Monday, April 29, 2013

May 2013: Upcoming Climate and Energy Webcasts for State and Local Governments

This message provides details about 11 upcoming webcasts being offered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and others. All webcasts are offered free of charge, but space may be limited.
 
Featured EPA Webcast
  • May 1, 1:00-2:30 PM (EDT) – Climate Change Adaptation for State and Local Governments: Attracting Funding for Adaptation
EPA Webcasts
  • May 8, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness 101: Risk Assessment Process
  • May 22, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – Preparing for Extreme Weather Events Workshop Planner for the Water Sector / Adaptation Strategies Guide
  • May 29, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – On-site Renewables: Lessons Learned from Idea to Implementation
ENERGY STAR Webcasts
  • May 2, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – For Utilities: Designing and Implementing Successful Data Center Efficiency Programs
  • May 7 AND May 22, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – How to Register for EPA’s 2013 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition
  • May 8, 1:00-2:30 PM (EDT) – School Siting: Understanding the Challenges and Opportunities for Communities and Decision-Makers
DOE Webcasts
  • May 1, 2:00-3:00 PM (EDT) – Solar Finance for Residential and Commercial Customers and Potential Roles of State and Local Government
  • May 9, 2:00-3:00 PM (EDT) - Commercial Building Partnership Success Story Webinar Series: A Look at The Home Depot’s Most Energy Efficient Store
  • May 29, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM (MDT) – Tribal Renewable Energy Series Webinar: Regional Transmission Planning
***Featured EPA Webcast
 
May 1, 1:00-2:30 PM (EDT) – Climate Change Adaptation for State and Local Governments: Attracting Funding for Adaptation
This is the third in a three-part webcast series on climate change adaptation hosted by EPA’s State and Local Climate and Energy Program. This mini-series builds on our popular 2010-2011 adaptation mini-series. Part III will focus on how to secure funding for adaptation. The presentations will provide examples of how communities of various sizes have attracted funding and provide available resources for participants to identify appropriate funds. Experts will discuss how to maximize funding by mainstreaming adaptation planning and how to address adaptation and mitigation simultaneously.
***EPA Webcasts
 
May 8, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness 101: Risk Assessment Process
Sponsored by EPA’s Climate Ready Water Utilities Initiative, this webcast provides an introduction to CRWU’s risk assessment tool, the Climate Resilience Evaluation and Awareness Tool (CREAT). This webinar outlines CREAT’s risk assessment process, how it can help utilities build more resilient systems, and examples of threats and adaptation options. 
May 22, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – Preparing for Extreme Weather Events Workshop Planner for the Water Sector / Adaptation Strategies Guide
Sponsored by EPA’s Climate Ready Water Utilities Initiative, this joint webcast will highlight the Preparing for Extreme Weather Events Workshop Planner for the Water Sector and the Adaptation Strategies Guide, and how a utility can use them both when developing adaptation plans. It will also highlight utility experiences with the tools. 
May 29, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – On-site Renewables: Lessons Learned from Idea to Implementation
Organizations across the country continue to make direct investments in on-site renewable energy generation, indicating a long-term commitment to using renewable energy and securing the benefits of reduced electricity price volatility. This webcast, sponsored by EPA’s Green Power Partnership, will feature two EPA Green Power Partners, SC Johnson and Coca-Cola Refreshments, that have invested in on-site projects powered by landfill gas and wind, respectively, and highlight the companies’ experiences from initial investigation of on-site systems to the results obtained once the projects were brought online.
***ENERGY STAR Webcasts
 
May 2, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – For Utilities: Designing and Implementing Successful Data Center Efficiency Programs
Over the past decade, total data center energy use in the United States has almost quadrupled. Energy-efficiency program administrators can play a significant role in helping customers reduce data center energy use and demand. Based on the new ENERGY STAR guide on data center efficiency programs, this webinar will explore the energy saving opportunities available and share emerging practices for program design and implementation. Mark Bramfitt, former head of PG&E’s data center efficiency program, will lead the presentation and be available to answer questions.
May 7 AND May 22, 1:00-2:00 PM (EDT) – How to Register for EPA’s 2013 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition
Back by popular demand, this year’s competition features new ways to participate and get recognition. For the first time ever, tenants occupying part of a building will be able to compete alongside whole buildings, provided they have access to energy bills or meter data for their space. Plus, EPA will be recognizing the ENERGY STAR MVP for excellence in communication to occupants and the public!

All organizations that apply and provide all required data for their nominated building(s) or tenant space(s) will be invited to compete and work off their energy waste with help from EPA’s ENERGY STAR program. This year’s registration process has changed, so don’t be left out! Attend this webinar to learn how to register and what’s in store for this year.
May 8, 1:00-2:30 PM (EDT) – School Siting: Understanding the Challenges and Opportunities for Communities and Decision-Makers
This webinar will help districts, schools, and communities understand the importance of school siting and the impacts on economic development, communities, public health, and the environment. A panel of experts from U.S. EPA including Suzi Ruhl, J.D., M.P.H, Senior Attorney Policy Advisor in the Office of Environmental Justice; and Regina Langton, Senior Policy Analyst, Office of Sustainable Communities; as well as Katherine Moore, AICP, Manager of Georgia Conservancy’s Sustainable Growth program, will provide participants with information and tools that can help districts, schools, and communities weigh school siting decisions.
***DOE Webcasts
 
May 1, 2:00-3:00 PM (EDT) – Solar Finance for Residential and Commercial Customers and Potential Roles of State and Local Government
Sponsored by the DOE and the National Renewable Energy Lab, this webinar will provide an overview of how residential and commercial solar projects are financed and the various roles that state and local governments can play to support the deployment of solar projects within their jurisdictions.
May 9, 2:00-3:00 PM (EDT) - Commercial Building Partnership Success Story Webinar Series: A Look at The Home Depot’s Most Energy Efficient Store
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) partnered with The Home Depot, one of America's largest home improvement retailers, to develop and implement solutions to build new, low-energy buildings that are at least 50% below Standard 90.1-2007. The effort was part of the Commercial Building Partnerships (CBP) initiative, a DOE initiative that accelerates the transformation of America's energy landscape by demonstrating innovative low-energy technologies and strategies in commercial buildings. DOE is hosting a webinar outlining CPD's work with The Home Depot, focusing on a specific store in Lodi, California. This is the first Home Depot store built using a new prototype design and is the most energy efficient Home Depot store in the country. DOE hopes that interested parties that attend the webinar will gain a clear understanding of the results of successfully implemented energy savings project, how the featured project met its energy savings goals, unique features of the case study, and how these strategies can be replicated in other projects. 
May 29, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM (MDT) – Tribal Renewable Energy Series Webinar: Regional Transmission Planning
Transmission plans for the Eastern and Western Interconnections and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), the eight U.S. regional reliability organizations are expanding existing regional transmission planning activities and broadening stakeholder involvement. In this webcast sponsored by DOE and the Western Area Power Administration, hear about the status of the organizations’ plans and evaluations of long-term regional transmission needs.
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EPA State and Local Climate and Energy Program logoState and local officials interested in more information about developing and implementing cost-effective climate and energy strategies that help further environmental goals and achieve public health and economic benefits may visit EPA’s State and Local Climate and Energy Program site.