Green Project Marketing Blog

This year's dwell on design was filled with creative companies showcasing various products for interior designers, architects, builders and contractors.

One company was Bone Structure.

BONE Structure® is a steel construction system leading the way towards high performance, energy efficient homes, designed and built using an integrated process inspired by the aerospace industry.

For more information, please contact Bone Structure at www.bonestructures.ca/en.

The New York Build show offers the latest in building technology and products to Contractors, Architects, Specifiers, Developers & Brokers and Local Authorities. It's a great show to meet architects and builders for current and upcoming New York and NE U.S. projects.

New York Build 2018 offered the latest construction projects in NYC and NY State. The show remains at the forefront of the industry through showcasing the finest talent in the sector and connecting leading key players with cutting edge solutions.

Great networking ensues at this show each year and allows access to contractors, developers, architects, government and other construction industry professionals.

For more information, please visit New York Build.

To encourage owners to invest in energy efficiency as a major goal in their new buildings, financial incentives are available to owners when the efficiency of their new building exceeds the minimum Savings By Design threshold (generally 10% better than Title 24 Energy Efficiency Standards).

There are two approaches to High Performance Buildings: Whole Building Approach & Systems Approach.

Whole Building Approach

Owner Incentives

The Whole Building Approach is the preferred method of achieving energy savings within Savings By Design.   Enabling the design team to consider integrated energy efficiency solutions that balance electric and gas use, may lead to buildings that offer:

•  Greater health, comfort, and productivity for the occupant
•  Reduced building and operating costs for the owner

In the Whole Building Approach, the estimated total annual energy savings for the building is calculated compared to the Title 24 minimum requirements. Using an approved computer tool, this analysis can be prepared by the design team, or by an energy consultant provided by the utility. Owner’s Incentives are available for projects estimated to exceed Title 24 or standard practice baseline by at least 10% on a whole building performance basis. Owner Incentives range from $0.10 - $0.30 per annualized kWh savings, with a step increase to $0.40 per annualized kWh savings for projects that exceed Title 24 by 40%, and $1.00 per annualized therm savings as the design becomes more efficient. Owners may also qualify for demand reduction incentives of $100 per kW.

Owners meeting program requirements may be eligible to receive additional incentives:

 End Use Monitoring Incentive

Each incentive is calculated as 10% or 20% of the Owner’s Incentive respectively.  The maximum incentive per project is $150,000.

Whole Building Incentives

Systems Approach

The Systems Approach is a method of optimizing energy efficiency choices for less complex buildings.  By considering building systems holistically rather than as a collection of components, the Systems Approach encourages greater energy efficiency by designing “whole” building systems, rather than individual equipment or fixtures.  It’s a straightforward approach, and the Design Team may find it more appropriate for their project. 

Your Savings By Design Representative can help by: Using a simplified energy simulation modeling tool to help your team identify system options and quickly estimate the associated potential savings

 Identifying which systems qualify for potential Owner Incentives

Systems Approach Project Incentives are calculated using a flat incentive rate. Your Savings By Design representative can help you identify system options, quickly estimate the associated potential savings, and identify which systems qualify for generous incentives:                                                                                    

• Daylighting
• Interior Lighting
• Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning
• Service Hot Water
• Other Systems and Processes

Daylighting Systems

Daylighting has a major impact on a building’s functionality from many perspectives.  Not only does it decrease energy costs associated with illumination and space conditioning, it also enhances the building’s comfort and ambiance -- resulting in increased productivity of its occupants.   

Interior Lighting Systems

Interior lighting is a major component of any building’s energy use, enhancing the functionality of interior spaces.    Energy usage can be reduced with thoughtful attention to illumination requirements within the building, along with specifications for efficient components and appropriate controls.    

Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Systems

The design of high-performance HVAC systems includes high-efficiency equipment and controls that regulate the system to allow operation only when it’s needed.  Thoughtful consideration of the interactions of all system elements can substantially increase comfort for building occupants while cutting costs for the building owner.  

Service Hot Water Systems

The use of high-efficiency natural gas hot water heaters can help to round out an overall approach to energy savings in the building design.   Facilities that use large amounts of hot water can see substantial savings when a high-efficiency system is used.  

