ESCOs – California Climate and Energy Collaborative

What Siemens and Walmart know about ESCOs

December 22, 2017

“U.S. energy service companies (ESCOs) are on track to generate about $7.6 billion in revenue this year, up 15 percent from 2016 ESCOs develop, design, build and finance projects that save energy and reduce energy costs at customer facilities. Most of them do this through an energy performance contract they sign with the customer, which…

Savings Results from Grass Valley Energy Efficiency and Solar Project

July 5, 2016

Sarina Soor

best practices, building envelope, buildings, EE municipal programs, energy efficiency, ESCOs, lighting, Local Governments in Action, northern california, sierra nevada, solar, streetlighting

The City of Grass Valley’s June 28th City Council meeting celebrated the completion of a number of municipal energy efficiency and solar projects through an energy performance contract with Opterra Energy, including new solar generation, LED (more…)

Yuba City Implements Program to Save and Generate Energy at 16 City Structures, Saving $16 Million

May 11, 2016

Sarina Soor

best practices, EE municipal programs, energy efficiency, ESCOs, HVAC, Local Governments in Action, northern california, renewables/DERs, solar

Yuba City has completed the implementation of an energy efficiency and solar power program through an energy performance contract with OpTerra Energy Services. The city (more…)

Simi Valley Goes Solar with New Contract, Plans Additional Contracts for EE

April 2, 2016

Sarina Soor

best practices, EE municipal programs, energy efficiency, ESCOs, incentives, Local Governments in Action, renewables/DERs, solar

Excerpted coverage from the Simi Valley Acorn is below: get the full March 22nd story on the Simi Valley Acorn‘s website here. The City of Simi Valley is going solar. (more…)

Madera County Set to Save Energy, and Nearly $15M in Tax Dollars through Facility Energy Efficiency Upgrades and Solar Install

March 25, 2016

Sarina Soor

best practices, buildings, EE municipal programs, energy efficiency, ESCOs, financing, HVAC, Local Governments in Action, PG&E, renewables/DERs, solar

The Madera County Board of Supervisors announced at its March 1st Board meeting that it has completed the latest chapter in its successful solar and energy efficiency program with OpTerra Energy Services energy performance contracting. OpTerra’s press release is shared below. You can watch a short news clip and hear more from County leadership on efforts…

ACEEE Study Reviews Energy Efficiency Financing Coverage, Gaps, and Latest Trends

February 21, 2016

Sarina Soor

ACEEE, alternative fuel vehicles, best practices, buildings, commercial, EE community programs, EE municipal programs, EE programs, electric vehicles, energy efficiency, energy-efficient IT, ESCOs, financing, green bonds, green building, HERO, multi-family, PACE, publications, strategic planning, transportation, underserved communities

A new study from the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) reviews coverage, gaps, and latest trends in energy efficiency financing. The study looks at: Financing trends in high coverage areas, including efficiency improvements to new and existing buildings, hybrid/electric vehicles and energy-efficient IT; Sectors that still contain gaps in financing option coverage,…

City of Dover Uses Energy Performance Contracting to Save

February 12, 2016

Sarina Soor

best practices, buildings, EE municipal programs, energy efficiency, energy performance contracting, ESCOs, financing, HVAC, weekly updates

Interested in Energy Performance Contracting? Learn from the City of Dover, NH about their contract for energy efficiency and electrical and mechanical system improvements, through which they are saving approx. $350,000 annually.

City of Sanger Uses Energy Performance Contract to Upgrade Infrastructure, Save on Utility Bills

December 11, 2015

Sarina Soor

best practices, buildings, central valley, cost-effectiveness, EE municipal programs, energy efficiency, energy workforce, ESCOs, HVAC, Local Governments in Action, PG&E, renewables/DERs, solar, water energy nexus

The City of Sanger formed a partnership with Johnson Controls Inc. to upgrade city infrastructure, reduce energy usage, and employ Sanger residents by reducing utility costs, reducing operation and maintenance costs, and decreasing the outlay of capital dollars through the use of an energy performance contract (EPC). Learn more in this narrative on Sanger from the…

Public Hearing: Merced County Considers Energy and Water Efficiency Contract for 18 County Facilities

November 11, 2015

Sarina Soor

EE municipal programs, energy efficiency, ESCOs, water energy nexus

Join Merced County on November 17, 2015: for more information, click here.

Case Study: Camarillo Municipal Savings Success Story

November 9, 2015

Sarina Soor

best practices, building controls & analytics, case study, cost-effectiveness, EE municipal programs, energy efficiency, Energy Management System (EMS), ESCOs, HVAC, lighting, Local Governments in Action, renewables/DERs, solar

Outlined in its Energy Action Plan, the City of Camarillo has established a municipal energy reduction goal of 10% relative to 2008, by 2020. The City recently completed a ten year Energy Performance Contract that resulted in savings of over 15 million (more…)

Yuba County Considers Second Solar Project

September 11, 2015

Sarina Soor

cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, ESCOs, Local Governments in Action, measurement & verification, northern california, renewables/DERs, solar

Reviewing the savings being realized through the energy efficiency and solar projects Yuba County implemented in 2013, the County is considering a second solar installation. Details on the project shared by Appeal Democrat are below, or you can read the story in full. Yuba County is moving forward on a second large solar project that…

Deep Energy Retrofits Using Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs): Success Stories Show 58% Average Energy Savings

August 31, 2015

Sarina Soor

best practices, building controls & analytics, building envelope, buildings, case study, cost-effectiveness, demand management, demand response, electric vehicles, energy efficiency, ESCOs, HVAC, lighting, new technologies, publications, renewables/DERs, retro-commissioning, solar, stakeholder engagement, water energy nexus, zero net energy (ZNE)

Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)’s new paper, Deep Energy Retrofits Using Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) looks at the model of using long-term performance contracting to avoid upfront capital costs and tie payment to verification of energy and cost savings. The paper covers the following best practices, and then shares case studies of seven federal building…

GAO Review of Energy Savings Performance Contracts: Additional Actions Needed to Improve Federal Oversight

June 30, 2015

Sarina Soor

best practices, energy efficiency, ESCOs, evaluation, measurement & verification, procurement, publications

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has released a publication of its findings in reviewing federal energy savings performance contracts (ESPC), also known as energy performance contracts (EPC). The full GAO report is available here, and excerpts from the introductory summary are shared below. Why GAO Did This Study Constrained budgets and increasing energy efficiency…

Grass Valley Installs Energy-Saving Roof, Gets Ready for LED Lighting, Solar PV, Solar Thermal, and HVAC Installs

June 28, 2015

Sarina Soor

best practices, building envelope, buildings, EE municipal programs, energy efficiency, ESCOs, financing, HVAC, lighting, Local Governments in Action, renewables/DERs, solar

The City of Grass Valley’s City Hall needed a new roof, and the City used the opportunity to install a new roof membrane with several inches of foam insulation – this relatively simple energy conservation measure will save the City energy and money for the life of the project. Grass Valley is also getting ready for…

City of Bellflower RFP for Energy Performance Contracting

December 11, 2014

Sarina Soor

best practices, energy efficiency, ESCOs, Local Governments in Action, RFPs, southern california, southern coast

The City of Bellflower is requesting proposals for energy performance contracting, due December 29, 2014. To review the RFP click here.