EPA, DOE JOIN STATES TO
SPEED ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ASHRAE CONFERENCE
AVAILABLE ONLINE
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy announced
the;creation;of;the;State;Energy;Efficiency;(SEE);Action
Network. This network is meant to help states achieve
maximum;cost-effective;energy;efficiency;improvements
in;homes,;offices,;buildings;and;industry;by;2020.;The;SEE
Action Network will be led by DOE and EPA. Through the
network, DOE, EPA and other member organizations will
assist;states;with;their;energy;efficiency;initiatives,;includ-ing residential efficiency programs, financing solutions,
and improving availability of energy usage information. It
will provide targeted technical assistance to states in order
to reach national energy goals.
The SEE Action Network will use a set of goals developed in the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency,
but;will;strive;to;reach;these;goals;five;years;earlier;than
originally envisioned. These goals range from establishing
state-of-the art billing systems that provide consumers
with consistent information on their energy use and costs
to;developing;state;policies;to;ensure;robust;energy;effi-ciency practices.
Additional information on the SEE Action Network
is available at www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-programs/seeaction/ index.html.
YUDELSON BOOK
ADDRESSES URBAN
WATER CRISES
ATLANTA — A standard set to be a game changer in the
industry was introduced at ASHRAE’s 2010 Winter Conference, while work continued on other programs and
standards that will help the Society build a more sustainable future.
Some 2,500 people attended the conference, held Jan.
23-27, in Orlando, Fla.
The ASHRAE conference offered a technical program
with more than 100 sessions, 22 educational courses and
numerous social events. The meeting also featured more
than 600 meetings of technical, standards and standing
committees, developing guidance for the future of the
industry and ASHRAE.
The biggest buzz at the conference centered on publication of the green standard from ASHRAE. Standard
189.1, Standard for the Design of High-Performance, Green
Buildings, Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings, is the
first code-intended commercial green building standard
in the United States. Additional information is available at
www.ashrae.org/greenstandard.
The two-part Standard 189.1 Overview seminar can be
viewed for free at www.ashrae.org/greenstandard. The
seminars are part of ASHRAE’s first-ever Virtual Conference, which provides access to more
than 250 presentations and PDFs of posters. Register or access presentations at
www.ashrae.org/OrlandoVirtual.
These barrels collect enough rainwater to water a garden for two weeks.
TUCSON, ARIZ. — Engineer, author
and green guru Jerry Yudelson, principal
of Yudelson Associates, has written a new
book, Dry Run: Preventing the Next Urban
Water Crisis, scheduled to be published this
month by New Society Publishers.
Dry Run shows the best ways to man-
age scarce water resources and handle
upcoming urban water crises. Featuring
original interviews with more than 25 water
researchers and industry experts, the book
explains water issues and proposes solu-
tions for homes, buildings, facilities and schools, including:
•;Water;conservation;strategies;for;buildings,;factories,
cities and homes
•;Rainwater;harvesting
•;Graywater;reuse;and;reclamation;systems
•;Water;efficiency;retrofits
•;Onsite;sewage;treatment
•;New;water;reuse;and;supply;technologies
Additional information about the book is available at
www.newsociety.com.
CALIFORNIA INITIATIVE
AUTHORIZES $350M
IN SOLAR INCENTIVES
SAN FRANCISCO — The California
Public Utilities Commission has approved
the California Solar Initiative Thermal
Program, which authorizes $350 million
in rebates for businesses and individuals that install solar thermal systems. The
program could energize the state’s solar
thermal market by making it cheaper and
easier for businesses and property owners
to purchase solar thermal systems.
“These systems can be cost-effective for ratepayers, while
helping to displace both electricity and natural gas usage in
new and existing homes and businesses,” said CPUC Com-
missioner Dian M. Grueneich. “A focused, cost-effective
program to improve the market for this technology can
serve as a key step in our path to zero net energy.”
In addition to the $350 million in rebates authorized by
the;CSI;Thermal;Program,;other;financial;incentives;and
structures are in place that encourage solar thermal adop-
tion, both in California and other states.
