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Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update
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Here are your wEEkly updates:
News and Opportunities
CURRENTS Fall 2016
The newest edition of CURRENTS is now live, featuring a wide range of topics from a look into a Local Government Partnership's less common energy project "gems," to an update on key state climate and energy legislation, and more! If you are interested in sharing best practices, lessons learned, or a success story in the next edition of CURRENTS, please contact me at jkim@lgc.org.
The newest edition of CURRENTS is now live, featuring a wide range of topics from a look into a Local Government Partnership's less common energy project "gems," to an update on key state climate and energy legislation, and more! If you are interested in sharing best practices, lessons learned, or a success story in the next edition of CURRENTS, please contact me at jkim@lgc.org.
Santa Monica Approves World's First Net Zero Building
Requirement
The Santa Monica City Council voted last week to approve an ordinance requiring all new single-family construction in the city to be zero net energy. The ordinance now goes to the California Energy Commission for approval, and continues the city's long history of adopting local requirements, and providing resources to the community, that take a global lead in advancing the transition to high performance, green buildings.
The Santa Monica City Council voted last week to approve an ordinance requiring all new single-family construction in the city to be zero net energy. The ordinance now goes to the California Energy Commission for approval, and continues the city's long history of adopting local requirements, and providing resources to the community, that take a global lead in advancing the transition to high performance, green buildings.
The California Duck Curve Is Real, and Bigger Than Expected
An analysis of CAISO data from 2011 through mid-2016 reveals that California has largely exceeded its 2013 projections for lower net loads and higher ramps in energy demand. These changes are occurring in the wintertime too, another season that's light on air conditioning load. In addition, the deepest drops are happening on weekends, not weekdays.
An analysis of CAISO data from 2011 through mid-2016 reveals that California has largely exceeded its 2013 projections for lower net loads and higher ramps in energy demand. These changes are occurring in the wintertime too, another season that's light on air conditioning load. In addition, the deepest drops are happening on weekends, not weekdays.
Obama Administration Announces New Actions to Accelerate the
Deployment of Electric Vehicles and Charging Infrastructure
For the first time, the United States Department of Transportation is establishing 48 national electric vehicle charging corridors on highways. These newly designated electric vehicle routes cover nearly 25,000 miles in 35 states.
For the first time, the United States Department of Transportation is establishing 48 national electric vehicle charging corridors on highways. These newly designated electric vehicle routes cover nearly 25,000 miles in 35 states.
Paris
Climate Deal Enters Force as Focus Shifts to Action
Governments have agreed to keep the global temperature rise to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels - and preferably 1.5 degrees. Delegates from almost 200 countries are meeting in Marrakech next week to consider the way ahead beyond Paris.
Governments have agreed to keep the global temperature rise to two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels - and preferably 1.5 degrees. Delegates from almost 200 countries are meeting in Marrakech next week to consider the way ahead beyond Paris.
Green Bonds Are Exploding. But Questions Remain About How the
Money Is Being Used
There were about $42 billion in green bonds sold in 2015, but nearly $50 billion sold in the first seven months of 2016, according to a new report from EY. Many of the bonds are over-subscribed and largely unregulated, however, creating a market prime for "greenwashing," warns EY.
There were about $42 billion in green bonds sold in 2015, but nearly $50 billion sold in the first seven months of 2016, according to a new report from EY. Many of the bonds are over-subscribed and largely unregulated, however, creating a market prime for "greenwashing," warns EY.
11/7 (webinar) Title 24: Where We're Headed with the 2016 Nonresidential and Residential Standards
This two-part webinar series, both taught by Martyn Dodd, will provide an overview of the new and revised requirements and share key resources and training opportunities for building department staff, engineers, contractors, energy consultants, and more. As we move closer to zero net energy, the 2016 Title 24 Building Energy Standards will be approximately 5% more stringent for nonresidential buildings, and 30% more stringent for residential buildings.
11/8 (webinar) Targeted Process Evaluation of the LGP Program
This webinar is to discuss the study background and goals, methods, and findings paired with conclusions and recommendations.
This webinar is to discuss the study background and goals, methods, and findings paired with conclusions and recommendations.
11/10 (webinar) Do You Hear Me Now? Communicating the Value of
Non-Energy Benefits
Join DOE Better Buildings for a peer exchange call to discuss the most effective ways to communicate the full spectrum of non-energy benefits.
Join DOE Better Buildings for a peer exchange call to discuss the most effective ways to communicate the full spectrum of non-energy benefits.
11/15 (webinar) Driving High Performance: Role of Codes &
Permitting in Zero Net Energy
The Center for Sustainable Energy invites city and county staff, governmental officials, architects, building owners and developers, and contractors to a free webinar on the role of codes and permitting in reaching zero net energy building goals.
The Center for Sustainable Energy invites city and county staff, governmental officials, architects, building owners and developers, and contractors to a free webinar on the role of codes and permitting in reaching zero net energy building goals.
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ICAL link - https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/lgc.org_dg52rqmsdcshehvud8nqge2aj4%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
Resources and Reports
SEEC
2016 Climate and Energy Legislative Update
This legislative update provides a brief summary of key climate and energy bills passed in the 2016 legislative session.
This legislative update provides a brief summary of key climate and energy bills passed in the 2016 legislative session.
UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2016 (PDF
download)
Since 2010, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has produced annual Emissions Gap Reports based on requested by countries for an independent scientific assessment of how actions and pledges by countries affect the global greenhouse gas emissions trend, and how this compares to emissions trajectories consistent with the long-term goal of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Here is also an article from Climate Central that summarizes the report's key findings.
