Energy Management Newsletter

News and Updates:

SECO Releases a Notice of Loan Fund Availability
Called "Cool School & More"
New US Green Building Council Report Releases New Report Detailing Measures Schools Took to Improve Indoor Air Quality During
COVID-19 Pandemic
The Environmental Protection Agency's Updates on Health
Benefits-Per-Kilowatt-hour Values
Update on the State and Local Climate and Energy Program SPEER Fact Sheets: The History of Texas Energy Efficiency Programs and Why We Should Raise the Goal to 1% or More
Visualize Your Energy Future with SLOPE: Sustainable
Transportation Data Now Available
Solar Energy Technologies Office Issues RFI for Solar PV System End-of-Life Management
U.S. Department of Energy Seeks Public Input on Impacts of Increasing Light Bulb Energy Efficiency
The Department of Energy Releases New Tool Tracking Microgrid Installations in the United States
The Department of Energy's National Roadmap for Grid Interactive Efficient Buildings
The Department of Energy's National Roadmap for
Grid Interactive Efficient Buildings
The Department of Energy Launches Initiatives to Accelerate Solar Deployment in Underserved Communities

Events:

Fundamentals of Energy Savings Performance Contracting in Texas
Using Public-Private Partnerships to Convert Municipal Waste
into Renewable Energy (Gases)
Campaigns Driving Electric Vehicle Awareness
Benchmarking Wastewater Treatment Plants and Drinking
Water Treatment Systems
Overview of EPA’s Climate Change Indicators
Energy Management and Commissioning for Reliability and Resiliency: Lessons Learned from Natural Disasters
Estimating the Public Health Benefits of Clean Energy: Using EPA’s COBRA Web Edition and Public Health Benefits per kWh Values
Climate and Heat: Trends, Health Impacts and Risks
SPEER 2021 Energy Conference

Several Texas Locations Rank High Among the EPA's
Green Power Partnership's

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) hosts the The Green Power Partnership nationwide. Top Partner Rankings within the program highlight the annual green power use of leading Green Power Partners. The usage amounts only account for U.S. operations and the energy must be sourced from U.S. organizations can meet EPA Partnership requirements using any combination of three different product options: 1) renewable energy certificates, 2) on-site generation, and 3) utility green power products.

The City of Dallas ranked #22 on the National List and #2 Local Government. Additionally, the DFW Airport, the City of Irving, and the City of Denton ranked among the Top 30 Local Government List. The University of North Texas made the Top 30 College and University List and the Da Vinci School in Dallas and Primrose School of Prestmont in Frisco made the Top 30 K-12 List.

Learn More: EPA.gov

SECO Will Soon Release a Notice of Reimbursable Grant Fund Availability
Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA)’s State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) will soon release a “Local & County Government Lighting Conversion to LED Lights” and “Local and County Government Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Station Installation” notice of reimbursable grant fund availability/request for application to assist local and county governments with LED Lighting Retrofits and Electric Vehicle Charging Stations. Interested parties should visit SECO website at https://comptroller.texas.gov/programs/seco/funding/ to sign up to receive notifications from SECO when the new funding opportunities become available.

Learn More: Comptroller.Texas.Gov

SECO Releases a Notice of Loan Fund Availability
Called "Cool School & More"

Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (CPA)’s State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) released a Notice of Loan Funds Availability called "Cool School & More" to assist Texas Independent School Districts by financing projects to replace older, existing heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems and to install air treatment measures. Applications close on June 16th at 2:00 pm.

More Information about this Program: Comptroller.Texas.gov

New US Green Building Council Report Releases New Report Detailing Measures Schools Took to Improve Indoor Air Quality During
COVID-19 Pandemic

The Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, with technical support from ASHRAE, has released a new report, Preparation in the Pandemic: How Schools Implemented Air Quality Measures to Protect Occupants from COVID-19. This report details the measures schools have taken to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) in school buildings in response to COVID-19. The most frequently cited challenges to implementing protective IAQ measures at schools were (1) outdating building infrastructure hindering the application of IAQ measures and technologies and (2) high costs.

