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Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update
Here
are your wEEkly Updates:
News and Opportunities
Targeted
Process Evaluation of the Local Government Partnership (LGP) Program
Research into Action (RIA), SCE's consultant preparer, has been for over a year working to craft this study to address three primary subjects: developing new useful criteria to organize and group similar LGPs for the purpose of more easily evaluating the diverse sector; shedding light on the effectiveness of LGP muni retrofits; and further building our body of knowledge on LGP strategic-plan projects. A webinar is being conducted on 11/8 (see calendar section). Comments are due November 16, 2016 via http://www.energydataweb.com/cpuc/search.aspx.
Research into Action (RIA), SCE's consultant preparer, has been for over a year working to craft this study to address three primary subjects: developing new useful criteria to organize and group similar LGPs for the purpose of more easily evaluating the diverse sector; shedding light on the effectiveness of LGP muni retrofits; and further building our body of knowledge on LGP strategic-plan projects. A webinar is being conducted on 11/8 (see calendar section). Comments are due November 16, 2016 via http://www.energydataweb.com/cpuc/search.aspx.
Energy
Department Recognizes UC Berkeley for Leadership in Campus-Wide Energy
Innovations
As part of the Obama Administration's effort to cut energy waste in the nation's university buildings and facilities, the Energy Department's Better Buildings Challenge program recognized University of California, Berkeley for its leadership in energy efficiency.
As part of the Obama Administration's effort to cut energy waste in the nation's university buildings and facilities, the Energy Department's Better Buildings Challenge program recognized University of California, Berkeley for its leadership in energy efficiency.
First-of-its-Kind
Energy Storage Project
Advanced Microgrid Solutions and the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) launched a landmark water-energy project using advanced energy storage systems to better integrate renewable power, reduce demand on the electric grid and lower costs. The project further enables IEUA to protect its customers while addressing the link between water and the energy needed to process and transport it.
Advanced Microgrid Solutions and the Inland Empire Utilities Agency (IEUA) launched a landmark water-energy project using advanced energy storage systems to better integrate renewable power, reduce demand on the electric grid and lower costs. The project further enables IEUA to protect its customers while addressing the link between water and the energy needed to process and transport it.
Will
California Drivers Get in Electric Cars to Save $13.5 Billion?
A new report (see resource section) indicates that a shift to electric cars and other zero-emission vehicles could save Californians $13.5 billion in health and climate costs by 2050.
A new report (see resource section) indicates that a shift to electric cars and other zero-emission vehicles could save Californians $13.5 billion in health and climate costs by 2050.
USDA
Investing More Than $300M in Efficiency, Renewables
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing more than $300 million in projects aimed at increasing use of renewables and energy efficiency options for small businesses through their Rural Energy for America (REAP) program.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is investing more than $300 million in projects aimed at increasing use of renewables and energy efficiency options for small businesses through their Rural Energy for America (REAP) program.
Job
Opportunity: Energy and Sustainability Analyst, County of Sonoma
The Sonoma County General Services Department seeks a qualified professional to become an Energy and Sustainability (ES) Analyst in their ES Division. Under general direction, the ES analyst plans, develops, coordinates, and implements ES Division customer project support efforts; provides project selection technical support, energy and water evaluation and analysis, and project financing resources; and is responsible for collecting and analyzing data and reporting results. Applications due November 14, 2016.
The Sonoma County General Services Department seeks a qualified professional to become an Energy and Sustainability (ES) Analyst in their ES Division. Under general direction, the ES analyst plans, develops, coordinates, and implements ES Division customer project support efforts; provides project selection technical support, energy and water evaluation and analysis, and project financing resources; and is responsible for collecting and analyzing data and reporting results. Applications due November 14, 2016.
11/1
(webinar) A Recipe for Award-Winning Online Community Engagement
This highly visual 45-minute webinar will present research findings, proven best practices, practical tips and award-winning case studies to guide agencies towards the successful application of online community engagement for planning projects. Participants will walk away with an understanding about how to leverage digital engagement to achieve unprecedented results using cost-effective tools.
This highly visual 45-minute webinar will present research findings, proven best practices, practical tips and award-winning case studies to guide agencies towards the successful application of online community engagement for planning projects. Participants will walk away with an understanding about how to leverage digital engagement to achieve unprecedented results using cost-effective tools.
