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 Display

Name: LightBulb Comparison Display

Description: Description: To get a better understanding of different lighting technologies that exist, come and check out our newest lighting comparison display. This display will provide you with information on three lighting technologies; it compares the energy output and color rendering of incandescent, CFL’s and LED lighting. CFL’s are rapidly replacing incandescent light, but LEDs are an emerging technology that may soon be cost effective enough for wider usage.

ERC Featured Instrument

Name: TED (The Energy Detective) - Tool #72

TED (The Energy Detective) is a simple, yet extremely accurate, home energy monitor that allows you to see electricity usage in real-time. You no longer have to wait for the 'electricity bill surprise'! TED will accurately tell you what your bill is going to be long before the electric bill arrives. Meanwhile, you will learn more about conserving energy, saving money and helping save the environment.

With its patented solution to home energy management, TED quantifies electricity and displays the results on its easy-to-read LCD screen. Unlike some complicated electricity conservation systems, TED is a simple, intuitive and affordable way to monitor and manage your entire home's energy consumption. Think of it as your home's speedometer.

“I use the TED at my home with its optional “Footprints” software, and it has made understanding our energy consumption much more transparent,” said Andrew McAllister, CCSE’s Director of Programs. “TED will log interval data onto a PC in real time, making possible analysis of consumption patterns over time. It’s a very useful device for the residential energy contractor or motivated homeowner.”

With its two-second reaction time, TED provides immediate feedback on energy usage. For you, that means no surprises. You can see what you're spending on electricity each second, as well as what you've spent so far today or so far this month.

Availability: Loaned free of charge for up to 10 business days.
Remember: Safety first!

ERC Featured Book

Name: Hot, Flat and Crowded - Book Code: GW4

Authors: Thomas L. Friedman

Description:Thomas L. Friedman’s phenomenal number-one bestseller The World Is Flat has helped millions of readers to see the world in a new way. In his brilliant, essential new book, Friedman takes a fresh and provocative look at two of the biggest challenges we face today: America’s surprising loss of focus and national purpose since 9/11; and the global environmental crisis, which is affecting everything from food to fuel to forests. In this groundbreaking account of where we stand now, he shows us how the solutions to these two big problems are linked--how we can restore the world and revive America at the same time.

Friedman explains how global warming, rapidly growing populations and the astonishing expansion of the world’s middle class through globalization have produced a planet that is “hot, flat, and crowded.” Already the earth is being affected in ways that threaten to make it dangerously unstable. In just a few years, it will be too late to fix things--unless the United States steps up now and takes the lead in a worldwide effort to replace our wasteful, inefficient energy practices with a strategy for clean energy, energy efficiency and conservation that Friedman calls Code Green.

This is a great challenge, Friedman explains, but also a great opportunity, and one that America cannot afford to miss. Not only is American leadership the key to the healing of the earth; it is also our best strategy for the renewal of America.

In vivid, entertaining chapters, Friedman makes it clear that the green revolution we need is like no revolution the world has seen. It will be the biggest innovation project in American history; it will be hard, not easy; and it will change everything from what you put into your car to what you see on your electric bill. But the payoff for America will be more than just cleaner air. It will inspire Americans to something we haven’t seen in a long time--nation-building in America--by summoning the intelligence, creativity, boldness and concern for the common good that are our nation’s greatest natural resources.

Hot, Flat, and Crowded is classic Thomas L. Friedman: fearless, incisive, forward-looking and rich in surprising common sense about the challenge--and the promise--of the future.

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.

A Summary of Recent California Public Utilities Commission regulatory activity, and what it means to the average consumer, business and/or public agency:

Energy Efficiency (R.06-04-010)

What’s this?
This is the forum for initiating the next planning cycle for 2009-2011 energy efficiency ( EE) program plans, funding levels and related issues.


What’s new? On February 20, the California Public Utilities Commission ( CPUC) issued an Order, extending the statutory deadline for resolving this proceeding. The original deadline was December 31, 2008; however, due to the continuing need for review of activities related to the risk/reward incentive mechanism and verification of energy savings, this proceeding was unable to be resolved before the deadline. Decision (D.) 09-01-027 was issued on January 29, extending the deadline to March 1. Additionally on January 29, a new rulemaking, R.09-01-019, was opened to consider risk/reward mechanisms. A second new rulemaking is expected to be opened shortly to deal with other energy efficiency issues going forward. Until this second new rulemaking is opened, there is a need for R.06-04-010 to remain open. Thus, the statutory deadline for resolving this proceeding is extended to April 30.

California Solar Initiative, Self-Generation Incentive Program and Other Distributed Generation Issues (R.08-03-008)

What’s this?
This rulemaking continues the work of R.06-03-004, developing and refining policies, rules and programs for the California Solar Initiative ( CSI) and the Self-Generation Incentive Program ( SGIP) and considering policies for the development of cost-effective, clean and reliable distributed generation ( DG).

What’s new?

