Getting Started
economic recovery
BuildingRating.org: A New Resource for Energy Performance Rating
by Caroline Keicher Jan 18, 2011
Guest Blogger: Caroline Keicher, Institute for Market Transformation 
This week the Institute for Market Transformation will be unveiling a new online resource that we hope will provide you with everything you ever needed or wanted to know about the rating and disclosure of energy performance in buildings: BuildingRating.org.
Buildingrating.org, at its simplest, is an extensive online library that, for the first time, brings together in one place the extensive array of searchable resources (policy, legislation, research, technical reports, press) available on the topic of rating and disclosing the energy performance of buildings. The site’s interactive map allows users to peruse the types of rating and disclosure policies that have been enacted around the world, and to pull up related documents.
Prop 23 Threatens California’s Clean Energy Future
by Martin Chávez, ICLEI USA Executive Director Oct 28, 2010
Photo credit: Ben Amstutz on Flickr. Local governments across California are facing an assault on their
efforts to create green jobs and foster vital business development
through clean technology industries, and it will be up to voters on
November 2nd to decide its fate. Passage of Proposition 23 (the Dirty
Energy Proposition) would hamper progress on energy efficiency and
renewable energy projects in hundreds of communities across California,
while threatening new opportunities for job creation and economic
growth. It’s no secret that out of state oil companies are footing the bill
for Prop. 23 and they have a lot to gain if it passes. Prop. 23 would
effectively repeal California’s ground-breaking clean energy and clean
air law AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. This landmark
legislation made California a model for clean energy innovation and
largely responsible for the dramatic growth of the state’s innovative
green energy industry. During a time of deep economic despair, AB 32 has been instrumental
in generating new businesses, which have led to hundreds of thousands of
new jobs in an industry largely overlooked for many years. AB 32 has
proven to be one of the few bright economic lights in a grim era marked
by declining revenue, steep budget cuts, and a stubborn local 12.6
unemployment rate. Other than serving the interests of big oil and
feeding our chronic dependency on fossil fuels, there is no legitimate
reason for Californians to repeal AB 32.
"No" on Prop 23 Means New Jobs
Nashua, NH, Green Team Re-Launches Green Business Roundtable
by The Greater Nashua Business Round Table May 20, 2010
Photo Credit: StarrGazr via Flickr Nashua, NH’s Green Team is re-launching its Greater Nashua Business Roundtable to engage area businesses in fruitful discussions and initiatives to help make Nashua a greener community. The mission of the Roundtable is three-fold. It raises awareness by educating and communicating green initiatives to area businesses, seeks areas where the municipality and businesses can collaborate and partner, and increases business opportunities in areas of green products and services.
HUD's Shelley Poticha on the New Realities of Sustainable Development
by Don Knapp Feb 25, 2010
Since HUD created its new Office of Sustainable Housing and Communities (established through the Livable Communities Act of 2009), Director Shelley Poticha has been shaping the vision for how U.S. communities can become more sustainable -- that is to say, healthier, more affordable, more economically vibrant, with a smaller environmental footprint. BUILDER interviewed Poticha, who articulated her vision and discussed everything from transit and land use to economic recovery, public-private partnerships, and emissions reductions. The entire interview is well worth a read. Here's what she had to say about local sustainability and economic recovery: When you look at the regions that are really embracing walkability,
investing in transit, and thinking about natural resources protection,
these are the regions that are weathering the downturn best. Denver is
a good example. Yes, they took a hit, but most of the housing
foreclosures are out at the periphery in “drive to qualify”
neighborhoods. The city center and suburban centers around the region
that have focused on place-making are still doing well--places like
LoDo, the Denver Tech Center, Boulder, Broomfield, and similar
towns. The same is true for the Twin Cities. They’ve done a good job of
focusing on these issues, and it’s helped them create a more
diversified economy. And on the ability of cities to lead on sustainability and make rapid progress: I think one of the big lessons of the last decade is that cities do have the ability to envision a new future and put it into action in a relatively short period of time. Look at Salt Lake City, which is planning and building a whole new light rail and commuter rail and bus system. They are building at a faster pace than anywhere else in the country. One thing they did was to create a shared vision of what they wanted their region to be when it grew up. They worked very deeply with citizens, the community, and business leaders, understanding that the only way they could maintain their shared values with regard to community, family, and affordable lifestyles, was to think about how they were growing and the kind of infrastructure they were investing in.
