Energy and Global Climate Change in New England
ENERGY MONTH - October 2009 Volume 12
Community Energy Challenge (CEC) Monthly Update
Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
Welcome to the Community Energy Challenge Monthly Update, a monthly publication by EPA New England promoting energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy.
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- Welcome to the Newest Member of the CEC: Leominster, MA
- Western MA Electric offers New Energy Efficiency Program
- SMART BET (Save Money and Reduce Trash – Benefit Evaluation Tool)
- NH HB 585 - the Outdoor Lighting Efficiency Act
- New Hampshire (NH) Office of Energy and Planning Fall Conference
- ENERGY STAR Home Exhibit Tour
- NH Local Government Center Annual Conference
- Plainfield and Cornish, NH Energy Expo
- U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Solar Energy Technologies Program
- Grant Opportunity from New England Grassroots Environmental Fund
- Mass. DRAFT Block Grant Application Now Available for Review
- Grant Opportunity for Massachusetts High Performance Buildings
- Massachusetts Municipal Association Offers Free Energy-Saving Seminars
- Clean Air-Cool Planet Webinar: Finding Money for Your Projects
- ENERGY STAR Webinars
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- Welcome to the Newest Member of the Community Energy Challenge
EPA New England welcomes the community of Leominster, Massachusetts to the CEC! This community has pledged to form a local energy committee, benchmark their municipal buildings, and reduce energy use by 10%. With this addition there are 152 CEC members. - Western MA Electric offers New Energy Efficiency Program
On August 19, Western Massachusetts Electric (WMECO) announced a new social marketing and education program that targets energy efficiency among students and young adults. WMECO is partnering with SmartPower and Efficiency 2.0, organizations that provide software to monitor energy use and encourage behavioral changes. The websites for the partners providing the software are: SmartPower and Efficiency 2.0. The program website is: Western Mass Saves. - SMART BET (Save Money and Reduce Trash – Benefit Evaluation Tool)
This new EPA tool is designed to help community waste managers decide whether unit-based pricing for solid waste management (also known as Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) is the right model for their town or city. This approach to solid waste management has proven to be the single most effective way to reduce residential solid waste, increase recycling, and decrease waste-related greenhouse gas emissions. For more information » - NH HB 585 - the Outdoor Lighting Efficiency Act
Signed by New Hampshire Governor Lynch in July, HB 585 sets energy efficiency standards for roadway and other outdoor lighting installed by the state and creates a potential new way for local governments to reduce their electric bills for street lighting. For more information »
ARTICLES
- Stamford Saves Big Bucks on Energy-Saving Initiatives
Sustainable Stamford is planning to launch a corporate challenge next month to evaluate energy efficiency in privately owned buildings based on the city's own past efforts. Over the last 11 years Stamford has been awarded more than $2.7 million in Connecticut Light & Power rebates and has saved nearly 14 million kilowatt hours through various energy efficiency projects. - Solar Panels Dedicated at Chandler School
The New England Wind Fund Community Solar Challenge project asked 150 households or businesses in the community of Duxbury, MA to make a one-time $100 pledge, or $5 a month for 20 months, to the New England Wind Fund by April 30, 2008. In return for meeting the challenge, the community earns a two-kilowatt solar electric system for a municipal or school building in the town, valued at about $25,000.