Other Systems and Processes

A variety of process systems and controls not regulated by Title 24 can be considered for the Savings By Design program.  Current industry standard practice is used to establish a reference point from which estimated energy savings are determined for manufacturing, refrigeration, food processing, mechanical ventilation systems and other systems and processes.

Systems Approach Incentives

For more information on this program, please visit www.SavingsbyDesign.com.

PACE's services are worthy of review since it offers financing for projects in all categories. Laws can be reviewed per state and each program has limited funding.

What is PACE?

PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) is a simple and effective way to finance energy efficiency, renewable energy, and water conservation upgrades to buildings. PACE can pay for new heating and cooling systems, lighting improvements, solar panels, water pumps, insulation, and more for almost any property – homes, commercial, industrial, non-profit, and agricultural.

Property owners across the US are using PACE because it saves them money and makes their buildings more valuable. PACE pays for 100% of a project’s costs and is repaid for up to 20 years with an assessment added to the property’s tax bill. PACE financing stays with the building upon sale and is easy to share with tenants. State and local governments sponsor PACE financing to create jobs, promote economic development, and protect the environment.

Commercial PACE

PACE is an innovative program that makes it possible for owners of commercial and industrial properties to obtain low-cost, long-term financing for energy-efficiency, water conservation and renewable energy projects.

PACE statutes authorize municipalities and counties to work with private sector lenders to provide upfront financing to property owners for qualified projects, and to collect the repayment through annual assessments on the property’s real estate tax bill. The term of PACE financing may extend up to 20 years, resulting in utility and other cost savings that exceed the amount of the assessment payment. PACE legislation for commercial property has been adopted in 29 states and the District of Columbia.

Residential PACE

PACE may prove to be the most effective way to pay for energy improvements for homes. Available now throughout California, PACE is saving money for homeowners, creating jobs, and helping local governments achieve important environmental goals.

PACENow supports and encourages new residential PACE programs that can help home owners and local governments achieve their goals. We endorse programs and PACE service providers that are meeting marketplace needs at high standards that protect the interests of all PACE stakeholders.

PACENow provides advice and guidance for those interested in starting residential PACE programs. We recommend a number of PACE best practices, many of which were developed in conjunction with the US Department of Energy in 2010.

To learn about various laws per state, please click HERE.  To learn about CA PACE laws, SB77, please click HERE. For more information about the PACE program, please visit [email protected] or visit www.PACENation.us.

FortiCel™ is a protective coating solution that helps to prevent the growth of mold on the structural framing surfaces of new homes. Available exclusively through CertainTeed, FortiCel is professionally applied to the interior wall cavity during construction, before the insulation is installed. 

Structures today are built stronger and tighter than ever before to maximize performance and energy efficiency. It is important to manage moisture, vapor and air flow to maintain the integrity of the structure. Having a smart vapor retarder will help diffuse moisture in the wall cavity and prevent excess moisture which can lead to mold growth and a host of related problems. Reduce risk and liability and high cost mold remediation and replacement of structural framing by using a product such as FortiCel. FortiCel™ Features include:

      •    Protects from potential mold and mildew claims
      •    Prevents mold growth on coating surface
      •    25-year fully transferable warranty
      •    Does not impede construction time since it is applied immediately after dry-in
      •    Cannot be washed or rubbed off during construction
      •    Exceeds all ASTM testing requirements
      •    Meets the US Green Building Council LEED® requirements

CertainTeed FortiCel is being used in Sunset Green Home project.

For more information on FortiCel, please click HERE.

Although this program may dip into the great work being done by energy auditors around the country, it is a big boost to downplay the need for solar, amongst other energy efficient products so early in the cycle.

The solar industry, while offering a terrific product has pushed way too far to the left of the McKinsey GHG cost abatement - 2030.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is launching its ENERGY STAR Home Advisor, an online tool designed to help Americans save money and energy by improving the energy efficiency of their homes through recommended customized and prioritized home-improvement projects. You can learn more on the program by clicking HERE.

The updated ENERGY STAR Home Advisor guides the homeowner through a “do-it-yourself” energy assessment to create an ENERGY STAR home profile. Based on the newly created profile, the Home Advisor provides customized, prioritized recommendations for improvements. From these recommendations, users can create their own to-do lists of projects such as adding insulation to the attic or replacing an HVAC air filter. Over time, users can update their home profiles as they make improvements, see the positive environmental impacts of the changes they've made, get additional recommendations, and update their “to-do” lists for future projects. The home profiles can also be printed and used at the time of sale.

