Hub June 2024 Newsletter

Building Energy Resource Hub June 2024 Newsletter

Join the Hub Team!

We're Hiring a Program Manager



Illinois Green Alliance seeks a mid-level professional to champion the ongoing growth of the Building Energy Resource Hub project. The Program Manager will develop and implement an expanded education strategy and oversee implementation, including resource development, in-person and virtual events, educational programming, blogs, and newsletter content. We are accepting applications on a rolling basis and will close the opening once the right candidate is identified.



Partner Resources

U.S. Department of Energy

The U.S. Department of Energy released its Blueprint for Decarbonizing U.S. Buildings by 2050 to identify steps for reducing building greenhouse gas emissions while delivering equity, affordability, and resilience benefits to communities. DOE's vision includes action the federal government can take to meet specific targets for increasing building energy efficiency, accelerating onsite emissions reductions, transforming the grid edge, and minimizing embodied life cycle emissions. The national strategy reflects the central role that buildings play in achieving economy-wide climate goals while delivering cost savings, healthier environments, and high-quality jobs for the American people. 
 

Retrofit Playbook for Large Buildings

RMI and partner released the Retrofit Playbook for Large Buildings, a living library of case studies, technical resources, and best practices to support high quality, low carbon retrofits. By utilizing the solutions and strategic planning tools presented here, building owners and their teams can develop decarbonization roadmaps that create asset value, reduce emissions, and enhance the resilience of their assets. Start planning now and explore our educational resources to inform your decarbonization journey.

GHG Emissions Reduction Audit: A Checklist for Owners
 

This resource by the U.S. Department of Energy includes guidance and an accompanying checklist that details recommended services and deliverables for a building-level greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction audit for operational Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions1. The GHG emissions reduction audit scope is compatible with an ASHRAE Standard 211 Level 2 energy audit or ISO 50002 Tier 2 energy audit but with a few key differences.

Guidelines for Energy Management
 

The ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management provide a proven strategy for creating a comprehensive energy management program. Based on the successful practices of ENERGY STAR partners, these guidelines can help your organization plan and implement an energy management program that delivers deep, sustained energy savings over the long-term.

Contractor Corner

Free Energy Demand Flexible Load Training by Flex

As an energy professional, you will grow your understanding and capabilities with new grid-interactive energy technologies, also commonly referred to as demand flexible loads. This three-course program includes a better understanding of designing customer offerings related to these resources, as well as installing and engaging with these resources as a viable grid asset. 

While the concept of demand flexibility and its use to support a stable electric grid isn’t new, it is evolving rapidly out of challenges with interruptible loads, or demand response—a change in the power consumption of an electric utility customer—and demand response programs. This evolution is being driven by new technologies in our homes and industries, the adoption of renewable energy generation, new forms of energy storage, and future electrification.

Upcoming Events from Friends of the Hub

Fail to Plan, Plan to Fail: How Emissions Reduction Planning Helps Partners Meet Climate Goals
Hosted by U.S. Department of Energy
July 2 at 10:00 AM CT

Explore the benefits of creating an Emissions Reduction Plan (ERP) from Better Climate Challenge partners that have already developed and leveraged ERPs to make significant strides toward realizing organizational climate goals.

New National Blueprint for the Building Sector: What it Means for the Residential Sector, a Nonprofit Panel

Hosted by U.S. Department of Energy

July 11 at 12:00 PM CT

What will it take to reduce residential emissions of the approximately 100 million existing homes and 40 million new homes expected to be constructed between now and 2050 to near-zero? Residential buildings are a significant source of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., and at current retrofit rates increasing the insulation of all homes would take at least 90 years, for example. Hear the plan to accelerate decarbonization of the U.S. residential building stock in line with achieving economy-wide net-zero emissions and centering equity and benefits to communities by 2050.

There's a Heat Pump for That: Multifamily Decarbonization Solutions

Hosted by U.S. Department of Energy

July 16 at 10:00 AM CT

Join this webinar to gain valuable insights from experts on evaluating heat pumps and other decarbonized heating solutions for multifamily buildings and hear firsthand from a multifamily building owner about how to make these solutions a reality.

Save the Date: Hub 101 Webinar

Hosted by Building Energy Resource Hub

July 31 at 12:00 PM CT

We'll be giving a brief virtual orientation of the Hub and share sneak peeks of upcoming resources and programs planned for 2024. We'll also answer any Hub-related questions you have, so please join us to learn more!

What We're Reading

This NYC High-Rise is Using Heat Pumps and Waste Heat to Cut Fossil Fuels

Canary Media | June 19, 2024

This cutting-edge project in New York City could be a model for other big buildings interested in reducing energy use. Read the full story below!