11/2 (San Francisco / dial-in)
Coordinating Committee Meeting #11
This meeting is your opportunity to discuss the PA's visions and strategies for achieving maximum cost-effective savings and transforming markets over the next 10 years. The Business Plans set the groundwork for future programs and Implementation Plans.
This meeting is your opportunity to discuss the PA's visions and strategies for achieving maximum cost-effective savings and transforming markets over the next 10 years. The Business Plans set the groundwork for future programs and Implementation Plans.
11/3
(webinar) Boom Chika Boom: Demand Response and Behavior Change
A peer exchange call to discuss demand response and the most effective ways to change behaviors to improve residential energy efficiency.
A peer exchange call to discuss demand response and the most effective ways to change behaviors to improve residential energy efficiency.
11/7
(Sacramento / webcast) Workshop on 2030 Target Scoping Plan Update
This workshop will discuss policy scenarios and associated reductions; the Natural and Working Lands Sector, including carbon sequestration scenario modeling and ARB's Natural and Working Lands inventory; and public health implications of climate change and mitigation policies.
This workshop will discuss policy scenarios and associated reductions; the Natural and Working Lands Sector, including carbon sequestration scenario modeling and ARB's Natural and Working Lands inventory; and public health implications of climate change and mitigation policies.
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.
11/16
(Berkeley) ZNE Workshop for Local Governments
This six-hour workshop will support local governments working to integrate state goals to achieve zero net energy (ZNE) buildings. Learn about examples, emerging trends, new programs and tools to support local government ZNE policy and plan development.
This six-hour workshop will support local governments working to integrate state goals to achieve zero net energy (ZNE) buildings. Learn about examples, emerging trends, new programs and tools to support local government ZNE policy and plan development.
How to add this calendar to your calendar:
ICAL link - https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/lgc.org_dg52rqmsdcshehvud8nqge2aj4%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
ICAL link - https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/lgc.org_dg52rqmsdcshehvud8nqge2aj4%40group.calendar.google.com/public/basic.ics
- Google
instructions
- Outlook
instructions
- If you have any issues, feel free to reach out to me at jkim@lgc.org.
Resources and Reports
Practical
Guide to Transforming Energy Data into Better Buildings
This guide uses the lifecycle of energy data as a framework to help you understand what and when data can be collected, and how to best evaluate the data for meaningful insights. The lifecycle follows through the following path: understanding where the data is coming from; aggregating the different data sources; transforming data into actionable insights; taking insights-driven actions; using data to track and evaluate results; leveraging energy insights beyond building management; and 8 steps to get started today.
This guide uses the lifecycle of energy data as a framework to help you understand what and when data can be collected, and how to best evaluate the data for meaningful insights. The lifecycle follows through the following path: understanding where the data is coming from; aggregating the different data sources; transforming data into actionable insights; taking insights-driven actions; using data to track and evaluate results; leveraging energy insights beyond building management; and 8 steps to get started today.
Clean
Air Future: Health and Climate Benefits of Zero Emission Vehicles
This report was produced by the American Lung Association in California to illustrate the billions of dollars in health and other societal damages caused by passenger vehicle pollution today, and to highlight the benefits of the ongoing transition to zero emission technologies across the passenger vehicle fleet.
This report was produced by the American Lung Association in California to illustrate the billions of dollars in health and other societal damages caused by passenger vehicle pollution today, and to highlight the benefits of the ongoing transition to zero emission technologies across the passenger vehicle fleet.
Electric
Company Smart Meter Deployments: Foundation for a Smart Grid
This report describes how electric companies are using smart meter data today to improve grid operations, integrate distributed energy resources, provide customer services, and support innovative pricing. It also describes the growing importance of the distribution system.
This report describes how electric companies are using smart meter data today to improve grid operations, integrate distributed energy resources, provide customer services, and support innovative pricing. It also describes the growing importance of the distribution system.
Database of State
Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE)
DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewable energy and energy efficiency organized by state.
DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewable energy and energy efficiency organized by state.
Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update
!
Here are your wEEkly updates:
1.
