SBC staff, Author at Smart Buildings Center

FundHubWA Can Help YOU Fund Your Next Project!

September 24, 2024 By SBC staff

Visit https://fundhub.wa.gov/about/ to find out how they can make funding your next project easier and more affordable for you!

FundHubWA connects you to state and federal climate and clean energy funding opportunities to help improve your home, business, or community. We make it easy for you or your organization to find grants, tax incentives, and other funding opportunities that make Washington cleaner, healthier, and more resilient.

Our portal includes funding sources for individuals, businesses, nonprofits, public agencies, and tribal governments related to climate and clean energy opportunities.

The Washington State Legislature approved launch of FundHubWA in 2024. FundHubWA is sponsored and administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce and is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act.

For more info or to explore funding opportunities click here: FundHubWA – Your gateway to grants and incentives

AESP Academy: 10/8 Learn the Role of AI in Energy in an Online, Live Training

September 20, 2024 By SBC staff

Our friends at AESP have a new course starting soon that will address the rising importance of AI in the energy sector titled “As the Energy Sector Evolves – AI Strategies, Challenges, and Concerns” see below for a bit about the course, or click here for the registration page!

We are excited to invite you to an engaging online training course all about AI!

Can our current electrical infrastructure meet the rising demand?
What are the risks associated with integrating renewable energy sources like solar and wind?
How can AI optimize the management of distributed energy resources (DER)?
What are the environmental implications of electrification and increased use of electric vehicles?

Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead in the evolving energy sector, led by instructor Robert Knoedler, Principal-in-Charge for Cx and Energy-related Services at Hanson Professional Services Inc.

Washington State Dept of Commerce Energy Efficiency Retrofits Grant

September 12, 2024 By SBC staff

More than $14 million in Energy Efficiency Retrofits grants are available. Applications are open until September 25, 2024.

Applicants must be public entities in the state of Washington:

Local agencies, including any city, town, county, special district, municipal corporation, agency, port district or authority
Public higher education institutions
K-12 public school districts
State agencies
Federally-recognized tribe within Washington

Covered buildings pursuing the Clean Buildings Performance Standard prioritized, and facilities of any size are eligible to apply. The grant is open to leased facilities, if the lease extends beyond the useful life of the improvement measure. An energy audit is required, and the cost of the energy audit will be reimbursed to grantees as long as it was conducted after July 1, 2023.

Match funds required are 15% or 5% for projects in overburdened communities. Eligible project size is $100,000 to $1,000,000.

For K-12 school districts only, Commerce will accept a concept paper if submitted by September 25, with the full application then due within 30 days. See the Energy Efficiency program webpage for Application materials including the RFA and Q&A.

Questions? Please contact Kristen Kalbrener, program manager, at [email protected]

GridFWD 2024 10/1 – 10/2 in Banff Canada!

September 9, 2024 By SBC staff

There’s never been a more critical time to examine market dynamics and their impacts on our energy systems. On October 1 and 2, GridFWD 2024 will bring together all the stakeholders for in-depth updates, discussions and networking in beautiful Banff. Connect and share with regional operators, utilities, tech innovators and more market makers. Get the details in our preliminary program and make your plans today for GridFWD 2024.

See this partial list of participating organizations: AESO, Berkshire Hathaway, CAISO, Electricity Canada, EnergyHub, ENMAX, EPCOR, EPRI, ERCOT, IESO, Microsoft, PacifiCorp, Siemens, SPP, PJM, Utilidata and WPP.

First School District in WA to Comply with CBPS

September 6, 2024 By SBC staff

OLYMPIA SCHOOL DISTRICT has become the first school in Washington to achieve compliance with the Clean Building Performance Standards! The achievement was supported by Climate Corps Fellow Grace Yockey, who drafted critical documents for submission.

Yockey worked on the Energy Maintenance Plan, detailing the district’s energy efficiency improvements, as well as the Operations and Maintenance Plan, showing how buildings will be operated and maintained. “Olympia School District’s Capital High School was the first building to submit and get approved,” Grace said, “our submission can serve as a model and resource.”

Yockey’s supervisor and team lead, Frank Wilson, is the Executive Director of Operations at Olympia School District. “Grace has an excellent grasp of our district goals,” Wilson shared, “They align well with her own personal beliefs, which helps keep the [sustainability] conversation at the forefront.”

The accomplishment was published in the Spring 2024 WAMOA journal.

Follow SEI on LinkedIn for more info and posts like this!

Pump Industry Workforce and Education Workshop 10/3: Seattle, WA

September 5, 2024 By SBC staff

With over 16 million skilled technical jobs available for individuals with associate degrees or similar qualifications, and even more for engineering graduates with practical experience, the demand for skilled professionals is higher than ever.

The Hydraulic Institute University, in collaboration with BetterBricks, invites you to an interactive workshop designed to elevate awareness, develop effective strategies, and foster valuable partnerships. This workshop offers a unique platform to share resources, exchange best practices, and explore industry programs with a focus on energy efficiency, building technologies, pumping, irrigation and other key themes.

Sessions will highlight different needs and different approaches for both educators and employers. Aligning courses and certification to curricula and career paths to ensure that tomorrow’s engineers and skilled technical workers will be practice-ready.

Learn more or register here: Pump Industry Workforce and Education Workshop – Pumps.org

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