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| November 2008 | Home · Events Calendar · Visit Us ·
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In This Issue |
Mission Bay Aquatic Center Solar System Made Possible by California Solar Initiative Rebate
On October 17, 2008, Don Chadwick, President Weber and Erica Johnson accepted a grant check from Andrew McAllister, Director of Programs at CCSE . The installation was made possible through a rebate program from California Solar Initiative, the Associated Students of San Diego State University and the University of California San Diego. The system will provide MBAC with clean energy from the sun and prevent 82,000 pounds of CO² from entering the atmosphere each year.
Events Calendar
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Did you know CCSE offers free, ongoing workshops on energy efficiency, solar energy, green building, transportation and climate change? Register now! Click on the links below or call (866) SDENERGY.
Solar for Homeowners
Date: Tuesday, November 18, 2008
California Solar Initiative Application Process Workshop
Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Understanding Electric Rates and Time-of-Use
Date: Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Impacts of Climate Change on Businesses
Date: Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Employee Spotlight
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Agnes Stupak
California Solar Initiative Program Assistant - Non Residential
Agnes Stupak is a program assistant for the non-residential portion of the California Solar Initiative ( CSI) at CCSE.
She provides administrative support, which includes assisting with processing program applications and maintaining the CSI program database. Agnes performs onsite installation inspections and completes field verification inspection reports. She is also responsible for communicating with applicants and PV installers throughout the application process. Prior to joining CCSE, Agnes owned and operated Mano Imports, a fair trade imports company that concentrated on empowering artisans. She handled all administrative duties for her business, including overseeing the company's finances and maintaining customer relationships. Her responsibilities involved traveling to Guatemala to purchase inventory and establishing fair trade relationships with vendors. She also handled customs and all import related tasks.
Her previous experience includes working as an estate manager for a family in Rancho Santa Fe. In this role, Agnes handled bookkeeping, accounting, payroll, travel arrangements and property management. She also traveled throughout the United States coordinating events for the family and managing employees at various estate properties. At Home Energy Systems (HES) Solar, Agnes performed various office administrative tasks and attended all of the special events serving as a guest liaison for prospective customers. Agnes also assisted with the installation of solar electric systems by working directly with customers on contracts, rebates and other paperwork. She was responsible for submitting all forms to the California Energy Commission and SDG&E in connection with the Emerging Renewables Program and utility interconnections. She also consulted with clients at their homes to explain the benefits of solar.
Agnes has a bachelor’s degree in International Environmental Policy from the University of the Pacific. She has also studied at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland, where she acquired a certificate of completion in Polish language and Central/Eastern European Studies. She has worked abroad in England and France throughout college, where she gained experience in cross cultural training, marketing and public relations.
Greening Your WorldSM
Tip of the Month
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Need a place to recycle your used cell phones, ink cartridges and CFLs? Bring these items to CCSE and we’ll recycle them for you.
Notable & Quotable
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“Here’s what we can do — now: we can make an immediate and large strategic investment to put people to work replacing 19th-century energy technologies that depend on dangerous and expensive carbon-based fuels with 21st-century technologies that use fuel that is free forever: the sun, the wind and the natural heat of the earth.”
-Al Gore,
The New York Times
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“Output from the world's oilfields is declining faster than previously thought, the first authoritative public study of the biggest fields shows. Without extra investment to raise production, the natural annual rate of output decline is 9.1 per cent, the International Energy Agency says in its annual report, the World Energy Outlook.”
-The Financial Times
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Summary of President-elect Obama's comprehensive New Energy for America Plan Summary:
- Provide short-term relief to American families facing pain at the pump
- Help create five million new jobs by strategically investing US $150 billion over the next ten years to catalyze private efforts to build a clean energy future
- Within 10 years save more oil than we currently import from the Middle East and Venezuela combined
- Put one million Plug-in hybrid cars — cars that can get up to 150 miles per gallon — on the road by 2015, cars that we will work to make sure are built here in America
- Ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025
- Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050
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As the economy reels from its oil hangover, most Americans do not realize that they face another energy crisis—one resulting from an electricity system that has been starved of innovation for decades. Despite being an engineering marvel of the 20th century, our electricity infrastructure, the grid itself, has become obsolete, unreliable, inefficient and far too vulnerable to serve the needs of 21st century consumers. Today’s electric power system desperately needs an upgrade. It wastes more energy each year than Japan consumes, and power outages alone cost Americans more than $150 billion a year.
