Greening City Gardens: A case study in the effectiveness of a coordinated approach to accessing utility incentives for energy efficiency retrofits in multifamily affordable housing in California

Grace Kaufman
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This report describes a new approach to financing energy efficiency retrofits at affordable multifamily rental properties in California. The California Housing Partnership Corporation (CHPC) and Stewards of Affordable Housing for the Future (SAHF) worked (more…)

Presentation: Coachella Valley Association of Government’s Voluntary Green Program

Grace Kaufman
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Through the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG), the municipalities of Blythe, Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Indian Wells, Palm Springs, Rancho Mirage, and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians have worked together with Southern California Edison to develop climate action planning for energy efficiency policies and programs. This presentation details how and why…

Paper: Building Energy Management Systems – Optimization of Comfort and Energy Use

Grace Kaufman
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Learn from this 2013 IEEE paper about how building energy optimization not only saves money and energy, but also improves building operations and increases user comfort. The paper’s abstract is below: Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) have been introduced in the built environment as a mechanism to increase the energy efficiency while maintaining the required…

City of Temecula Reaches SCE Energy Leadership Partnership Gold Status, Initiates Energy Projects Supporting New Energy Fund

Grace Kaufman
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In March, Temecula was the first city to achieve a Gold Level status under the Southern California Edison (SCE)-Western Riverside Energy Leadership Partnership by completing 13 energy efficiency projects in FY 2012-13, while increasing total kWh savings to 813,037, (more…)

Video: Zero Net Energy (ZNE) Training Center in San Leandro

Grace Kaufman
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Hear from the Mayor of the City of San Leandro and IBEW on how the new San Leandro Zero Net Energy Training Center was developed. Using smart designs for heat rejection, thermal mass gains, and daylighting by season, LED lighting, variable refrigerant flow (VRF) that also heats the domestic hot water system, and solar and…

Webinar: SCE Territory Municipal Street Lighting Program

Grace Kaufman
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New developments allow cities to purchase SCE streetlights – this presents new opportunities for cities to save energy and money through upgrades to LEDs. To help elected officials understand how to get started, the Independent Cities Finance Authority (ICFA), in partnership with SCE and Climatec, describe best practices for cost-effectiveness.   Per ICFA, “One of the…

CoolCalifornia Challenge Overview

Grace Kaufman
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Learn how cities can connect with residents, and with each other, by participating in the CoolCalifornia Challenge. The Challenge offers easy-to-do carbon-reducing activities that residents can do at home, in the office, and on the go that tie into city goals and climate action plans and help save energy and money. Hear from the City…

New Long Beach Courthouse Designed With Whole-Building, Performance-Based Infrastructure Approach Saves Energy with No Public Debt

Grace Kaufman
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The new LEED-Gold certified Governor George Deukmejian Courthouse opened and became occupied last month, and is now keeping occupants comfortable with a sleek new sustainable design that allows for low energy bills. The building uses efficient design and energy-efficient HVAC to keep heating and cooling needs low, and also has automated light-harvesting systems, water-efficient landscaping, and good access…

Alameda County Santa Rita Jail Microgrid Wins Energy Storage Innovation Award

Grace Kaufman
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The microgrid project at Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, CA won an Innovation Award from Energy Storage North America earlier this month. The Jail’s microgrid, which utilizes fuel cells, 1.2 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaics (PV), energy storage, and microturbines, provides resiliency and “islanding” capabilities (meaning the Jail can independently generate and store its…

Yuba County Completes First Solar Project, Energy Efficiency Measures through Energy Performance Contract

Grace Kaufman
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Yuba County has completed a set of solar and energy efficiency projects using an energy performance contract.  The solar installation is expected to generate over 1 Megawatt of electricity at two sites and, together with a set of energy efficiency measures, reduce the county’s annual energy purchases by 50 percent.  The project’s energy efficiency improvements…

Presentation: Riverside County’s Energy Conservation Fund

Grace Kaufman
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Click here to review Riverside County’s SEEC presentation on the impetus for, structure, and value of its Energy Conservation Fund. For more on revolving funds, click here for additional posts, or here for a list of local governments using revolving loan funds to further local government energy efficiency and sustainability projects.

Hermosa Beach’s new Clean Fleet Policy and Action Plan

Grace Kaufman
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Adopted June 11th, Hermosa Beach has set a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions goal for its municipal facilities and operations, and has set a number of plans for a clean municipal fleet to achieve this goal. The Clean Flee Policy and Action Plan was adopted by the City June 11th and is available on the City’s…
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