CSI:On March 2, as directed by the February 3 ALJ Ruling, Southern California Edison Company ( SCE), on behalf of the CSI Program Administrators (PAs), filed SCE Advice Letter 2327-E / PG&E Advice Letter 3429-E / CCSE Advice Letter 6, proposing changes to the CSI Program Handbook to implement all requirements in Chapters 3 through 6 of the revised California Energy Commission Guidelines for California’s Solar Electric Incentive Program Pursuant to SB 1.
The proposed Decision Modifying D.07-11-045 regarding Low Income Single Family Solar Incentive Program within the California Solar Initiative is on the agenda for the March 26 CPUC Meeting. If signed, the proposed Decision would grant the petition to modify D.07-11-045 filed by PG&E to allow PG&E, SCE and SDG&E to request cost recovery through an advice letter process for costs incurred to support the Single Family Affordable Solar Housing ( SASH) Program, but would deny the petition to modify D.07-11-045 filed by the Department of Community Services and Development to allow third-party ownership of solar energy systems installed under the SASH Program.

SGIP: On March 4, Utility Savings & Refund, LLC, withdrew its Protest to CCSE Advice Letter 5 / PG&E Advice Letter 2406-E / SCE Advice Letter 2311-E / SoCalGas Advice Letter 3950, which proposed amendments to the SGIP Handbook to, among other things, revise the program to allow advanced energy storage (AES) systems coupled with eligible self generation technologies to receive incentives. Utility Savings & Refund originally protested the advice letter, recommending that the technical parameters for AES systems be more completely defined in the SGIP Handbook and specifically suggesting the requirement that an AES system be able “to handle hundreds of partial discharge cycles each day” to be eligible for the program to be included in the SGIP Handbook. Utility Savings & Refund was advised that the SGIP PAs will issue a revised Handbook that will address its concerns.
On March 17, the California Center for Sustainable Energy ( CCSE), on behalf of the SGIP PAs, filed the Self Generation Incentive Program Semi-Annual Renewable Fuel Use Report No. 13 for the Six Month Period Ending December 31, 2008. The report provides the CPUC with the results of on‐site inspections of operational projects that utilize renewable fuels to assess compliance with the renewable fuel provisions of the SGIP.

Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Project (A.06-08-010)

What’s this?
San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) seeks authority from the CPUC to construct a 500 kV transmission line in conjunction with several 230 kV transmission lines, expected to run 150 miles from the Imperial Valley to San Diego.

What’s new?
On March 6, the Consumer Protection and Safety Division (CPSD) and SDG&E jointly filed a Motion for Approval of Settlement Agreement, relating to issues pending in Phase III of this proceeding. Phase III was initiated on August 1, when Assigned Commissioner Grueneich issued a revised Scoping Memo and Ruling / Order to Show Cause, ordering SDG&E to appear and show cause as to why it should not have fines and other sanctions imposed for alleged violations of CPUC Rule of Practice and Procedure 1.1 for misrepresenting key facts in this proceeding to CPUC Staff and for failing to follow the requirements of Rule 8.3 by not filing proper ex parte notices. The Commission limited participation in Phase III of this proceeding to only CPSD and SDG&E. CPSD and SDG&E’s proposed Settlement Agreement includes a statement of apology by SDG&E; SDG&E’s agreements to contribute $50,000 of shareholder funds to 2-1-1 San Diego and $150,000 to SDG&E’s Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program, to provide $220,000 in reimbursement to the CPUC for costs associated with the Order to Show Cause and other Sunrise Powerlink project-related expenses and to pay $500,000 to the State’s general fund; SDG&E’s agreement to develop and sponsor a professional responsibility class with particular emphasis on Rule 1.1 duties and ex parte rule best practices, in consultation with CPSD and the CPUC’s Public Advisor’s office; and lastly, SDG&E’s agreement to create an ex parte best practices manual in consultation with the CPUC’s General Counsel’s office.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cap (R.06-04-009)

What’s this?
Initiated out of Assembly Bill ( AB) 32, this will design and implement a greenhouse gas ( GHG) cap for the regulated electric utilities, including consideration of a GHG performance standard.

What’s new?
On March 12, the CPUC issued Decision (D.) 09-03-027, its Order Denying Rehearing of Decision (D.) 08-10-037. The Request for Rehearing of D.08-10-037 was filed by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) on November 21, essentially challenging the policy determinations in D.08-10-037, the Final Opinion on Greenhouse Gas Regulatory Strategies. In denying LADWP’s request for rehearing, D.09-03-027 found that LADWP’s rehearing application challenged regulations that have not been adopted by the California Air Resources Board ( CARB), and thus, the issues raised were premature and not ripe for consideration and were presented in the wrong forum. D.09-03-027 also found that the substantive issues raised in LADWP’s application for rehearing were without merit. Specifically, the CPUC found that the record supports the cap and trade recommendations to CARB reached by the CPUC and the California Energy Commission ( CEC). This proceeding, R.06-04-009, is now closed.

For a complete list of energy-related State and Federal legislation, please visit our Web site at www.energycenter.org.