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| News and Events: Technical Assistance, Incentives, and Funding Opportunities: Upcoming Events and Activities: Resources and Guides:
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| TDEC Now Accepting Nominations for the 2018 Governor's Environmental Stewardship Awards
The Governor's Environmental Stewardship Awards honor outstanding accomplishments that support the protection and enhancement of Tennessee's natural resources. Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2018 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Awards, which include ten categories: Building Green, Clean Air, Energy and Renewable Resources, Environmental Education and Outreach, Environmental Education and Outreach (school category), Land Use, Materials Management, Natural Heritage, Sustainable Performance, and Lifetime Achievement.
Any individual, business, organization, educational institution, or agency is eligible, provided it is located in Tennessee and the project was completed during the 2017 calendar year. All nominees must have a minimum of three consecutive years of overall environmental compliance with TDEC. Self-nominations are encouraged.
A panel of judges representing agricultural, conservation, forestry, environmental, and academic professionals will select award recipients based on criteria including level of project or program completion, innovation, and public education. The deadline for nominations is March 30, 2018. Award recipients will be announced in May 2018.
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| City of Chattanooga Receives $300,000 to Improve Energy Efficiency
The City of Chattanooga has received a $300,000 grant to boost energy efficiency in its Highland Park, East Lake, East Chattanooga, and Alton Park neighborhoods. The grant is part of $1.5 million awarded to six Southeastern communities by the Southeast Sustainable Communities Fund. The grant money will assist in streamlining the City’s work with EPB and green|spaces to increase access to City-managed HOME grants, through which eligible applicants will now be able to receive assistance for energy-efficiency home upgrades. Grant money will also cover a new program from green|spaces called Build it Green (B.I.G.), which will begin in January, 2018. B.I.G. will recruit youth from neighborhoods with high energy consumption rates and will offer them classes on basic energy efficiency and construction skills, as well as how to upgrade homes in their communities. Participants will be paid $10 per hour and can connect with job and higher education opportunities through the program. Finally, the award will help EPB expand its successful Home Energy Upgrade program. The utility will also work on expanding energy efficiency outreach as well as support workforce development and education initiatives.
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| Nashville to Embark on its First Community Solar Project
Nashville has made plans for its first community solar project. The former Due West Dump site, which is adjacent to the Skyline Medical Center in Madison, will be the home of a new solar array called Music City Solar. TDEC’s Division of Remediation has been working with Metro Nashville and Nashville Electric Service on the project, which will generate 2.8 million kilowatt hours per year once complete. Click here to read more.
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| U.S. DOE Solar Forecasting 2 Program Awards Funding to Electric Power Research Institute in Knoxville
U.S. DOE’s Solar Forecasting 2 program recently announced $12 million in funding for projects that generate tools and knowledge to enable grid operators to better forecast how much solar energy will be added to the grid. These efforts will improve the management of solar power’s variability and uncertainty, enabling its more reliable and cost-effective integration onto the grid.
Through this award, the Electric Power Research Institute’s Knoxville team will receive $1,800,000 to develop improved probabilistic solar and net load forecasts for three separate utility case studies, each with different operating procedures. The team is using advanced tools to research and develop methods for utilities to manage uncertainty in a reliable and economic manner. In addition, they will validate these methods by integrating forecasts and decision making functions into a scheduling management platform, in order to verify the use of probabilistic forecasts to reduce integration costs.
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| TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, INCENTIVES, AND FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
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| OPEN 2018 Funding Opportunity Announcement to Support Early-Stage Energy R&D
U.S. DOE recently announced up to $100 million in funding for new projects as part of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy’s (ARPA-E) latest OEPN funding opportunity. OPEN will support innovators through dozens of early-stage research and development projects. A broad variety of projects will be welcomed, including electricity generation by both renewable and non-renewable means; electricity transmission, storage, and distribution; energy efficiency for buildings, manufacturing and commerce, and personal use; and all aspects of transportation, including the production and distribution of both renewable and non-renewable fuels, electrification, and transportation energy efficiency. For examples of past OPEN projects, click here. Read through the OPEN 2018 Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) here. Register to apply for this FOA here. Applicants must submit a Concept Paper by 5 pm EST on February 12, 2018. ARPA-E will review all Concept Papers and invite selected candidates to submit a Full Application at a later date.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
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| Webinar: Smart Tech and the Home of the Future
Join U.S. DOE’s Better Buildings Residential Network Peer Exchange Call on January 18, 2018 at 12:00 -1:30 pm CST to participate in discussion on opportunities and barriers for integrating smart home technologies into residential energy programs, exploring the potential for smart technologies and achieving greater energy efficiency, and approaches to energy efficiency data analytics and decision-making. Register for the webinar here.
