permitting – California Climate and Energy Collaborative

Webinar: Tailoring the Solar Permitting Process to Match Stakeholder Preferences

March 9, 2018

permitting, solar, solar permitting, webinar

“The time it takes for a rooftop solar PV system to receive a final building permit and connect to the grid is uncertain and often lengthy. The uncertainty hurts customer acquisition, retention, and satisfaction, while long delays are associated with the higher comparative costs of U.S. PV installations. In response, a variety of streamlined solar…

Del Mar Adopts Climate Action Plan

June 9, 2016

Sarina Soor

benchmarking, best practices, CCA, climate action plans, energy efficiency, Local Governments in Action, permitting, renewables/DERs, southern california, southern coast, weekly updates

This week, the Del Mar City Council voted unanimously to adopt a plan that aims to cut the city’s greenhouse gas emissions in half in less than 20 years. Del Mar’s Climate Action Plan outlines how the city can combat climate change. It will (more…)

Corte Madera Adopts Climate Action Plan

March 14, 2016

Sarina Soor

best practices, buildings, CCA, climate action plans, climate change, codes and standards, commercial, EE municipal programs, energy efficiency, evaluation, green building, HVAC, lighting, local government partnership, Local Governments in Action, measurement & verification, PACE, permitting, reach codes, renewables/DERs, residential, solar, stakeholder engagement, strategic planning, streetlighting

Earlier this month, the Town of Corte Madera adopted and published its new Climate Action Plan, making Marin County a county where all cities and towns – and the County itself – have a climate action plan in place. (Click here for links to all of Marin County’s climate action plans.) The Plan reviews the Town’s greenhouse…

Job Announcement: City of Pleasanton Permits Manager

March 4, 2016

Sarina Soor

energy efficiency, job announcements, permitting, weekly updates

The City of Pleasanton is looking for a Permit Center Manager! Visit the City’s jobs webpage and search “permit” for more information.

Santa Barbara County Implements New Home Energy Checklist to be Paired with Building Permits

February 26, 2016

Sarina Soor

best practices, central coast, codes and standards, compliance, energy efficiency, permitting, residential

A new Home Energy Checklist and Guidance Document (described under Measure BE 2 of the County’s Energy and Climate Action Plan) has been created by Santa Barbara County, which goes into effect on February 1, 2016. Applicants are required to complete (more…)

Santa Barbara County’s Smart Build Santa Barbara (SB2) Program

February 5, 2016

Sarina Soor

best practices, central coast, codes and standards, commercial, compliance, energy efficiency, Local Governments in Action, permitting, residential, Title 24, zero net energy (ZNE)

To support energy efficiency in community projects, the County of Santa Barbara runs the innovative Smart Build Santa Barbara (SB2) program (formerly known as the IBRP), to provide complimentary energy efficiency expertise from community leaders during the (more…)

City of Lomita New Energy Efficiency Climate Action Plan Shows GHG Emissions Decrease

December 21, 2015

Sarina Soor

best practices, buildings, demand response, energy data, energy efficiency, local government partnership, Local Governments in Action, permitting, RECO/CECO, residential, SCE, SCG, southern california, southern coast, water energy nexus

The City of Lomita’s new Energy Efficiency Climate Action Plan (EECAP) includes a greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory update that reveals a 7% decrease in energy use between 2005 and 2012. In the Plan, the City reviews its energy profile on the municipal and the community level, and proposes a number of strategies to keep energy…

California Energy Efficiency and Solar Permits on the Rise

December 19, 2015

Sarina Soor

buildings, codes and standards, compliance, energy efficiency, green building, HVAC, permitting, renewables/DERs, residential, solar

Reported in GreenHomeBuilder Magazine, California’s energy-related permits are being tracked by the Construction Industry Research Board (CIRB), who is noticing an update in solar and efficient HVAC residential permits. An excerpt is available below: The most recent reported month of June 2015 revealed a total of 9,823 solar permits issued in California, a 14.15 percent increase…

City of Beaumont Approves Final “Sustainable Beaumont” Climate Action Plan

November 4, 2015

Sarina Soor

AB 802, best practices, climate action plans, commercial, cool roofs, demand response, EE community programs, EE municipal programs, electric vehicles, energy efficiency, incentives, inland empire, lighting, Local Governments in Action, permitting, residential, SCE, southern california, Title 24, training, transportation

Last week, Beaumont’s City Council approved the City’s Sustainable Beaumont Climate Action Plan. The Plan, prepared by Atkins and funded through the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), sets a number of goals, including: Provision of resources (education, training, audits, retrofits, and an Environmental Advocate) and working with regional groups and utilities to improve both…

The City of San Diego’s Sustainable Buildings Expedite Program

October 14, 2015

Sarina Soor

best practices, buildings, compliance, energy efficiency, Local Governments in Action, permitting, southern california, southern coast

The City of San Diego is committed to green and sustainable building practices, and supports the development of sustainable, energy efficient buildings through the Sustainable Building Expedite Program (or “Expedite Program”). The Expedite Program (more…)

CEC Workshop Presentation from Alameda County’s StopWaste: Improving the Implementation of Energy Efficiency Standards in California

July 21, 2015

Sarina Soor

bay area, best practices, building energy efficiency standards, buildings, CEC, compliance, IEPR, northern california, permitting, Title 24

Increasing compliance with California’s Building Energy Efficiency Standards is a sure way to jump forward in your local government’s energy efficiency goals. So what’s standing in the way? Reports show that many reviewers are often short staffed and pressed for time, and have important competing priorities like reviewing for fire/safety and health. Many local governments are also…

Presentation: County of Santa Barbara ZNE and Smart Build Barbara (SB2)

July 5, 2015

Sarina Soor

best practices, central coast, compliance, energy efficiency, Local Governments in Action, permitting, SEEC, zero net energy (ZNE)

Learn what Santa Barbara County is doing to further zero net energy goals in its community – including its offerings through the Smart Build Santa Barbara program – in this presentation by the County at the 6th Annual SEEC Forum.

From NBI: ZNE Strategies & Resources for Local Governments

June 24, 2015

Sarina Soor

best practices, energy efficiency, permitting, reach codes, zero net energy (ZNE)

Learn in this presentation from New Buildings Institute (shared by San Mateo County Energy Watch) what best practices local governments can use to lead the way on deep energy savings toward zero net energy (ZNE).

City of Lancaster’s New Better Built Home Program Provides Incentives to Builders for High Efficiency

March 24, 2015

Sarina Soor

best practices, buildings, energy efficiency, incentives, Local Governments in Action, permitting, water energy nexus, zero net energy (ZNE)

As released in a City of Lancaster press release: “The City of Lancaster’s recently launched Better Built Home program provides a unique opportunity for residential homebuilders to receive thousands of dollars in incentives for building environmentally conscious homes. The innovative program is aiding the City in reaching its goal of being a Net-Zero city, while…

Chula Vista Shares Permitting, Ordinances, and Incentives as part of the Getting to Zero Net Energy Workshop Series

April 30, 2014

Sarina Soor

best practices, building energy efficiency standards, CEC, codes and standards, compliance, energy efficiency, local government partnership, Local Governments in Action, PACE, permitting, reach codes, southern california, southern coast

In this presentation shared as part of the Center for Sustainable Energy’s Getting to Zero Net Energy workshop series, the City of Chula Vista shares a number of policies and programs they have put in place to further energy efficiency and sustainability in their community – including: Energy and water efficiency reach codes (codes that…