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November & December 2011
POLICY NEWS & VIEWS
Energy Efficiency — Jobs Creator
Appliance Standards — Understanding the Upcoming EISA Standards
High Performance Buildings — Exciting New Projects
Building Energy Codes — Building Energy Codes Working Group Recap

Energy Efficiency — Jobs Creator

Public Policy Associate
The national news has been focused lately on some high profile renewable energy failures. But they've been missing out on the bigger picture: clean energy jobs, powered by energy efficiency, are growing and here to stay. A recent report from Mark Muro and Jonathan Rothwell of the Brookings Institution shows that clean energy jobs are a robust and growing source of employment across the nation. According to the report, "The clean economy, which employs some 2.7 million workers, encompasses a significant number of jobs in establishments spread across a diverse group of industries."

Take a look at this chart from the Center for American Progress (thanks to the New England Clean Energy Council for the link):


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since 2003, energy efficiency has been a leader in job growth in the clean economy sector, adding over 120,000 jobs. If you include energy-saving building materials, green architecture and construction, professional energy savings, and HVAC and building controls, that figures rises to over 200,000 new jobs. And these jobs pay well, with a median wage 13 percent higher than the overall U.S. median wage. This is especially impressive in light of the current poor economic situation.

States in the Northeast get this. They have placed their bets on energy efficiency and clean energy as a big part of their economic future. This could be a major job creator in the years to come. The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center reports that over 64,000 workers in the state now work in the clean energy field, of which energy efficiency is a major portion. And Environment Northeast found as part of its "Energy Efficiency: Engine of Economic Growth" report that states with robust levels of investment in energy efficiency electric, natural gas, and unregulated fuel savings programs could generate over 80,000 new jobs in New England alone. That's a significant number of "green shoots." NEEP plans to work with our partners to help get a better picture of the growth of energy efficiency jobs in the region and help keep this engine of economic growth moving.
Appliance Standards

NEEP's David Lis helps Channel 5 explain coming light bulb standards


Standards Program Manager
With the first effective date of new EISA efficiency requirements for light bulbs just weeks away on January 1, consumer awareness and understanding of the coming changes remains low. Some media outlets have made the situation more confusing by spreading misinformation. Fortunately, others have become increasingly interested in educating consumers about the standards and their true effect on lighting options.

One of Boston's local television news stations, WCVB Channel 5, recently addressed these issues through a televised piece and invited NEEP's Dave Lis to help tell the story. Dave manages the Appliance Standards Project at NEEP and has been working throughout the year to ensure accurate information is finding its way to consumers. While it has been an uphill battle, opportunities to engage consumers are increasing.

Although the story was brief, several important messages were delivered:

  • More efficient lighting saves energy, which means cost-savings to consumers;
  • Consumers will continue to have a variety of lighting choices, including incandescent options; and
  • Consumers should look for Lumens, a measure of brightness, when purchasing bulbs.

Viewers interested in more information were directed to the LUMEN Coalition's new website: www.lumennow.org.
High Performance Buildings

Northeast High Performance Buildings Policy Assessment and Net Zero Roadmap


High Performance Schools & Public Buildings Program Manager
NEEP's High Performance Buildings team has launched two important collaborative projects to identify steps that the Northeast can take to advance policies that promote healthy, energy efficient, "net zero" public buildings.

The first project is a Policy Assessment that takes a close look at existing state policies that require new state-funded buildings (such as state institutions and K-12 schools) to follow high performance construction guidelines, in areas such as water and energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and materials selection.

While many states have adopted policies within the last few years, others have had policies in place for close to a decade. NEEP will identify what policies are on the books, what lessons can be shared across state lines, and make recommendations for future action. NEEP strongly encourages those working in states - either as policymakers or practitioners - to share your experience by filling out this quick 15 minute survey. This input will provide a valuable perspective in the final report.

The second project looks further into the future - creating a roadmap for states to achieve net zero energy buildings as a baseline construction and renovation practice for public schools, buildings and institutions. Industrial Economics Incorporated (IEc) and Price Sustainability are providing consulting support to develop this report with NEEP; IEc also assisted the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the development of their 2009 report, "Getting to Zero". The roadmap will explore topics such as building energy labeling, "stretch" energy codes, financing, and workforce development, identifying what the region can do in the next several years to lay the foundation for a future where all public buildings produce as much energy as they consume.

As both projects move forward, NEEP welcomes your thought leadership and "hands on" experience. Reports will be available this winter with final recommendations. Please contact Carolyn Sarno or Susy Jones at NEEP if you have questions or comments.
Building Energy Codes

NEEP Convenes State Building Energy Codes Leaders


Building Energy Policy Associate
Despite a cold, rainy day in Hartford, NEEP's annual in-person Building Energy Codes Working Group meeting went off without a hitch on Thursday, October 27. With twenty folks in the room and another sixteen dialing in, the room was abuzz with strong regional and national representation. About half of the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states were represented and joining them were also code advocates from prominent organizations like ACEEE, BCAP, Sierra Club, Environment Northeast and ASHRAE, as well as supporting utility program administrators including NYSERDA, National Grid, NSTAR, and Connecticut Light and Power.

After a quick round of intros, NEEP's Building Energy Codes Project Manager, Don Vigneau, kicked things off with a presentation on the current status of how renovations are addressed in codes around the region. Group discussion followed to identify barriers and best practices to achieving greater energy savings in existing building.

Another popular topic of discussion focused around innovative funding solutions for code related activities. Especially with ARRA funding coming to an end, we discussed how the region can continue to fund code activities and protect existing funds from being raided. For instance, in the case of Maine, nearly $100,000 of funds specifically set aside for code work was diverted by Governor LePage to pay for non-code related state activities. The group heard lessons learned and best practices from around the region, including Doug Schanne from Connecticut's Department of Construction Services. In Connecticut, a surcharge of $0.26 per $1,000 value of permit work raises over $1 million per year for code related education and training programs.

Next up, NEEP's Public Policy Director, Jim O'Reilly, provided an update on NEEP's work to date in the realm of codes and standards savings attribution. As the region continues to consider the concept of building code activities being incorporated into rate-payer efficiency programs, working group participants had an opportunity to learn more about NEEP's joint project proposal with other regional and national organizations and also had a chance to hear from National Grid's Puja Vohra on Massachusetts' ongoing efforts.

Of course, no Regional Building Energy Codes Working Group meeting would be the same without hearing the latest happenings within the DOE's Building Energy Code Program (BECP). Dave Conover of PNNL did the honors, updating the group on DOE's soon to be finalized compliance report, summarizing the state pilot projects results. Marilyn Kaplan of NYSERDA was also there to speak in more detail on New York's code compliance study and shared with the group stumbling blocks they had faced throughout the process and next steps the state has planned.

Conover then shifted gear to provide a brief history of the International Green Construction Code (IgCC), leading easily into a great group discussion addressing some common misconceptions, like whether or not the IgCC is a stretch code, or if the IgCC is too confusing. Sean Denniston of New Buildings Institute (NBI) then joined the group remotely to discuss the details and benefits of their proposed Outcome-Based Compliance Path in the IgCC, submitted as a public comment jointly by NBI, AIA, DOE, BOMA, and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This comment will be acted upon by ICC voting members at the IgCC Final Action Hearings to be held in Phoenix, Arizona from November 2 through 6, 2011.

Finally, to wrap up the day, Conover provided an overview of new and existing BECP resources for all of your building energy code needs and NEEP's Carolyn Sarno and Allison Webster concluded with a brief tour of online resources available on NEEP's Building Energy Codes Project public page and private Working Group web portal. See the full day's worth of presentations and discussion questions here.