Energy Independence and Security Act - a PDH Online Course for Engineers, Architects and Surveyors

Energy Independence and Security Act

Course Outline

Beginning with Title I of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, each Title is briefly summarized in this course. The Titles include improved vehicle efficiency standards, bio-fuel requirements, energy efficiency standards, and Smart Grid implementation programs.

This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of the course materials.

Learning Objective

After taking this course you should:

Know the new requirements for CAFE Standards;
Understand the bio-fuel Standards;
Know the phase-out plans for incandescent lamps;
Know the energy savings requirements for Federal buildings;
Understand the DOE’s Smart Grid investment levels; and
Understand small business investment loan limits.

Intended Audience

This course is intended for anyone who wants to know more about the Federal plans to promote alternative fuels and increased energy efficiency.

Benefit to Attendees

After taking this course, you should have a good understand of what is included in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 and the impact it may have on your business.

Course Introduction

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 is an energy policy law that consists of provisions designed to increase energy efficiency and the availability of renewable energy. This is a summary of the provisions under each of the titles in the law. While EISA’07 was enacted in 2007, many of the requirements are just now beginning to take effect and it remains very relevant today.

The three key provisions enacted are the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), and the appliance/lighting efficiency standards.

Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards. The law sets a target of 35 miles per gallon for the combined fleet of cars and light trucks by model year 2020. Also, a fuel economy program is established for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and a separate fuel economy standard is created for work trucks.

Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The law sets a modified standard that starts at 9.0 billion gallons of renewable fuel in 2008 and rises to 36 billion gallons by 2022. Of the latter total, 21 billion gallons is required to be obtained from cellulosic ethanol and other advanced bio-fuels

Appliance and Lighting Efficiency Standards. Energy efficiency standards are set for broad categories of incandescent lamps, incandescent reflector lamps, and fluorescent lamps. A required target is set for lighting efficiency, and energy efficiency labeling is required for consumer electronic products. Also, efficiency standards are set by law for external power supplies, residential clothes washers, dishwashers, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, refrigerator/freezers, freezers, electric motors, residential boilers, commercial walk-in coolers, and commercial walk-in freezers. Further, DOE is directed to set standards by rulemaking for furnace fans and battery chargers.

Two controversial provisions that were not included in the enacted law were the proposed Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard (RPS) and the proposed repeal of tax subsidies for oil and gas.

Course Content

This course content is in the following PDF document:

Energy Independence and Security Act

Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.

Course Summary

In some respects, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 is a modification of the Energy Policy Act of 2005. The Act is an energy policy law that consists of provisions designed to increase energy efficiency and the availability of renewable energy. The key provisions of the Act address improving the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) Standards, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), and the appliance/lighting efficiency standards.

Quiz

Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.

DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.