Stimulus Project Saves Energy and Money in Greenville, SC
by Rae Schindler Feb 07, 2010
The Caroline First Center in Greenville, SC, boosted its energy efficiency thanks to a Greenville spent most of its $743,400 EECBG award by October 2009, using $713,400 for energy efficiency upgrades to the Carolina First Center, an existing City-owned building that is the largest convention and meeting facility between Atlanta and Washington, DC. (Go here to learn more about sustainability efforts at the Center.) The City replaced 14 heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) rooftop units at the Center with six energy-efficient rooftop air handling units. The project created 14 new jobs and will save the City more than $11,000 per year, since the new units consume 20 percent less energy. Greenville will spend the remaining $30,000 of its funds to conduct a greenhouse gas emissions inventory by June 2010. The inventory will help the City identify new opportunities to save energy and taxpayer dollars, and to reduce emissions and do its part to mitigate climate change.
stimulus-funded project. Image source: Carolina First Center website.
Congratulations to Greenville, SC, an ICLEI member that is among the first local governments to show the powerful impact of the federal stimulus dollars for energy-efficiency programs. Greenville, like thousands of other cities and counties, received funding through the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program.
Just the Fact Sheets on High-Speed Rail
by Don Knapp Jan 31, 2010
Image source: Whitehouse.gov As President Obama already announced last Thursday, 13 major rail corridors will receive funding to help develop new
high-speed rail lines or to start the process of transitioning to high-speed
rail. In all, a total of 31 states will receive $8 billion in funding for high-speed rail or existing rail improvements. Read the White House fact sheets for specifics on the following major corridors: 
After Obama's Address: 5 Reasons for Optimism on Climate and Energy
by Don Knapp Jan 27, 2010
In last night's State of the Union address, President Obama addressed climate change and energy independent without uttering that hexed phrase, cap-and-trade. Local government leaders who have long hoped for strong federal action to slash carbon emissions have to feel a bit deflated, as Congressional leaders also back away from any climate bill that could make them appear as if jobs were not their singular No. 1 priority (even if that legislation creates jobs, but I digress). Nevertheless, there are still many reasons to be hopeful that our nation will move forward with meaningful actions to create American clean-energy jobs, mitigate climate change, and kick our addiction to dirty energy. Here are a few, off the top of my head: 1. Obama still gets it. Even though he's scaled back his climate policy ambitions and is now pushing nuclear and offshore drilling, he still understands the science of climate change and that the clock is ticking to reduce emissions and head off runaway global warming. He still knows that climate action can ultimately save money and create jobs. Here were his words last night: And yes, it means passing a comprehensive energy and climate bill with incentives that will finally make clean energy the profitable kind of energy in America. 2. Lisa Jackson is on a mission. Dealing with climate change is still at the top of the EPA chief's goals. Regulating carbon dioxide emissions through the Clean Air Act may serve as the plan B if climate legislation falters. Senator Lisa Murkowski is leading the opposition to EPA regulation, and we'll be monitoring the battle, since the outcome will have implications at the local level. 3. 2010 will be the "Year of Energy Efficiency," the year that stimulus-funded local government projects through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant hit the ground and make a real impact, with job creation and massive energy savings. Investment in energy efficiency, which hit a record in 2009, should continue to rise. Innovative PACE energy financing programs are multiplying at a phenomenal rate. More people will see the benefits of home-energy retrofits to save money, save energy, reduce emissions, and create local jobs. This is the quiet, unsexy revolution happening across America. 4. States are stepping up their leadership. Read this great SolveClimate roundup of exciting actions among states vying to lead the clean energy economy. Republican Governor Mitch Daniels, wants Indiana to be the electric car industry capital. New Hampshire is scaling up clean energy R&D. New Mexico is calling itself the "clean energy state," launching new tax incentives and what may be the world's largest solar generation plant. 5. Local governments are still the inspiration, still the role models to show that climate action is very doable, and that communities committed to sustainability are thriving communities. Cities and counties continue to set the most aggressive goals and implement the most innovative ideas, like PACE financing and solar feed-in tariffs, to name just two. ICLEI USA's membership continues to grow, with seasoned local governments (New York City, Miami-Dade County) able to share their experience and expertise, via ICLEI, to help new members move forward more quickly to set emissions reduction goals and create action plans.
