For those of you who know who Joseph Oldham is you likely are on his email distribution list and receive this update each week. We are grateful that Joseph has agreed to allow our little blog to re-post his weekly update. If you have an interest in the happenings of energy efficiency and local government throughout California this is the update for you! If you love the information here, but want more in depth features be sure to check out Joseph's quarterly newsletter, CURRENTS.

1. Energy Efficiency, 15-IEPR-05, Notice of Lead Commissioner Workshop on the Existing Building Energy Efficiency Draft Action PlanThe following Document submitted to Docket Number 15-IEPR-05 has been published:

Notice of Lead Commissioner Workshop on the Existing Building Energy

Efficiency Draft Action Plan

https://efiling.energy.ca.gov/Lists/DocketLog.aspx?docketnumber=15-IEPR-05

For more information:

http://www.energy.ca.gov/2015_energypolicy/ (If link above doesn't work, please copy entire link into your web browser's URL)

2. Home Energy Rating System] Notice of Staff Workshop on Home Energy Rating System Program Field Verification and Diagnostic Testing Issues

The California Energy Commission will conduct a staff workshop on the Home Energy Rating System (HERS) Program under the HERS Order Instituting Informational (OII) Proceeding, Order No. 12-1114-6. The purpose of the OII is to collect necessary information to identify potential procedures and other actions to improve the HERS Program. During this workshop staff and stakeholders will begin refining and further exploring issues related to Field Verification and Diagnostic Testing (FV/DT) in order to begin developing recommendations for Commission consideration in a future rulemaking.

The workshop will be held on:

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION

1516 Ninth Street

1st Floor, Art Rosenfeld Hearing Room

Sacramento, California

Wheelchair Accessible

Purpose and Agenda:

On March 10, 2015, the Energy Commission conducted a staff webinar to request additional information to improve the HERS Program. Comments from the webinar are due no later than 5 p.m., April 10, 2015. The purpose of the staff workshop is for Energy Commission staff and stakeholders to begin refining and exploring issues identified within the OII and resulting from the webinar. The scope of issues relate to processes and actions needed to improve the HERS Program relating to Field Verification and Diagnostic Testing. Through the workshop, input was sought from HERS Providers, HERS Raters, contractors, and members of the public on specific questions relating to the following six topics:

- Provider Quality Assurance Programs

- HERS Rater Disciplinary Process

- HERS Rater Companies

- Conflict of Interest

- Permissible HERS Provider Certification Categories

- Energy Commission Oversight of Providers

To date, stakeholders have participated in the HERS OII proceedings and provided valuable input to the record. Official notices, transcripts, and comments are available at: http://www.energy.ca.gov/HERS/12-HERS-01/documents/.

Energy Commission staff will use the input from this workshop and comments to begin development of recommendations for Commission consideration in a future rulemaking.

TELECONFERENCE OPTION: Parties and the public may attend the Public Workshop in person at the above location or by telephone and/or by computer via our "WebEx" web conferencing system. For additional details on how to participate via WebEx, please see the notice at:

http://www.energy.ca.gov/HERS/12-HERS-01/documents/#20150512

WebEx and Conference Call-in-toll-free number: 1-866-469-3239

Please go to https://energy.webex.com

Access code: 920 141 276

Meeting Password: meeting@9

For more information:

http://www.energy.ca.gov/HERS/12-HERS-01/documents/#20150512

(If link above doesn't work, please copy entire link into your web browser's URL)

3. Grant Funding Opportunity GFO-14-302 - Investing In California Communities through Building Energy Efficiency Workforce Development

Grant Funding Opportunity GFO-14-302 - Investing In California Communities through Building Energy Efficiency Workforce Development

Date Released: March 18, 2015.

Deadline to Submit Applications:

May 5, 2015 by 3:00 p.m

Pre-Application Workshop:

April 1, 2015

1:30 p.m. PDT

California Energy Commission

Hearing Room A

1516 9th Street

Sacramento, Ca. 95814

http://www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/epic.html#GFO-14-302

WebEx and Conference Call-in-toll-free number: 1-866-469-3239

Please go to https://energy.webex.com

Access code: 921 462 543

Meeting Password: meeting@130

Purpose of Solicitation:

The purpose of this solicitation is to fund Market Facilitation projects that realize significant, long-term energy efficiency gains in the building sector by ensuring an adequately trained workforce exists for the proper installation and maintenance of advanced energy efficiency technologies and strategies.

Numerous policies have identified the need for significant energy efficiency improvements to new and existing buildings to achieve the state's energy goals. As the housing and broader construction markets continue to improve, significant energy savings could be missed if new and existing buildings are not built, updated, or retrofitted with the best available technologies, techniques, and practices. Much of the skilled labor workforce may not be not trained in the proper installation, operation, and maintenance of these energy efficiency advancements. This could lead to unrealized energy savings and expense due to improper installation and maintenance; or building developers and others responsible for the design, development, and management of buildings may decide to forgo these energy efficiency advancements because savings and benefits are unrealized. Projects must fall within the following groups:

- Group 1: On-the-job training for constructing high performance attics and walls for new homes constructed in a manner consistent with proposals for the 2016 building energy efficiency standards.

- Group 2: Workforce training for installing advanced energy efficiency measures in existing buildings (residential/commercial/multifamily) in disadvantaged communities as defined by Senate Bill (SB) 535.

For more information:

http://www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/index.html#GFO-14-302

(If link above doesn't work, please copy entire link into your web browser's URL)

4. Getting the Most from Your LED Lighting Replacement ProjectVery good article about how to approach doing LED light replacements. To read the full story, go here: http://www.energymanagertoday.com/getting-the-most-from-your-led-lighting-replacement-project-0110219/

And that is all for this week!