Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update

Here are your wEEkly updates:

Request for ZNE Resources

The Local Government Commission through SEEC is developing a robust toolkit for local governments on zero net energy. The toolkit aims to compile valuable resources and case studies in a single location in an easy to navigate, interactive online format. If you have come across any ZNE-related resources of particular value, please share it with me at jkim@lgc.org.

News and Opportunities

How Locals Can Continue Momentum on Climate Change
While we face serious questions about the potential effects of changes in legislative and budgetary support for environmental action in California, we can draw inspiration and implementation lessons from local models to continue progress toward a low-carbon and resilient future.

GREEN and EEFA Develop 2017 Priorities for EE, Water, and Renewables
Sixty leaders from housing, energy, environmental, and workforce development organizations gathered in LA and AF to help the California Housing Partnerhip's Green Rental Home EE Network (GREEN), NRDC, and EE for All (EEFA) partners set priorities for 2017.

COP22: Key Outcomes Agreed at the UN Climate Talks in Marrakech
When negotiators from almost 200 countries arrived in Marrakech for the latest annual climate change conference, COP22, it was being touted as an opportunity to showcase progress and start the important process of turning the UN's Paris Agreement into a detailed blueprint for action.

Job Opportunity: Sustainability Coordinator, City of American Canyon
The City of American Canyon is hiring for a Sustainability Coordinator to help with water conservation efforts, citywide sustainability programs, and outreach related to these programs. Applications due December 9, 2016.

Job Opportunity: Senior Program Director, Sierra Business Council
Sierra Business Council (SBC) is hiring for a Senior Program Director to assume the responsibilities of day-to-day leadership and management of SBC's current and future programs as they relate to energy efficiency and climate planning. Position open until filled.

Calendar
Click the Calendar link to view all upcoming events.

12/7 (Oakland) CA EE Coordinating Committee Meeting
Agenda items include planning for 2017 activities and subcommittee functions, discussion and review of proposals, review of implementation plan development process, and more.

12/13 (San Francisco / remote) Quarterly EE EM&V Stakeholder Meeting

Join the CPUC for the upcoming Quarterly Energy Efficiency EM&V Stakeholder Meeting. Please propose agenda topics to Syreeta Gibbs at syg@cpuc.ca.gov by COB December 7, 2016. Agenda topics proposed so far include: 1) Review of the EM&V Masterplan, 2) CPUC and Program Administrator Update on EM&V Budgets and Activities, and 3) M&V 2.0 case studies presentation.

1/25-1/26 (Sacramento) California Climate Change Symposium 2017
This forum aims to share cutting-edge research addressing the impacts of climate change on the state to inform the state's strategies and policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to develop programs to safeguard California from a changing climate.

2/2/17 (St. Louis, MO) New Partners for Smart Growth Conference
Early-bird registration has been extended to December 16th  for the 2017 New Partners for Smart Growth Conference. This conference is the nation's largest smart growth and sustainability event and has been named one of 12 conferences not to miss by Planetizen.

​Resources and Reports

Driving High Performance: Role of Codes & Permitting in Zero Net Energy
Learn how local jurisdictions are getting ahead of upcoming ZNE mandates in California and find out how end users are using streamlined permitting and reach codes to drive high performance.

Volkswagen California ZEV Investment Commitment Workshop Presentation
PowerPoint slides that will be presented at a public workshop today, where interested stakeholder will have the opportunity to provide suggestions for Volkswagen's $800 million 10-year zero emission vehicle investment commitment in California.\

2016 Legislative Update
Legislative update of key climate- and energy-related bills passed in the 2016 legislative session.

And that's all for this week! 

Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update

Here are your wEEkly updates:

Peer-to-Peer Requests

Responses: EVSE Installation
Information on vendors and opportunities to help offset of installing charging infrastructure for electric vehicles:​

• ​SCE's Charge Ready program partners with local governments and businesses to increase the availability of EV charging stations, providing rebates to cover some or all costs related to installation.​
• ​Green Charge Networks combine EV charging and energy storage ​to minimize peak hour demand, reduce load on the power grid and minimize peak electricity rates.
• Additional incentives for commercial and residential EVSE installation.
• If you are a city in any of these counties (Kern, Kings, Tulare, Fresno, Madera, Maricopa, Merced, San Joaquin, or Stanislaus) and interested in learning more about opportunities to offset the cost of EVSE installation, please email me so that I can connect you with the San Joaquin Valley Electric Vehicle Partnership.

Responses: Community-Based Social Marketing Methods​
Resources on community-based social marketing methods that a city staff can implement in their offices to help reduce energy use:

• ​Step Up and Power Down: PG&E program working in Redwood City, San Carlos, San Francisco, San José, and Woodland​ to help reduce energy waste among businesses and homes while helping local cities achieve their sustainability goals. Includes office engagement games like Adopt a Light, Unplucked, Vampire, and more.
• Fostering Sustainable Behavior is an online book that introduces the five steps of community-based social marketing (selecting behaviors, identifying barriers & benefits, developing strategies, conducting a pilot, and broad-scale implementation), and showcases numerous programs illustrating its use.

​News and Opportunities

New PACE "Guidance" Takes Effect Tomorrow
In July, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and Federal Housing Administration (HUD and FHA) issued guidance under which the FHA would back properties using PACE financing. The rules take effect tomorrow. The FHA guidance stresses that PACE obligations must be treated and follow the same rules as other special tax assessments leveled by municipalities.

Seeking Comments: SB 350 Barriers Report
The CEC is now accepting comments for their SB 350 barriers study: A Study of Barriers and Solutions to Energy Efficiency, Renewables and Contracting Opportunities ​Among Low-Income Customers and Disadvantaged Communities (Draft Staff Report). Comments are due Thursday, September 29th by 4:00 PM.

Seeking Comments: Vibrant Communities & Landscapes
This draft vision for comment and discussion is intended to consider land use in the context of California's climate change policy and begin to explore how the State can support actions, at all levels of government, to facilitate development and conservation patterns that help to achieve the state's climate mitigation and adaptation goals. Comments are due to ca.50m@opr.ca.gov by September 28th.

Job Opportunity: Statewide Local Government Energy Efficiency Best Practices Coordinator
The Local Government Commission is seeking to fill the Coordinator position with a highly motivated and knowledgeable individual to support local government energy efficiency efforts throughout the state. Please feel free to contact me at jkim@lgc.org if you have any questions.

​ 

Job Opportunity: Senior Project Manager, South Bay Cities COG

SBCCOG is seeking a senior project manager for energy efficiency and environmental programs to manage the development of strategies, standards, and processes for the implementation of programs, activities, and events related to the environment, water, energy and transportation. This position is open until filled.

Job Opportunity: Air Pollution Specialist, California Air Resources Board (ARB)
ARB is seeking two Air Pollution Specialists for its Sacramento office with the necessary skills and expertise to contribute to the implementation of SB 375 in a strong team environment within the Sustainable Communities Policy and Planning Section of the Transportation Planning Branch. Applications are due by September 28th.

Calendar

9/20 (Oakland / webcast) 2016 CALGreen Residential Measures: Changes and Opportunities
BayREN invites local government policymakers and sustainability staff, building department staff, city planners, and energy consultants to learn about the changes to the 2016 CALGreen requirements for residential buildings. Presentations will provide high level overview of these changes and the implications for building department code compliance processes and market transformation.

​9/21 (Irwindale / webcast) Energy Data Access Committee (EDAC) Q3 2016 Meeting
​The EDAC, a forum established by the CPUC for discussing changes in data access and CPUC Privacy Rules as technology and stakeholder data needs change, will be meeting on September 21st. Agenda items include a discussion of how the 2013 Decision that formalized CPUC's Privacy Rules has increased the inconsistency in municipal GHG inventories and a presentation by CEC staff on AB 802 requirements for all utilities to provide access to whole building monthly energy usage data, which will phase in January 2017.

