What Has SJVCEO Been Up to in October?

SJVCEO hopes that everyone had a safe and fun Halloween this year. We hope that everyone was able to avoid many of the energy vampires that occur in the home during this spooky month. The SJVCEO staff has been very busy helping all of our partners with steering clear of those vampires. We have been busy with our south valley partners as well as our north valley partners. 

For our south valley partners the VIEW Partnership has been very busy with continuing to benchmarking energy usage for all buildings. The Partnership is also very happy to announce that the City of Visalia achieved gold tier status in the energy leader partnership (ELP) with Southern California Edison. We cannot wait to announce our other partners that achieve this status in the coming months. Achieving the gold status in the ELP model is a very large achievement. For a partner to achieve this status they must lower their energy usage, complete energy awareness outreach as well as approving an energy action plan. To all of our partners; continue the great work! The Partnership was also on the road for the Local Government Commissions Central California meeting that happened in Paso Robles. This was a great event that showed how local government partnerships are doing more with less. Doing more with less was the main theme for the meeting. It was also great to get together with the IOU partners and other peers to check in and hear everyone's progress.

As for our north valley partners the municipal energy tune up (METU) program they are continuing to be benchmarked with energy projects in sight. Our METU team has also been on the road for much of the month of October going to training's on new emerging technology. The first training was on programmable logic controllers (PLCs). These items are most often used in industrial, manufacturing and wastewater treatment applications, and can improve operations considerably by automating processes normally done by hand or to allow for another point of data collection to determine if a process is working effectively and efficiently. The second training was on designing thermal energy storage (TES). TES tanks work as a battery for your air conditioning by “charging” a large tank by creating ice at night, when there’s low or no demand charges, and “discharging” it in the daytime so chiller(s) don’t have to run during the daytime.  The technology first debuted in the 1980s, was fraught with problems, but is now matured to the point that utility incentives for the technology are at a whopping $875 per kW permanently shifted.  In some instances, especially when designing new buildings, installing thermal energy storage can be a lower first cost than just using nothing but chillers.

As you can see SJVCEO has been busy during the past month. We are always happy to stay busy when it comes to saving our partners and communities energy sand money.

Stay Tuned for Next Months Update!

Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update

Here are you WEEkly Updates:

1. CPUC Final Decision
   The California Public Utilities Commission Decision Establishing Energy Efficiency Savings Goals and Approving 2015 Energy Efficiency Programs and Budgets was released this week. If you don't have time to read this 179-page document, here's a summary from Lara Ettenson at NDRC.
   
2. Job Opportunity: Energy Program Manager, California State University, Office of the Chancellor
   The California State University, Office of the Chancellor, is seeking an Energy Program Manager to provide programmatic, analytical and project management support for both the campuses and systemwide Chancellor's Office staff. Resumes will be accepted until November 10th or until the job posting is removed.
   
3. Energy Efficiency and Health Factsheet
   ACEEE and the Physicians for Social Responsibility released a factsheet on the health benefits of energy efficiency and reduced air pollution. Perhaps it can help you better communicate the value of energy efficiency to your community!
   
4. A California Supervisor Defends Rooftop Solar
   "At the County level, we continue to look for ways to encourage solar and other renewable energy. And last year, we launched... PACE. The results so far have been impressive: Roughly $140 million in local projects have been funded and about 6,000 projects completed. PACE has led to the creation of more than 1,100 local jobs, adding $241 million to our local economy."
   
5. SEEC Wants to Hear from You!
   Please take a few minutes to complete this 12-question survey. The Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC) requests input on local government sustainability priorities to help inform its 2016 scope of work.
   
6. CURRENTS Newsletter - Fall 2015 Issue
   You don't want to miss out on this issue of CURRENTS, which includes a legislative update factsheet, registration for SB 350 and AB 802: impacts and Implications for Local Governments with CEC Commissioners Andrew McAllister and David Hochschild, and more!
   
7. 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!

