Director's Desk
Death of solar is highly exaggerated
The financial failure of the solar company Solyndra and its default on $535 million in loans guaranteed by the Energy Department has been running in the headlines for months now, leading some to predict the demise of solar in America. I'd like to paraphrase Mark Twain by saying – Reports of the death of solar are highly exaggerated. And anyone who thinks solar is dying must be living in a parallel universe.
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Helping Build the Marketplace
Workshop on licensing & contractor best practices
By Rebecca Feuerlicht and Jessica Girdner
Enhancing consumer confidence in solar and home performance contractors is vital to growing the markets for solar power and energy efficiency. CCSE is helping to build that confidence by ensuring that contractors have access to the information and resources to better their businesses. In September, CCSE joined with the California Contractors State License Board and the Better Business Bureau in presenting the workshop "Building Up Your Contracting Business."
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Updates
 Commissioner's Visit – CCSE Executive Director Irene Stillings (center) speaks with Catherine Sandoval, a member of the California Public Utilities Commission, during a visit to the center Oct. 4. Among the topics discussed were developments and challenges related to solar programs, energy efficiency retrofitting and electric vehicle transportation. During the visit, Sandoval toured the recently remodeled Energy Resource Center.
 Word Cloud – What do you think of when you think of CCSE: clean energy, workshops, rebates, sustainable lifestyles? Borrowing from the web, CCSE created and installed a word cloud depicting keywords associated with the center that now adorns the entrance to the learning centers.
 National Plug-In Day – CCSE hosted the San Diego event for National Plug-In Day celebrating the many benefits of electric vehicles (EVs). More than 80 EVs attended, making it the largest gathering of electric vehicles in San Diego history. Some 150 guests enjoyed a "tailgate without tailpipes" party provided by CCSE while they shared stories of EV ownership.
 Solar Water Heater Winner – Serra Mesa resident Jennifer Medina received her free solar water heating system as the winner of a drawing held during CCSE's Sustainable Energy Week 2010. The top-of-the-line Schuco system was donated and installed by Adroit Solar of San Diego, a San Diego renewable energy and energy-efficient technology contractor with over 23 years in the industry.
LEDs Lead the Way
New lighting standards boost energy efficiency
Although still expensive compared to incandescent lighting, light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, have come a long way since their widespread introduction as digital clock lights and energy-saving Christmas lighting. Today, LEDs are rapidly approaching price parity with compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) to become the lighting of choice for energy efficiency in many commercial and residential settings, according to Anne Thorson, owner of EnvironmentalLights.com, a web-based LED retailer.
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Mimic the Beavers
Capturing & storing rainwater and gray water
Using her own North Park home as an elaborate test site, landscape architect Candace Vanderhoff is on a mission to get San Diegans to "mimic the beavers" by building systems that trap water, let it sink into the soil and capture some for later use. With a few simple tools, salvaged materials, lots of mulch and a few large barrels, she can show you how to not only save water and money, but how to help heal the planet as well.
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Community Energy Action Heroes
San Diego Renewable Energy Society
 CCSE salutes the San Diego Renewable Energy Society ( SDRES) for conducting the 12th Annual San Diego Solar Tour on Oct. 1 that showcased the energy-smart, money-saving solutions of sixteen unique solar-powered homes and businesses, including this net-zero energy home in Leucadia. SDRES is dedicated to increasing the intelligent use of renewable and sustainable energy technologies in San Diego County.
 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
Solatube Daylighting System
This is a cost-effective, energy efficient way to bring natural light to a home or building. The tubes capture sunlight on the rooftop, redirect it down a reflective shaft and diffuse it to provide natural light throughout the interior space.
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Tool
Hobo
A hobo is an electronic instrument that records measurements (temperature, relative humidity, light intensity, on/off, open/closed, voltage, pressure and events) over time. Typically, data loggers are small, battery-powered devices that are equipped with a microprocessor, data storage and sensor.
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Book
75 Green Businesses
Discover 75 green start-up ideas in multiple industries, including ecotourism, small wind power, green schools, water conservation landscaping, green investment consulting and more. For each business, Croston shows the marketplace, product to be delivered, resources needed, major hurdles ahead, competitors and strategies for success.
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DVD
"FREEDOM"
From the filmmakers of the Sundance Award-winning movie "FUEL," comes the new documentary "FREEDOM." In the aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill, Louisiana native Josh Tickell and his wife Rebecca take an international journey to investigate alternatives to fossil fuels.
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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.
Residential Title-24 Lighting & ASHRAE 62.2 Ventilation Codes
Date: Tuesday, Nov 1, 2011
Energy Upgrade California Orientation Workshop
Date: Tuesday, Nov 1, 2011
EEBA´s Houses That Work for Existing Homes
Date: Wednesday, Nov 2, 2011
Energy Upgrade Financing Series #2 - CHF
Date: Thursday, Nov 3, 2011
Water Energy Connection
Date: Thursday, Nov 3, 2011
Integrating CA Native Plants into Urban Landscapes
Date: Thursday, Nov 3, 2011
Energy Upgrade California for Homeowners
Date: Wednesday, Nov 9, 2011
Other Events
Green Homes Tour - The San Diego Green Building Council is presenting their Green Homes Tour, featuring high-performance green design and construction elements, on Sunday, Oct. 30, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The residences are located in Del Mar, Point Loma, Encinitas, Chula Vista and San Marcos. Register here.
LA's Solar Workforce – A special feature of the Los Angeles Business Council's 2011 Mayoral Housing, Transportation & Jobs Summit on Wednesday, Nov. 16, will be a panel session on empowering LA's solar workforce and release of a new study on policies that deliver solar investments and jobs. At UCLA's Korn Hall, 7:30 a.m. – 4:40 p.m. Register here.
Employee Spotlight
Lindsey Taggart
Associate Program Manager
Building Retrofit Programs
As a member of CCSE's retrofit team, Lindsey Taggart focuses on the Comprehensive Residential Building Retrofit Program, a project of the California Energy Commission. She coordinates targeted marketing, education and outreach to consumers and provides training and support for workforce development.
Prior to joining CCSE, Lindsey worked for the Community Environmental Council in Santa Barbara, Calif., as a building energy specialist, helping to create community awareness programs, employ energy efficiency measures and facilitate access to funding.
Lindsey was an instructor and advisor at University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) Extension, where she developed a green building certificate program. She is a certified energy auditor, a LEED accredited professional and a BPI building analyst.
Lindsey has a bachelor's degree in environmental science from the University of Mary Washington and a master's degree from UCSB's Donald Bren School of Environmental Science & Management.
Monthly Tip
Cooking Energy – Many kitchens have both a microwave and a stove, so whenever possible use your microwave for cooking items as they use a third to half the electricity of a stove. If you are using your stove, keep in mind that you can turn it off 10 minutes before the final cooking time. There will be enough heat to finish the cooking.
CCSE Is Hiring
Current green job openings:
• CCSE has no open positions
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS
Green Job Seekers –
In addition to viewing available green jobs, you can now post your resume to CCSE's online Green Career Network. Whether you are looking to find a job or fill one, we have the resources you need.
Notable Quotable
""If this is the future, I'm not that worried."
– Jay Leno, entertainer, after driving a Tesla Roadster
Contact Us
Energy Connection is a monthly e-newsletter of the California Center for Sustainable Energy.
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