9/21 (San Francisco / webcast) Coordinating Committee Meeting #9
The California Energy Efficiency Coordinating Committee is meeting next week to review the Voluntary DRAFT Business Plan Sector Chapters, which are now open for comments, and to discuss a number of other important local government energy efficiency topics.

10/27 (webinar): LGP + REN EM&V Roadmaps Update
This webinar will present the proposed update to the CPUC EE EM&V Master Plan, LGP and REN-CCA Chapters ("roadmaps").

Resources and Reports

​10 Tactics of Successful Energy Managers
This eBook discusses the role of the energy manager in an organization and provides 10 guidelines for enhancing energy management effectiveness. It is intended for use by energy management professionals and other energy stakeholders seeking to implement positive organizational change.

How the IoT is Reshaping Building Automation
This white paper defines the Internet of Things (IoT) for the building automation industry as an integrated ecosystem.

Coordinator Resources
Browse the Coordinator website for more resources on a variety of energy efficiency related topics. If there are topics that you would like to see added or further developed, please reach out to me at jkim@lgc.org.

That's all for this week!

Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update

Here are your wEEkly updates:

Peer-to-Peer Requests

EVSE Installation
If you have any information on vendors that install EV charging stations at no charge, or on any opportunities that can help offset the cost of installation, please get in touch with me at jkim@lgc.org. This particular city is considered a disadvantaged community and is interested in full installation of 22 charging stations.

Community Based Social Marketing Methods
If you have information you can share on community based social marketing methods that a city staff can implement in his offices to help reduce energy use, please contact met at jkim@lgc.org.

​News and Opportunities

​Governor Jerry Brown Signs Major Climate Bills
Gov. Brown signed into law on Wednesday a sweeping expansion of California's GHG emissions standards, requiring the state to reduce emissions to 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.

​How Cities and Counties are Showing the Way of Climate Action
This GreenBiz article highlights Climate Leadership Awardees who reflect effective collaboration among cities and counties, which includes WRCOG, SBCCOG and LA County.​
Job Opportunity: Statewide Local Government Energy Efficiency Best Practices Coordinator
The Local Government Commission is seeking to fill the Coordinator position with a highly motivated and knowledgeable individual to support local government energy efficiency efforts throughout the state. Please feel free to contact me at jkim@lgc.org if you have any questions.

Job Opportunity: Climate and Energy Manager, University of San Diego​
This is a full-time, temporary, benefit based position with an anticipated assignment end date of 12/31/2020. Closing date: 10/2/2016.

Calendar

9/13 (San Francisco/webinar): Quarterly EM&V Stakeholder Meeting
This meeting will include:
CPUC and PA Update on EM&V Budgets and Activities
Waterfall Graphics and New Web-based Tools
Lightning Metering study update
Update on LED Lab Test
CA Comprehensive Analysis - developing an effectiveness metric for nonresidential EE programs
PG&E's Single Family Home Upgrade Program Process Evaluation
SDG&E Cannabis Agriculture Energy Demand Study Final Report
Update on Inclusion (support for disadvantaged workers) Studies

9/21 (webinar): Evaluation of Residential Behavior-Based Programs
This webinar will provide an introduction to documenting the energy savings associated with behavior-based programs and examples of how different jurisdictions are addressing behavior-based program evaluation.

10/12-10/14 (Denver): Getting to Zero National Forum
This event is dedicated to zero net energy (ZNE) buildings where attendees will share perspectives on the growth of ZNE, discuss policies driving new projects, engage in best practices for successful outcomes and collaborate on opportunities for ZNE to transform the built environment.

