Energy Management Newsletter

Net Zero Energy Buildings: 5 Ways to Lower Your Building’s Energy Use

A net zero energy (NZE) building is a building that only consumes the energy it generates from renewable resources on an annual basis. Currently, there are 143 verified zero energy buildings in the United States. Of those buildings, 55 are offices. Commercial property owners that achieve zero energy can attract corporate tenants that have a sustainability or green branding strategy. Net zero energy buildings have a number of advantages including: tax incentives and deductions, higher resale value, differentiation and reduced operating expenses. Five ways you can lower your property's energy use include using daylighting, retrofitting the roof to a white coating, using a building control system for monitoring ventilation and lighting, using a high-performance building envelope for heat, and retrofitting the building with LED lighting.

Learn more: Leverage.com/Assets/Net-Zero-Energy-Building

DFW Area Set to Benefit from Electrify America Cycle 3 Investments

Electrify America, a subsidiary of Volkswagen charged with implementing the Zero Emission Vehicle Investment portion of the Volkswagen Settlement, released its “cycle 3” investment plan in July. This plan guides how the company plans to implement projects to support electric vehicle (EV) adoption nationwide. North Texas was selected as the highest-priority metro area and will receive 8-12 high-powered DC Fast Charger stations, more than any other metro area in the country. Electrify America also intends to build six DC Fast Charger stations along Interstate 20, connecting Dallas to Birmingham, Alabama. NCTCOG staff has previously identified Interstate 20 as the biggest gap in highway EV charging impacting the DFW area, so this project by Electrify America will provide much-needed infrastructure that will enable EV travel east from the Metroplex. Other Electrify America projects in Texas include charging stations along State Highway 6 from Houston to College Station, and stations in the Houston and Austin areas.

Learn more: ElectrifyAmerica.com/

Communities LEAP (Local Energy Action Program) Pilot

The recently announced U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Local Energy Action Program (LEAP) Pilot is open to low-income, energy-burdened communities experiencing either direct environmental justice impacts or direct economic impacts resulting from the shift away from fossil fuel reliance. Under this program, support services, valued at up to $16 million will be provided by the DOE for community-driven clean energy transitions. Read the full program announcement on the DOE website.

Learn more: Energy.gov/CommunitiesLEAP

Resilient Southeast: Exploring Opportunities for Solar+Storage in Five Cities

This series of reports, known as Resilient Southeast, is exploring the obstacles and opportunities associated with solar photovoltaics (PVs) and storage to strengthen the resiliency of communities throughout the southeast United States. This series evaluates the economic value of resiliency and how Solar+Storage proves to be a good investment for the identified locations and building types. Read the five reports exploring Solar+Storage on the Clean Energy Group website.

Learn more: CleaneGroup.org/Ceg-Resources

Network Energy Efficiency Funds in Infrastructure Bill Should Tee Up Historic Investments This Fall

The infrastructure bill recently passed by the U.S. Senate includes money for energy efficiency funding and should lay the groundwork for investments needed in the future. This bill included $500 million for state energy offices and $550 million for local energy efficiency and conservation block grants to assist a broad range of state and local initiatives and financing. The bill also included $150 million to boost Industrial Assessment Centers (IACs), which will help small manufacturing plants identify possible efficiency improvements.

Learn more: Aceee.org

Biden Administration Takes Major Step to Ensure Light Bulbs Don’t Waste Energy

The Department of Energy (DOE) proposed that some of the most common types of bulbs be required to meet federal standards for energy efficiency. The bulbs that are being referenced are used in two billion sockets in the United States. They include reflector bulbs used in recessed and track lighting, candle-shaped bulbs used in wall sconces and other decorative light fixtures, and globe-shaped bulbs often installed in bathrooms. In May, the DOE solicited initial public comment on that step, which would require that bulbs produce at least 45 lumens per watt by reinstating a "backstop" standard Congress set in 2007.

Read more here: Aceee.org

DFW Solar Tour

The annual DFW Solar Tour enables people to learn how their neighbors – homeowners and businesses alike – are using solar energy, wind energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies to save money and consume less of our natural resources. There will be education opportunities at Learning Centers across the metroplex with a range of topics to help the public understand the basics of solar energy & storage, energy efficiency, and sustainable practices. Most sites will be open between 10 am and 4 pm, however, it is advised to check individual sites for exceptions. This year, participants can expect to see a vegetated roof garden, learn how solar works with “Solar 101” talks at various sites, check out solar cars, take personal tours of a LEED Certified School and much, much more.

Date: October 2, 2021
Time: 10:00 am - 4:00 pm CST
Registration: DfwSolarTour.org

National Drive Electric Week

NCTCOG and Dallas-Fort Worth Clean Cities are celebrating National Drive Electric Week with a major event open to the public on Sunday, October 3. There is no better way to learn what it’s like to drive electric than by talking to someone who already owns an electric vehicle (EV), and this event creates the opportunity for the EV-curious to mix and mingle with current owners. A variety of makes and models will be represented, providing an opportunity to see it all in one place! Join for a laid-back, no-sales-pressure event including food trucks, a range of EV-associated technology exhibitors, and an outdoor EV-related film screening.

