retro-commissioning – California Climate and Energy Collaborative

Proposed CPUC Decision Provides Guidance on Energy Efficiency Rolling Portfolio Business Plan Filings

July 19, 2016

codes and standards, commercial, CPUC, EE programs, energy efficiency, financing, funding, Regional Energy Networks, retro-commissioning, rolling portfolio, strategic planning, weekly updates

ALJ Julie A. Fitch’s Proposed Decision regarding Providing Guidance for Initial Energy Efficiency Rolling Portfolio Business Plan Filings is now available. Click here to read the proposed decision in full. The decision outline is below. (more…)

Presentation from SCE Webinar 7/14: High Opportunity Programs or Projects (HOPPs), Including Public Buildings Retro-commissioning, On-Bill Financing, and Comprehensive Commercial HVAC

July 16, 2016

Sarina Soor

EE programs, energy efficiency, events, financing, funding, HVAC, retro-commissioning, SCE, webinars

The presentation from Southern California Edison (SCE)’s 7/14 HOPPS webinar (more information here) is now available here.

SCE Webinar 7/14: High Opportunity Programs or Projects (HOPPs), Including Public Buildings Retro-commissioning, On-Bill Financing, and Comprehensive Commercial HVAC

July 7, 2016

Sarina Soor

buildings, commercial, CPUC, EE community programs, EE municipal programs, EE programs, energy efficiency, events, financing, funding, HVAC, incentives, retro-commissioning, SCE, webinars

Southern California Edison (SCE) invites you to a webinar providing an overview on three High Opportunity Programs or Projects (HOPPs) proposals related to Public Buildings Retro-commissioning; On-Bill Financing; and Comprehensive (more…)

SDG&E High Opportunity Projects and Program (HOPPs) Proposals Stakeholder Meeting Follow Up: Submit All Comments by 4/13

April 12, 2016

Sarina Soor

AB 802, codes and standards, commercial, CPUC, EE programs, energy efficiency, events, funding, lighting, multi-family, retro-commissioning, rolling portfolio, SDG&E, stakeholder engagement

San Diego Gas & Electric Company held a stakeholder meeting on April 12, 2016, to review and discuss its High Opportunity Projects and Program proposals. Stakeholders are (more…)

From Outside the State: Seattle Passes New Building Energy Efficiency Ordinance

April 1, 2016

Sarina Soor

benchmarking, best practices, buildings, codes and standards, cost-effectiveness, energy data, energy efficiency, evaluation, measurement & verification, reach codes, RECO/CECO, retro-commissioning

The City of Seattle has passed energy efficiency-promoting in the three following areas: • Energy Use Disclosure — The Benchmarking Amendments ordinance updates Seattle’s existing building energy benchmarking law to include public transparency of building performance on energy use. • Retro-commissioning — The Building Tune-Ups ordinance phases in a requirement that commercial buildings 50,000 square feet or larger be “tuned-up” every…

ASHRAE Spring Courses: Course List and Registration Open (through March 18th)

February 29, 2016

Sarina Soor

best practices, buildings, codes and standards, energy efficiency, events, HVAC, retro-commissioning, training, webinars

ASHRAE’s Spring 2016 course list is now available on ASHRAE’s website. Course topics range from building commissioning best practices, to responsible implementation of air recovery (a very cost-effective way to reduce conditioning needs), to combined heat and power (CHP), and, for the first time, a course on using variable refrigerant flow (VRF). For those not…

California’s Clean Economy Legislative Hearing: Recap, Resources

February 12, 2016

Sarina Soor

AB 758, buildings, CEC, energy efficiency, environmental justice, events, lighting, plug load, retro-commissioning, underserved communities, webinars, weekly updates

A “California’s Clean Economy” legislative hearing on Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings was held yesterday at 1pm. Speakers discussed how far EE has come in California buildings, but also some opportunities for improvement: which translate to opportunities for energy and financial savings. Key areas were: smart plug load management, LEDs and lighting controls, retro-commissioning, and building EE…

From Outside the State: A Colorado BESO Case Study

November 7, 2015

Sarina Soor

benchmarking, best practices, buildings, codes and standards, cost-effectiveness, energy data, energy efficiency, financing, green building, incentives, lighting, Local Governments in Action, PACE, reach codes, RECO/CECO, retro-commissioning

In October 2015, the City of Boulder, Colorado adopted a new ordinance that modified existing voluntary programming to require that certain types of commercial, industrial, and City buildings conduct energy assessments, disclose building energy use, and take action if cost-effective energy upgrades were found through the assessments. Specifically, qualifying buildings will be required to do…

City of South Gate Reduces Energy Use, Applies Best Practices, and wins Beacon Award

October 16, 2015

Sarina Soor

Beacon Program, benchmarking, best practices, climate action plans, energy efficiency, Local Governments in Action, retro-commissioning, SEEC, southern california, streetlighting

The City of South Gate is first city in Southern California to win the Beacon Award, presented through Institute for Local Government and Statewide Energy Efficiency Collaborative (SEEC). As shared by the Institute in its press release, “It is an honor to be the first Southern (more…)

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…

Santa Barbara County Passes Commissioning and Retro-Commissioning Policy to Improve Operations, Energy Efficiency at County Facilities

January 30, 2015

Sarina Soor

best practices, buildings, central coast, EE municipal programs, energy efficiency, local government partnership, Local Governments in Action, retro-commissioning

Earlier this month Santa Barbara County passed the new Santa Barbara County Commissioning and Retro-Commissioning Policy for County Owned Facilities, prepared with support from their utility-local government partnership (LGP). The policy is available here. The LGP-supported policy study is available here.

San Diego County Shares Strategic Energy Plan Progress Report

September 18, 2014

Sarina Soor

best practices, building controls & analytics, EE municipal programs, energy efficiency, evaluation, financing, lighting, Local Governments in Action, measurement & verification, retro-commissioning, southern california, southern coast, water energy nexus

The County of San Diego has published a Progress Report on its 2013-2015 Strategic Energy Plan. The Report shares what the County has accomplished in the Plan during its 2013-2014 Fiscal Year. Some energy efficiency highlights are shared below; the Progress (more…)

Review of ASHRAE’s 2013-Released Standard for Building Commissioning and Retro-commissioning (ASHRAE 202-2013)

December 29, 2013

Sarina Soor

best practices, building controls & analytics, buildings, codes and standards, energy data, energy efficiency, HVAC, publications, retro-commissioning

A useful overview of ASHRAE Standard 202-2013, setting minimum commissioning and retro-commissioning recommendations for buildings, is provided here by Consulting-Specifying Engineer Magazine.

LA County RCx Presentation from Better Buildings Summit

June 10, 2013

Sarina Soor

benchmarking, best practices, building controls & analytics, building envelope, buildings, energy efficiency, events, HVAC, Local Governments in Action, retro-commissioning, southern california, southern coast

Click here to see the presentation shared by Los Angeles County on their retro-commissioning program and best practices at the 2013 DOE Better Buildings Summit.

Indian Wells Retro-Commissioning Policy May 2013

June 6, 2013

Sarina Soor

benchmarking, best practices, building controls & analytics, buildings, energy efficiency, Local Governments in Action, retro-commissioning

The City of Indian Wells’s retro-commisioning policy provides a guide to help city buildings operate well and efficiently, saving the city energy and money. The policy is available here; the policy document’s introduction is shared below. Commissioning is the process of assuring that new buildings operate at peak efficiency. Retro‐ Commissioning is the process of…