October 2011 Newsletter

October 2011 CEA Newsletter
Issue 55

Rediscover energy in October

October is a month of learning and discovery here at CEA, as we host our first Energy Day festival in Houston: a fun, educational event showcasing energy in all its forms and highlighting the latest technology that will lead the way to a brighter, more powerful future.

The October 15 event is geared toward school-aged children and their families, who will enjoy a series of exhibits, demonstrations and contests, all serving to illustrate the role that energy – in a multitude of forms – plays in our lives.

We hope this event will encourage children to think big and look hopefully toward the future. We want to spark their interest in the science of energy: the advances that are making it possible to access reserves such as shale gas long considered off limits, and to better tap the power of the sun and the wind. Indeed, the energy breakthroughs we’ve seen in recent years have been something of an ongoing science fair. We’ve watched oil and gas boom towns spring up in the plains of the Dakotas, while in more traditional oil-producing regions like the Gulf of Mexico, oil extraction processes have been refined to the point that large volumes of oil can be produced with minimal surface disruption. The advances we’ve seen to date have helped our growing nation keep pace with our energy demands. A secure energy future will depend in part on our children achieving further scientific and technological advances.

If you are in the Houston area, we hope you and your family will join us at Hermann Square for this event, which will also feature food and live music. And even if you can’t be there in person, we urge you to think about all that our energy industry has achieved since the Drake Well was first drilled more than 150 years ago. So often, we highlight the challenges surrounding energy: of finding it, producing it, transporting it and securing our supplies. And while those challenges remain daunting, we should also take time to take note of our many successes, which some now believe could make the United States the largest oil producer in the world.

We can get there, but it will take the imagination and dedication of current and future generations. For more information about this important festival of discovery, visit the Energy Day website at http://energyday2011.org/

David Holt

Echo Your Support For North American Energy – Secure, Homegrown Resources

In the face of high prices at the fuel pump and global events that threaten oil supply, the United States has the opportunity to actually do something about it.  The Keystone XL pipeline, which will carry 700,000 barrels of oil per day from our ally, Canada, as well as from the Dakotas, Montana, and Oklahoma to Gulf Coast refineries, will mean greater national security, a stable fuel supply, and economic growth in the US.

Before this vital project can proceed, the Department of State must issue a Presidential Permit to allow the pipeline to cross from Canada into the United States.  After years of environment review, the Department of State concluded that no significant issues exist that should prohibit this project from moving forward.  Now, the Department needs to hear why this project is in the nation’s best interest – the final step in the permit’s review process.

Take Action: Please write Secretary Clinton and tell her that increased energy security and economic growth are clearly good things for this country.  The Administration must grant the President Permit as expeditiously as possible so Americans can realize these tremendous benefits.

Take Action Now!

Energy Day 2011 Updates

We are only a week and a half away from the first annual Energy Day Festival.  On October 15, 2011 75 sponsors and partners, over 50 exhibitors and the people of Houston, TX will make Energy Day 2011 a can’t-miss event.  On October 4^th CEA will conducted a conference call on which all sponsors, partners and exhibitors were invited to participate.  On the call all final preparations for Energy Day 2011 sponsors were made.

Here is the list of confirmed Energy Day sponsors:

ABC-13/KTRK-TV, Air Transport Association, American Public Power Association, Anadarko, Apache, ASES Houston Solar Tour, Bug Ware, Inc., Caterpillar, CenterPoint Energy, Children’s Museum of Houston, City of Houston, ConocoPhillips, Consumer Energy Alliance, Consumer Energy Education Foundation, Cooperative for After-School Enrichment (CASE), CSTEM Teacher & Student Support Services, Earth Quest Institute, Eco-Holdings Engineering, El Paso Corporation, Energy People Connect, Environmentally Friendly Drilling Program, eVgo, Foundation for Energy Education, Geophysical Society of Houston, German American Chamber of Commerce of the Southern US, Inc., Greater Houston Partnership, Halliburton, Harris County Department of Education, Hess Corporation, Houston Advanced Research Center, Houston Area Land Rover Centers, Houston Community College-Northeast Energy Institute, Houston Geological Society, Houston Independent School District, Houston Museum of Natural Science, Wiess Energy Hall, Houston Northwest Chamber of Commerce – Energize! Houston, Houston Renewable Energy Group, Houston Renewable Energy Network, Houston Technology Center, HoustonWorks USA, Ignite Solar, Independent Natural Resources, International Power | GDF Suez, KBR, Inc., Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP), Lone Star College System, Momentum Luxury Group , NASA-Johnson Space Center, National Algae Association, NRG Energy | Reliant Energy, Offshore Energy Center, Purestream, Inc., San Jacinto College – Energy Venture Camp, Schlumberger, Science & Engineering Fair of Houston, Shell, 60 Plus Association, Society of Exploration Geophysicists, Society of Women Engineers – Houston Area Section, Statoil, Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering, Texas Sol Renewable, Texas Southern University, Jesse H. Jones School of Business, Texas TicKids, The Wind Alliance, TransCanada, TXU Energy, United Airlines, University of Houston, University of Texas, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for 21st Century Energy, U.S. DOE Gulf Coast Clean Energy Application Center, Waste Management, Western Energy Alliance, YES Prep Public School

We need your participation and involvement to make this an outstanding event! Please email Kathleen at KKoehler@consumerenergyalliance.org for details.

All sponsors have given us their exhibit designs, all of which will be very exciting for the youth of Houston.    Here are a few exhibits:

• Combined heat and power system; 8 x 22 Kawasaki engine
• Natural gas vehicle
• Solar panels and wind turbines
• Mobile Offshore Learning Unit
• Interactive iPad games and applications
• eVgo is bringing the Freedom Station (electric vehicle charging station) and 1 or two electric vehicles
• and plenty more….

Efficient Lighting Strategies

Did you know that the electric light bulb was invented just 132 years ago? Thomas Alva Edison invented the carbon-filament lamp in 1879. This invention ushered in an era of inventions and progress that led to our present-day world of technology and electricity dependence.

In the United States, about 15 percent of household electricity is used for lighting – mostly through the use of traditional incandescent bulbs. We use artificial light to meet all types of needs, including: ambient, task and accent lighting.

Using new technologies, you can decrease the electricity used for your lighting needs by 50 to 75 percent. Not only does that save you money, but it is also wise utilization of America’s resources.

Make use of these tips:

• More light is not always better – match your lighting needs to your tasks
• Use a dimmer switch to reduce costs
• Use energy-efficient light bulbs and systems to save energy
• Try “daylighting” – using natural light, when available, through the use of windows and skylights

Find out more about efficient lighting strategies from the U.S. Department of Energy here.