Date: October 3, 2021
Time: 4 to 6 p.m.- EV public display and exhibit, including food trucks in the parking lot; 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.- Oncor Road Rally Winner Announcements and transition to an outdoor film screening; 7 p.m. to 8:30p.m.- Outdoor Film Screening of “Revenge of the Electric Car” (the film’s prequel “Who Killed the Electric Car was screened virtually at the 2020 NDEW event and may currently be streamed for free with Amazon Prime subscription.)
Registration: DfwCleanCities.org

USGBC Webinar: Texas Solar Market 2021

Join the U.S. Green Building Council’s Texas Chapter for this webinar on how solar power represents a win-win opportunity for the state of Texas. With an abundant supply of sunshine across the state, harnessing solar electricity offers high-value electric generation, rapid deployment, supply diversity and energy security through self-sufficiency, statewide and regional economic development, jobs, unprecedented affordability, very low water use, zero fuel costs, and zero emissions. With plans announced to retire coal and gas thermal generators, and the population continuing to grow, Texas is primed for more investment in solar.

Date: Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Time: 12:00 – 1:00 pm CST
Registration: UsgbcTexas.org/

2021 Resilience Week Symposium

Organized by Idaho National Laboratory and a committee of national laboratories, academia, and industry, the 2021 Resilience Week Symposium convenes public and private partners to discuss how to ensure a secure and reliable flow of energy across the nation. Too often large disasters can ripple across not just cities or regions but across states and nationally through our interconnected critical infrastructure systems. Many of these connections are invisible or critical links are uncovered too late. This symposium seeks to address these issues to ensure a secure and reliable flow of energy across the nation.

Date: October 18-21, 2021
Registration: Resilience.inl.gov

2021 National Conference on Energy Efficiency as a Resource

This conference on policies and programs aims to reduce customers' energy waste and thus help utilities meet the grid's demand for electricity. The role of energy efficiency in transforming the utility industry has become increasingly essential and more utilities are setting ambitious corporate carbon reduction goals. Meanwhile, policymakers are expanding their expectations for what energy efficiency programs deliver, from greenhouse gas reductions to job creation, economic recovery to bill affordability, many with a focus on energy equity and justice.

Who are the likely participants? Utilities and program administrators, regulatory commissions, state government, consultants, manufacturers, environmental organizations, consumer groups, and research institutes.

Date: October 19 - 21, 2021 and October 26 - 27, 2021
Registration: ACEEE.org

North Texas Facilities Expo

Looking to network and learn valuable information about facilities engineering, maintenance repair and operations (MRO), and green building communities? The North Texas Facilities Expo is the perfect opportunity for local facility mangers to expand their thinking and gain local expertise. In this two-day event, you can attend shows regarding issues in building safety, water management, conflict management, disaster preparation, and much more! North Texas Facilities Expo is free to register and attend, so sign up now!

Date: Wednesday, October 20 and Thursday, October 21

Time: Wednesday: 10 am – 3 pm CST; Thursday: 10 am – 2 pm CST
Register: www.Fent.FacilitiesExpo.com

CELC Webinar: It’s Baked In: Keeping the Lights on During Extreme Weather Events

With power outages due to extreme weather events on the rise, microgrids with combined heat and power can decrease the likelihood of power outages ensuring critical infrastructure buildings can stay operational, whether that for first responders, hospitals or shelters. During this City Efficiency Leadership Council (CELC) webinar, learn what resources are available to support the development of your critical infrastructure microgrid and the best practices to ensure you are getting the best onsite generation for your needs.

This webinar will discuss:
• Best practices for onsite generation
• Resources are available for development of microgrid infrastructure

Date: October 28, 2021

Time: 10:00 am CST
Register: Link Here

2021 Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Virtual Conference

Since 2007, the Behavior Energy and Climate Change conference has brought together social scientists, practitioners, utilities, academics, governments, businesses, and non-profits to share and disseminate best practices and research to encourage behavior change for energy and carbon reduction. Join this conference to learn from others about innovative methods, practices and technologies, how to evaluate these programs, understand why individuals and groups change, and make these transitions in fair and equitable ways. Author, Journalist, and Professor Michael Pollan will be this year’s Keynote Speaker!

Date: November 8-10, 2021
Registration: B eccconference.org

Texas Water and Power Resilience Workshop

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) will conduct a virtual Texas Water and Power Resilience Workshop. The workshop will focus on power outages and how they affect both water and electric utilities. The target audience is drinking water, wastewater and electric utilities. The workshop will include morning presentations by regulatory agencies and water, wastewater, and electric utilities and an afternoon table top exercise designed to foster ideas about how to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from power outages. The exercise will enable all participants to better evaluate their preparedness for power outages, identify challenges, and learn from the experiences of others.

Date: November 10, 2021
Time: 9:00 AM CST
Registration: Link Here

Solar Power and Wildlife/Natural Resources Symposium

Solar power is estimated to grow up to eight-fold in the next decade. Solar developers and others working to advance renewable energy recognize that, along with successful commercialization, sustainable development requires investment into understanding and minimizing risk from the interactions between solar energy facilities, wildlife, and natural resources.
The Solar Symposium will convene experts and stakeholders from academia, industry, conservation, consultants, and public agencies to review the state of the science, and identify research gaps and priority questions.

Date: December 1-3, 2021
Registration: www.AWWI.org/Solar-Symposium/