Check out the fall 2015 currents from the Local Government Commission. This version of Currents provides readers with all information in one spot. Topics that are discussed are LA Energy Atlas, legislative updates, regulatory update, technology, tools and resources and upcoming energy events within the United States. 

Fall 2015 Currents

Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update

Here are your WEEkly Updates: 

1.    Energy Commission Funding Supports Efficiency, Alternative Fuel Projects
The CEC approved several grants, contracts and loans yesterday that support projects - for City of Gardena, UC Riverside, San Luis Obispo County, and San Diego Community College District - that will help the state meet its EE and GHG emission reduction goals. Modifications have also been made to the reporting process for publicly owned utilities to ensure increased use of renewable energy.

2.    Tesla Batteries to Power Office Buildings in California
The Irvine Company is fitting more than 20 buildings in Irvine and Newport Beach with battery systems from Tesla. The project is being undertaken in partnership with Advanced Microgrid Solutions and SoCal Edison, and will provide 10 MW of power to facilities and reduce energy costs by as much as 10%.

3.    USDA Rural Energy for America Program Loans and Grants Available
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is encouraging rural small businesses to apply for loans and grants aimed at renewable energy and energy-related projects. The USDA is accepting applications for loans and grants for new "renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements" and "energy audits and renewable energy development assistance."

4.    Study: Confusion and Growth Opportunities in Building/Energy Management Systems
Survey results from MACH Energy indicate that while facility management professionals are increasingly implementing energy management systems (EMS), the market remains in a potentially high-growth stage. Two primary conclusions of the survey: these building professionals primarily implement EMS to achieve cost and expense reduction; and there is marketplace confusion.

5.    ACEEE Call for Papers: 2016 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings
The Call for Papers deadline, October 23rd, is approaching for the ACEE 2016 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, "From Components to Systems, From Buildings to Communities." The conference is taking place August 21-26, 2016 in Pacific Grove, CA.

6.    10/21 ClimatEEfficient Webinar: Long Beach in a New Light
Learn about how the City of Long Beach partnered with The Energy Network on streetlight retrofitting. You will hear from the City of Long Beach and The Energy Network on how they teamed up to convert 25,000 streetlights to more energy-efficient fixtures, making it the fourth largest project of its kind on the West Coast.

7.    Energy Calendar

And that is all for this week! 

If you have any requests for information, events, resources, or news to share, please send details to statewideenergycoordinator@lgc.org.

Conserving Water at Home

While the East Coast and Midwest have seen more than their fair share of rain and other precipitation over the last several months, the West Coast has seen extreme drought and numerous wildfires. Even my state of Washington is currently experiencing a “historic monster” of a fire and resources are dwindling. So, all of us up and down the West Coast need to conserve as much water at home as possible. There may be less we can control at work, grocery stores and other public areas, but at home we can (and should!) do everything in our power to minimize our water use.

Not sure if you’re doing enough or wondering what else you can do? Do not fret! I have plenty of tips below.

First, make sure nothing is leaking. Pipes and faucets are easy to check, but toilets are a little more complicated. Try this trick: put a few drops of food coloring in the tank of your toilet and do not flush! If, after a few minutes, the color has entered the toilet bowl, then it is time to call your plumber or order new parts. Also, keep anything that isn’t waste or toilet paper OUT of the toilet. Several gallons are wasted each time you flush garbage.

Once any obvious leaks are fixed, check for hidden ones. Locate your water meter, note the reading and leave all water off for a couple of hours. If the water meter reads the same a few hours later, then you are good to go. However, if you haven’t used water and your meter reads differently, you have a hidden leak somewhere. The longer leaks go without repair, the more water you waste; even a few drops every hour add up quickly.

The most important rule for conserving water is: don’t leave the water running. Turn off the water in the shower while you shave; turn off the water while you brush your teeth; turn off the water while you wash dishes. Letting the water run during these activities wastes much more than you think. You can easily leave a little bit of water in the tub or sink to rinse your razor; rinsing with running water wastes more. You only need a drop of water to wet your toothbrush before brushing and you can easily soap up dishes without leaving the faucet on (have a dish with a little water in it while you wash the other dishes).