Kurt Yeager is the executive director of the Galvin Electricity Initiative and co-author with Bob Galvin of the upcoming book "PERFECT POWER: How the Microgrid Revolution Will Unleash Cleaner, Greener, More Abundant Energy", published by McGraw Hill.
-Engineering News-Record
Contact Us
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Energy Connection is a monthly e-newsletter of the California Center for Sustainable Energy.
We value your feedback. To submit comments, questions or suggestions, please click here.
From the Director's Desk:
CCSE Gives Thanks
As the holiday season approaches, CCSE is sharing in the spirit of giving thanks. CCSE’s staff is thankful for how they’ve been able to green your world. From providing San Diegans with energy efficient shade trees, to helping fire survivors rebuild green, CCSE would like to thank the community for all the support that makes our programs a success.
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| Cool Communities Shade Tree workshop |
“Since 2002, CCSE has been responsible for planting more than 35,000 urban shade trees, and is on PACE to plant nearly 10,000 this year alone. More importantly, we have educated the recipients of these trees on the importance of planting the right tree in the right place, and the overall value of urban forestry to a sustainable energy policy in our future," said Associate Program Manager, Robin Rivet.
CCSE is thankful for being able to provide rebates to help fire survivors rebuild green. “It has been an honor to have the privilege to assist these fire survivors with information to help them build new homes that are more sustainable and green,” said Program Manager, Lauri Walker.
The Rebuild Central program has been able to offer free workshops and provide incentives to the fire survivors for rebuilding their homes using energy-efficient products and services. Bank of America, The Prudential Realty Foundation and the California Community Foundation provided grants that enabled Rebuild Central to offer these valuable incentives to fire survivors in San Diego County and the San Bernardino-Lake Arrowhead region.
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| Top: Rebuild Central site; plans for a new energy efficient home |
In addition, CCSE and SDG&E’s partnership on the Energy Resource Center ( ERC) Program has been able to provide workshops, technical assistance, lending libraries and technology displays that are essential to helping the community make informed decisions that result in the implementation of energy efficiency in San Diego. “The ERC is grateful for all the wonderful input and appreciation we receive from the community,”said Program Manager, Ashley Watkins.
CCSE’s marketing department is thankful for both the media support in promoting and publicizing our community outreach events and the outstanding public participation we had in 2008. “The outreach events we held this year were a huge success. The community came out in full support of our mission to “green your world” giving us hope for a clean energy future,” said Marketing Communications Manager, Kim Sykes. CCSE is thankful for all of our success in 2008 and is looking forward to a brilliant year of sustainable activities and practices in 2009.
Have a Sustainable Thanksgiving
One of the few holidays that doesn’t focus on presents or candy, Thanksgiving is a celebration of what we already have. Make your Thanksgiving feast both meaningful and sustainable by following these tips:
- When planning: Send out invitations by email or use recyclable stationary. Sprucing up the house for your Thanksgiving visitors? Try using cleaners without harsh chemicals. Celebrate the holiday at home (don’t fly) or consider buying carbon credits to offset your trip.
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When shopping: Challenge yourself to eat locally or organically to cut down on your feast’s food miles. Search the USDA Farmers Market Guide, Local Harvest, Eat Wild or the Eat Well Guide for markets near you. Buy food with the least amount of packaging. Shop online to save gas or bring your reusable shopping bags.
- When decorating: Use natural materials like food or flowers to create your centerpieces, name plates and napkin rings. Kids can make recyclable decorations out of construction paper. Find new-to-you seasonal decorations at resale shops or reuse last year’s. Light beeswax or soy candles and dim the lights to create an elegant and eco-friendly atmosphere.