Learn More: Usgbc.org

The Environmental Protection Agency's Updates on Health
Benefits-Per-Kilowatt-hour Values

EPA’s State and Local Climate and Energy Program is releasing updates to EPA’s Health Benefits-per-Kilowatt-hour (BPK) values, based on newly available 2019 data. These regional BPK values help stakeholders quickly and credibly monetize the outdoor air quality-related public health benefits of investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Key updates in the second edition include:

Revised regions. The BPK values are now calculated for the 14 regions in AVERT v3.0, rather than the 10 regions from AVERT v2.3.
Additional technology types. EPA developed BPK values for two new technology types: offshore wind and distributed (rooftop) solar.
Avoided transmission and distribution losses in energy efficiency values. EPA made it easier for users to calculate BPK values related to energy efficiency by incorporating avoided power sector T&D losses for energy efficiency technologies.
New 2019 datasets. BPK values are based on the most up-to-date data available: 2019 electricity generation data and emissions, population, baseline mortality incidence rate, and income growth projections. BPK values are in 2019 dollars.

Learn More: EPA.gov

SPEER Fact Sheets: The History of Texas Energy Efficiency Programs and Why We Should Raise the Goal to 1% or More

Earlier this Spring, SPEER released several fact sheets on energy efficiency in Texas. To see why energy efficiency is necessary for grid and energy resilience, check out their fact sheets linked below.

The History of Texas Energy Efficiency Programs
In 1999 Texas passed Senate Bill 7, deregulating and unbundling the electricity market and many formerly regulated functions of the vertically integrated Investor Owned Utilities (IOUs) were placed into free market competition. This fact sheet breaks down the history of energy efficiency program design, spending, and savings.

Raise Utility Energy Efficiency Goals in Texas to 1% or More
Did you know that back in 1999 Texas was the first state to establish an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS)? In 2017, states with an EERS in effect (27 other states have since adopted an EERS) achieved incremental electricity savings of 1.2% of retail sales on average, compared with average savings of 0.3% in states without an EERS. In 2019, Texas IOUs’ energy savings reached only slightly more than .2% of sales, which is the lowest achieved savings of the 27 states with an EERS goal making it time for Texas to revisit it’s goals and efforts. Over the years the increase in EE goals will greatly reduce the demand on Texas’ grid, thus decreasing the risk of another outage event such as those that occurred in 2011 and 2021.

Visualize Your Energy Future with SLOPE: Sustainable
Transportation Data Now Available

The State and Local Planning for Energy (SLOPE) Platform integrates and delivers data on energy efficiency, renewable energy, and sustainable transportation into an easy-to-access online platform to enable data-driven state and local energy planning. New transportation data added to SLOPE includes current and projected vehicle registration by fuel type, vehicle fuel and electricity consumption, and vehicle miles traveled for personal vehicles, available at the state and county level.
SLOPE can now help answer questions such as:

How might electric vehicle adoption change my community’s electricity demand over time?
Is the amount of travel via personal vehicles expected to decrease by 2050 for residents in my state?
How might the number of battery electric, conventional gasoline, hybrid gasoline, and plug-in hybrid personal vehicles change in the future?

SLOPE is a collaboration between nine U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) offices and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory to support state and local action in building a 100% clean energy economy.

Learn More: Gds.nrel.gov/slope

Solar Energy Technologies Office Issues RFI for Solar PV System End-of-Life Management

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) has issued a request for information (RFI) to gather stakeholder input on sustainable, cost-effective end-of-life practices for photovoltaic (PV) systems. As solar deployment rapidly increases, so will the number of PV systems reaching the end of their useful life. The goal of this RFI is to ensure that the recovery, reuse, recycling, and disposal of these systems and their components are low-cost and have low environmental impact. The deadline to respond to this RFI is June 14 at 4 p.m. CST.

