Council of Energy Resource Tribes

About Us

Tribal Advancement

Resources

Additional Resources

Includes papers and studies that will help to clarify energy efficiency concepts.

Batteries

Batteries On The Otherpower.com – Information on basic to complex batteries. (CERT feels battery building is best left up to professionals as this can be a dangerous process if done improperly.)
DOE EERE Information – Gives information and resources on batteries for distributed generation systems.

Biomass Biofuels

Biomass From Composting On Biocycle – Magazine focuses on composting and using all the products, including the natural gases for energy. Oct 30-31 is the biomass conference.
Biomass Generation With Zeros Indian Alliance, LLC On Zero's Inc – Biomass generator products include distilled water and fertilizer.
EPA Handbook On Biomass From Anaerobic Digestion, Composting – Renewable energy from composting guidebook by EPA is in 7 chapters and 8 appendixes and a glossary. This link also leads to "FarmWare" which is software to help assess feasibility of a potential biomass project.
Forest Certification On Tribal Land Manual From First Nations Institute – A Resource Manual for Native American Forest Management Operations and Forest Product Enterprises. This may be helpful for Biomass...especially for the Woody Biomass Grant, deadline Nov 3, 2006 and future grants.
Biomass On Energy Information Administration – Lists how much biomass produced in US for each year, and lists resources.
Biomass On ORNL – Oakridge National Laboratory's biomass page has resources and research.
U.S. Department of Energy, Genomics: GTL, Bioenergy Research Centers – FAQ and research information on Bio-fuels.
New Bio-diesel And Emission Standards In Missouri – These standards may be stricter than exist in other areas.
Bio-PDO From Corn May Replace Petroleum PDO In Manufactured Products – PDO is used in carpets, cosmetics, liquid detergents or anything else a glycol is used in. The bio-PDO is estimated to save equivalent of 10 million gallons of gasoline.
Northern Wood Power Project, Biomass – Power plant was converted to burn wood instead of coal.

Business

Green Restaurant Association – Association website promoting Green Dining through education of restaurants and consumers.
Green Hotels Association – Association formed to encourage and education hotels in usage of green standards of business.
Distributed Generation: Technologies, Opportunities, And Participants Report $399.00 – The 6th Edition of Research Reports International's Distributed Generation: Technologies, Opportunities, and Participants Report is a comprehensive 220-page study of the Distributed Generation (DG) industry. The report takes a wide-ranging look at the current and future state of DG; both individually and collectively addresses the technologies of Microturbines, Reciprocating Engines, Stirling Engines, Fuel Cells, Photovoltaics, Concentrating Solar, and Wind.
Commercial Building Tax Credits For Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy – Tax credits for making commercial buildings energy efficient
Commercial High Performance Buildings On DOE – Includes design approach, new technologies, case studies, and other reports.
Employee Incentives To Buy EE Cars – Some businesses are offering employee incentives and lists from 2001-2007.
New Catalytic Combustor, Funded By SBIR – Catalytic combustor suitable for commercial, industrial, or micro turbine.
Press Release - Energy Saving Tools For Industry – Press Release give information on new energy saving tools newly released, and links to the tools. Also see beyond codes - business for links and information on other tools and news.
Clean Cities Initiative for EPA – Clean Cities is a deployment activity within the U.S. Department of Energy's FreedomCar and Vehicle Technologies (FCVT) Program. Clean Cities deploys the technologies developed through FCVT and advances the economic, environmental, and energy security of the United States by supporting local decisions to adopt practices that contribute to the reduction of petroleum consumption in the transportation sector.

Environment

Why Energy Efficiency Helps The Environment From CFA – CFA is the Consumer Federation of America. Article focuses on how consumerism can promote conscious environmental efforts.
Books About Sustainable Living On The Online Books Page – Broad Topics on Sustainable Living, some may not apply. Read individual book descriptions for more information.