I am grateful to the House for passing such a bill last year. This year, I am eager to help advance the bipartisan effort in the Senate. I know there have been questions about whether we can afford such changes in a tough economy; and I know that there are those who disagree with the overwhelming scientific evidence on climate change. But even if you doubt the evidence, providing incentives for energy efficiency and clean energy are the right thing to do for our future – because the nation that leads the clean energy economy will be the nation that leads the global economy. And America must be that nation.
Southeast Local Governments Take the Lead on Efficiency
by Eli Yewdall, ICLEI Program Officer Jan 10, 2010
Residential and commercial energy use are two of the three largest
sectors in most community greenhouse gas emission inventories
(transportation is the third). Local government interest in working with residents and
businesses to reduce those emissions has exploded over the past year. This interest has been driven by the opportunities presented by Energy
Efficiency Conservation Block Grant and Retrofit Ramp-up funding, and
with innovative models like those profiled in ICLEI's 2009 Webinar Series on Innovative Energy Financing. Southeast local governments are boldly embracing these opportunities
and are creating some innovative models of their own. At least 13 local
governments in the Southeast are developing programs to offer some kind
of financial incentive for energy efficiency improvements to homes
and/or businesses. Some will make loans with repayment attached to
property taxes, some have come up with other creative ways to offer
financing, and some are offering rebates or matching grants to reduce
the cost of improvements and make the investment more attractive for
homeowners. Below is a summary of programs ICLEI has collected. If your
community has or is creating an incentive program and is not listed
below, please let us know! State network calls are a great opportunity to learn the latest about what peers in your state are developing. you can also use ICLEI's Peer Networking
tool to contact one of the members referenced below. ICLEI also
expects to offer additional regional webinars in 2010 addressing
commercial and residential efficiency programs as follow-up to the November 2009 webinar on Energy Financing Districts; we welcome member suggestions for webinar topics.
In addition to developing their own programs, local governments in
Florida and Georgia are playing a leadership role in introducing
enabling legislation at the state level that would accelerate the
deployment of property assessed clean energy financing programs.
Property-Assessed Financing Programs
Other Financing Programs
Rebate or Grant Programs
A Look at Stimulus Dollars Flowing to Big Cities
by Don Knapp Dec 20, 2009
Image credit: Infographic reprinted from GOOD.is website. click to view larger version. In this intriguing infographic, GOOD.is takes a high-level look at how stimulus funds are being allocated in six big U.S. cities: Los Angeles, Chicago, New York, Phoenix, Houston, and Philadelphia. Education and transportation appear to be the biggest spending categories, although New York's priority is clearly buildings. In February, the U.S. government passed the $787 billion Recovery Act, better known as the stimulus package, in an effort to breathe new life into a lagging economy. According to the website Recovery.org, nearly 20 percent of that money has been meted out in the form of contracts and grants. Much of it is flowing to cities for projects like building new roadways or greening federal buildings. Here's a look at the top municipal recipients and which sectors they're funneling their money toward. 
Communicating Your Energy Efficiency Successes
by Don Knapp Nov 03, 2009
Download the guide to read recommendations to promote positive media coverage, case studies, and sample materials.
Cities and counties need to show that the stimulus funds they received were money well spent. A new communications guide from Resource Media, "Framing Energy Efficiency as a Smart Stimulus Investment," shows them how to do it, and is a must-read for local government staff. The guide's introduction explains why:
The flood of stimulus projects breaking ground over the next 12 to 18 months offers an unprecedented opportunity to promote energy efficiency as a forwardlooking investment that saves energy and money for consumers and taxpayers while creating jobs. Every project announcement, launch and completion offers an opportunity to reinforce the values of energy efficiency in concrete ways that people can relate to their own lives. Promoting positive stories can also help keep energy efficiency above the fray of skepticism and attacks on the ARRA as a whole.
