Hub September 2024 Newsletter

Building Energy Resource Hub September 2024 Newsletter

Hub Partner Resources

Aside from producing original resources specifically tailored to building professionals in Chicago and Illinois, the Hub disseminates relevant educational content from trusted partners across the U.S. Browse these resources below to improve building performance, foster better consumer practices, and future-proof your investments. 

Energy Treasure Hunt

Energy Treasure Hunts are organized by ENERGY STAR. During an Energy Treasure Hunt, teams walk around a facility looking for quick ways to save energy. Those quick fixes can add up to big savings. Hundreds of organizations have used Energy Treasure Hunts to reduce their facilities’ energy use by up to 15 percent. Are you and your crew ready to find the treasure buried within your facilities?

Build for the Future Funding Navigator

The Build for the Future Funding Navigator, from our partners at HUD Exchange, provides a listing of funding opportunities across federal agencies to support efforts to enhance climate resiliency, energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, healthy housing, workforce development and environmental justice for HUD communities. Find open and upcoming funding opportunities, including grants, loans, tax credits, and rebates, as well as technical assistance opportunities.

Advanced Energy Design Guides

The Advanced Energy Design Guides, compiled by ASHRAE, are a series of publications designed to provide recommendations for achieving zero energy buildings or building energy savings over the minimum code requirements of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1. The guides offer designers and contractors the tools they need to build low-energy and net zero buildings.

Contractor Corner

U.S. Department of Energy Low Carbon Technology Strategies Toolkit

Expand your low carbon knowledge today! Check out the DOE Low Carbon Technology Strategies guidance documents to support you in your journey to reduce carbon emissions in your buildings. The primary purpose is to aid owners and operators of existing buildings in planning retrofit and operational strategies to achieve deep carbon reductions. The guides cover ten building types and include strategies for lighting, space conditioning, water heating, controls & analytics, building envelope, plug & process loads, renewables and battery storage, refrigeration and kitchen equipment. 

Hub Contractor Connection

Join the Hub’s first Contractor Connection! This invitation-only event is coming up in November and we want contractors working and interested in the building retrofit space to join us. Interested? Drop a quick email with the name of your company and we’ll add you to the list.

There's a rebate for that! And incentives too!

Check out these quick and easy-to-use links to identify financial assistance. 

1. ENERGY STAR Rebates
   Find rebates and special offers near you on ENERGY STAR certified products. Products that earn the ENERGY STAR label meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the U.S. EPA, helping you save energy and money while protecting the environment. 
2. Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) 
   DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on federal, state, and local incentives and policies that support renewable energy and energy efficiency and the list is updated regularly. 
3. Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency
   The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 empowers Americans to make homes and buildings more energy-efficient by providing federal tax credits and deductions that will help reduce energy costs and demand, as we transition to cleaner energy sources.

Upcoming Hub Events

Finance Fridays: Explore the Equitable Energy Future Grant Program
September 27 at 11:00 AM CT

Join us on September 27 for an overview of the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity Equitable Energy Future Grant Program. In this virtual session, we’ll explore how grants of up to $1 million will be available to contractor businesses to promote renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Speakers will explain how grant funds may be used to support a wide array of activities, including planning and project development, purchasing and leasing of land, permitting and zoning, interconnection application costs, equipment and supplies, community outreach and marketing, and staff and operations expenses.

And in case you missed the first two episodes of our Finance Fridays series, you can check out the recordings below!

• Finance Fridays: Illinois Climate Bank's SSBCI Program - Recorded on August 23
• Finance Fridays: Small Business Products for Energy Projects - Recorded on September 13

Partner Events

Steam Traps Can Save Energy
Hosted by Nicor
September 26 at 11AM CT

Discover how steam traps can improve your facility’s efficiency while saving money and energy. Nicor experts will share valuable insights and answer your questions in real-time. This webinar will review the basic types of steam traps, how steam traps operate effectively, common applications across the industry, common ways steam traps fail, best practices for installation, essential and proper maintenance tips and much more!

Success Stories from Early Adopters of Advanced Lighting Systems
Hosted by U.S. Department of Energy
October 1 at 10:00 AM CT

As DOE’s Integrated Lighting Campaign wraps up its fourth year, we are revisiting some early projects to assess how these systems have performed in terms of energy savings, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. In this webinar, representatives will share how their advanced lighting systems contributed to building performance and supported energy and decarbonization goals. Speakers will also offer advice on how to avoid common pitfalls.

Audits to Implementation: How Building Owners Leverage Energy Audits to Improve Portfolio Performance
Hosted by U.S. EPA
October 7 at 12:00 PM CT

Energy audits are a critical component in helping to identify opportunities to reduce energy use in buildings and create operational efficiencies. However, identifying the right properties to audit, finding partners to conduct audits, and making decisions around implementation of energy measures can be daunting. Join this webinar to learn how building owners approach energy audits across portfolios and implement recommended measures to optimize cost savings.

Successful Strategies for Better Insulating
Hosted by U.S. Department of Energy
October 10 at 12:00 PM CT

Insulation commonly is known to not only save money and improve comfort, but also improve indoor air quality and health when combined with air sealing and proper ventilation, and even reduce carbon dioxide emissions—yet at current retrofit rates increasing the insulation of all U.S. homes would take at least 90 years, according to DOE’s National Blueprint for the Buildings Sector. Hear about strategies for more successfully tackling this perennial issue, as well as a new app-based tool for your program’s toolbox.

Designing to Meet Building Performance and Decarbonization Goals using ENERGY STAR Tools
Hosted by U.S. EPA
October 17 at 12:00 PM CT

Join this webinar and learn how to use the EPA’s ENERGY STAR tools and resources for designing energy-efficient buildings. You’ll learn how to set whole building energy targets to supplement energy codes and determine if your design strategies are aligned to meet intended building performance and decarbonization goals. Also, learn how to evaluate and benchmark energy use for building projects starting with design through operation—helping to make informed decisions about the most efficient and cost-effective strategies for reducing energy use and GHG emissions.

Partnering with Real Estate for Market Transformation
Hosted by Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
October 17 at 1:00 PM CT

Panelists from MEEA, Pearl Certification, Appraisal Institute of Chicago, City of Iowa City and National Association of Realtors will provide an in-depth discussion on the critical role that real estate professionals play in advancing market transformation toward energy efficiency. The discussion will explore strategies for incorporating energy efficiency into property valuation and marketing, the role of public subsidies, and fostering collaboration among industry stakeholders to support accurate valuation and market transparency.

What We're Reading

Building Decarbonization: Expectations vs. Reality
Plumbing & Mechanical Engineer Magazine
 

Check out this article from Plumbing & Mechanical Engineer about building decarbonization expectations versus reality that examines what the PHVAC industry should know about decarbonization trends.

What We're Listening To

Baker Tilly: BuzzHouse Podcast
 

Baker Tilly recently launched the BuzzHouse Podcast that explores a variety of topics around multi-family family housing from specialists Don Bernards and Garrick Gibson. From tax prep to modular construction to housing market studies, the podcast provides the latest updates pertinent to developers and owners.