Resources Archives - Page 10 of 24 - Smart Buildings Center

Creative Funding Strategies for Better Buildings, 12/4 12-1PM

November 28, 2023 By SBC staff

Getting started on the path to improving your building’s performance and finding the capital for the projects can be challenging. In this webinar, learn about resources to scope and implement a project, and innovative ways to fund it. Speakers will provide a comprehensive overview of tools to meet Clean Building Act standards, as well as illustrate how lease structures and Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing can be leveraged to reduce upfront and operational costs.

Focus:
– Creating strategies for funding, managing and paying for building upgrades and better buildings
– Examples of support and resources for project development and compliance
– Leveraging lease language to capture the most value from sustainability and performance driven upgrades
– Repositioning the landlord/tenant relationship to minimize risk and support sustainability and ESG goals
– Best practices to avoid penalties and conflict over lease ambiguity

Presenters:
– Nicole DeNamur, Climate Aligned Law, Attorney, Hon. AIA, WELL AP and Faculty, LEED Green Associate, Fitwel Ambassador and EcoDistricts AP
– Erik Jennings, Pacifica Law Group LLP
– Rachel Brombaugh, Washington State Managing Director, PACE Equity
– Rebecca Sheppard, Senior Project Manager, Smart Buildings Center / Building Potential / NEEC

Decarbonization via Grid-Interactive Buildings – But how?

November 22, 2023 By SBC staff

Decarbonizing our existing building stock is an integral part of reaching carbon reduction targets of net-zero carbon emissions. Connecting buildings to the grid and utilizing grid-interactive building technology poses a great opportunity for reaching that target. Taking action can be a complex undertaking and intimidating.

ASHRAE’s Task Force for Building Decarbonization has released its new Grid-Interactive Buildings for Decarbonization guide to help building owners on this journey. This manual gives best practices, design consideration and operational guidelines to help reduce carbon emission, find strategies to save on operational costs, and increase your building’s resiliency.

For more information check out the release here: ASHRAE Releases Guide on the Role of Grid Interactivity in Decarbonization | ashrae.org

Better Buildings: Workforce Accelerator Completed

November 1, 2023 By SBC staff

Cost-effective energy efficiency upgrades in U.S. buildings could save $100 billion each year in energy bills. From 2020-2023, the Better Buildings Workforce Accelerator convened and supported more than 40 workforce partners from across the country working to raise the level of building science and energy efficiency knowledge in the nation’s building-related workforce. The Accelerator focused on activities that build interest, streamline career pathways, and improve skills and we are proud to have played a partner role in the success of this program! Read more about the Workforce Accelerator here at the US Department of Energy Better Buildings Solutions site.

What does this look like in real terms? The US Department of Energy, NEEC and the BOC program have completed a case study that identifies the challenges, solutions, lessons and impact of the building accelerator. Join us as we analyze the outcomes of the Building Accelerator in the case study here.

PSE Presents EnergyCAP Training Webinars

October 24, 2023 By SBC staff

Do you need to benchmark your building but have questions about Puget Sound Energy’s EnergyCAP system? Do you need training on how to use the ECAP website? Puget Sound Energy is launching five new training sessions starting this week! You can join using the links below where you’ll get a crash course in the ECAP system and learn how to benchmark your building. This is a valuable resource for anyone who needs to benchmark their energy reporting for City of Seattle, or if you just want to learn more about the Benchmarking process in general.

Here’s a list of the dates of the training and the links you will need to access each lesson:

Thursday Oct 26th: Week One Training Link

Thursday Nov 2nd: Week Two Training Link

Thursday Nov 9th: Week Three Training Link

Thursday Nov 16th: Week Four Training Link

Thursday Nov 23rd: Week Five Training Link

WA State Clean Buildings Performance Standard News

October 24, 2023 By SBC staff

Next phase of rulemaking is underway

Now that the Clean Buildings Team has concluded rulemaking workshops related to the Clean Buildings expansion bill (SB5722), they enter the next phase of rulemaking. They’ve collected and reviewed all comments from the workshops and are preparing to draft the proposed rules for the CR-102 form.

The CR-102 form will include:

Proposed rules
Agency contact information
Intended adoption date
Public hearing details
Small Business Economic Impact Statement

The CR-102 is expected to be filed this month and will be shared through Commerce’s bulletin and the Clean Buildings webpage.

Public hearing and comments

An opportunity for public comment will follow publication of the CR-102. The next significant event is a public hearing on Nov 21, 2023 at 10 a.m.

__________________________________________________________________________________

Upcoming Events

Workshop: Developing guidelines for Tier 2 incentive program
Register (SmartSheet)

Energy Efficiency Day is next week Oct 4th!

September 25, 2023 By SBC staff

We are less than two weeks out! Are you ready for Energy Efficiency Day?

Energy Efficiency Day shines light on the many advantages of adopting efficient measures and behaviors that enable us to save money, reduce pollution, and create jobs. By participating in #EEDay2023 on October 4th, you can join us in highlighting how individuals can take small steps that add up to lasting comfort, better health, and lower energy costs.

Energy efficiency doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice, but it does enable us to use less energy to get the same job done. When we prevent energy waste, we also avoid the need to generate more power produced from fossil fuels to meet our needs, as well as the climate-warming pollution that accompanies it. Using less energy leads to cleaner air and enables us to stretch the electricity produced from emissions-free sources, such as wind and solar, further to keep our homes comfortable and businesses operating.

How can you support efficiency?

You can sign on as a supporter now for free. We also invite you to dive into EEDay blogs and energy saving stories that provide great tips on how to reduce energy waste and your utility bills.

You can urge your workplace to sign on as well. Many organizations that support EEDay use the opportunity to publicize their good work, products or services, while sharing information on how to become more involved. See current participants.

You can ask your elected officials to issue a proclamation that officially recognizes the first Wednesday in October as Energy Efficiency Day. These proclamations, which elected officials and other leaders promote, bring even more attention to the benefits of efficiency and spur more people to make easy energy-saving changes in their lives.

Join the conversation on October 4th!

Be sure to follow EEDay on Facebook and Twitter and use the hashtag #EEDay2023 to share your own energy-saving tips, success stories, and why energy efficiency is important to you.

Become a Supporter Today

Follow @EfficiencyDay on Twitter, or @EnergyEfficiencyDay on Facebook, and use #EEDay2023 to let us know how you’re celebrating!

Next phase of rulemaking is underway

Upcoming Events

Contact Us