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Trees Provide Green Benefits
High School Goes Solar
Peter Hamilton (left), CCSE director of Energy Services, congratulates San Dieguito Union High School District Superintendent Ken Noah while presenting a $4.7 million CSI rebate for a solar carport installation at La Costa Canyon High School in Carlsbad. CCSE's Energy Advisory Service assisted the school district in pursuing the solar project and an overall energy strategy. Nissan LEAF Rebate
David Almeida (left), CCSE manager of the Clean Vehicle Rebate Project, presents a $5,000 rebate check to Jose Cessna of El Cajon and his two sons during an event that officially marked the beginning of residential installations of ECOtality's Blink home charging stations. Cessna received the rebate for his new Nissan LEAF.
Which Green Building Rating?Making sense of various sustainable building standards
With today's mix of voluntary and mandatory green building standards, municipal codes and third-party rating systems, it can be a logistical nightmare deciphering how to get the best benefits and overall value. While green building requirements are relatively consistent, there are shades of gray within them that can lead to uncertainties and overlaps, according to architect Wally Geer, owner of Greymar Associates in Ventura, Calif. Architecture Inspired by NatureLearning from and emulating ecosystem engineering
By creating homes, businesses, communities and nations, we humans have encroached on the landscape with all manner of buildings and other developments that have changed nature. What if instead we incorporated nature into the things we build? That's the basic idea behind biomimicry – to design and build more sustainable structures that borrow from nature by emulating how it has already solved many of the problems we face.
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Inside the |
Display
ECOR uses 100% recycled materials to produce strong, lightweight, three-dimensional molded fiber panels. Product applications include tradeshow exhibits, retail displays, furniture, packaging and uses in many other industries. Visit CCSE to see this innovative technology being used in the Energy Resource Center's new signage.
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Tool
Extech's Heavy Duty CFM Vane Anemometer displays air flow or air velocity and temperature simultaneously with a resolution of 0.01 meters per second. Air flow is displayed on a large LCD display in three modes – as an instantaneous value, up to a 20-point average or 2/3 flow value. A low-friction ball bearing vane wheel provides a 2% velocity accuracy and temperature measurements are accurate to 1.5° F (0.8° C).
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Book
In this inspiring story of a green revolution in the making, veteran science and technology journalist Bob Johnstone traces the unrelenting efforts of a small band of grassroots activists who have discovered ways to make solar a practical retail energy solution. |
DVD
Is access to clean drinking water a basic human right or a commodity that should be bought and sold like any other article of commerce? Viewers get a behind-the-scenes look into the unregulated and unseen world of an industry that aims to privatize and sell back the one resource that ought never to become a commodity: our water. |
Policy and Planning
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Energy Efficiency Risk/Reward Incentive Mechanism (RRIM) This rulemaking will address the CPUC'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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Alternative-fueled Vehicle Tariffs, Infrastructure and Policies This rulemaking will consider tariffs, infrastructure and policies needed for California investor-owned electric utilities to ready the electricity system in a consistent, near-term manner for the projected statewide market growth of light-duty passenger plug-in hybrid electric vehicles ( PHEV) and battery electric vehicles (BEV) throughout California. Read updates. |
Inside This Issue:
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.
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FEATURED
Soup to Nuts: Green Tax Benefits 2011
Date: Tuesday, Mar 15, 2011
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Reduce then Produce - The Energy Efficiency & Solar Series
Date: Wednesday, Mar 16, 2011
DOE's Energy Assurance Planning Initiative - The Chula Vista Case Study
Date: Wednesday, Mar 16, 2011
San Diego Green Workforce Coalition
Date: Friday, Mar 18. 23, 2011
Green Learning Adventure
Date: Wednesday, Mar 23, 2011
Solar Water Heating Basics for Homeowners
Date: Thursday, Mar 24, 2011
Solar Water Heating Contractor and Self-Installer Training
Date: Monday, Mar 28, 2011
Home Energy Efficient Design - HEED
Date: Tuesday, Mar 29, 2011
Successfully Marketing Your Solar Business
Date: Tuesday, Mar 29, 2011
Solar for Homeowners 1 - Getting Started
Date: Thursday, Mar 31, 2011
CSI Application Process Made Easy
Date: Tuesday, Apr 5, 2011
Energy Upgrade California Contractor Orientation Workshop
Date: Tuesday, Apr 5, 2011
Solar for Homeowners 2 - Be a Smart Solar Customer
Date: Thursday, Apr 14, 2011
Tips from a Pro - Sustainable Landscape Practices - Low Cost & High Impact
Date: Thursday, Apr 14, 2011
Other Events
Build Your Career – Contractors, builders, energy raters, remodelers, designers and weatherization
professionals – and those who want to break into home performance industries – should check out the ACI National Home Performance Conference, March 28–April 1, in San Francisco. There's a week full of seminars and presentations as well as a large trade show and numerous receptions. Learn more by clicking here.
CCSE: In the News
Andrew McAllister on CBNC "Squawk on the Street"
Feb. 25, 2011
Employee Spotlight
Sarah Smith
Program Assistant, California Solar Initiative
As a member of the California Solar Initiative ( CSI) residential team, Sarah Smith does database maintenance, tracks installations and processes incentive applications, as well as interacting extensively with solar installers and their customers.
Prior to joining CCSE, Sarah was a crew leader with the Marin Conservation Corps (now the Conservation Corps North Bay) where she supervised and educated diverse groups of students about environmental issues and helped manage community outreach events. While a graduate student at Bard College in New York, she worked with the Sierra Club's Global Warming and Energy program in Washington, DC.
Sarah has a B.A. degree in human development with a minor in environmental studies from the University of California, San Diego, and a master's degree in environmental policy from Bard College, Center for Environmental Policy.
Greening Your World® Monthly Tip
Cool the Pool
If you have a backyard pool, it's not likely you're in it much this month. So set the temperature way down or turn off the heater. It's a myth that it takes more energy to heat a pool back up to a desired temperature after a few days than you save by lowering the temperature or turning off the heater.
Notable Quotable
"If I were emperor of the world, I would put the pedal to the floor on energy efficiency and conservation for the next decade."
- Steven Chu, Secretary of Energy
Stand for Less
Help us STAND FOR LESS. So that everyone can enjoy life more.
Please take a few minutes today and join us at www.standforless.com.
Contact Us
Energy Connection is a monthly e-newsletter of the California Center for Sustainable Energy.
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