Director's Desk
Help us find the EnergyAll-Stars
 I encourage you to nominate your clients, employer, yourself or any community business or agency for our eighth annual Energy All-Star Awards. We need your help finding the best of the best.
The deadline for nominations is Friday, Jan. 6.
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Outstanding Homeowner
Outstanding Innovation in a Building Project
Large Commercial
Small Commercial
Government or Nonprofit
Outstanding Organization
Sustainable Community Leadership
San Diego Region
California Statewide
Sustainable Transportation
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View last year's winners here.
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The Autumn Terrace Apartments in San Marcos won 2010's outstanding commercial building award and went on to achieve LEED Platinum.
Removing the Barriers
CCSE leads effort to grow solar in Southern California
As part of the Department of Energy's $12 million Rooftop Solar Challenge, CCSE was awarded $700,000 to lead a team of 11 jurisdictions and five utilities to determine the best ways to expedite the widespread adoption of solar throughout Southern California. The regional team will develop guidelines for streamlining and standardizing the permitting and connection of solar systems aimed at reducing the cost of solar installations and making solar cost competitive with other energy sources.
Click here to continue reading.
Evening with John Muir
Actor/scholar transforms into famous naturalist
The spirit of John Muir, one of the nation's earliest and foremost advocates for preserving wilderness and the environment, will come alive during a performance by actor and scholar Doug Hulmes the evening of Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Recital Hall in Balboa Park.
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Soldiers of Change
When the military goes green, everyone wins
Not always regarded as innovative or progressive by the uninformed, U.S. military forces are taking great strides toward using energy efficiency and alternative fuels to save energy and money – and more importantly lives – while reducing the size of its carbon "boot print."
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Professional Training
Learn solar water heating for less
CCSE is partnering with National Solar Trainers to provide an affordable solar water heating training program in January to fully prepare attendees to enter into this growing market. Participants will learn the skills needed to launch a career as an installer, designer, marketing professional or entrepreneur.
Click here to continue reading.
 Inside the ERC
Energy Resource Library now has its complete catalog of books, DVDs and tools online with advanced hold for items you want to check out. Simply search by subject, author, title, manufacturer, name or type and if what you want is available, you can put a hold on it until you come by CCSE to complete the check-out process. Go to the library website.
Display
OJAI High-Density Energy Storage Product
Ojai Energy Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures and brings to market energy storage systems in the form of complete turn-key solutions, specific products that are integrated into larger system applications and custom designs for specific end uses. The OES2™ utilizes Ojai Energy System's Safe Lithium-ion Cell (SLiC™) technology in a unique, scalable, intelligent, high-density energy storage product.
Click here to learn more.
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Tool
Wireless inspection camera with recording color LCD monitor
This unit's lightweight and handheld design makes it easy to find, diagnose and solve hard-to-reach problems. The large 3.5-inch wireless monitor offers full video recording as well as a TV/video output jack.
Click here to learn more.
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Book
A Californian's Guide to the Trees among Us by Matt Ritter
This book features more than 150 of California's most commonly grown trees. Whether native or cultivated, these trees muffle noise, create wildlife habitats, mitigate pollution, conserve energy and make urban living healthier and more peaceful. Forty copies are available for loan by groups.
Click here to learn more.
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DVD
"Vanishing of the Bees"
Honeybees, a keystone species vital to sustaining our ecosystem, are mysteriously disappearing worldwide, literally vanishing from their hives. Filming across the U.S., Europe, Australia and Asia, this documentary examines the alarming disappearance of honeybees and the greater meaning it holds about the relationship between humankind and the earth.
Click here to learn more.
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Policy and Planning
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Energy Efficiency
This rulemaking continues the work of R.06-04-010 and serves as the forum for the California Public Utility Commission's continued implementation of the California Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan as well as the forum for initiating the next planning cycle for 2013-2015 energy efficiency program plans, funding levels and related issues. Read updates. |
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Energy Efficiency Risk/Reward Incentive Mechanism (RRIM)
This rulemaking will address the California Public Utility Commission's policies related to an energy efficiency risk/reward incentive mechanism (RRIM), which offers the four major California energy utilities, i.e., Pacific Gas and Electric Company ( PG&E), Southern California Edison Company ( SCE), San Diego Gas & Electric Company ( SDG&E) and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas), incentives to achieve or surpass CPUC-adopted energy efficiency goals and to extend California's commitment to making energy efficiency the highest energy resource priority. Read updates. |
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California Solar Initiative,
Self-Generation Incentive Program and Other Distributed Generation Issues
This rulemaking continues the work of R.08-03-008, 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). Read updates. |
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 Event Calendar
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.
Passing the CSI Inspection Protocol
Date: Tuesday, Jan 10, 2011
Home Performance 101
Date: Wednesday, Jan 11, 2011
Solar for Homeowners 2 - Be a Smart Solar Customer
Date: Thursday, Jan 12, 2011
Join the CCSE Elite Volunteer Ambassadors
Date: Thursday, Jan 12, 2011
Celebrate Trees - An Evening with Naturalist John Muir
Date: Saturday, Jan 14, 2011
Solar Water Heating Installation Training (4 days)
Date: Monday, Jan 16, 2011
Solar Water Heating Installation Training (2 days)
Date: Monday, Jan 16, 2011
EV Past, Present and Future
Date: Tuesday, Jan 24, 2011
CCSE: In the News
CCSE is ranked 10th in the San Diego Business Journal's 2011 list of the top nonprofit agencies. Read "Despite Tough Economic Times, Nonprofits Report Rising Revenue" from Nov. 28.
Monthly Tip
Fireplace Wood – Use only dried firewood – damp or green wood creates more smoke and carbon dioxide emissions. Instead of buying or collecting wood, consider wood pellets. They are usually made of compacted sawdust from milling operations.
Notable Quotable
""Becoming energy independent must be a top priority of the United States. It certainly is for veterans like me."
– Steven M. Anderson, retired Army brigadier general
Contact Us
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.
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