Respond to this RFI: Energy.gov

U.S. Department of Energy Seeks Public Input on Impacts of Increasing Light Bulb Energy Efficiency

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced initial steps beginning a rulemaking process that could deliver greater cost savings to consumers for lighting. The DOE published a request for information (RFI) that seeks input from manufacturers, retailers, consumers, and other stakeholders across the supply chain about the current lighting marketplace. This action will inform and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The deadline to respond to this RFI is June 24.

Access the RFI: Energy.gov

The Department of Energy Releases New Tool Tracking Microgrid Installations in the United States

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced the release of a new tool that can track microgrids installed throughout the United States. A microgrid is a local grid with an independent source of energy capable of disconnecting or “islanding” from the nearby utility grid. Microgrids can improve the resiliency of the normal utility grid by allowing critical facilities to continue operating in the event of a utility-grid outage. For manufacturers and industrial facilities, microgrids can also help ensure delivery of the high-quality, reliable electricity necessary to maintain today’s increasingly digitized operations.

Learn More: DOE.Icfwebservices.com

The Department of Energy's National Roadmap for
Grid Interactive Efficient Buildings

In a team led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Brattle Group, working with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), A National Roadmap for Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings was developed. The roadmap details the DOE’s national goal to triple the energy efficiency and demand flexibility of the buildings sector by 2030, relative to 2020 levels. It also defines technology attributes, integration considerations, and barriers to achieving the full potential, adoption and deployment of GEB.

Access the RFI: GebRoadMap.lbl.gov

The Department of Energy Issues Preliminary Determination of Energy Savings for Residential Buildings

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced a preliminary determination of energy savings for the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), affirming that the updated code will increase energy efficiency in residential buildings. The Department’s analysis, performed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), indicates that buildings meeting the 2021 IECC would result in national average energy savings of approximately:

9.38% site energy
8.79% source energy
8.66% energy cost
8.66% carbon emissions

The roadmap details the national goal to triple the energy efficiency and demand flexibility of the buildings sector by 2030.

Learn More: EnergyCodes.gov

Fundamentals of Energy Savings Performance Contracting in Texas

Hosted by the Texas State Energy Conservation Office, the Energy Services Coalition, and the National Association of State Energy Officials; this workshop will gather critical stakeholders for Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) projects throughout Texas, provide an overview of how to apply this financing mechanism in Texas, and hear directly from facility managers who have implemented these projects.

Date: June 2, 2021
Time: 1:00 pm CST
Registration: Link Here

Using Public-Private Partnerships to Convert Municipal Waste into Renewable Energy (Gases)
As states develop policies to divert organic waste from landfills, municipalities must develop solutions to meet these requirements. By leveraging public-private partnerships, local agencies that manage wastewater and solid waste can retrofit existing infrastructure to cost effectively process organic wastes. The result? Less waste in landfills, increased low carbon RNG and organic fertilizer, and more sustainable communities.

Attend this 75-minute Renewable Gas 360 webinar to hear industry leaders:

Describe the organic waste diversion mandates being implemented across state and federal levels
Share case studies highlighting successful public-private partnerships within the wastewater and municipal solid waste sectors
Share case studies highlighting successful public-private partnerships within the wastewater and municipal solid waste sectors
Discuss innovative technologies and solutions that complement the public sector’s efforts in landfill diversion and renewable gas generation

Date: June 3, 2021
Time: 12:30 pm CST
Registration: Learn.Renewablegas360.com

Campaigns Driving Electric Vehicle Awareness

This one-hour webinar will share effective messages and mechanisms for designing state and local campaigns that raise awareness of electric vehicles (EVs). Clear communication, education, and outreach about EVs and their potential benefits can expand public support. The Southern Alliance for Clean Energy will speak about resources for leading EV campaigns and representatives from Cincinnati and Orlando will speak about their local experiences.

Agenda:

Introduction - Andrea Denny & Jessica Daniels, U.S. EPA
Driving EV Adoption - Dory Larsen, Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Revving up EV Awareness in Cincinnati - Carla Walker & Jennifer Zavon, EV Cincy/City of Cincinnati
Orlando’s Pathways to an Electrified Future - Chris Castro, City of Orlando, Florida
Question and answer session

Date: June 9, 2021
Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm CST
Registration: Link

Benchmarking Wastewater Treatment Plants and Drinking
Water Treatment Systems

This webinar features EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, a powerful online tool that can help track and manage system’s energy usage and energy savings from efficiency projects. There will be a discussion on how the Portfolio Manager benefits water and wastewater systems, and demonstrate how one can create an account and benchmark systems at no cost.