Federal Resources

HUD For Tribes – Resources and Tools for Tribes on HUD website.
Consumer Guide – Consumer Information for energy efficiency and renewable energy in DOE.
Rebuild America From DOE – Federal Program, Rebuild America, multiple resources listed.
DOE's Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy Dept.
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partners (NEEP) – Additional information and updates on codes, standards, and events for energy efficiency in New York, Rhode Island, & New Hampshire.
Building Energy Codes Resource Center – DOE website for understanding codes, troubleshooting, fact finding, and research.
Federal Energy Management Program – (FEMP).
Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) – Provides Energy Efficiency Codes information and Support for the Southwest region: Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, & Wyoming.
Renewable Energy Codes Alliance – "The Responsible Energy Codes Alliance is a consortium of energy efficiency professionals, product and equipment manufacturers, and trade associations. RECA works to improve the energy efficiency of homes through greater use of energy efficient practices and building products."
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) – Codes support.
Northeast Sustainable Energy Association – Link to Green Buildings portion of NSEA's website for information and resources.
Get Kids Involved In Energy Efficiency On US DOE Website
Whole Building Design Guide – Federal site giving Design guidelines to public spaces from government to private community. Indoor and outdoor spaces.
National Conference Of States On Building Codes And Standards – Nonprofit to help States and Federal with building codes to ensure standards remain consistent and provide for safe economically and environmentally sound housing.
Com-Check And Res-Check Provided By DOE EE/RE Department – Program that evaluates building plans based on building codes.
A Million Solar Roofs Initiative – Federal, State, Non-Profit, and For-Profit Partnership working together to sell 1 million solar roofs in a year. Grant money may be available in future--grants awarded in past.
Energy Use Fact Sheets And Reports On WAPA Website – Western Area Power Administration's reports and fact sheets.
Energy Star Photo Collage – Send a picture to be added to the Energy Star Photo Collage.
Wind Energy Loan Program On DOE Website – Information on loan program for wind energy. See link to wind energy resource page "Additional Resources/Federal" for help in determining wind resource.
Preliminary Transmission ROW Corridor Map On DOE – Multiple preliminary right of way maps for renewable energy transmission lines. By state and by region. This is separate from the 1813 ROW study.
6 High Performance Building Case Studies On DOE – Information about existing high performance buildings. For building guidelines see link on 'beyond codes - guidelines.'
American Wind Energy Association – Information on wind energy.
Advances In Science Including Renewable Energy On – Federal site give information on advances in science including energy efficiency and renewable energy.
EPA Renewable Fuel Standard Program – Under the Energy Policy Act of 2005, EPA is responsible for promulgating regulations to ensure that gasoline sold in the United States contains a minimum volume of renewable fuel.
International Energy Outlook Report For 2006 – Energy Information Administration which is official energy statistics from the US Government.

For Kids

Magnets Are Energy Too – Some adult supervision may be necessary.
Energy For Kids On Energy Information Admin/DOE – Energy facts, games, history, and fun activities. Watch out for the energy vampires.
Energy Quest For Kids – Games, activities, movies, and resources for parents and teachers. Includes "Ask Professor Questor" and "Energy Vampires."
Rainwater Harvesting For Kids – Essay discusses history and current use of rainwater harvesting.

Geothermal

Alaska Geothermal Plant, Press Release – Commercial geothermal plant.
Alaska Geothermal Website For Chena Hotsprings Geothermal Plant – "Chena Hot Springs Resort has entered into a partnership with United Technologies Corporation (UTC)."
Geothermal Education Site – Basics on what geothermal is and how it generates electricity.
Geothermal On DOE's Energy Efficiency And Renewable Energy – Information on geothermal and resources.
Geothermal Resource Council – Information and resources for geothermal.
Geothermal Resource Clearinghouse From NREL
3 Types Of Geothermal – Discusses the 3 major types of geothermal.