Webinar on Energy Technology Competition 8/28: The U.S. Department of
Energy will present
a live webinar titled “JUMP SIEMENS Call for Innovation” on Friday,
August 26th. The Call is seeking innovative ideas for the use of
personal “smart” devices to interact with public spaces.
2.
Webinar on Hydrogen Infrastructure 8/30: The U.S. Department of Energy
will present
a live webinar titled “International Hydrogen Infrastructure Update”
on Tuesday, August 30th.
3.
Energy Storage Summit 12/7-8: The 2016 U.S. Energy Storage Summit will be
held in San Francisco this December 7th and 8th – and early bird prices for
registration end August 31st! Get
the agenda, more information, and/or register.
4.
CPUC Decision on the EE Rolling Portfolio Now Final: The CA Public
Utilities Commission (CPUC) Proposed Decision Providing Guidance for Initial
Energy Efficiency Rolling Portfolio Business Plan Filings (R.13-11-005) was
voted on this week and was passed. Whether you are developing a business plan
for energy efficiency funds and programs in the coming years, or providing
feedback on one - or simply plan on seeking energy efficiency program funding –
this decision covers a number of topics (Regional Energy Networks, issues by
sector, pay for performance programs, third party and statewide programs,
M&V) that may be of interest. You can access the Proposed
Decision – and its table of contents – here.
5.
Rolling Portfolio Background: Need a refresher on R-13-11-005 and the
rolling portfolio? Check out coverage on this Proceedings,
Decisions, and Legislation page. You can also get involved with
current proceedings through the CA Energy
Efficiency Coordinating Committee. Or, learn how to interpret CPUC
documents and proceedings in this
helpful 101 webinar.
6.
CEC Staff Report on SoCal Electric Reliability: A new CEC staff
report has been made available in preparation for the August
29th workshop on Electric Reliability in Southern California.
7.
New Proposed Energy Storage in SoCal: Southern California’s utilities are
turning to energy storage developers to get battery projects up and running at
a record speed. This week, utilities Southern California Edison and San Diego
Gas & Electric officially asked the California Public Utilities Commission
to approve contracts for more than 50 megawatts’ worth of lithium-ion battery
projects. Learn
more from Greentech Media.
8.
$1.2B in Cap and Trade Proposed by CA Senate: This Wednesday, California’s
State Senate proposed
a series of clean energy funding initiatives totaling $1.2 billion to
address greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector and air
pollution in urban environments.
9.
Connecting Home Buyers with Metrics to Value EE: We’ve seen a
lot of recent studies on how energy efficient homes are worth more;
but, communicating this value has been a challenge, making the market slow to
respond and leaving dollars and energy efficiency opportunities on the table in
our communities. (This is especially unfortunate in low-income households,
since connecting homes energy efficiency can help fight poverty.) This
week, Greentech
Media explores options for creating a easy metric to help home buyers
include the value of energy efficiency in their decision making.
10.
Low-Rise Mandatory Energy Code Measures Summary: The California Energy
Commission (CEC) has just released the 2016
Low-Rise Residential Mandatory Measures Summary – this is a great
document to share with your buildings departments as a resource to help
designers and permit applicants in your jurisdiction comply with the new energy
code.
11.
California ZNE Milestone Achieved: The California Public Utilities
Commission, California Energy Commission, and the New Buildings Institute (NBI)
announced earlier this month California continues the march toward its zero net
energy (ZNE) goals, with 108
new and renovated commercial buildings that have been either verified
as generating as much energy as they consume or are working toward that target.
More on zero
net energy here – or, learn about ZNE
tracking tools.
12.
Waste Collection Zones Reduce GHGs: A new
study of New York City reveals that commercial waste collection zones
may reduce truck traffic and greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste
collection.
13.
New Research on Water and EE: Increased coordination between the water and
energy sectors breaks down traditional silos and paves the way for an
integrative approach to saving energy and water. This week, ACEEE
has released a new summary of water-energy efficiency research and
best practices, The Energy–Water Nexus: Exploring the Stream of Opportunities,
which summarizes past research (see below) and discusses new opportunities,
including joint energy and water utility collaboration.
14.
Job Announcement: MCE is hiring for a Marketing Manager! Learn more here.
15.
