Blog - Smart Buildings Center

AESP: 2024 State of Demand Flexibility Report

October 8, 2024 By SBC staff

Hey there energy enthusiasts! Have you checked out the AESP 2024 State of Demand Flexibility Report yet? Dive in to discover the latest insights and trends in energy management that will spark a surge of excitement in your sustainability journey. Don’t miss out on this electrifying opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and power up your knowledge arsenal!

UNLEASH THE INSIGHTS

Inside this report, you will find several insights including:

A brief history of demand flexibility
Why grid flexibility is more important than ever
Benefits of distributed energy resources
Implementation challenges of demand flexibility
Key technologies supporting demand flexibility
Current pilots
Successful implementations

2030 Districts Seattle Seeks Sustainability Program Coordinator

October 4, 2024 By SBC staff

Our friends at 2030 Districts Seattle are seeking a Sustainability Program Coordinator. If you’re looking for a change this could be a great fit for you!

About Seattle 2030 District:

The Seattle 2030 District is a collaborative initiative dedicated to fostering urban sustainability and resilience. Established as a public-private partnership, our mission is to create vibrant, environmentally-conscious urban areas by 2030 through innovative strategies and community-driven efforts. As a program of the Seattle 2030 District, the Bellevue 2030 District works to break down market barriers to sustainability in the city of Bellevue, Washington.

Position Overview:

We are seeking a dedicated and dynamic Sustainability Program Coordinator to lead and coordinate sustainability initiatives within the Seattle and Bellevue 2030 Districts. In particular, this role will focus on the 2030 goal for stormwater and outreach/education. The Sustainability Program Coordinator will play a pivotal role in driving the implementation of sustainable practices, engaging stakeholders, and monitoring progress toward ambitious environmental goals in stormwater management and toxics reduction.

This is a full-time, temporary, non-exempt position that is currently funded through May 2025. This role may transition to a permanent position with additional funding.

You can find more information or apply for this position here: Job Opportunities – Seattle (2030districts.org)

October & November Webinars Presented by SCL and Lighting Design Labs

September 27, 2024 By SBC staff

Our friends at Seattle City Light and Lighting Design Labs are excited to announce the following Webinars coming up in the next two months. Don’t miss out on these excellent educational opportunities. Some events below will be offering IN-PERSON as an option, register for those before the seats fill up! Click the title to be taken to each events webpage for more info or to register.

Net Zero with Mike Dieterich | 10/10 @ 10AM – 12 Noon | Virtual & In-Person!
The presentation will cover net zero in three phases. Phase 1: Zero Energy Design, for buildings with a bit of zero carbon; Phase 2: Corporate Zero Energy Planning and Roadmapping; Phase 3: Zero Energy and Carbon Applications in Districts like schools or municipalities and the integration of planning. Each phase will be followed by a Q&A session to dive deeper into the topics.

Powering Your Building: The Role of Electrification in Optimizing Building Operations | 10/17 @ 10AM – 11AM | Virtual Only
This session will provide an overview of how these initiatives will influence building performance, safety, operation, and maintenance by discussing electrification technologies; implementation benefits; implementation barriers and solutions; logistical considerations; maintenance of key assets and systems; and case studies highlighting electrification efforts in various buildings

Measurement & Verification Resources for BPA Utility Programs | 10/29 @ 8AM – 12 Noon | Virtual & In-Person!
Measurement and Verification (M&V) is a process of planning, measuring, collecting, and analyzing data to verify and report energy savings within a facility or facilities, resulting from the implementation of energy-efficiency measures. BPA Utility program custom projects require site-specific M&V to support reliable estimates of savings. BPA M&V protocols and guides direct activities and are resources for reliable M&V. In recent rate periods, custom projects measured and verified energy savings account for 20%–30% of BPA Energy Efficiency’s overall savings achievements.

Save the Date! The below events in November will have registration opening soon, we’ll let you know when links are available.

Micro Heat Pumps | 11/7

LEED and Other Certifications | 11/19

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]

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