Hydro

Hydropower on The Otherpower.com – lowtech energy generation.
Hydropower Education at University of Arizona – U of A hydropower education program, career listing, and resources.
Small Hydropower Planning Program – Retscreen International is software to help plan renewable project including small hydropower.
World Commission on Dams Report – WCD studied hydropower world wide to determine issues caused by hydropower and to develop a new method of planning. This planning method is also discussed in CERT's Hydropower Guidebook.
Micro Hydropower – Canadian micro hydropower systems.
Hydropower on Idaho National Labs – Resources and studies for hydropower, and focuses on improvement of fish mortality.
International Hydropower Assoc – Association promotes development of hydropower.
Low Impact Hydropower Institute – LIHI promotes and certifies low-impact hydropower.
Hydropower Department At FERC – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is responsible for licensing and relicensing policies.
Land Use Planning Handbook and Manual – BLM has many resources including land use planning and hydrology reports.
Hydropower on DOE EERE – Includes information and resources for hydropower.
Argonne National Laboratory – Resources on hydrology, watershed, and hydropower assessment.
HydroGeology on Berkeley Labs – Resources from Berkely in hydrogeology and hydrology.
Advanced Hydropower Technology On Oak Ridge National Labs – Publications on hydropower.
Bureau of Reclamations – Water Conservation is BOR's primary focus. They have many resources, but the BLM stores publications from the BOR. Use both sites for water information.
Institute Of Water Resources – "Leads the Corps in Water Resources."
Bonneville Power Association – Information, publications, and resources about existing hydropower.
National Park Service – Licensing and Relicensing a hydropower project involving national parks, even in right of way, requires coordination with National Park Service.
American Rivers Network – "National non-profit conservation organization dedicated to protecting and restoring healthy natural rivers and the variety of life they sustain for people, fish, and wildlife." Site has resources, publications, and science and technology advisory committee.

Hydrogen

Fuel Cell Buses – Three non profit organizations receiving $49 Mill total to research Hydrogen Fuel Cell Buses.
National Hydrogen Association – Provides information, resources, and hydrogen fueling station locations in the US and Canada.
Current Issues With Hydrogen – Article discusses current issues of converting natural gas to hydrogen. Hydrogen from perspective of a chemistry website Hydrogen is a basic element. This page discusses how hydrogen reacts naturally from a chemistry viewpoint.
State Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Policy and Demonstration Database – Website is searchable to easily find policies, fuel stations, and other hydrogen/fuel cell based projects.
Learning How Nature Splits Water From LBNL – In an attempt to understand photosynthesis the biological process that captures the energy in sunlight researchers at DOE's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) have used high-resolution measurements to determine the structure of a catalytic cluster of atoms found in a photosynthetic protein complex. Understanding the structure of the catalyst, which consists of four manganese atoms and one calcium atom, could help lead to an efficient method of converting solar energy into hydrogen.

International

Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) – International website working to promote saving energy globally.
Energy Efficiency for Business in Canada – Tools and guides on energy efficiency for business.
Global Conference Calendar – International conference calendar for sustainable development.
Lessons Learned from The NREL Village Power Program – Report by Roger Taylor about the international pilot projects 1998.
G8 2005 Glen Eagles Plan of Action – G8 Plan for climate change, clean energy and sustainable environment.
International Report – Bio-fuels to Replace Oil – International Report says only 1% of global transport fuel market was bio-fuels based, but has potential to eventually take over oil industry. Warns of food based bio-fuels potential trouble, but non-food based bio-fuels a plus.
The Community Solution to Peak Oil – Informative website on Peak oil, details on the problem, information on the solution, and a new movie release about how Cuba survived their peak oil crisis.
International Information on Renewable Energy From UN Environmental Program – Information, funding sources, and renewable energy project links from international sources, provided by UN Environmental Program, Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics.