RFP Announcement: The City and County of San Francisco Department of the
Environment (SFEnvironment) announces
a Request for Proposals for As Needed Energy Services for the
Department’s energy and climate programs, including energy efficiency,
renewable and alternative energy components, and climate protection
initiatives.
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 –
including past WEEkly Updates.
That’s all for this week!
Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update
Here
are your wEEkly updates:
1.
Prop 39 Proposed Changes Webinar 7/6: Get the word out to your schools and
local educational agencies (LEAs): The California Energy Commission has
initiated a substantive changes cycle for the Proposition 39: California Clean
Energy Jobs Act – 2016 K-12 Program Implementation Guidelines. Learn
more, review the changes and sign up for a CEC webinar to review.
2.
Smart Cities Webinar 7/14: This free
1-hour webinar sponsored by DNV GL will feature two contrasting cities
– Cambridge, Mass., and San Diego, Calif. – to explore on-going “smart city”
initiatives that intersect with climate resiliency, clean and renewable
distributed energy, microgrids and zero net energy concepts.
3.
SEEC Forum Plenaries online: Miss this year’s SEEC Forum? You can hear from
the CEC, CPUC, SGC, OPR, environmental justice leaders, and energy and climate
specialists in recordings of the SEEC Forum plenary sessions. Visit the
EECoordinator.info main page for
descriptions and Youtube links.
4.
New Energy Efficiency 101 resources: As Coordinator I hear about the need
for 101 resources from beginner and veteran local government energy leaders
alike. Whether its due to staff turnover or transfers, or the wealth of rapidly
evolving information on energy best practices in California, it helps to have
some introductory resources in one place. Check out a new (and
growing) page of
Energy Efficiency 101 resources and presentations on the EECoordinator
site – and feel free to request additional information.
5.
Low-Income EE resources expansion: SoCal Gas announced
a significant expansion of its Energy Savings Assistance Program. As many
as 500,000 additional low-income families may now be eligible to receive
no-cost energy efficient home upgrades.
6.
PACE Savings through HERO: A press
release from the residential PACE HERO Program released this week announced
that Californians Are Saving 10 Billion Kilowatt-Hours Through the
HERO Program - roughly equivalent to taking almost a million Americans off the
grid for a year or closing two coal-fired power plants for a
year. For more on financing, click here.
7.
Commercial EE opportunities: We learned in the SEEC plenary on the State of
Local Climate Action that a number of California local governments are seeing
high savings in the commercial sector. New
coverage from ACEEE shows commercial sector savings, but also a number
of remaining opportunities.
8.
Motivating Commercial EE: Something to share with your commercial sector
partners: stakeholder requests for EE and sustainability information are
changing trends in business activities and reporting. A new
report shows that 81% of S&P companies produced Sustainability
Reports in 2015.
9.
Clarifications on heat pump water heater compliance: the CEC’s Advisor
Patrick Saxton spoke to requirements for residential heat pump water heaters in
the Q&A of the Forum’s opening plenary session. Some additional residential
heat pump water heater compliance guidance from follow up with the CEC is
available here.
10.
New water efficiency standards in effect TODAY: With all the excitement
around the new building energy efficiency standards becoming open for cities
and counties to adopt by January 1, 2017, we can’t forget about new water
efficiency standards! Read an excerpt from the California Energy Commission
(CEC)’s blog, and get links for more information here.
11.
New EIA study projects the effect of energy policies: Projecting the effect
of policies is a challenging but critical part of energy planning and
governance. See how the U.S. Energy Information Administration has analyzed
U.S. energy policies and released its findings of an estimated 30%
increase in clean power from Clean Power Plan implementation.
12.
Time-of-Use Service for Residential: A new “time of savings” service
offered through a partnership between Nest and SolarCity offers residential
customers deeper demand response and EE savings. Learn more here.
13.
Procurement templates for energy storage: Clean Energy Group and the Clean
Energy States Alliance, with support from Bright Power, Sandia National
Laboratories, the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity, and the Barr
Foundation, have drafted
and released a series of energy storage procurement guidance documents for
municipalities.
14.
Job announcement: Marin County is hiring for a Sustainability Program
Planner! For more information click here.
15.
Job announcement: MCE is hiring for several positions, including a Customer
Programs Specialist and Customer Programs Manager! For more information,
click here.
That’s all for this week!
Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update
Here
are your wEEkly updates:
1.
SEEC Forum follow up: Thanks to all that attended this year’s 7th Annual
SEEC Forum! Experienced, diverse speakers and record attendees helped to make
it a great success. If you attended, we are asking for your feedback
through this survey to
make next year’s even better. Stand by for recorded sessions from the Forum,
coming soon!
2.
CAF Registration Now Open: Correction from earlier this month: the California
Adaptation Forum registration is NOW open! The Forum will take place
September 7th-8th in Long Beach.
3.
Benchmarking Lunch-and-Learn 6/30: Hear about the current state of
benchmarking policy and join in discussion about specific impacts to local
governments and other public agencies in this
Oxnard lunch-and-learn held by The Energy Network and Ventura County
Regional Energy Alliance (VCREA).
4.
PG&E Phases Out Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power: citing a number factors,
including Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) increases, energy efficiency and
renewables goals under SB 350, the growth of distributed energy resources
(DERs) and community choice aggregation (CCA), PG&E announced its decision
this Tuesday. (Read more here.)
5.
Looking for EE and Climate Funding? Over $177
Million is available for state and local government activities on
coastal resiliency, health impacts of climate change, HUD Choice Neighborhoods,
and more.
6.
What’s New in 2016 Energy Code? BayREN’s Codes and Standards Regional
Forum was held this week, bringing together local government
policymakers and sustainability staff, building department staff, city
planners, and energy consultants to learn about the changes to the 2016
building Energy Efficiency Standards for residential and nonresidential
buildings.
7.
2016 Reference Ace Now Available: Energy Code Ace has released the 2016
version of their training tools for California Energy Code (Title 24).
This is a great, free resource for building departments and professionals
alike.
8.
Energy efficiency and affordable housing: Finding the best strategies to
bring the economic benefits of energy efficiency to low-income households is a
hot topic. Learn in this
article from Eco Business about case studies in Ann Arbor and
Pittsburgh, a study from Energy Efficiency for All, and how to best leverage
key resources like the Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC).
9.
EDAC Meeting Recap: The quarterly public Energy Data Access Committee
meeting was held this week, with significant focus on local government data
access for climate action planning – a short recap is available here.
10.
White House Announces Energy Storage, Green Button Analysis: Last week
the White
House announced a new investment in 1.3 GW of energy storage to
promote a more flexible, resilient grid – and also shared plans to analyze the
use of the Green Button energy data platform in the private sector.
11.
Opower and Oracle on utility and energy data: his week, Oracle purchased
Opower for $532 million. Hear from both companies on the value they each see in
combining forces and how the utility industry is moving to a customer-focused
industry, in this
exclusive interview by Greentech Media (GTM).
12.
Innovations in Duct Sealing: Learn what research out of U.S. DOE, LBNL and
EPA has led to a transformation
in duct sealing (improving air quality and bringing energy savings) in
commercial buildings – with examples from Atlanta and California’s Fountain
Valley.
13.
Sustainable Products and Projects of the Year: Environmental Leader
released its new list of Products
and Projects of the Year this week. Products range from solar panels to
chiller modules; programs range from Hilton’s LightStay program to Bloomberg
LP’s Water Risk Valuation Tool. Get ideas for products or approaches to apply
in your community!
14.
EVs for Economic Reasons: In coverage
from North Bay Public Media, learn about how economic considerations are
the primary driver toward electric vehicles in Sonoma County.
15.
Is Residential Ready for Storage? Learn
best practices in making solar homes energy storage-ready.
16.
New Solar Homes Partnership: Join the California Energy Commission (CEC)
for a workshop
on the New Solar Homes Partnership July 8th.
17.
AB 793 Compliance Guidance: In a June 10th release, CPUC
Judges have requested that the state’s IOUs propose to the Commission
comprehensive, innovative, and scalable programs designed to meet the
requirements of Public Utilities Code Section 717, and designed to meet the
needs of consumers and the marketplace, by August 1, 2016. Learn
more and get a review of AB 793 here.
18.
Zero Net Energy Review: The document ZNE Evaluation Methodologies: Phase 1
– Draft Report, which PG&E contracted with TRC to complete, is
now posted to the CPUC’s EE Public Document’s Area for public comment.
19.
