underserved communities – Page 5 – California Climate and Energy Collaborative

Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) Technical Assistance through SCAG

November 11, 2015

best practices, cap-and-trade, energy efficiency, funding, GGRF, multi-family, residential, underserved communities

The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) is providing technical assistance on applications for the Affordable Housing and Sustainable Communities (AHSC) program, through which local governments and others may apply for $320 million of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) dollars in March 2016. For information on technical assistance sessions and partnership opportunities, visit SCAG’s website. For more…

California rancherias look to microgrids for power during natural disasters (Sacramento Bee)

October 30, 2015

Sarina Soor

best practices, inland empire, microgrid, northern california, northern coast, resiliency, southern california, underserved communities

Learn about how California rancherias are looking into (and implementing) microgrids as a source of resiliency in coverage from the Sacramento Bee: California rancherias look to microgrids for power during natural disasters. (more…)

Cap and Trade Guidance from the Institute for Local Government (ILG)

August 15, 2015

Sarina Soor

cap-and-trade, energy efficiency, environmental justice, GGRF, publications, SB 535, SEEC, transportation, underserved communities

This publication from the Institute for Local Government, Cap and Trade: Investing in California’s Communities, provides a helpful overview of cap and trade funding to date across the transportation, energy efficiency, and natural resources sectors. Project eligibility for the 2014-15 funding cycle and eligible project examples are shared. For more on cap and trade funding, click…

Program Design Guide: Energy Efficiency in Multi-Family Affordable Housing

May 24, 2015

Sarina Soor

affordable housing, best practices, buildings, EE community programs, EE municipal programs, EE programs, energy efficiency, environmental justice, multi-family, publications, residential, underserved communities

A guide for matching energy efficiency programs with multi-family affordable housing savings opportunities and needs has been developed as part of the Energy Efficiency For (more…)

City of Woodland’s New Housing for Agricultural Workers First Multi-Family to Receive DOE Zero Energy Ready Certification

After housing, energy costs in utility bills are often farmworkers’ biggest expense. A new 62-unit multi-family housing project in the City of Woodland has succeeded in cutting its residents’ bills – while also achieving the first multi-family Zero Energy Ready Home certification from the U.S. Department of Energy. Click here to learn more about the…

Learning from Other States: Illinois’s Energy Efficiency Trust Fund Program

March 26, 2015

Sarina Soor

affordable housing, best practices, energy efficiency, energy workforce, environmental justice, lighting, multi-family, residential, underserved communities

For those interested in how other states are accomplishing their energy efficiency goals, here’s a nice (and succinct) summary of 2014 programming that took place under Illinois’s Energy Efficiency Trust Fund. The Fund – which is run by Illinois’s Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) – do a great job of interjecting energy efficiency…

2015 Update to Multi-Family EE Programming Best Practices Report Available

This 2015 update to the 2011 report from the Multifamily Subcommittee of the California Home Energy Retrofit Coordinating Committee (MF HERCC) includes best practices and the latest recommendations for effective multi-family energy efficiency programming. Per the report: “This update report provides recommendations for the refinement of Energy Upgrade California Multifamily programs authorized by the California Public Utilities…

Department of Community Services & Development (CSD) Guidelines for Implementation of Weatherization Cap-and-Trade Funds

January 31, 2015

Sarina Soor

best practices, building envelope, buildings, cap-and-trade, EE community programs, EE programs, energy efficiency, environmental justice, funding, GGRF, incentives, lighting, residential, strategic planning, underserved communities, water energy nexus

The Department of Community Services & Development (CSD) has released an update of their Guidelines on the purpose, goals and eligibility and other requirements associated with Low Income Weatherization Program (LIWP) funding allocated from cap and trade auction proceeds under the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF). Eligibility information provides clarification on income level eligibility, as…

Fact Sheet: How Your Community Can Benefit from SB 535

December 6, 2014

Sarina Soor

cap-and-trade, environmental justice, funding, GGRF, publications, SB 535, underserved communities

A fact sheet covering SB 535 direction of funds to disadvantaged communities is available from UpliftCA, here. UpliftCA is a volunteer nonprofit created by The Greenlining Institute in partnership with the SB 535 Coalition, led by the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, Coalition for Clean Air, The Greenlining Institute and Public Advocates. Click here for more…

Mendocino Energy Watch Program Recognized by National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials

May 23, 2014

Sarina Soor

affordable housing, best practices, buildings, energy efficiency, multi-family, PG&E, residential, underserved communities

The Mendocino Energy Watch, a local government-utility partnership that provides support to jurisdictions in Mendocino and Lake Counties, received an honorable mention from the Pacific Southwest Regional Council of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials. The Energy Watch was celebrated for its innovation and replicability in integrating housing and energy efficiency resources and…

Case Study: Fresno Energy Watch Power Loan Program

January 6, 2014

Sarina Soor

best practices, buildings, case study, commercial, energy efficiency, environmental justice, financing, local government partnership, Local Governments in Action, PG&E, SEEC, underserved communities

In 2013, the Fresno Energy Watch identified a trend of small and medium-sized businesses receiving energy assessments through the PG&E Direct Install Program; businesses that were recommended upgrades with a co-pay valued at less than $5,000 often did not convert into installs due to lack of attractive financing options for the co-pay. In response, the…

Energy Democracy: Supporting Community Innovation

June 10, 2012

Sarina Soor

best practices, EE community programs, energy efficiency, environmental justice, publications, renewables/DERs, solar, underserved communities

The Center for Social Inclusion (CSI) has developed a white paper on Energy Democracy: Supporting Community Innovation. Energy democracy seeks to ensure that everyone can participate in clean energy programs. Much of the current energy policy in the US focuses on rewarding individuals for lower carbon lifestyles – conserving energy or switching to alternatives like…

Resource for Multi-Family EE Program Planning

February 9, 2012

Sarina Soor

benchmarking, best practices, EE community programs, EE programs, energy data, energy efficiency, environmental justice, evaluation, measurement & verification, multi-family, strategic planning, underserved communities

This 2011 report from the Association of Bay Area Governments provides a useful overview of challenges and opportunities in the implementation of successful multi-family energy efficiency programming, as reviewed and recommended by the Multifamily Subcommittee of the California Home Energy Coordinating Committee (MF HERCC). Review and recommendations are provided in the following subject areas: 1. Program…