Another good rule of thumb is to wait to run dishwashers and washing machines until you have a full load. Look into efficient dishwashers and water-saving front load washers. Water efficient appliances are not only becoming more popular, but more necessary, too. You can find anything from low flow shower heads and toilets to irrigation controllers. The EPA has great resources for water efficient, green homes. Also, for you Californians, consider the CEC’s Water Energy Technology (WET) program for water and energy saving appliances and technologies.

See how cool this looks?! If I had a lawn this would be it.

If you’re living in the Southwest and you still have a green lawn, it’s time to rip it out. Don’t waste any more time! Either let your lawn go brown or replace it with drought-resistant plants. Need some more reasons to do this? Los Angeles has a Cash for Grass program, Governor Brown has banned brown lawn fines and succulents and boulders are pretty.

Water is 100% a depletable resource, as we have daily proof. Cities are suffering and this will only continue. While we all recognize this, our situation will only get worse if we continue to talk the talk but not walk the walk. It is up to each one of us to monitor our usage and minimize it in as many aspects of our lives as we can. This is not just a suggestion, this is a call for action! In addition to doing the right thing, you’ll find yourself with a fuller wallet. Water conservation and efficiency, like energy conservation and efficiency, puts money back in your pocket and there’s absolutely nothing to dislike about that.

It’s up to you to make a change. Will you accept this challenge?

Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update

1.    UCLA Launches the LA Energy Atlas
The Atlas features an interactive map that displays energy consumption across LA County by COG, City, and Neighborhood, strategies for energy conservation strategies and a range of state and local energy efficiency policies, incentives, and goals, and more!

2.    DOE and White House Office of Science and Technology Released Second Quadrennial Technology Review
The Review examines the most promising research, development, demonstration and deployment opportunities across energy technologies that can affect the future of energy efficiency. The review presents 4 trends: convergence (all sectors of economy becoming increasingly interdependent); diversification (state and local energy planning shifting energy sectors to diversified, distributed resources); confluence (computing power and simulation ushering a new era of "systems by design"); and efficiency everywhere (energy efficiency as a critical element in achieving energy security, cost, and environmental goals).

3.    Job Opportunity: Statewide Local Government Energy Efficiency Best Practices Coordinator
The Coordinator facilitates a statewide focus both in gathering exemplary policies and practices, and tracking progress on a statewide level on government facility and community energy use, retrofits, and strategic plan metrics. Please contact Julia Kim at jkim@lgc.org if you have any questions and we would appreciate your support in spreading this announcement through your networks!

4.    AB 802: Measuring Savings at the Meter
On the Governor's desk ready to sign, AB 802 (Williams) allows utilities to provide incentives to customers who improve their buildings up to the current building code and beyond. It also allows building owners and tenants to determine the most effective efficiency and renewable energy improvements through improved tracking and benchmarking of energy use.

5.    Energy Calendar
If you have any energy-related events you would like added to the calendar, please send details to statewideenergycoordinator@lgc.org.

And that is all for this week! 

What Has SJVCEO Been Up to in September?

The SJVCEO team is happy to officially be in the fall season and be done with the 100+ degree weather here in the valley. With entering into fall our team is also entering into our busy season. Both the VIEW Partnership and Municipal Energy Tune Up (METU) teams have been hard at work to complete projects before the end of the year. 

For the VIEW Partnership our team has been working away on the planning and logistics of the upcoming energy awareness month community events. This year the Partnership is expanding the number of events being held to 6! We are very excited to continue to grow our community outreach events and become more involved in our areas. This year the Partnership will be out in Home Garden, Hardwick, Farmersville, Monson-Sultana and Allensworth areas. If you happen to be in the areas listed come out and enjoy some fun with the family and learn how to save energy. Check out our community outreach calendar to see when these events will be taking place.