Resources and Reports

Cool Roofs
The Cost-Effectiveness Study for Cool Roofs FINAL Report for All Climate Zones, prepared by the California Statewide Utility Codes and Standards Program, provides information on product cost, energy savings, cost-effectiveness and urban heat island mitigation to support minimum reach code requirements for residential and nonresidential cool roofs for jurisdictions in all climate zones.

Microgrids
Presentations from the September 6th California Energy Commission Staff Workshop Microgrids - Why are Customers Choosing Microgrids and How are they Working? are now available online.

Green Banks
A new report from ACEEE reviews the progress of 10 green banks and related financing entities to understand how they are working in specific market sectors and to identify strategies and lessons learned, with a special focus on energy efficiency.

Coordinator Resources
Browse the Coordinator website for more resources on a variety of energy efficiency related topics. If there are topics that you would like to see added or further developed, please reach out to me at jkim@lgc.org.

That's all for this week!

Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update

Here are your WEEkly Updates:

1. The CEC will be holding the first Empower California workshop on February 26th at 9am to kick off AB 865, also known as the EmPower California Act, which will boost job creation and business opportunities for minorities, women, LGBT and disabled veteran-owned businesses in the energy industry. Implementation will include establishing an outreach plan to increase participation of diverse business enterprises in Energy Commission funding opportunities and creating a Diversity Task Force. For more information on attending or participating by WebEx, click here.

2. The latest Annual Report is out from the Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN). The report builds on the best practice findings from their Permit Resource Opportunity Program, and features case studies including stakeholder engagement for energy code development in Santa Clara, and support offered on reach codes in Marin County, as well as best practices learned from the City of Berkley’s adoption of its new Building Energy Services Ordinance, “BESO” (replacing its prior residential and commercial energy conservation ordinances). Click here to read the report.

3. New DSM technology: Interested in new technologies to optimize demand side management (DSM)? Opower and SDG&E's Supervisor of Residential Programs will discuss the latest energy efficiency and demand response opportunities and reporting tools available through Opower's new Agile EE in a March 10th webinar. Click here to learn more and/or register.

4. Carrying out Evaluation, Measurement and Verification (EM&V) efficiently can be a challenge. A new EM&V report from the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) explores how IT developments are enhancing EM&V options. Click here to read more.

5. An article on parking garage HVAC energy efficiency provides some interesting findings on opportunities for energy savings through fan controls, featuring four California properties as an example. Read more at Energy Manager Today's website.

6. The CEC is holding a public workshop on March 8th to present a draft of the Natural Gas Vehicle Research Roadmap. This roadmap details the strategic research, development, demonstration, and deployment needed to enhance the viability of the natural gas vehicle market in California. For more information, click here.

7. Registration is open for the Navigating the American Carbon World conference, May 4th-6th in San Diego. Click here to review the program or register.

8. Heavy truck standards moving forward: Those of us with heavy-duty sanitation, parks, or other municipal fleet, or managing public transit fleets may be interested to hear that Phase II of the federal heavy-duty vehicle fuel efficiency standards has been proposed by US DOT and US EPA, and is expected to be adopted this summer. Read more on this and take a look at some helpful graphics at ACEEE’s website, or take a look at the proposed rule in the Federal Register, here. Per ACEEE, the Phase 2 standards would reduce fuel consumption by new heavy-duty vehicles an additional 24%.

9. For some news on energy efficiency efforts across the Pacific, here's a story describing China's new energy efficiency and demand response planning and programs, spurred on by extreme air pollution.

10. Job announcement: Empower Efficiency is hiring for two positions:a Commercial Behavioral Energy Assessor, and a Behavioral Campaign Manager/Facilitator. Both positions can be found on their website.

As always, you can keep track of relevant events by connecting to the EE Events Calendar. 

That is all for this week!

Statewide LG EE Best Practices : Weekly Update

Here are your WEEkly Updates:

1. EM&V Roadmap Draft Now Available for Comment
   The CPUC released the 2013-2016 Energy Division & Program Administrator Energy Efficiency Evaluation, Measurement and Verification Plan, which is open for comments now through December 17th. This version includes the EE portfolio - HVAC, lighting, commercial, industrial, agriculture, and more for you to review and comment on.
   