Job Announcements: the City of Thousand Oaks is hiring for two
Sustainability Analysts and a Sustainability Division Manager! Learn more here.
20.
Job Announcement: ICLEI is hiring for a Program Officer, Network Relations!
Learn more here.
21.
RFP: Lancaster Choice Energy (LCE) seeks
a qualified consultant to support LCE’s development of an Energy
Efficiency Business Plan for 2016. This support would include program design,
budget creation, cost effective analysis, an application for funding under the
‘elect’ option to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), and any
required auditing and reporting.
22.
RFP: Itron, Inc. – operating under contract to the California Public
Utilities Commission (CPUC) – invites qualified applicants to respond to this
Request for Qualifications (RFQ), Subcontractors to Conduct Process
Evaluations of California’s 2015 Local Government Energy Efficiency Programs.
That’s all for this week!
Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update
Here
are your wEEkly updates:
1.
Updates from the EE Coordinating Committee: for meeting updates, reminders
on comment deadlines, and a change in schedule for business plan development,
see this
week’s updates from the CA EE Coordinating Committee (CAEECC).
For more background on the Committee and how they facilitate local government
and other stakeholder feedback on how EE funds are administered, check out
the CAEECC website or take a
look at this
FAQ.
2.
Communicating on EE: Need help communicating the value of EE in your
community? This GreenBiz
excerpt from the book Energy is Human describes some
best practices for rethinking how we talk about efficiency.
3.
Need EE Code Trainings? Did you know you can request a Title 24 Part 6
Essentials training be brought to a location of your choice? You can – and it’s
free of charge – click here for
details.
4.
Over $457M in Funding Available: more than $457
million is available at the federal level for local and tribal
government climate and energy activities: including pre-disaster
mitigation, community
resiliency, and air
pollution reduction.
5.
Keeping EE Affordable: As we’re seeing more and more about how efficient
buildings are more
valuable buildings (due to their lower cost of ownership and more),
GreenBiz reviews how to keep upfront costs off low-income residents.
6.
Multi-family EE resources: Affordable housing is often multi-family housing.
For a list of resources in California specifically dedicated to multi-family
EE, click here.
Or take a look at multi-family EE program best practices in this
2015 report.
7.
New Multi-family EE Strategies in NY: Looking outside California, a new
multi-family energy program was announced
this week from the New York State Energy Research and Development
Authority (NYSERDA).
8.
Making EE Buildings Visible: while on the subject of EE in buildings with
multiple stakeholders: the US Dept. of Energy announced
a new partnership under the Better Buildings Initiative with a firm
that provides data intelligence to commercial real estate to improve the
visibility of EE benefits.
9.
Energy storage and microgrids: get new
coverage from Navigant on the role of energy storage as the microgrid
market matures.
10.
The CPUC on microgrids and more: the CPUC issued a new
proposed decision last week proposing a number of updates to
California’s Self Generation Incentive Program (SGIP).
11.
Best practices in reducing plug load: Environmental Leader came
out with five
recommendations on checking appliances and reducing plug load in
response to recent EPA audit results. A recent
article from the NY Times also provides transparency on what
appliances are consuming even in off or standby modes. For more on plug load,
click here.
12.
EE Computer Standards: while on plug load: the CEC has shared
the transcript of its recent workshop on computer efficiency
standards.
13.
Seeking input on statewide EE programs: this week, the CPUC also released
a new ruling seeking to work through approaches to statewide and third
party programs and approaches in how EE funding and offerings are administered.
A number of program categories are proposed for statewide implementation.
Comments on this new approach are due June 10th. More on the
restructuring of EE program timelines and review available here.)
14.
Opportunities in electric water heaters: A new
study by the Brattle Group finds significant residential savings
opportunities through electric water heaters.
15.
More reasons to take air pollution seriously: Need help communicating the
importance of clean air? A new
study confirms that air pollution contributes to the #1 cause of
death.
16.
New podcast from DOE: Get connected to
a new “Direct Current: podcast released this month from the Department of Energy!
17.
Waste Heat is Power: For an old but innovative approach to efficiency,
learn from Berkeley
Engineer how a firm is using thermoelectrics to convert waste heat
to energy.
18.
Job Announcement: Cleantech San Diego is hiring for a Project
Manager!