Lab Resources and Reports

National Renewable Energy Laboratory-DOE Golden Field Office – Golden Field Office for Department of Energy; "The office also administers the management and operating contract for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and provides a variety of support functions for EE's six Regional Offices."
NREL Science And Technology Facility Open – New space and equipment due to facility opening at NREL.
Renewable Energy Projects For Microentrepreneurships By NREL – Report discusses specific projects for small businesses. Many small businesses owned by women working at home, see funding-private sources for Women's Bank for funding information on microentrepreneurship by women.
NREL Report On Renewable Energy Certificates (REC) – REC's come from renewable energy generation, credits can be purchased. Report is thorough including benefits and challenges. 77pp.

Library and Other Resources

Resources from Affordable Comfort – Works to advance building technology through unbiased education. Resources include technical articles and reports.
Eco-Living.com – Database of information and resources on whole life systems design including energy efficient natural material building techniques.
National Association for Home Builders – Nonprofit website with resources for members and consumers.
Home Energy Magazine Online – Information on remodeling homes for energy efficiency and renewable energy. Written by professionals in the industry and with homeowners in mind.
Books on Energy From the Online Books Page – Many different energy related topics covered on this page including renewable resources.
International Institute For Indigenous Resource Management – Works to increase indigenous peoples control over their natural, cultural, and intellectual resources by developing and advancing culturally appropriate and collaborative approaches to the management and preservation of these resources; and educating the public on the seamless connection between, and the redounding effects of, the natural environment and the art, song, dance and other cultural manifestations of indigenous peoples.
Multiple Technical Articles on the Energy Out West – Includes topics on duct sealing and testing, consumer education guide, health and weatherization, and furnace testing.
Native American Indian Housing Council – Covers articles and information about energy efficiency.
Miles per Gallon – Competition for High School and College to invent and build lowest mpg single person vehicle.
Colorado State – Includes residential and commercial energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Short Term Energy Outlook – Discusses energy prices for August and prediction of price trends.
HomePower Magazine – Geared towards bringing renewable energy information and products to residents for easy understanding and use.
Science of Ecology and Sustainability – International magazine focuses on sustainable ecology and ecosystems and how to rebuild delicate balances that have been broken. Also discusses necessity of sustainable communities to maintain sustainable ecology.
Global Biodiversity Information Facility – International computational tool and resource for biodiversity management.
GLOBIO, Library of Scientific Sources on Global Biodiversity – Environmental model, publications from this process linked here also.

Microbiology

Article on Energy From Microbiology on PNL.gov – Pacific Northwest National Labs is testing on biological cells (bacteria) to determine viability of direct energy transfer from biological cells to transmission.
Waste Eating Bacteria Explored as Energy Source on Air Force – "Bioengineered fuel cells bacteria capable of producing electrical energy simply through the process of consumption. Bacteria that serve as catalysts in the fuel cells can eat a variety of carbon-based wastes and materials such as glucose, lactose, and glycerol. In turn, the bioengineered fuel cells can convert food intake into electrical power. The Air Force Office of Scientific Research here recently awarded a five-year grant to the University of Southern California worth approximately $4.5 million to lead a study on bioengineered fuel cells."
Genomic Comparison of Lactic Acid Bacteria – Zesty Microbes Enliven the Palate, Provide Better Blueprint for Bio-fuels & Specialty Chemical Production.
Domesticated Microbes Flex America's Muscle From USDA – Bacteria testing article.

Renewable Energy Certificates

Writing RFP for Renewable Energy Certificates – A guideline on how to write a request for proposal for renewable energy certificates.

