Exclusive Free Webinar for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Companies

Senate Climate and Energy Bill: Key Elements for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 - 2:00 to ~ 3:00 pm, EST

Go to www.efficiencycouncil.org/webinar.html to register

Please register by COB October 20th – only 500 companies/callers can be accommodated!

Registration is free, but you must register as information is intended only for energy efficiency and renewable energy companies

This webinar will discuss the Senate’s draft climate and clean energy legislation, the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (CEJAPA). Following a quick summary of the House’s American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) of 2009, we will provide an overview of CEJAPA. CEJAPA includes a pollution reduction and investment plan designed to reduce economy-wide greenhouse gas emissions 20 percent by 2020. Other provisions include energy efficiency incentives, support for renewable energy, and grants for green jobs. CEJAPA is supported by the Obama Administration. The Senate is now reviewing the draft, and businesses like yours have a powerful voice to impact the contents of the final bill! Greg Nelson, White House Office of Public Liaison Associate Director of Energy, Environment, and Technology, along with industry experts will discuss the contents of the Senate bill; compare it to the House bill, with a focus on key energy efficiency and renewable provisions; discuss potential alternatives; and outline the expected timeline for legislative action. Industry representatives will also explain the importance of the legislation to the industry and invite participants to show their support and tell them how.

RESNET Adopts New Procedures of Proctoring of RESNET National Tests

In order to achieve the goal of allocating more time for rater candidates to be in the classroom and the field as part of rater training, the RESNET Training and Education Committee have adopted new procedures for the proctoring of the RESNET National Tests. Rater training providers will now be given the option for rater candidates to have their test proctored by an independent third party institution. In addition the committee restricted eligible third party proctoring institutions to:

Schools
Colleges
Libraries
Independent Testing Centers

The new procedures goes into effect immediately. The amended procedures for proctoring of RESNET tests are posted at http://www.resnet.us/programs/training/proctoring.htm

Rate homes from a greener perspective. 2-day training event - November 9-10, 2009 - Arizona

Grand Resort, Phoenix, AZ Course qualifies for BPI and RESNET CEUs.Discover the “bigger green picture” and get invaluable content to help you better rate a home’s durability and energy efficiency. Hear from building science experts as they discuss principles such as the control of heat, air, moisture and IAQ and how to apply them to homes you are rating. Take this course and start the process of becoming a representative for the Environments For Living® program. Details available at the training event. Presentation by: John Toley, Senior Building Science Consultant. Register Online at environmentsforliving.com Register by Phone: (866) 912-7233

Legislation Introduced in Senate to Extend Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives and Create Incentives

The $2,000 tax credit for energy efficient homes will expire on January 1, 2010 unless extended by Congress . Bi-partisan legislation has been introduced in the U.S. Senate to extend the $2,000 credit to December 31, 2012 and create a $5,000 credit for homes that use 50% less whole house energy than the 2004 IECC (50 HERS Index). The bill was co-sponsored by Senators Olympia Snowe (R-ME), Diane Feinstein (D-CA) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM). In addition, the legislation: Creates a $200 tax credit for the cost of a home energy rating Creates a $500 tax credit for the cost of training and certifying home performance auditors to conduct home energy ratings
Increases the amount of the tax incentive for commercial buildings to $3.00 per square foot Click on http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=111_cong_bills&docid=f:s1637is.txt.pdf to download the legislation. It is critical that your voice is heard in Washington. Contact your state's Senators and urge to support legislation to extend the tax credit for energy efficient homes.

Sustainable Buildings & Construction Initiative

To ensure that the building sector is adequately covered in the successor treaty, the United Nations has formed the Sustainable Buildings & Construction Initiative (UNEP SBCI) that will make recommendations to the UNEP and the national leaders that will be negotiating the new climate change treaty. RESNET is a member of the UNEP SBCI. Other organizations representing the U.S. on the panel are Natural Resources Defense Council and the US Green Building Council. The SBCI has issued a call for action for the industry to support efforts to include building energy performance in the international climate treaty. RESNET supports the call for action and urges the U.S. negotiating team to the climate talks to adopt the principals contained in the call. The SBCI has produced a PDF version of the call to action on buildings and climate change that is posted at http://www.resnet.us/UNEP-SBCI-Call_to_Action.pdf The RESNET network is urged to download the call for action and share it with their partners, peers and allies.

Associated Press Story

In a reflection of the growing interest in energy efficient mortgages the Associated Press released a feature story on the mortgage feature. The story was published on the front page of the Miami Herald's Business Section on Sunday. The story can be downloaded at http://www.miamiherald.com/business/story/1229689.html

RESNET Message on Energy Labeling and Energy Billing Analysis

Discussions of building labels worldwide have pointed out the difference between “asset value” labels, which are based on how a building performs at standard operating conditions and “operational value” labels, which are based on measurements of energy consumption using the operating conditions that are in use at a particular time. Most products, such as cars or appliances, are rated using asset value labels with a standardized operational component—for example, cars are rating by EPA miles per gallon (mpg) but are not resold based on the mpg that the seller actually obtained. But for buildings, analysts generally recognize that both results are useful. These two types of labels are very distinct and different ways of characterizing energy use, with different purposes. There have been much discussion and some misinformation on this subject. RESNET has posted a message on this critical issue at http://www.resnet.us/hotnews/2009-09-04-EnergyLabeling_and_EnergyBillingAnalysis.pdf