EVENTS
- NH Office of Energy and Planning (OEP) Fall Conference
The OEP's annual conference will be held on October 17th at the Mountain Club on Loon in Lincoln, NH. For more information and to register » - ENERGY STAR Home Exhibit Tour
EPA is partnering with organizations around the country to host free events featuring a custom-built interactive exhibit modeled after an energy-efficient home that will show examples of the many ways to save energy, money, and help protect the environment. The ENERGY STAR home will be in Boston on October 24-25, at the Seaport World Trade Center. For more information » - NH Local Government Center Annual Conference
LGC's 68th Annual Conference, November 18–20, 2009, at the Radisson Hotel Manchester, featuring sessions on finance, governance, health and safety, human resources, land use and environment, schools, technology and more. For more information and to register »
- Plainfield and Cornish, New Hampshire Energy Expo
On October 24, 2009, 10 AM-3 PM, at the Plainfield Elementary School, Meriden, NH, the Plainfield and Cornish, NH Energy Committees will sponsor an energy-themed fair. The fair will include displays of commercial alternative energy products, energy-related non-profit and governmental organizations, workshops on a range of subjects, celebration of the school's successful energy saving project and a fund-raising lunch by PES students. For more information contact Nancy Mogielnicki (nancymog@gmail.com) of the Plainfield Energy Committee
In addition, a free showing of the film "Kilowatt Ours" will be held on Friday evening, October 23, at 7 PM in Hayes Auditorium, Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, NH.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
- U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Solar Energy Technologies Program - Solar America Cities-Technical Outreach
Funding: $10.5M Maximum per Award, 5-Year Performance Period
Open Date: 06/24/2009 Close Date: 10/15/2009
Funding Number: DE-FOA-0000086
Comprehensive outreach to local governments to help them build sustainable solar infrastructures and expand their solar markets. The maximum funding for the first 3 year phase of each project is $6 million. Maximum funding for the 2 year second phase is $4.5 million.
For more information, see the full solicitation, go to FedConnect, Click on "Search Public Opportunities.", Under "Search Criteria," select "Reference Number.", Enter "DE-FOA-0000086," then click on "Search." - Grant Opportunity from New England Grassroots Environmental Fund
Through its Energy/Climate Action program, NEGEF has already funded 20 of New Hampshire's local energy committees. Funding can be used for a wide range of needs, from local energy audits to home weatherization or local energy fairs. Contact New Hampshire program officer Bart Westdijk (bart@grassrootsfund.org or 802-223-4622) for more information. - Mass. DRAFT EECBG Application now available for Review (PDF) (10 pp, 88K, about PDF)
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is eligible to receive $14,752,100 in Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funds for sub-grants to the 309 municipalities with less than 35,000 residents.
The Green Communities Program has developed a DRAFT sub-grant application for review for municipalities with less than 35,000 residents. - Grant Opportunity for Massachusetts High Performance Buildings
This grant opportunity is open to industry, non-profits, educational institutions, and state and local government for high performance (i.e. super efficient) buildings. It is intended to help Massachusetts achieve scalable and dramatic improvement in the energy performance of all buildings in the Commonwealth, beyond what is currently expected to be attained through existing state and energy utility programs, such that more buildings move closer to being zero net energy buildings.
Funding will be used for four project categories:- Deep energy retrofits
- Projects that demonstrate cleaner, more efficient space conditioning technologies in buildings
- Upgrades of oil heating systems and installation of energy conservations measures in the same building
- Community-based education/mobilization efforts around energy efficiency/renewable energy
Deadline to submit response: October 30, 2009 by 3:00 pm
TOOLS/TRAINING
- Massachusetts Municipal Association Offers Free Energy-Saving Seminars
More than 40 MA communities have hosted free home energy-saving seminars for residents throughout the state, and the MMA is continuing to accept new hosts. The energy-savings presentations discuss cost-effective investments, do-it-yourself solutions, cost-reduction, the Energy Star rating system, and home audit information. For more information or to request a seminar in your community » - Clean Air -Cool Planet Webinar: Finding Money for Your Projects
Tuesday, October 6th, 2:00pm Cost: $10 for students, $25 for schools and nonprofits, $50 for consultants and businesses.
Is there money already in your town's budget that you can funnel to new projects while improving your current services? By using "Lean" management practices, the University of Central Oklahoma's facilities management department was able to improve their average facilities service request response time from three weeks days to 2 days, saving 17 pages of paper per service request, and freeing up $14,000 per year in paper costs and 2,000 hours of staff time. Learn about how this process worked at UCO and how lean can fund your favorite green project. To register » - ENERGY STAR Webinars
- Portfolio Manager for State and Local Governments
Thursday, October 15, 2009, 2:00- 3:00 pm, EST,
Colin Dunn will be discussing benchmarking in Portfolio Manager for state and local governments. A live demonstration will follow. - Benchmarking Water/Wastewater Plants in Portfolio Manager
Tuesday, October 20, 2009 1:00-2:30 pm
Water and wastewater treatment plants typically account for 30% of a municipality's energy costs. Benchmark your utilities and begin saving energy and money.
For more information and to register for these webinars »
- Portfolio Manager for State and Local Governments