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When setting the table: Use real plates, silverware and cloth napkins or bamboo and other biodegradable alternatives.
- When cooking: Use tap water. Open windows to cool down instead of turning on the A.C. Only prepare what will actually be eaten.
- When eating: Talk about why you are thankful. Encourage everyone to clean their plates. Take a walk between dinner and dessert to help your food settle while enjoying and being grateful for nature.
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When cleaning up: Make sure to recycle. Start a compost pile.
- After the feast: Consider planting a tree to commemorate your wonderful dinner. Try to find new and interesting ways to eat the same food. Get rid of your leftovers by sending guests home with reusable containers. Donate leftovers and excess canned foods to local shelters.
CCSE Shines During Solar Energy Week!
Special Events Program Assistant, Kara Holman, reports on CCSE’s signature annual event.
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San Diegans shared CCSE’s mission of promoting change for a clean energy future by showing their strong support throughout the 4th annual Solar Energy Week. The festivities kicked off with an action-packed Family Solar Day at the beautiful Spanish Landing Park overlooking San Diego harbor, on Sunday, October 12th. With music, solar cooking demonstrations, face painting, coloring contests and the latest in solar technologies, adults and kids couldn’t get enough of the solar-powered fun! Qualcomm, sharing in CCSE’s mission of a clean energy future, was proud to be this year’s Family Solar Day sponsor.
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“Hopefully, by highlighting the many solar installations that businesses and homes have completed in San Diego, the environmental awareness level will rise and more people will be inspired to participate in projects like this to increase their environmental stewardship,” said Qualcomm’s Director of Sustainability, Gail Welch.
The Commercial Solar Tours gave participants an up-close look at local leaders in solar technology. Tour attendees were able to check out the Children’s Museum, the solar trees at UCSD, the Alvarado Water Treatment Facility and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers’ (IBEW) solar installation. IBEW was proud to be the Commercial Solar Tour Sponsor this year, getting out their message of “moving San Diego forward.”
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“It is important to us to show our commitment to the community that we will provide qualified electricians and have the ability to perform the installation of the latest in technology to secure San Diego’s energy future,” said IBEW president Patrick Knighton.
This year CCSE’s conference portion of Solar Energy Week was part of the Solar Power International 2008. CCSE featured prominently at the conference, particularly on “California Day,” which took place on Wednesday, October 15th. CCSE staff presented workshops to packed rooms at the Convention Center. California Solar Initiative Residential Program Manager, Ben Airth, took attendees through the steps of “Solar for Homeowners,” while CCSE’s Program Manager, Annie Henderson, and Energy Engineer, Skip Fralick, presented information about the Solar Water Heating Pilot program to a full house.
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Wrapping up the eventful week, on Saturday, conference attendees and locals checked out residential solar installations on the self-guided 9th Annual San Diego Solar Homes Tour. More than 40 homes throughout San Diego County took part in the tour.
“Energy is a volatile and ever-changing market. That, in addition to the depletion of fossil fuels, makes it imperative to provide different types of outreach, such as CCSE's Family Solar Day, Commercial Solar Tours, workshops and the self-guided Solar Homes Tour. These Solar Energy Week activities provide education to both the residential and commercial markets. Solar energy is both natural and free,” said CCSE’s Events Manager Lauri Walker. “The 4th annual Solar Energy Week was a great success for both San Diego and CCSE!”
Mandatory IRA Withdrawals Can Assist Nonprofits
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The recently passed Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 allows IRA (Individual Retirement Account) and inherited IRA holders to make donations to charity groups directly from their IRAs without paying any federal income taxes. The federal government’s bank-rescue plan extends the charitable-distribution provision established by the Pension Protection Act of 2006. The 2006 Act expired on December 31, 2007, but now has been extended both retroactively through 2008 and onward through 2009. If you are at least 70 ½ years old and have an IRA or inherited IRA, you can donate up to $100,000 annually to 501(c) 3 status groups like CCSE. These gifts can count toward the required minimum distribution that IRA holders, who are 70 ½ and older, must take from their accounts every year. Distribution must be made directly from your IRA to qualifying charities, which exclude donor-advised funds and private foundations. While the bank-rescue plan does allow charitable distributions from IRAs, such distributions are not allowed from 401(k) accounts. Please consider the non-profit CCSE for such a donation.