For more information on the program, please visit: www.energystar.gov/homeadvisor

NRDC’s First Annual Energy and Environment Report, America’s (Amazingly) Good Energy News, is the product of an exhaustive analysis of extensive new government data that shows total U.S. energy use in 2012 was below the 1999 level even though the economy grew by more than 25 percent (adjusted for inflation) during that period.  As a result of national energy efficiency measures, Factories and businesses are producing substantially more products and value with less energy, the amount of gasoline per mile driven is down, and the cost of all energy services (from lighting to refrigeration) also has decreased.

The report notes that the amount of climate-warming carbon dioxide pollution also is down, putting the nation on track to meet President Obama’s emissions reduction target of 17 percent over the next seven years, though much more must be done  to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

Here is a snapshot of the report’s major findings:

The newest updates to the state Green Building Code, better known as “CALGreen,” will be effective on January 1, 2014.  Are you prepared?

CALGreen, the nation’s first statewide green building code, was originally developed in 2008 has been a mandatory part of the building code since January 1, 2011. CALGreen establishes uniform minimum green building standard aimed at reducing the environmental impact of residential, commercial, and public building construction practices.

CALGreen applies throughout the full life of a building – from design to construction, operation and occupancy – and focuses on a wide variety of issues from energy efficiency, water efficiency and conservation, to indoor air quality.  The code applies to all new construction and most tenant improvements.

Click HERE for CALGreen Updates.

Offshore wind took another major step toward becoming reality in America yesterday with the second-ever competitive lease sale to develop renewable energy in federal waters.

Virginia Electric and Power Company, a subsidiary of Dominion Virginia Power, won the Department of the Interior’s (DOI) auction to develop 112,800 acres about 23 miles from Virginia Beach with a final bid of $1.6 million.

Wednesday’s auction was the second successful DOI offshore wind lease sale held in a month, after a July 31stauction of 164,750 acres in New England, and could signal the start of a rush to develop new tracts of wind-rich areas off the Atlantic coast.

For more information, please visit:

http://theenergycollective.com/silviomarcacci/269241/16-million-win-america-s-second-offshore-wind-lease-auction

Ashley Halligan, an analyst at Texas-based Software Advice and a contributor to Green Project Marketing, published an article on VentureBeat in December outlining the growing trend in VC-funded digital cleantech–shifting from typical hardware-based investing.

In a market where consumers--both residential and commercial--are giving recognition to their carbon footprint and taking control of their consumption, energy suppliers, technology companies, and even the government is getting involved--making consumption data more accessible, creating initiatives that make these partnerships more feasible, and creating systems and technology to simplify and gauge behaviors and performance.

As a result, a slew of new technologies are being released into the market, allowing consumers real access to their consumption patterns, helping to identify deficiencies in operations and even suggesting upgrades where deficiencies may be occurring. Encouraging enough, these applications don't have to be a costly investment. In fact, some are quite affordable--or even better--free. Here are three applications that are trending in the energy management market that any organization can afford.

November 28, 2012

WASHINGTON – Today, Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced 66 cutting-edge research projects selected by the Energy Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) to receive a total of $130 million in funding through its “OPEN 2012” program. ARPA-E seeks out transformational, breakthrough technologies that show fundamental technical promise but are too early for private-sector investment. These projects have the potential to produce game-changing breakthroughs in energy technology, form the foundation for entirely new industries, and have large commercial impacts. The selected projects encompass 11 technology areas in 24 states, and support the Obama Administration’s all-of-the-above approach to solving our nation’s most pressing energy challenges.

The California Energy Commission votes to tighten regulations that govern lighting controls, hot-water pipes, windows, insulation and other systems in new buildings and building additions.

A worker builds a home in San Diego. California's tighter energy efficiency rules for new and newly remodeled buildings take effect in 2014. (Sam Hodgson, Bloomberg / April 19, 2012)

By Marc Lifsher, Los Angeles Times

June 1, 2012

SACRAMENTO — Construction costs may go up, but new and remodeled homes and buildings will consume much less conventional power starting in a year and a half when the state's newest energy efficiency standards take effect.

The California Energy Commission voted 4 to 0 on Thursday to tighten regulations that govern lighting controls, hot-water pipes, windows, insulation and other systems in new buildings and building additions.