Speakers:

Katherine Martel, The Cadmus Group
Kudret Utebay, The Cadmus Group
Anthony Albano, The Cadmus Group

Date: June 9, 2021
Time: 12:30 pm CST
Registration: Link

Overview of EPA’s Climate Change Indicators

EPA recently released a major update, expansion, and enhancement of its Climate Change Indicators in the United States website. This one-hour webinar will explore the new website, which is a comprehensive and accessible resource that includes 54 indicators (140 figures). The indicators show clear evidence of changes to our climate reflected in rising temperatures and sea level, increases in drought conditions, heat waves, and wildfires, among many other climate-related changes. The presentation will provide key findings, highlight several indicators, and describe ways to explore, share and use the information including interactive data tools and story maps.

Speakers
• Mike Kolian, Physical Scientist/Climate Analyst, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Lisa Bacanskas, Environmental Scientist, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Date: June 17, 2021
Time: 12:00 pm CST
Registration: Link Here

Energy Management and Commissioning for Reliability and Resiliency: Lessons Learned from Natural Disasters

Traditionally employed for verifying that facilities comply with the owner’s and user’s requirements and functionally testing systems in accordance with designers’ intent, the roles of energy managers and commissioning providers have expanded to include risk management. This is especially true with critical infrastructure, mission-critical facilities and complex control systems. This presentation will explore commissioning’s role in risk management and resiliency planning—including discussing several case studies, where additional considerations (during design, testing in a controlled environment, training and/or operations) could have mitigated disruptive/catastrophic events.

Date: June 17, 2021
Time: 12:00 am CST
Registration: Link Here

Climate and Heat: Trends, Health Impacts and Risks

This one-hour webinar will feature climate-related temperature trends particularly related to extreme heat and urban heat, human health effects, social vulnerability, and risks (happening now and looking into the future). The presentation will highlight information on observed U.S. trends from EPA’s Climate Change Indicators and future conditions based on EPA’s Climate Impacts and Risk Analysis efforts. The presentation will feature recent science on extreme heat and health impacts including from the U.S. Global Change Research Program and EPA research on climate vulnerability and heat islands.

Speakers
• Victoria Ludwig, National Program Manager, Heat Island Reduction Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Mike Kolian, Physical Scientist/Climate Analyst, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Marcus Sarofim, Physical Scientist/Climate Analyst, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Date: June 24, 2021
Time: 1:00 pm CST
Registration: Link Here

Estimating the Public Health Benefits of Clean Energy: Using EPA’s COBRA Web Edition and Public Health Benefits per kWh Values

This webinar will give overview of EPA’s new web version of the CO-Benefits Risk Assessment Screening and Mapping Tool (COBRA Web Edition) and the second edition of EPA’s Public Health Benefits per kWh (BPK) values for energy efficiency and renewable energy. These free and easy-to-use resources allow analysts and stakeholders to estimate the monetized health benefits of various energy and emissions scenarios. The webinar will be introductory and accessible for all levels of users.

Speakers:

Emma Zinsmeister, U.S. EPA, Senior Health Analyst & Climate Programs Specialist
David Tancabel, U.S. EPA, Environmental Policy Analyst

Date: June 29, 2021
Time: 12:00 pm CST
Registration: Link Here

SPEER 2021 Energy Conference

The South-central Partnership for Energy Efficiency as a Resource (SPEER) will be holding their 2021 SPEER Conference in early September. This conference will have an option to attend either in person or to tune in virtually. The in-person conference will take place at the Hyatt Regency on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. Discussions will include topics such as building infrastructure. Building resiliency, demand response, energy storage, the role that energy efficiency plays in grid resilience and much more.

Date: September 2-3, 2021
Registration: Link