ENERGY CONSERVATION
"We will include renewable green energy in a portion of our purchased power for resale to College Station Utility customers while reducing the overall energy consumption. We will pursue these strategies through public education, ordinance revisions, incentive programs, and alternative rate strategies." --> Green College Station White Paper
WIND WATTS
College Station Utilities will begin offering their residential electric customers renewable energy by January 2009!
The City's new Wind Watts program will allow College Station Utility residents to choose their level of renewable energy participation in 10%, 50%, and 100% increment levels in their power supply.
Wind energy will be received from the South Trent Mesa Wind Project located west of Abilene. College Station will contract with AEP Energy Partners for 10 megawatts of capacity and increase to 30 megawatts in 2015. The initial contract is projected to supply approximately 3,000 residential CSU customers. Although local businesses have inquired, the City is currently only offering Wind Watts to residential customers.
GOOD CENTS HOME REBATE PROGRAM
This energy efficiency program for new homes is a flexible, performance-based program that allows the future homeowner and homebuilder various combinations of energy efficient, thermal and mechanical components to meet the Good Cents heat gain and air infiltration requirements.
Good Cents Homes are designed and built with construction techniques that exceed the current International Energy Codes. New homes that meet all heat gain, insulation and blower door inspections are eligible for rebates of $400 to $800.
ENERGY BACK II REBATE PROGRAM
The Energy Back II Rebate program offers savings to ratepayers who upgrade to a more efficient air conditioning system. Higher-efficiency A/C units not only save the ratepayer money, they also help to reduce the peak demand placed on the City’s electrical system during the summer months.
Energy Back II Rebate HVAC replacements must be sized no more than 12,000 BTU’s (1 Ton) for every 500 square feet of conditioned space. Minimum Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) value is 14 SEER. Rebate amounts vary from $200 to $600 based on SEER rating for the unit. In FY 2006, College Station Utilities provided 179 rebates for certified Good Cents homes and high efficiency air conditioner replacements, resulting in an annual savings of 456 kW. --> Read More
COMPACT FLUORESCENT LIGHTING PROGRAM
College Station Utilities kicked off the Compact Fluorescent Lighting program on July 1. The program is available to CSU electrical customers for the purchase of compact fluorescent lights.
CSU will credit electrical accounts $1.00 for every incandescent light replaced, up to four replacements annually.
Compact fluorescents are eight times more efficient than incandescent bulbs with up to 10 times the life. Replacement of one incandescent light with a compact fluorescent light is estimated to reduce approximately 100 pounds of carbon emissions per year.
QUICK LINKS