As for our METU team, sadly we have shrunk in size due to the loss of two of our Civic Spark members. The Civic Spark members finished their project term with SJVCEO in mid-September. We wish them much success as they continue on their career paths. When it comes to the work of METU several projects that we have assisted with have finally come to fruition and have secured energy savings and plenty of rebates to go along with it!

Four pumps were retrofitted in Kern County to make them more efficient, saving a total of over 215,000 kWh and netting a municipality a rebate check of over $27,000!  The incentives were provided by PG&E, through a third party program called the Advanced Pumping Efficiency Program (APEP), administered by CSU Fresno’s Center for Irrigation Technology.If you own a pump, and are planning on lowering your pump deeper into the ground, get a pump test first.  A simple $200 test (which can be completely subsidized by APEP) may be all it takes to help you offset the cost of lowering the pump with reduced operational costs.  And a pretty nice rebate check too.

Make sure to stay in touch by signing up for our news and program updates here on our blog.

Check in next month to see what we were up to in October!

The Invasion of the Energy Vampires

Forget the Zombie Apocalypse,
We’re Being Invaded by Energy Vampires

This Halloween, we’ll be seeing tons of spooky creatures and supernatural monsters out on the streets, but the scariest monster is lurking every day right in your own home: the energy vampire! An “energy vampire” is an electronic appliance or device that still uses energy when it’s plugged in, even if it’s turned off.

Most energy vampires go into “standby” mode, where they continuously suck a trickle of electricity (called a “phantom load”) to power features such as clocks, digital displays, timers, and LED status lights. Yes, that means your glowing microwave clock is actually a creature of the night!

Did you know that the typical modern household uses 20-40 energy vampire appliances? And they’re hungry creatures. They account for 5-10% of a household’s total electricity use. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, that adds up to about $100 per year for each household, or more than $10 billion in annual energy costs nationwide!

Some energy vampires that might be draining your wallet include:

• DVRs (digital video recorders) & set-top cable and satellite boxes
• TVs (especially LCD and plasma TVs) & DVD players
• Video game consoles
• Computers (desktops & notebooks)
• Microwaves, coffee makers, and toaster ovens
• Chargers (e.g. for cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc.)
• Home audio systems

Here are some tips on how to slay energy vampires in your own home:

• Unplug devices when they’re not being used. Energy vampires can’t suck your home’s electricity if they aren’t connected to a wall outlet! It may not be feasible to unplug every energy vampire in your home, but it’s easy and practical to unplug appliances in areas not frequently used, such as a guest room or garage. Finally, be sure to unplug rechargeable items as soon as they’re done charging.
• Use a power strip or surge protector: Plug appliances into an easily accessible power strip or surge protector and simply turn the entire power strip off when the devices aren’t being used. This conveniently cuts off the electricity from greedy energy vampires!
• Buy weaker energy vampires: You may not be able to completely avoid energy vampires in this digital age, but you can choose to buy and use appliances that drain less energy than others when in standby mode.

For more information about saving energy, please visit our VIEW Partnership website .

Statewide LG EE Best Practices: Weekly Update

1. Job Opportunity: Energy Planner - III, County of San Luis Obispo Energy Watch
   This exciting new position opened up for recruitment recently. Please check out and share the job opportunity and contact Jon Griesser at jgriesser@co.slo.ca.us if you have any questions.
   
2. Request for Info: Chilled Water TES System
   A County of San Diego facility is looking to replace their chillers soon and is looking for some more information on installers to contact and steps to be taken to conduct a formal feasibility study. If you have any information to share, please contact Kaveen Patel at Kaveen.Patel@sdcounty.ca.gov.
   
3. California's Latest Legislation is a Paradigm Shift for Energy Efficiency
   SB 350 fundamentally changes how energy efficiency is measured, taking a more holistic look at electricity and gas-use reductions, and AB 802 moves the state towards meter-based energy efficiency. Learn more here.
   
4. $102M to Tackle Solar Challenges and Expand Access to Clean Energy
   The U.S. Energy Department announced programs that will lead to spending of more than $102 million. $52 million will be used in 22 projects to make solar more accessible and affordable, and $50 million will be used to reduce the cost of solar and promote advancement of photo voltaic technology.
   
