. Senators, Governors, business leaders and international experts met in the Capitol today to discuss the prospects for U.S. domestic action on climate change.

Many of the participants stressed that action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions should not be delayed by the global economic downturn because it provides an opportunity to lay the foundations for a sustainable recovery based on low-carbon growth.

The symposium, "U.S. Climate Action: A Global Economic Perspective" was convened by Senators Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), John McCain (R-AZ), Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

During the opening session, the former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, argued that the leading economic powers around the world now understand the significant risks of climate change and appreciate that the best way to minimize the dangers is by investing in a low-carbon economy.

Mr. Blair said that the U.S. can send an important signal to the world about the importance they place on tackling global climate change through the progress it makes on its domestic climate policy over the next few months.

Senator Bingaman said "Today's bipartisan gathering of leaders to discuss how to move climate policy forward in the current economic crisis is constructive. A responsibly-designed national climate policy will create economic opportunities and jobs and spur investment in low-carbon technologies that will make U.S. businesses more competitive. The costs of climate policy can be mitigated with the right policy measures, and we need to move ahead with both energy policies and a national cap and trade program to sustain these investments."

"This was a great meeting where we discussed the key issues surrounding climate change policy with international leaders, such as former Prime Minister Tony Blair, who have already gained valuable insight on how such policies may affect manufacturing and economic opportunities," said Senator Stabenow. "For me, the bottom-line of any future climate change bill must be jobs. Climate policy can help re-build the middle class and create jobs in states like Michigan where we have the manufacturing base and engineering know-how to produce the new technology that will be needed. I intend to keep jobs and common sense at the top of the list of considerations as the climate policy discussion continues."

Governors Jim Doyle of Wisconsin, Jennifer Granholm of Michigan, and Timothy M. Kaine of Virginia provided their perspectives on the impact of climate policy on regional competitiveness, particularly with respect to impacts on U.S. jobs. Governor Doyle said "Global warming demands aggressive action at the international, national, state, local and individual levels. By combining Wisconsin's knowledge, skills and resources with those of our global neighbors, we can develop the solutions necessary for a clean energy future. The environmental and economic consequences of climate change and our dependence on fossil fuels affect everyone, and working together we will be able to generate new technologies, new businesses, new jobs for our citizens, and a cleaner and safer world for generations to come."

"In Michigan our top priority is growing the economy and creating jobs and that is why comprehensive climate change legislation is important to our state," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. "Not only will this legislation advance clean energy technologies that reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil, it will create millions of new green jobs, and protect our natural resources and that is critical for a state like Michigan that has lost hundreds of thousands of manufacturing jobs."

There was strong agreement about the importance of boosting economic growth and combating climate change at the same time, and participants recognized that low-carbon investments will not only be good for jobs and economic recovery but will also improve the country's energy security and begin to cut its greenhouse gas emissions.

John Chambers of Cisco, Jeff Immelt of GE, Vinod Khosla of Khosla Ventures and Jim Rogers of Duke Energy, provided perspectives from business. Jim Rogers said "I have long been a supporter of enacting climate legislation because it will take decades to slow, stop and reverse greenhouse gas emissions. However, the 100 percent auction contained in the President's budget will unnecessarily punish the 25 states that get the majority of their electricity from coal. That represents nothing more than a tax and a wealth transfer, and it has nothing to do with meeting our environmental challenges. Congress needs to enact climate change legislation, but they also must get it right."

International policymakers, Ed Miliband, Connie Hedegaard and Tony Blair said that strong U.S. action on climate would galvanize further action across the world. Lord Nicholas Stern, author of the highly influential report "The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review" in 2006, said: "The U.S. has a real opportunity to take a lead given the creativity of its entrepreneurs and its technical talents."

Lord Stern added: "Low carbon growth is the only growth story, because high carbon growth would eventually choke itself off. The world would react strongly to an America lead as we go forward to build an international deal at the United Nations climate change conference in Copenhagen at the end of this year."

Nobel Prize winning U.S. economist Professor Joe Stiglitz agreed, stating that "Countries around the world have been waiting for the U.S. to take leadership but they have not been sitting idle. Many countries have set out domestic plans of action on reducing their emissions. It is now the turn of the U.S. to use its power of example to motivate key countries to work together and find a global solution to this global problem."

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's climate envoy, Todd Stern, addressed the group on the discussions he has conducted to date with international policymakers on the importance of global collaboration ahead of the United Nations Climate Change conference in Copenhagen in December.

The event was organized by three leading Washington think tanks, the Center for Global Development (CGD), the Peterson Institute for International Economics, and the World Resources Institute (WRI), together with the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment at London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), which is chaired by Lord Nicholas Stern.

About the Partners

1. The Center for Global Development is an independent think tank that works to reduce global poverty and inequality by encouraging policy change in the United States and other rich countries through rigorous research and active engagement with the policy community. www.cgdev.org

2. The Peterson Institute for International Economics is the only research institution in the United States devoted to global economic issues. It was recently rated "Top Think Tank in the World" by the first comprehensive survey of more than 5000 such institutions in all countries. www.petersoninstitute.org

3. The World Resources Institute is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people's lives. www.wri.org

4. The Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment was established in 2008 at the London School of Economics and Political Science. The Institute brings together international expertise on economics, finance, geography, the environment, international development and political economy to establish a world-leading centre for policy-relevant research and training in climate change and the environment. It is funded by the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment. www.lse.ac.uk/grantham

SOURCE Center for Global Development