Since 2010, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has produced annual Emissions Gap Reports based on requested by countries for an independent scientific assessment of how actions and pledges by countries affect the global greenhouse gas emissions trend, and how this compares to emissions trajectories consistent with the long-term goal of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Here is also an article from Climate Central that summarizes the report's key findings.
Peer
Diffusion: A Promising Way for Service Providers to Unlock Investments in Home
Energy Upgrades
This new report from Rocky Mountain Institute explores the key elements of a robust peer diffusion strategy based on practical, real-world examples that energy service providers and program administrators can use to promote dialogue around whole-home performance.
This new report from Rocky Mountain Institute explores the key elements of a robust peer diffusion strategy based on practical, real-world examples that energy service providers and program administrators can use to promote dialogue around whole-home performance.
Before the Flood (video)
New climate change documentary - Leonardo DiCaprio travels the world speaking to scientists and world leaders about the dramatic effects of climate change.
New climate change documentary - Leonardo DiCaprio travels the world speaking to scientists and world leaders about the dramatic effects of climate change.
And
that's all for this week!
Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update
Here
are your WEEkly Updates:
1. Registration
has opened for the 7th Annual SEEC Forum! The Forum
will be held June 15th-16th in Riverside, CA and
will feature updates from key state leaders, up to 16 breakout sessions sharing
local government energy and climate best practices and lessons learned, and
constant networking opportunities to learn the latest in energy activities from
across the state. Registration is no-cost to local governments. Click here to
learn more or to register.
2. Interested
in having a CivicSpark AmeriCorps fellow during the 2016-17 service year? CivicSpark
is a great way for local governments to find capacity for energy efficiency and
sustainability efforts - and educate future local government leaders. The
program is recruiting now, and is ready to answer your questions. Informational
webinars will be held Wednesday, April 13th at 1pm and
Wednesday, April 27th at 10am. Click here to
register.
3. Resources
and Opportunities at the State Level, 101: In response to local government
requests, SEEC will be holding a webinar: State-Level EE 101: Agencies
Furthering Energy Efficiency, How they Work, & Resources & Processes
Local Governments Can Leverage. The goal will be to give local government
energy efficiency leaders a sense of what opportunities there are on the state
level to provide feedback, shape current activities, and leverage state
requirements and resources in strategic planning and implementation of energy
projects. For more information, and registration, click here.
4. Best
practices for Zero Net Energy: NREL Commercial Buildings Principal Engineer
Paul Torcellini will participate in an upcoming ASHRAE Webcast - Making Net
Zero Positive: Solving the Efficiency and Cost Paradox - April 21, 2016 at
1:00pm. Click here for
more information and registration.
5.
For those that missed the AB 802 workshop held by the CEC last
week, notes on items discussed and a link to the saved recording on the CEC’s
website is available here.
Any comments must be submitted to the CEC by April 8th.
6.
The Energy Data Access Committee also met last week – a
summary of items discussed that may be of interest to local governments is
available here.
7.
The Alliance to Save Energy’s recent
article shares why homeowners should care about building energy
codes: energy efficiency adds value to a home. A great initiative
adding transparency to this, and empowering homebuyers and sellers to make
market-driven choices and improvements is the application of the Department of
Energy’s Home Energy Score in Berkeley’s new Building Energy Savings
Ordinance (BESO). Read more on the Ordinance's goals, and
implementation, here.
8.
While on residential programs, congratulations to the San Gabriel
Valley Council of Governments for a strong first year of their Energy
Assessment Screening for Your Home, or “EASY” Program! Supported by the SCE and
SCG through the San Gabriel Valley Energy Watch, the EASY Program provides
residents with free home assessments and customized home reports with
information on smart upgrade opportunities as well as utility incentives to
support them. As of January, the EASY Program had provided well over 100
assessments in 19 cities. For more information, click here.
9. High-tech
EE in residential: The U.S. DOE has a great story and video on high-tech
options on the horizon for residential. Click here to
review.
10.
Jumping to EE activities in the commercial sector: the U.S. EPA and
U.S. DOE have released their 2016 Energy Star Partner of the Year Award winners
to honor outstanding achievements in energy efficiency – which include two
businesses in California. Click here to
learn what these businesses are doing to save energy, and share some great
ideas your commercial community partners.
11. More value for commercial partners: for 6 Benefits of Becoming a Sustainable Business, learn more in an Environmental Leader article here.
12. EE Opportunities in IT: Many think of server closets and data centers as spaces that just have to use lots of energy. However, the energy intensity of data center and IT space often makes it ripe for opportunities to save. Microsoft’s new data center Sustainability Chief explains how energy efficiency saves money and allows greater operation in a smaller footprint, here. For more resources on energy efficiency in IT, click here.
13. The California Financing Coordinating Committee has released its 2016 Funding Fair schedule – the Fair events are a great way for local and tribal governments to connect with a variety of financing and funding opportunities for water and energy infrastructure projects. To learn more and review the schedule, click here.
14. Funding
review: This was a popular item last week, so for those that missed it:
$569M has been made available from federal agencies for energy and other
activities – click here to
learn more. A new U.S. Department of Transportation grant program has made
$800M available, with applications due April 14th: More here.
15. Congratulations
also to the City of Hayward for winning the Acterra 2016 Business
Environmental Award for its green power initiative at the City’s water pollution
plant! Learn
more about how the City is leveraging incoming credits from renewable
generation to fund energy efficiency and sustainability projects (and connect
to a great video on operations at the facility).
16.
The California Energy Commission (CEC) has developed a list of Title 24
energy code trainings that will be made available through different
ICC chapters. Click here for
more information.
17.
The CEC’s 2016 Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) Update is
underway: click here to
learn about scoped Update topics and schedule for release.
As
always, you can keep track of relevant events by connecting to the EE
Events Calendar, and find more resources being added daily on the EECoordinator website.