5. Verifying Energy Efficiency Job Creation: Current Practices and Recommendations
   The report identifies some of the issues that contribute to a lack of consistency in attempts to verify efficiency-related job creation, then proposes an analytically rigorous and tractable framework for program evaluators to use in future assessments.
   
6. Energy Calendar
   The calendar of energy-related events is currently being developed and will be updated on a weekly basis. If you have any events you would like added to the calendar, please send details to statewideenergycoordinator@lgc.org.

And that is all for this week!

See How Energy Audits Can Boost Your Homes Listing Price

Thanks to Trulia for sharing this great article.

A home energy audit might not be at the top of your to-do list, but if you’re getting your home market-ready, here’s why you should make it a priority.

If you’ve ever been in the market to buy or sell a house, you’re probably familiar with a few key questions when it comes to utilities. Septic or sewer? Oil or gas? And how much will it cost to heat and cool this place?

The answer to those questions can affect the final offer, because what buyers want to know is, how much will this place really cost me? The monthly mortgage payment is one consideration, but ongoing maintenance and utility bills are also part of a smart consumer’s equation.

In other words, an energy-efficient house is an attractive house. So while a home energy audit might not be at the top of your to-do list when getting your home market-ready, it should be. In fact, in some states, an energy audit is required before selling a home.

Energy labels for homes exist — LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) and Energy Star, for example — but you don’t need an official (and sometimes expensive) title to reap the benefits of efficiency. What you do need is an energy audit from a reputable provider who can measure your home’s performance. Is it drafty? How’s the HVAC? Is the insulation effective? Think of this as the equivalent of a miles-per-gallon rating for your home.

With that in mind, here’s how an energy audit before selling a home can boost your property’s value when it’s time to sell.

1. Show you where to put the money

A home energy analysis, such as the Home Energy Rating System Index, provides a detailed report regarding energy problems and fixes. Results in hand, you’ll know where to put your home improvement dollars, making your home more attractive to prospective buyers.

2. Lower utility bills

Once you know where to make cost-effective fixes, you can pinpoint the ROI on those upgrades, large or small. Repairing caulking, say, or sealing a fireplace may be key to reduce your monthly energy bills. Alternatively, a bigger investment, such as replacing old windows, could cost more upfront but make a bigger impact on the value of your home overall.

3. Competitive advantage

A theoretical buyer looks at two similarly priced houses in the same neighborhood. House #1 has an energy bill of $1,000 per year; House #2 clocks in at $3,000. The math is simple: Over the course of 10 years, House #2 would cost $20,000 more. For a 30-year mortgage, that’s a difference of $60,000. Which is more appealing to buyers? Memo to sellers: Be House #1.

4. Increase purchasing power of potential buyers

It may sound wild, but energy-efficient homes can actually leverage a homebuyer’s purchasing power if they apply for an energy mortgage. These mortgages work in two ways: A homebuyer adds a sum — say $4,000 — to a mortgage loan to finance energy-efficient upgrades. Though the monthly payments are higher, they’re offset by the new energy savings. Or buyers may qualify for a bigger loan if they can show that lower energy costs offset what they’d spend on a higher monthly mortgage payment.

5. Boost your market value

According to the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), the market value of a home increases by $20 for every $1 decrease in annual energy costs. The result, says RESNET, for homes that are highly energy-efficient, could equate to an increased value of up to $10,625 compared with other comparable properties. Another study showed that in California, the value of a home increased by 9% ($34,800 for the average home) if it had energy labeling.

6. Improve indoor environments

Increasingly, homebuyers are seeking out homes that tout indoor air quality and home emissions as amenities. Energy-efficient homes tend to get checks in these new must-have boxes. With a cleaner HVAC system, fewer allergens and pollutants enter the home; and an efficient house is less polluting. Plus, ultimately (whether you care about being green or not), homes that cool and heat rooms effectively are simply more comfortable.