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| Southeast Wind Conference in Atlanta, GA
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and the Southeastern Wind Coalition (SEWC) will host a Southeast Wind Conference at the Loews Atlanta Hotel on January 25, 2018. SEWC will examine the current outlook and future potential of wind development in the region, featuring speakers from industry leaders like Duke Energy, Avangrid Renewables, Southern Company, and the Department of Defense. You can see the full agenda and conference details here. Register for the conference here.
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| New Lighting Options: Lighting-as-a-Service and Internet-of-Things Research Update
On January 25, 2018, from 1:00-2:30 pm EST, the U.S. DOE Better Buildings Lighting and Electrical Team will host a call on Lighting-as-a-Service (LaaS) and ways to harness new equipment for energy savings without actually purchasing the equipment. LaaS is a service delivery model in which light service is charged on a subscription basis rather than via a one-time payment. This business model has become more common in commercial and citywide installations of LED lights, specifically in retrofitting buildings and outdoor facilities, with the aim of reducing installation costs. The call will also feature a brief update on Internet-of-Things (IoT) research as it pertains to energy efficient building practices. You can join the call here.
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| Webinar: Energy Resiliency Strategies for Commercial Buildings and Communities
As the energy sector is subject to continued external risk from natural and human events, more developers and building owners are discussing resilient building design. Join this U.S. DOE Better Buildings webinar on February 6 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm EST to learn about the technologies and strategies being pursued to address energy resilience in commercial buildings and communities. You can register for the webinar here.
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| Save the Date: TAEBC's Annual Meeting on February 28, 2018
The Tennessee Advanced Energy Business Council (TAEBC) will host its annual meeting in Nashville on February 28, 2018 at the Bridgestone Tower. Scott Becker, Senior VP of Administration & Finance at Nissan North America, will give a presentation and provide guest remarks. The program will begin at 1:30 pm CST with networking opportunities and a Happy Hour to immediately follow. RSVP for the event here.
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| Webinar on Navigating Third-Party Financing for Efficiency and Renewables
A forthcoming U.S. DOE Better Buildings webinar will introduce the Better Buildings Financing Navigator 2.0, which is the latest iteration of an online tool that helps to connect organizations with financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Attend the webinar on March 6, 2018 from 3:00 – 4:00 pm EST to learn about the new features and key trends in financing. You can register for the webinar here.
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| Four Reports on Real Estate Benefits from Energy Efficiency and Smart Technologies
1) Energy Efficient Buildings Less Likely to Default on Mortgages A new study released by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory says that energy efficient buildings are less likely to default on mortgages when compared to commercial buildings with higher energy consumption. The findings are based on mortgage default rates and energy performance in six major cities from 2000 to 2012. You can access the report here.
2) Financial Performance of Energy-Efficient, High-Performance Office Buildings Evidence has shown that owning and operating energy efficient, high performance, “green” properties results in multiple benefits, including lower utility bills, higher rents, improved occupancy, and greater net operating income. This U.S. DOE report uses data from commercial real estate owners to demonstrate the value of energy efficiency in these properties.
3) Sales Tool: Building Science-to-Sales Translator The goal of this U.S. DOE Sales Tool is to provide a new glossary of sales themes and terminology that can be used by real estate developers, contractors, and agents, and to consistently reinforce the value of high-performance, efficient homes. Click here to explore the tool and learn about the sales techniques that place value in building for residential energy efficiency and clean air/water quality.