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| Inside the San Diego Energy Resource Center Lending Library | |
| The Energy Resource Center ( ERC) has a vast array of books, periodicals, DVDs and tools to assist businesses and home owners with energy efficiency products, services and practices. Books, periodicals and DVDs can be checked out free of charge. Please call toll-free: 1-866-SDENERGY for more information. For a look at tools and resources available in the lending library, click here. ERC Featured DisplayName: Pedal Power
Description: The Pedal Power allows you to demonstrate concepts of energy conservation through hands-on audience participation by having the audience create and use their own energy. The Pedal Power is simple enough for anyone to use; energy professional and non-technical people alike can appreciate the intuitive design. The display features a bicycle, generator and the pedal power display board. As you peddle, the generator provides energy to the display board, turning on the LED, fluorescents and incandescent light bulbs and other appliances. As you move from energy efficient to non-energy efficient devices, the peddling gets more intense! We encourage you to stop by and try to light up the four incandescent bulbs! ERC Featured InstrumentName: Telaire 7001Vr Tool#38 The easy-to-use monitor is designed for use in residential or commercial applications. The Telaire identifies areas with low or substandard ventilation or hidden energy savings in over-ventilated spaces.
Availability: Loaned free of charge for up to 10 business days. ERC Featured Book
Author: Joel Davidson and Fran Orner Description: The original Photovoltaics How-To Handbook, acclaimed as "the Best of the Books," is now revised, expanded and updated for our New Age of Photovoltaics. Condensing years of hands-on and industry experience, photovoltaic pioneers Joel Davidson and Fran Orner tell you everything you need to know to go solar.
The third edition of this how-to classic provides the facts, guidelines, tips & tools with worksheets, formulas, diagrams and more. Whether you do-it-yourself or hire professionals, are grid-connected or off-grid or live in the sunbelt, snowbelt or in-between, you’ll find what you need to go solar.
NOTE: Books, periodicals and videos can also be checked out free of charge at CCSE. Please call Toll Free: 1-866-SDENERGY for more information. To find prior editions of "Inside the San Diego Energy Resource Center Lending Library" information, including DVD reviews, click here. |
| Energy Policies, Regulations & Legislative Updates | |||||
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Energy Efficiency (R.06-04-010)
What’s this? California Solar Initiative, Self-Generation Incentive Program and Other Distributed Generation Issues (R.08-03-008) What’s this?
CSI: On September 24, the CPUC issued the proposed decision modifying Decision 07-11-045 regarding the Low-Income Single-Family Solar Incentive Program. The proposed decision grants the petition filed by GRID Alternatives seeking modification of Decision 07-11-045 to remove the restriction that incentives may only be paid to the low-income homeowner. The proposed decision provides that low-income incentive recipients may now assign their incentive payments to third parties, as is the case in the general market CSI program. Opening comments were filed by parties on October 14, and reply comments were filed on October 20.
SGIP: On October 22, a proposed decision was issued addressing several requests to modify the eligible technologies under the SGIP and revising the process for evaluating future SGIP program modification requests. Most notably, the proposed decision provides that advanced energy storage (AES) systems that meet certain technical parameters and are coupled with eligible SGIP technologies, i.e., wind and fuel cell technologies, will receive an incentive of $2 per watt of installed capacity. Comments on the proposed decision are due November 11, and reply comments are due November 17. Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Project (A.06-08-010)
What’s this? Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap (R.06-04-009)
What’s this? For a complete list of energy-related State and Federal legislation, please visit our Web site at www.energycenter.org.
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Copyright 2008 • California Center for Sustainable Energy
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