Written by Rafael Reyes Thursday, 15 November 2007 19:02

Skiing the avalanche

So local volunteer leaders are working feverishly to figure out what to emphasize in 2008 as part of the Cool Cities campaign. This is an exercise in 'skiing the avalanche' as Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope has termed it.

As part of that avalanche the California Public Utilities Commission adopted just a couple weeks ago goals which included:

(1) Direct the utilities to prepare a single, comprehensive
statewide long-term energy efficiency plan;
(2) Adopt three programmatic initiatives:
* All new residential construction in California will be zero net energy by 2020;
* All new commercial construction in California will be zero net energy by 2030; and
* Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry will be reshaped to ensure optimal equipment performance;

More detail here.

How this will work in practice is still a bit unclear given the CPUC's role but the goals are consistent with the relatively new Architecture 2030 initiative, a collaborative project with US Green Building Council.

But the kicker is that someone is already doing it.

Written by Rafael Reyes Wednesday, 14 November 2007 17:11

OPEC's bizarre oil threat

With some of the highest gas prices in the country, OPEC's whims are always the subject of attention around here. Leading this to catch my attention:

NPR's Marketplace called me today for comments on this bizarre Financial Times article: "Opec to seek assurances on oil demand."

Apparently these absurdly rich countries -- with projected revenues of $658 billion this year -- who are selling their product at nearly $100 a barrel, are threatening not to invest in new production unless the consuming countries promise to maintain demand. Seriously! No, seriously...

The reasons get innovate on efficiency and renewables are legion. But this is a new one. Read about it at the ever informative ClimateProgress.

Written by Rafael Reyes Sunday, 11 November 2007 22:51

Mortgage incentives for efficiency

With moves like Berkeley's home solar financing, Bank of America, SunEdison and others there is increasing financial vehicles for 'greening' buildings.

As usual though most of the mechanisms are on energy production - something to sell - in this case solar.

However, there may also be emerging financial incentives around energy. From the Wall Street Journal:

Lenders are the latest group to jump on the environmental-marketing bandwagon by pitching mortgage products that offer homebuyers bigger loans or discounts if they are making energy-efficient improvements -- or if their new home meets certain efficiency standards.
...
They allow borrowers to qualify for bigger loans because lenders permit the estimated savings on utility bills to be added to the borrower's qualifying income.

Here's a snapshot:



Hat tip Gristmill

Written by Rafael Reyes Wednesday, 07 November 2007 16:11

"Sustainable Energy Financing District"

Sounds wonky but this could dramatically change the face of solar for the better.

The Berkeley, California, city council Tuesday night greenlighted a proposal to pay for the installation of solar panels and solar hot water systems for any homeowner or commercial building owner in a move to dramatically boost local use of renewable energy. Property owners would retain ownership of the solar systems, paying back the cost over 20 years through an assessment on their annual property tax bill.

The #1 obstacle to home solar is upfront cost. In Berkeley it's now gone.

The wombat reports