19.
Job Announcement: San Diego State University is hiring for an Energy
Analyst!
20.
Energy Data Survey: as a reminder, the Energy Data Access Committee wants
to hear from local governments re: their experience accessing data for climate
action planning, through this survey available for a limited time here.
21.
Weatherization Reminder: Interested in informing weatherization program
development based on needs you see in your community? The Department of
Community Services and Development (CSD)’s June 2nd workshop is
coming up: RSVP to attend in person or by webinar here.
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 – including
past WEEkly Updates.
That’s all for this week!
Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update
Here are our WEEkly Updates:
- SB 350 and AB 802: Impacts and Implications for Local Governments (video)
In case you missed the webinar last week with CEC Commissioners Hochschild and McAllister, here is the webinar recording. - How Smart Meters are Changing Energy Efficiency in California
New advanced metering infrastructure that can measure customer load with increased granularity has created opportunities for variable rate structures, effective demand response and increased customer control over their energy use. And now, with the ability to compare real-time usage to historical baselines, the industry can begin to more accurately value "efficiency as energy," and PG&E is working with NRDC and The Utility Reform Network to develop a pilot program that will do just that. - U.S. Energy Storage Summit: The Energy Storage Future (video)
This GTM Research presentation will share results from the most recent U.S. Energy Storage Monitor report and provide the platform for the summit's discussions on the future of the U.S. energy storage market. - How Energy Efficiency Cuts Costs for a 2°C Future
This report analyzes how energy efficiency policies and programs in Brazil, China, Europe, India, Mexico and the US can reduce the cost of economy-wide decarbonization y up to $250 billion per year for these regions, with no net cost to society through 2030. Related articles from this week: Why energy efficiency is the cheapest path to climate action and Energy efficiency is the largest contributor to reducing CO2 emissions. - 5 Trends that Will Disrupt Energy Management in 2016
BluePillar's new eBook, Facility of the Future Series: 5 Trends that Will Disrupt Energy Management in 2016, discusses the 5 trends that will disrupt energy management in 2016 and how you can take control of your facility's energy future. - California and Germany, Opposites with a Common Energy Goal
One is a European country known as "the powerhouse of Europe" that struggles against soggy winters and seemingly endless gray skies. The other is a digitally driven American state, known as "the Golden State," for its abundant sunshine and year-round growing season. One is determined to lead an energy transformation through carefully drafted laws and regulations; the other is driven by an inventive spirit of boundary-pushing and experimentation. - 12/14 - Leveraging Benchmarking to Build Your Business
This full-day workshop is targeted for businesses to learn strategies for generating leads; how to price benchmarking-related offerings; how to cross-sell and up-sell your other offerings; how to demonstrate the value of efficiency in terms that clients understand and value; and how to motivate the various stakeholders to act on energy efficiency measures. - Energy Calendar
If you have any events you would like to see added to this calendar, please send details to statewideenergycoordinator@lgc.org.
And that is all for this week!
Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update
Here are your wEEkly updates:
- Draft LGP REN EM&V Roadmap
The comment period is now open until 5pm on Sunday, November 30th for the REN and LGP chapters of the EM&V Roadmap. This is an update for version 6 of 2013-2015 EM&V Evaluation Plan. - Database of Energy Incentives & Rebates
A comprehensive source of information on incentives and policies that support renewables and energy efficiency in the U.S. - Energy Storage in the Fast Lane
The energy storage industry is growing quickly. It is being driven, according to experts, by the parallel growth of on-site energy generation and an increasingly attractive list of operational and financial benefits. - Benchmarking Training in San Francisco, sponsored by PG&E
12/1 - Benchmarking Your Commercial Building: Learn how to benchmark your building's energy performance with the help of PG&E's Web Services.
12/1 - You've Benchmarked Your Building: What's Next?: Learn how to set targets for improvement - estimating the actual amount of energy savings needed, which low-/no-cost capital upgrades might produce various magnitudes of savings, and more.
12/14 - Benchmarking as a Business - Energy Calendar
If you have any events you would like to see added to this calendar, please send details to statewideenergycoordinator@lgc.org.
That is it for this week!
