The Energy Resource Center ( ERC) has a vast array of books, periodicals, DVD's and tools to assist businesses and home owners with energy efficiency products, services and practices. Books, periodicals and DVD's 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: Oil Less Centrifugal Compressor
Description: A compressor is used in large air conditioning systems to compress refrigerant so that it can be used to move heat from the inside of the building to the outside. The difference between a conventional compressor and an oil less compressor is the way that it compresses refrigerant and how efficiently it does it.
Systems Addressed: Compressor

This oil-less centrifugal compressor uses magnetic bearings, rather than conventional bearings, to make it more efficient. A variable speed drive is also integrated into the compressor to vary the compressor load to meet demand. Whereas most large compressors have their best efficiency at full load, the Turbocor is most efficient at part load conditions. Large air conditioning systems in San Diego operate at part-load conditions a majority of the time due to the mild weather here. For this reason, San Diego businesses usually benefit from conversion to oil less compressors.

ERC Featured Instrument

Name: Hobo Data Logger

Description: The HOBO U12 Temp / RH / 2 External Logger contains internal sensors for monitoring two common indoor parameters, temperature and relative humidity. These two external channels accept a wide range of external sensors, including temperature, AC current, AC voltage, CO2, 4-20mA, and DC voltage cables.

Required equipment: Data Logger
Specifications:

• 12-bit resolution provides high accuracy
• Large memory for long-term deployments or fast sampling
• Flexible measurement options
• Programmable and push button start

Availability: Loaned free of charge for up to 5 business days.
Remember: Safety first!

ERC Featured Periodical

Name: Sun, Wind & Light: Architectural Design Strategies, 2nd Edition

Author: G.Z. Brown, Mark DeKay

Description: Developed for rapid use during schematic design, this book clarifies relationships between form and energy and gives designers tools for sustainable design. It also:

• applies the latest passive energy and lighting design research;
• organizes information by architectural elements at three scales: building groups, individual buildings, and building parts, and
• brings design strategies to life with examples and practical design tools.

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 mean to 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? As directed by the Interim Opinion on Issues relating to Future Savings Goals and Program Planning for 2009-2011 Energy Efficiency and Beyond, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), Southern California Edison ( SCE), and Southern California Gas (SoCalGas) were to jointly prepare a single, statewide preliminary strategic plan no later than February 1. However, on January 31, the utilities were granted an extension until February 8. The utilities are required to solicit written comments on this preliminary strategic plan and conduct related meetings in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego during the month of February. A final strategic plan is to be filed jointly by the utilities no later than May 15.

California Solar Initiative (R.06-03-004)

What’s this?
This proceeding will develop rules and procedures for the California Solar Initiative ( CSI), designed to give $2.16 billion in incentives over 10 years to install solar photovoltaics to help offset peak demand.

What’s new?
On January 3, a new California Energy Commission ( CEC) staff report titled, "Expected Performance Based Incentive Calculation Comparison between NSHP (EPBI) and CSI (EPBB) Calculators", was posted to CEC’s Senate Bill 1 web page. The report provides an overview of the main differences in the two main solar incentive calculation methodologies used in California: the expected performance based incentive (EPBI), used by the CEC’s New Solar Homes Partnership ( NSHP), and the expected performance based buy down ( EPBB), used by the California Public Utility Commission’s ( CPUC) CSI program.

On January 17, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) hosted the quarterly CSI Program Forum. Topics included the new changes to the CSI Program Handbook, Senate Bill ( SB) 1, reallocation of dollars between the MW steps, and non- PV solar.
At its January 31 meeting, the CPUC approved its Proposed Decision to modify Decision 06-08-028 to remove the independence requirement for CSI performance monitoring and reporting. The Proposed Decision replaces the independence requirement with a protocol-based approach to ensure data accuracy and integrity for payment of performance-based incentives ( PBI).

Self-Generation Incentive Program (R.06-03-004)

What’s this?
This will develop rules and procedures for the Self-Generation Incentive Program ( SGIP), designed to give incentives for the installation of certain renewable and clean generation technologies, excluding solar technologies, which are funded through the CSI.

What’s new?
On January 15, the CPUC issued its Proposed Decision denying the petition by FuelCell Energy to modify Decision 04-12-045. The petition seeks to raise the cap on incentive payments available under the SGIP from the current cap of 1 MW to 3 MW. Opening comments are due February 4, and reply comments are due February 11.

At its January 31 meeting, the CPUC approved its Proposed Decision adopting a budget of $83 million for the SGIP for 2008. Additionally, 2008 incentive levels will remain at the same levels as in 2007. Potential participants are reminded that Assembly Bill ( AB) 2778 amended the law relating to the SGIP, and program eligibility for SGIP incentives is now limited to qualifying wind and fuel cell distributed generation ( DG) technologies, beginning January 1, 2008, through January 1, 2012. Internal combustion engines and microturbines are no longer eligible for incentives.

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 between the Imperial Valley and San Diego.

What’s new?
On January 9, the Administrative Law Judge released his Ruling Granting Utility Consumers' Action Network's (UCAN) Motion to Compel Additional SDG&E Testimony Relating to Wildfires in Phase 2 of the Proceeding. SDG&E was directed to address the questions set forth in UCAN’s motion as well as two other questions included in the Ruling, relating to wildfire issues. SDG&E is to serve this direct testimony no later than March 12.

On January 24, the CPUC set two additional Public Participation Hearings, including one at the San Diego County Administration Center on February 25 at 1:30 p.m. Public Participation Hearings will be held February 25-27 to provide the public an opportunity to make oral comments on the Draft EIR / EIS and submit written comments. For more information, including dates and locations of the Informational Workshops and Public Participation Hearings, please see the Notice of Additional Public Participation Hearing and the CPUC Web site for the California Environmental Quality Act ( CEQA) review of the proposed Sunrise Powerlink Transmission Line Project.

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 January 16, the California Air Resources Board ( CARB) held a scoping plan workshop in Oakland discussing the process that CARB will use in evaluating policy mechanisms for achieving the GHG emission reductions called for in AB 32. One of the mechanisms discussed was a cap and trade program. The next AB 32 workshop will be held in Sacramento on April 4 and will cover various scenarios. In July, a Draft Scoping Plan Statewide Workshop will take place. CARB is scheduled to then consider the Scoping Plan in November. For a complete list of AB 32 workshops and meetings, please visit http://www.arb.ca.gov/app/calendar/cc_cur_evnt.php.

Legislative activities include:

On January 7, 2008, California state legislators returned from their winter recess to resume work on the second half of the legislative session. If previous years’ focus is any indication of what to expect, energy will continue to be a hot topic.

One bill of interest to the renewable community is AB 1807 (Fuentes – San Fernando Valley). AB 1807 mandates that electrical corporations create a feed-in tariff to purchase excess electricity created by renewable resources that are less than 20 megawatts. The tariff is directly linked to the market price referent (MPR) determined by the California Public Utilities Commission for periods of 10, 15, or 20 years. This bill is similar to SB 451 (Kehoe – San Diego) of last year that was vetoed by the governor over the issue of who would own the rights to the generating facility’s renewable energy credit ( REC).

Legislators have until February 22nd to introduce new bills for consideration in the second session.

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