Solar

Solar Cooking Units – Reduce energy usage by cooking with the sun.
Solar America Initiative on DOE Site – "Accelerate the development of advanced solar electric technologies, including photovoltaics and concentrating solar power systems, with the goal of making them cost-competitive with other forms of renewable electricity by 2015." See federal funding page for link to solar funding.
Solar Power Car Challenge – Dell-Winston offers solar powered car challenge in the form of a race. Average speed of top car is 29mph.
American Solar Energy Society – Information about solar energy and energy efficiency.
Northern California Solar Energy Association – Nonprofit focused on solar power development through networking, education and information to members including technical information, products, and professionals.
Solar Guide – Focuses on introducing solar options, making it accessible to the public.
About SunEdison – Builds and owns many of the large scale solar power projects in the US.
Considerations on Solar Funding from Solar PV Industry – Discusses where funding may come from for solar power from an international perspective.
Solar Calculator – Calculator from Sharp gives estimated cost and savings of having a total solar roof based on electric provider and electrical usage. This looks at best scenario only, and does not consider whether house/structure is in good location/receives enough light to generate enough electricity.
Solar Library on Solar Electric Power Association – Articles include "Barriers and Solutions to Interconnection Issues for Solar PV Systems," "Connecting to the Grid," and "IREC Model Net Metering Rules."
Solar Power Information from Otherpower.com – Promotes 'lowtech' energy generation from renewable energy.
1.6 MW Solar Added to Google Buildings – EI Solutions to install solar on Google Buildings: Location: Mountain View, California; System Size: 1.6 MW; Energy Output: 2,611,719 kWh per year; Savings: $393,000 + annually; Results:C02 emissions reduced by 3.6 million pounds/year (equivalent to 4.28 million car miles/year).
National Center for Photovoltaics St NREL – Updated information on PV, technology, partnerships, events, and more.
Solar Data Manuals for US By State – Solar Radiation Data Manual for Flat-Plate and Concentrating Collectors. Helps estimate how effective solar will be by state.
40.7 Percent Efficient Solar Cell from Boeing-Spectrolab, DOE News Release – Solar cell estimated to be $3 per watt for installation and 8 to 10 cents per kilowatt/hour. The forty percent efficiency is obtained through using an optical concentrator to increase the sun's natural rays.
Solar Powered Boat By Transcontinental 21

Transmission

Residential Distributed Generation Focus by Grid Alternatives – Nonprofit works towards sustainable communities by providing services/product to low-income residents. Also provides information on products, professionals, and lessons learned.
Transmission Line Projects To Include Renewable Energy Goals - California – California PUC sets guidelines for transmission lines to meet renewable energy goals for state. Utilities to recoop transmission costs in customer rates using renewable energy.
NERC is Federal Electric Reliability Office – This involves building compliance standards and procedures, which must be approved through FERC. Current proposals involve regional models. This is in the hopes that adequate electric load may be maintained and avoiding power outages.
Library For Distributed Generation – Information on distributed generation, including archived newsletters.

Why Renewable Energy

Resources on Climate Change and Action Plans From TribalClimate.org – Action plans include international, state and regional plans. Climate change articles discuss spectrum of climate changes and whether humans are responsible for these changes.
Micro Renewable Energy Generation by NREL – Report details the uses of renewable energy generation in rural areas for small scale needs. Many can be used for residential purposes.
Equipment Loan Program To WAPA Customers – Equipment loan includes energy audit equipment, conference in a box material, and renewable energy testing equipment.
Top 10 Utilities Using Renewable Energy – From EERE DOE/NREL and has three charts showing top ten utilities in categories of: making renewable energy supply available, customer participation in using renewable energy, and premium rates for use of renewable energy.

Wind

Idaho, BLM Approves Wind Project – Cotterel Wind Power Project.
Windpower on the Otherpower.com – Site promotes 'lowtech' energy generation through renewable energy.
World's Largest Wind Farm 735 MW in Texas – 735 MW Horse Hollow Wind Energy Center located in Taylor and Nolan County, Texas is the largest wind farm in the world, so far. Designed to power Dyess Air Force Base 100%.
American Wind Energy Association – "The American Wind Energy Association (AWEATM) promotes wind energy as a clean source of electricity for consumers around the world."
National Wind Technology Center – "The mission of the Wind Energy Program is to support the President's National Energy Policy and departmental priorities for increasing the viability and deployment of renewable energy; lead the Nation's efforts to improve wind energy technology through public/private partnerships that enhance domestic economic benefit from wind power development; and coordinate with stakeholders on activities that address barriers to use of wind energy."

Batteries