Believe it or not: liquid batteries make energy storage real and affordable
The headline from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) says, "It's Official: Wind Energy Can Be Stored Cheaply"' but gosh--cheap just sounds so...cheap. Energy storage is more than just a cool advancement in technology, it is the Holy Grail. Grid level storage will make alternative and renewable energy available to the mass market with regularity and at a truly affordable rate. It's energy storage that will make harnessing temperamental energy sources like wind and solar plausible as a solution to our world energy needs. It's energy storage that is the missing link. To include cheap in the sentence seems somewhat demeaning ( although it is a press release from MIT and if Good Will Hunting taught me anything it's that those MIT guys know their stuff!).
Turns out one MIT guy in particular knows his stuff about grid level electrical storage and how to make it cost effective. Professor Donald Sadoway has developed the liquid metal battery; a device as he says, invented to the price point of the electric market. Professor Sadoway's TED talk about his liquid metal battery is entertaining (colored chalk!) and actually makes simple sense of something that should be much more complicated.
Turns out one MIT guy in particular knows his stuff about grid level electrical storage and how to make it cost effective. Professor Donald Sadoway has developed the liquid metal battery; a device as he says, invented to the price point of the electric market. Professor Sadoway's TED talk about his liquid metal battery is entertaining (colored chalk!) and actually makes simple sense of something that should be much more complicated.
Donald Sadoway: solving energy's biggest challenge, like a boss.
Seducing a fossil-fuel Frankenstein
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| Peter Boyle and Madeline Kahn |
"Promise you won't be angry?" says Igor.
"I won't be angry," says the doctor.
But this is classic Wilder. His hair is wild, love-interest Terri Garr is in the background semi-breathless. He will go nuts. After all, Igor's answer is "Abby Something, Abby Normal."
The result is classic. "Are you saying I put an abnormal brain into a 7 1/2-foot-long, 54-inch wide gorilla?" Wilder asks, grasping the earnest Igor by the neck and hefting him off the ground like a rag sidekick.
The U.S. energy industry has installed a series of protocols into its collective head that spew nothing but carbon. So far, solar has a long way to go, even though incremental advances appear to be made on a monthly basis.
Solar developments shine
A couple that come to mind involve a breakthrough by IBM researchers to squeeze more solar power out of cheaper materials and a move by the California Public Utilities Commission that could spur innovation in energy storage for alternative energy projects. Ulicia Wang of gigaom.com says IBM's solar cells made of easy-to-access copper, zinc, tin and sulfur onvert 11.1 percent of sunlight into electricity for a 10 percent gain. The material is important because it uses no rare earth elements, like indium and gallium, which can be difficult to source.
The CPUC in an August 2012 report, Resolution E-4522, gives kudos to three of five proposed solar projects in California that use molten salt to store energy and provide power after the sun goes down. Southern California Edison has requested approval of power purchase agreements for the projects, all developed by Oakland, Calif.-based BrightSource Energy Inc. Each has a 200 megawatt capacity and use mirrors to convert sunlight to heat.
However, the energy storage option earn high marks on the projects, strangely dubbed Siberian 1, Siberian 2 and Sonoran West. "These three projects compare favorably on a price and value basis," the report says.
That's substantial progress.
Carbon earthforms
But decades of domination by the oil industry have been a lot like a Peter Boyle character on the loose. Alternative energy developments are like throwing a bag of marbles at his feet in hopes he stumbles. Not a chance, really.
The fossil fuel industry is entombed in U.S. corporate culture. Just check out the new cars on the road. Maybe they're not as big as before the economic collapse, but they still burn gasoline. A major shift to solar-extracted hydrogen or full-on electric is about as likely as veganism being a part of an election-year GOP platform.
I'm at a loss for deducing a solution. I work at a job that chips away at the problem project by project. It makes me feel like I'm doing a part, just not very significant.
Seduce fossil Frankenstein
Maybe we need Madeline Kahn or somebody like her. She could seduce the monster (metaphorically embodied by Boyle in his greatest role after "Joe"). Where to find this person? Maybe an idea would get the public up in arms (pitchforks, torches, etc.).
Super cheap energy would work. Not natural gas, although granted it's a good bridge fuel.
Just a distraction really. The Frankenstein fossil fuel monster running amok could use a diversion. Madeline is pretty convincing in the Mel Brooks classic. Ideas?