4) Smart Buildings Save Energy and Improve Occupant Comfort A report by ACEEE demonstrates that smart technologies can reduce a building’s energy use by nearly a fifth and yield additional benefits such as increased worker productivity or improved occupant comfort. The report shows how many types of buildings can benefit from the latest interconnected technologies, from simple occupancy sensors to complex energy management and information systems. On average, the following types of buildings can save big with smart technologies: - Offices save can save an estimated 18% of their energy consumption by utilizing telecommunication strategies, occupancy sensors, smart thermostats, and HVAC/lighting controls that reduce energy usage in unoccupied offices and rooms. Smart systems have also been shown to improve worker productivity and even increase property value.
- Retail stores can save around 14% of their energy consumption by utilizing smart energy management systems, thermostats, and lights, which not only reduces energy demand but also creates a more attractive and comfortable environment for customers.
- Hotels can save around 8% of their energy consumption through guest management systems that can control guest room HVAC systems and window shading. Smart controls can also reduce energy from lighting and HVAC in conference areas and pumps in pool and spa areas.
- Hospitals can save an estimated 14% of their energy savings by adopting smart technologies like automatic lighting and ventilation systems.
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| Renewable Energy in Highway Right-of-Ways
The Federal Highway Administration recently hosted a series of peer exchanges between State Departments of Transportation on exploring the use of highway right-of-way (ROW) to accommodate renewable energy projects. These projects can provide both economic and environmental benefits to states by adding value to ROW assets, diversifying energy generation, reducing emissions, and promoting local green job markets. The first peer exchange brought together practitioners from Massachusetts, Minnesota, Maryland, Texas, Georgia, and Vermont, and further exchanges are being planned. To learn more, visit: FHWA Renewable Energy in Highway Rights of Way.
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| Toolkit: Green Revolving Funds
A Green Revolving Fund (GRF) is an internal capital pool that is dedicated to funding energy efficiency, renewable energy, or sustainability projects that generate cost savings. A portion of those savings are then used to replenish the fund, allowing for reinvestment in future projects of similar value. The GRF model has gained increasing traction within the higher education sector. Other sectors including healthcare, municipalities, and retail all see the benefits of this innovative funding model and are seeking similar outcomes. This U.S. DOE Better Buildings toolkit provides cross-sector guidance on establishing a GRF to overcome the common barrier of dedicated funding.
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| Updated Energy Saver Guide
For almost twenty years, the Energy Saver Guide has offered tips for saving money and energy at home. The Energy Save Guide provides recommendations on how to get a home energy audit, weatherize your home, heat and cool more efficiently, and reduce your electricity use. A newly released edition also provides information about how to use smart thermostats, connect with your utility to monitor your energy use, and use smart appliances. Click here to download a free copy in either English or Spanish.
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| Energy Efficiency and Human Health
ACEEE has created a three-part video series exploring the connect between energy efficiency and health. The first video explores efficiency’s impact in rural West Virginia, where, in one interview, ACEEE recounts how home weatherization improved the health of a woman with chronic breathing problems by stabilizing her home’s temperature and humidity levels. The second video demonstrates the benefits of efficiency in the mid-Atlantic city of Baltimore, where weather extremes that made it difficult for an asthmatic child to breathe were mitigated by home weatherization strategies, including insulation, improved HVAC systems, and air sealing around doors and windows to keep out allergens and other outdoor air contaminants. The third and final video in this series will be released soon.
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| Three New Tools for Advancing Energy Affordability in Low Income Communities
U.S. DOE’s Better Buildings’ Clean Energy for Low Income Communities Accelerator (CELICA) was designed to assist low income communities with implementation of energy efficient and renewable energy technologies. Low income households carry a disproportionate energy burden, or the share of annual household income that is used to pay annual energy bills. To lower energy burden and jumpstart planning for energy programs, CELICA is developing a framework and toolkit for state and local governments, utilities, and other program implementers interested in developing low income energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Here are three of their tools below:
1.Low-income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool – This resource provides interactive state, county, and city level worksheets with graphs and data on elements such as the number of households at different income levels and the number of homeowners versus renters within a given area. The tool also breaks down fuel type, building type, construction year, average monthly energy expenditures, and energy burden.
2.Baseline Assessment Guide – This resource lists a series of questions to help program implementers identify needs and gaps in energy efficiency, renewables, or other energy assistance programs for low income communities.
3.Program Funding Catalog – This is a list of state and federal resources that can be utilized to serve the energy needs of low income communities.
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