Winter Governor Tim Pawlenty has issued an Executive Order challenging

							                                                                                                                                                             Winter 2007


Governor Tim Pawlenty has issued an Executive Order challenging all                 Send us your energy saving tips
state agencies to reduce energy use in state-owned buildings by 10 per-             Do you have an idea about how state government can reduce energy
cent. As we all know, rising energy prices pose a significant challenge for         consumption in its buildings? We’ve received a bunch already (see “That’s
state government. Minnesota’s state agencies should be leaders in saving            an Idea” at www.savingenergy.state.mn.us), but can always use more.
energy and demonstrating the public benefits of energy conservation. This           Building-specific ideas will be passed along to facility engineers; those of a
periodic e-letter is part of an effort to increase awareness across state           more general nature may be included on the web site. E-mail your sugges-
government of the importance of SavingEnergy.                                       tions, big or small, to saving.energy@state.mn.us.
Power-saving computing                                                              Friendly reminder
State agencies are taking the initiative to reduce personal computer energy         Personal space heaters pose a significant safety and fire hazard (most
consumption. Effective Dec. 1, all desktop and laptop computers avail-              require 24” clearance) and are not permitted in state buildings. They are
able for purchase by the state now meet new, more stringent Energy Star             also electricity and money hogs, costing as much as $3 a week to oper-
4.0 requirements. Additionally, an interagency team, led by the Office of           ate. One solution is warmer clothing and physical activity, even if it’s only
                          Enterprise Technology, is developing standards            stretching at your desk. The perceived need for space heaters, however,
                            and guidelines that would further reduce power          may also indicate a larger issue with the opera-
                            consumption, including system wide after-               tion of the building—which can actually be
                              hours shutdowns. These measures will be               made worse if individual space heaters are
                                designed to allow routine maintenance, such         added here and there. Check with your facil-
                                 as application and security updates and will       ity engineer or building operator to be sure
                                 permit individual user override for after-         the entire building is operating as efficiently
                                  hours work needs.                                 as possible.
                                         Both actions respond to Governor
                                              Pawlenty’s directive requir-          Lighting opportunities
                                               ing Energy Star 4.0 compli-          Lighting consumes a significant amount of energy in most commercial
                                             ance for all new purchases of          buildings, which means that careful lighting choices can have a big effect
                                     computers and, on current equipment,           on energy use. Here are a few things to consider:
activation of power management functions that automatically transfer com-           •     Turn it off. If a light isn’t needed, simply turn it off. This includes lights
puters to a “sleep” or “hibernation” mode when not in use.                                in a cubicle, a storage space, or a room with good daylight.
On Nov. 7, Governor Pawlenty announced a pioneering partnership                     •     Switch the bulbs. Wherever possible, incandescents should be
between his National Governor’s Association initiative, “Securing a Clean                 replaced with CFLs or LEDs. New versions allow for dimming, outside
Energy Future,” and the “Climate Savers Computing Initiative,” founded by                 use, and different color temperatures.
Google and Intel, to spur the deployment of more energy efficient comput-           •     Automatic control. For infrequently used areas, occupancy detec-
ers and servers in state offices and agencies. Minnesota joined with Kan-                 tor switches can keep lights off until someone enters the space—and
sas as the first two states to sign a commitment to the Computing Initiative.             then turn them off after they leave. These are great for storage areas,
As agencies transition to Energy Star 4.0 compliant computers, state                      loading docks, low-traffic bathrooms and conference rooms.
government will eventually realize a reduction in power consumption of up           •     Task vs. general lighting. If general lighting is lowered, there is often
to 20,000 kilowatt/hours a day, trim costs an estimated $320,000 and elimi-               still a need for controllable, directional, and higher lumen task lighting
nate approximately 6.4 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions.                        at workstations—which should be as energy-efficient as possible.
For more information on Securing a Clean Energy Future, visit www.nga.
org/ci. For details on the state’s computer purchasing program, see the             Want to know more?
IT Standards and Resource Management link at www.oet.state.mn.us.                   Visit the SavingEnergy web site, www.savingenergy.state.mn.us or
Energy Star is online at www.energystar.gov.                                        www.commerce.state.mn.us and click on Energy Info Center.


                                                       The SavingEnergy e-letter is produced by the
                                                               Minnesota Department of Commerce,
                                                                               State Energy Office
                                                    and the Minnesota Department of Administration.