Life-cycle assessment or analysis (LCA) is a formal process used to evaluate the environmental burdens associated with a company’s products, from production to use, and finally to disposal. This process can also be used to evaluate the environmental impacts of a process or activity.[i]  Knowing the environmental impacts of a product throughout its life cycle is important when trying to decide which products are the least harmful. Consumers are growing increasingly interested in accessing this sort of information about the products they buy, so that they can make informed choices when trying to become more sustainable.
 
Environmental impacts are estimated during the four major stages of an LCA study, which are raw material acquisition, manufacturing, use/reuse/maintenance of the product, and disposal.[ii] Throughout these stages, energy, water, and land use impacts are evaluated. Greenhouse gases and toxic byproducts are also estimated.[iii] 
 
The EPA recently released the final report on their LCA of the materials used in the insulation and jacketing of wire and cable products. The project investigated baseline and alternative sheathing materials in three different types of wire and cable products:

• Category 6 riser-rated communication cable
• Category 6 plenum-rated communication cable
• Non-metallic sheathed low-voltage power cable as used in building wire

These products were featured because they represent a significant share of the wire and cable market and contain materials for which alternatives are being sought. The report and a factsheet on the project can be downloaded here <http://www.epa.gov/dfe/pubs/index.htm#wirecable>

[i] http://www.life-cycle.org/ accessed June 26, 2009.

[ii] http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/lcaccess/lca101.html accessed June 26, 2009.

[iii] http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/lcaccess/lca101.html accessed June 26, 2009.

Energy-efficiency funding in the U.S. and Canada rose to $4.5 billion in 2008, a 21% increase since 2007, according to the Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE). [i] The American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA), or federal stimulus plan, will further increase energy efficiency spending in 2009. The State Energy Program (SEPs) <http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/state_energy_program/>  and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBGs) <http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/>  funding programs included in the ARRA will boost funding on the state and local levels by $6.3 billion.[ii] CEE has been tracking ratepayer-funded energy efficiency programs in the U.S. since 2006. Annual growth in U.S. energy efficiency programs is illustrated in Figure 1:
 
Figure 1. Annual growth in U.S. energy efficiency programs, in millions of dollars, since 2006.

 Energy-efficiency programs run the gamut from simple, prescriptive rebates to innovative financing initiatives. Most programs that are just getting stared opt for lighting and HVAC rebates. For instance, many utilities offer rebates for compact fluorescent bulbs and T8 retrofits.[iii]

One of the more innovative programs in the U.S. is the City of Berkeley’s Financing Initiative for Renewable and Solar Technology (FIRST) <http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=26580> . This voluntary program helps property owners finance renewable and energy-efficient, or clean energy projects by providing the capital costs for equipment purchase and installation. The City of Berkeley views clean energy like other public goods, like water and roads, the public policy reason for creating this financing mechanism.[iv]

The city created a land-secured financing or assessment district comprised of property owners that voluntarily signed up for the program. Proceeds of a Clean Energy Bond are then given to property owners to pay the up-front costs of their clean energy projects. The property owner then repays the project costs on their property tax bills over the course of the next 20 years, presumably with the energy savings from the project.[v]

Other municipalities can apply for EECBG funding through the ARRA and use it as the basis of their own innovative financing initiative. Along with continued growth in existing energy efficiency programs, as they spread, these innovative programs will likely bring about new opportunities for electrical distributors in the energy management market.

[i] http://www.cee1.org/ee-pe/2008/#relationship accessed June 26, 2009.

[ii]  Callahan, Kateri, “Energy Efficiency & the Stimulus Bill: Rebuilding the Economy Today for a “Green Energy” Tomorrow.” Alliance to Save Energy webinar, March 17, 2009.

[iii] Jewell, Mark. “Keeping Efficiency at the Top of the List”, Engineered Systems, June 2009. Available at: http://www.esmagazine.com/Articles/Column/BNP_GUID_9-5-2006_A_10000000000000600036

[iv] DeVries, Cisco. U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Planning and Strategy Webcast, June 15, 2009. Available at: http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/Downloads/DOE_WEBINAR_DEVRIES_061509.pdf

[v] DeVries, Cisco. U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Planning and Strategy Webcast, June 15, 2009. Available at: http://www.eecbg.energy.gov/Downloads/DOE_WEBINAR_DEVRIES_061509.pdf