renewables/DERs – Page 13 – California Climate and Energy Collaborative

City of Watsonville Adopts Ordinance for Carbon Fund Program

February 27, 2015

best practices, building controls & analytics, buildings, CCA, central coast, climate action plans, climate change, codes and standards, energy efficiency, lighting, local government partnership, Local Governments in Action, measurement & verification, PG&E, renewables/DERs, revolving loan fund, solar, streetlighting

The City of Watsonville in Santa Cruz County made an innovative move earlier this week, and adopted both its new Climate Action Plan (CAP), and a Carbon Fund Ordinance to (more…)

Case Study: Solar and Energy Efficiency in Oakland

January 11, 2015

Sarina Soor

best practices, case study, EE municipal programs, energy efficiency, lighting, Local Governments in Action, renewables/DERs, solar

Learn in this case study from SunPower about municipal solar and energy efficiency investments made by the City of Oakland: Oakland recognizes the need to implement sustainable strategies that ensure both the long-term economic health and the environmental quality of its community. By leveraging one of California’s most abundant resources, sunshine, Oakland made the decision…

UC Berkeley Study Reviews Implications of Zero Net Energy in Southern California: Costs and Jobs Created

December 21, 2014

Sarina Soor

best practices, cost-effectiveness, EE municipal programs, EE programs, energy efficiency, energy workforce, hospitals, publications, Regional Energy Networks, renewables/DERs, solar, southern california, zero net energy (ZNE)

A new study completed by UC Berkeley and requested by the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN) and its workforce development partner, Emerald Cities Collaborative, reviews the expected costs, and jobs created, in achieving zero-net-energy across SoCalREN territory’s buildings in the municipal, university, schools, and hospitals (or “MUSH”) sectors. To quote from the study’s Executive…

White House Names 16 ‘Climate Action Champions’ From Across the Nation – Including Blue Lake Rancheria Tribe, San Francisco, and Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority

December 9, 2014

Sarina Soor

alternative fuel vehicles, bay area, best practices, energy efficiency, northern california, renewables/DERs, resiliency, transportation, water energy nexus

California’s leaders were named as 3 of the nation’s 16 Climate Action Champions.“The selected communities will benefit from facilitated peer-to-peer learning opportunities and (more…)

City Hall Celebration for HERO Program Launch in Modesto

October 31, 2014

Sarina Soor

best practices, building envelope, central valley, energy efficiency, financing, HVAC, Local Governments in Action, northern california, PACE, renewables/DERs, residential, solar

The City of Modesto celebrated the official launch of the Home Energy Renovation Opportunity (HERO) program launch earlier this month at Modesto’s City Hall. The HERO Program, a PACE financing model, provides full project cost for water and energy efficiency upgrades over 5, 10, 15, or 20 years. The HERO Program started taking applications this…

Energy Storage System, EV Charging System Unveiled at Lancaster Museum

October 28, 2014

Sarina Soor

best practices, CEC, demand management, demand response, EE community programs, energy efficiency, energy storage, Local Governments in Action, renewables/DERs, southern california, southern coast, zero net energy (ZNE)

The City of Lancaster, utilizing a grant from the California Energy Commission (CEC) and contracting with Green Charge Networks, has installed an energy storage system and EV fast charging station at its Museum of Art and History (MOAH). The system lowers the Museum’s energy costs to reduce the facility’s peak demand by storing energy from the grid…

City of Bakersfield Uses Needed Upgrades as an Opportunity for EE

July 22, 2014

Sarina Soor

best practices, case study, central valley, local government partnership, Local Governments in Action, PG&E, renewables/DERs, solar

Sometimes the most efficient way to achieve energy efficiency and sustainability goals is to integrate them into other capital upgrades. Learn how the City of Bakersfield took the (more…)

Early Net Zero Homes Video

July 1, 2014

Sarina Soor

best practices, building envelope, buildings, energy efficiency, renewables/DERs, solar, zero net energy (ZNE)

This video looks at some of the first net zero homes built in Canada (dating back to 2004), and reviews best practices and lessons learned as architects worked to make net zero work in different situations. They discover three main rules of net zero building: energy conservation and efficiency passive solar energy renewable energy …

Rancho Cucamonga Attracts Companies as Solar Leader

June 22, 2014

Sarina Soor

best practices, inland empire, Local Governments in Action, renewables/DERs, solar, southern california

Read in the Daily Bulletin about how the City of Rancho Cucamonga is becoming a solar hub. Residential installations of solar climbed from 256 taking place in 2012, to 680 in 2013. City officials say the reduction of fees and streamlining of permits have contributed to the increase. The City is also the site of the Inland…

Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail Leverages PG&E Pilot Incentives for Demand Response

May 31, 2014

Sarina Soor

bay area, best practices, energy storage, funding, Local Governments in Action, microgrid, PG&E, renewables/DERs, solar

Through a new pilot program for large customers with renewable energy that provides incentives for demand response adjustments in grid usage, Alameda County’s Santa Rita Jail is seeing new income from PG&E. Click here to learn more from PG&E’s newsletter. Learn more about Santa Rita’s 2 megawatt microgrid system using fuel cells, solar, energy storage,…

Commercial Building Energy Efficiency 101: U.S. Department of Energy Video

April 30, 2014

Sarina Soor

best practices, building envelope, commercial, EE community programs, EE programs, energy efficiency, energy-efficient IT, HVAC, lighting, renewables/DERs, solar, USDOE

Looking for resources to share with your jurisdiction’s commercial partners on the opportunities and the value of commercial building energy efficiency? Take a look at the U.S. Department of Energy video, below. The video provides a quick description of how the whole building approach to new buildings can save up to 70% of a building’s…

“Clean Energy Finance Guide” from Pasadena provides community with resources for EE and renewables

March 19, 2014

Sarina Soor

best practices, EE community programs, energy efficiency, ESCOs, financing, funding, Local Governments in Action, publications, renewables/DERs, revolving loan fund, southern california, southern coast

A new guide produced by the Center for Sustainable Energy for Pasadena Water and Power helps customers navigate funding and financing options for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. The guide focuses on existing 2014 resources, but provides weblinks on each topic for updates.

Visalia’s Climate Action Plan

January 19, 2014

Sarina Soor

best practices, climate action plans, EE municipal programs, electric vehicles, HVAC, incentives, lighting, Local Governments in Action, renewables/DERs, san joaquin valley, solar, streetlighting

The City of Visalia’s Climate Action Plan was released last month. Highlighted are the City’s existing accomplishments – including compressed natural gas and hybrid vehicles, HVAC retrofits in municipal buildings, LED streetlighting installs, and solar photovoltaics at the Visalia airport – and plans for further energy reductions, including further lighting upgrades, municipal solar program expansion,…

Solar SCE Case Study: City of Brea

December 30, 2013

Sarina Soor

case study, EE municipal programs, renewables/DERs, SCE, solar, southern california

Learn about the City of Brea’s solar installs and resulting savings in this SCE case study here, also excerpted below. Three solar energy systems installed in the City of Brea in Orange County—combined (more…)

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

October 25, 2013

Sarina Soor

bay area, best practices, buildings, energy efficiency, energy workforce, HVAC, lighting, Local Governments in Action, new technologies, northern california, renewables/DERs, solar, zero net energy (ZNE)

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…