2. San Diego City Council Readies 100% Renewables Mandate for Approval
   The San Diego City Council's environmental committee unanimously approved a proposed Climate Action Plan that would move the city to 100% renewables by 2035. To get to 100%, the San Diego Climate Action Plan puts Community Choice Aggregation (CCA) in place.
   
3. Report: Recognizing the Value of Energy Efficiency's Multiple Benefits
   The benefits of energy efficiency extend beyond energy savings. Focusing on the residential, business, and utility sectors, this report examines each of these multiple benefits, their role in program marketing, and current best practices for including them in cost-effectiveness testing.
   
4. Job Opportunity: Statewide Energy Efficiency Best Practices Coordinator
   The Local Government Commission (LGC) in partnership with the Institute for Local Government and ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability through the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative is recruiting to fill the Coordinator position. The LGC is open to other arrangements that are not full-time to fill this position.
   
5. Job Opportunity: Sustainability Coordinator, Contra Costa County (attached)
   The Sustainability Coordinator is a management position assigned to the merit-system classification of Principal Planner-Level A in the Department of Conservation and Development. Under general direction, the Sustainability Coordinator plans, organizes and coordinates the implementation of the County's Sustainability Activities. Application deadline is December 18, 2015.
   
6. 12/8 California Gold: Partnerships for Cap-and-Trade Success
   The Southern California Association of Governments is holding its second regional forum on competitive grant funding from cap-and-trade revenues. This event will assist applicants seeking funding in the near term for transformative projects implementing Southern California's regional and local plans. The workshop will take place at SCAG's main office with video conference options available.
   
7. 12/15 Best Practices in SEEC ClearPath: A Year in Review
   Participants will learn emerging practices and updates on how to best utilize SEEC ClearPath to monitor and track government operations and community-scale emissions data. This will be a great opportunity to gain a better understanding of how to best leverage SEEC ClearPath to its fullest.
   

And that is all for this week!

Statewide LG EE Best Practices Coordinator: Weekly Update Vol. VIII, Issue I

For those of you who know who Pat Stoner is you likely are on his email distribution list and receive this update each week.  We are grateful that Pat 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 Pat's quarterly newsletter, CURRENTS.  

August 7, 2013 Weekly Update: EM&V Plan Available; Sustainability Best Practice Framework Updated; New IDSM Fact Sheet; Net-Zero Energy Summit

EM&V Plan Available

The CPUC's Energy Division and Investor Owned Utilities have released the updated 2013-2014 Funding Cycle Energy Division-Investor Owned Utility Energy Efficiency Evaluation, Measurement and Verification Plan. The Plan creates a high level blueprint to guide evaluation and study of the $2 billion 2013-2014 portfolio of energy efficiency programs. You can access the plan at http://www.energydataweb.com/cpuc/home.aspx.

ILG's Sustainability Best Practice Framework Updated

The Institute for Local Government has released its first comprehensive update of the Sustainability Best Practice Framework since its initial release in 2008. The framework offers new and practical ideas on how local agencies can save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in ten categories, including ideas about how to engage the public and promote individual and community action.

New Fact Sheet: Huntington Beach's Integrated Demand Side Management Program

An Integrated Demand Side Management (IDSM) audit, which looked at energy efficiency, conservation, demand response and renewables, paired with AB 32 strategic planning goals, created an opportunity to adapt and integrate the full suite of IDSM tools in City operations. To download the fact sheet, visit: www.EECoordinator.info/best-practices/

Net-Zero Energy Summit in Irvine, October 8-10

 The Net-Zero Energy Home Coalition will be hosting the Net-Zero North American Leadership Summit from October 8-10 in Irvine, California, in conjunction with the US Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2013.

Also, please visit my website: www.EECoordinator.info