Washington DC Mayor Bowser signed the Green Finance Authority Establishment Act of 2018 earlier this month, making the District the first U.S. city to establish a green bank. The innovative policy tool seeks to expand renewable energy, lower energy costs, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and create green jobs. “Washington, DC is a global leader on … Continue reading Historic Green Finance Authority Establishment Act established a green bank in the District
Grid integration study
Exponentially falling costs of residential photovoltaic (PV) equipment in California has led to high market PV adoption. The high cost-effectiveness of these systems could soon justify residential building standards requiring PV installation in new buildings. However, CEC’s cost-effectiveness analysis is limited to the home and does not account for the utility-scale costs of PV grid … Continue reading Grid integration study
Clovis is soon to be home to one of California’s largest ZNE communities
EnVision, a new zero net energy (ZNE) community in Clovis, California, broke ground August 2017 and is expected be one of the largest to date in the Golden State. The development will be California’s largest detached, single-family ZNE community to date with 36 homes. "We know that at some point the state will require everyone to … Continue reading Clovis is soon to be home to one of California’s largest ZNE communities
San Francisco schools take aim at reducing carbon, energy use
San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) is responsible for educating over 56,000 students from grades kindergarten through 12th, preparing them for the future. In late September, the Board of Education took action to ensure that future would be sustainable by passing the Carbon-Neutral Schools Resolution. The resolution makes SFUSD the first in the nation to … Continue reading San Francisco schools take aim at reducing carbon, energy use
California’s count of emerging ZNE commercial buildings up by 23%, residential inventory increases by 104%
California now has 189 commercial buildings documented as either zero net energy (ZNE) verified (21) or ZNE emerging (168), as reported in the new 2017 California ZNE Watchlist. Most notably, the emerging ZNE project list increased 23% since last year suggesting the verified listings will grow substantially in 2018 as these projects are completed and … Continue reading California’s count of emerging ZNE commercial buildings up by 23%, residential inventory increases by 104%
New study looks at barriers to ZNE for existing schools
Schools are a leading market for zero net energy (ZNE) that is spotlighting the pathway to a low-energy future with visible new construction projects across California. Still, none of the existing 1,025 public schools or 72 community colleges in the state have been retrofitted to fully achieve ZNE performance. A recently published research report, "California … Continue reading New study looks at barriers to ZNE for existing schools
UC Berkeley team creates multifamily housing for the Solar Decathlon
Students from the University of California at Berkeley and the University of Denver teamed to compete in the 2017 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon held in Denver, Colorado, this fall. The students designed and built RISE (Residential Inviting Stackable Efficient), a single-family project that addresses the need for an affordable housing strategy through density. … Continue reading UC Berkeley team creates multifamily housing for the Solar Decathlon
DOE honors home builders with Housing Innovation Awards
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Housing Innovation Awards recognized innovative homes on the path to zero energy at the EEBA Excellence in Building Conference in October. The awards recognize home builders and their leadership in five categories: custom buyer, custom spec, production, multifamily, and affordable homes. “Housing Innovation Award winners are leading a national movement to Zero … Continue reading DOE honors home builders with Housing Innovation Awards
Mandate says new state agency buildings must pursue ZNE now
California Department of General Services (DGS) Director Dan Kim issued a mandate (Management Memo 17-04) in October expediting the Governor’s Executive Order B-18-12 and requiring zero net energy (ZNE) for new construction projects starting October 23, 2017. ZNE performance is now required for all new state building design and construction, and build-to-suit leases beginning design. The … Continue reading Mandate says new state agency buildings must pursue ZNE now
Updating the California Commercial ZNE Action Plan
Update! The new Draft Commercial ZNE Action Plan is now available for review and comments. Please give your feedback by January 29, 2018 and help shape the future of ZNE in California. https://www.capath2zne.org/commercialzneactionplan The construction market has changed since the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC) "Commercial New Construction Zero Net Energy (ZNE) Action Plan" was last … Continue reading Updating the California Commercial ZNE Action Plan
