Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC) Resources
The Institute for Local Government is offering the Beacon Award: Local Leadership Toward Solving Climate Change as part of the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative. The Beacon Award recognizes and celebrates cities and counties that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save energy, and adopt policies and programs that address climate change and promote sustainability.
ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability has free tools, trainings and other resources for California cities and counties working on climate action planning. ICLEI has developed climate action planning tools as part of the Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative. The tools are free to California cities and counties. Sample titles include:
Other SEEC Resources
CoolCalifornia.org
The California Air Resources Board’s CoolCalifornia.org has a Local Government resources page that includes a local government toolkit, climate calculators, climate action planning assistance, local government case studies, and a funding wizard for energy and climate activities.
The Strategic Growth Council is a California cabinet-level committee tasked with coordinating the activities of the member state agencies to:
- Improve air and water quality
- Protect natural resources and agriculture lands
- Increase the availability of affordable housing
- Promote public health
- Improve transportation
- Encourage greater infill and compact development
- Revitalize community and urban centers
- Assist state and local entities in the planning of sustainable communities and meeting AB 32 goals
Energy Standards Online Resource Center
The Online Resource Center is provided to assist the building community and enforcement agencies with Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Energy Standards) compliance. Energy Standards apply to newly constructed buildings, as well as additions and alterations for existing buildings. Presently, the Energy Standards are updated every three years.
California Sustainability Alliance
The California Sustainability Alliance is designed to help meet the State’s aggressive energy, climate and other resource and environmental goals by increasing and accelerating energy efficiency in combination with complementary green measures and strategies. Its program areas include: Green Local Government, Green Building, Multifamily Buildings and Water-Energy Nexus.
The California Sustainability Alliance has created a Retrocommissioning (RCx) Program Toolkit to help local government staff develop and implement a municipal facility retrocommissioning program.
Rural Communities
Federal Resources for Sustainable Rural Communities: This new guide to programs from the Partnership for Sustainable Communities and USDA can help rural communities promote economic competitiveness, protect the environment, and enhance quality of life. The guide provides information on funding and technical assistance opportunities available from HUD, DOT, EPA, and USDA, as well as examples of how rural communities across the country have put these programs into action.
Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings
The US DOE’s Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium has released a Retrofit Finance Analysis Tool to help municipalities analyze the cost and return on investment from lighting efficiency projects.
The Cities of Berkeley, Oakland and Emeryville completed a report on local policy options for increasing energy efficiency in existing multifamily buildings. The report is one component of a project called Multifamily Building Energy Efficiency Solutions (BEES). The project is designed to identify the challenges and opportunities that building owners and tenants face when trying to lower their energy consumption, and to develop innovative strategies that support greater energy efficiency in apartments, condos and cooperatives.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced on April 11 that it has launched a publicly available, comprehensive online view of the U.S. government’s national and state energy data and information. The agency designed the new online portal with a range of users in mind, including policy makers, energy analysts, and the general public, who want to locate and compare state energy data and rankings and customize their own maps and charts, using an assortment of interactive tools.
Energy Upgrade California
Energy Upgrade California is a statewide initiative committed to uniting Californians to strive toward reaching our state’s energy goals. It was created to motivate and educate California residents and small businesses about energy management. Our useful programs and actions can help them better manage their energy use overall.
