Resource Library

The City of Santa Barbara provides rebates through its Smart Landscape program to provide incentives for drought-tolerant landscapes and upgrades to irrigation equipment for both commercial and residential use. Santa Barbara has been noted for its success in water reductions through ordinances and rebate programs.

The Regional Water Authority's "Be Water Smart" is a public outreach and school education focused program with comprehensive information on water rebates and services within the Central Valley of California. The water providers in Sacramento, Placer and El Dorado counties plus the City of West Sacramento are working together to help their customers use water efficiently. This website was developed as part of the Be Water Smart program to provide information to customers on how to save water with easy access to information on rebates and services from their local water provider.

This rebate program from the City of Fresno offers one approach to encourage residents in single and multi-family homes to replace old, water-intensive toilets. The City of Fresno also provides free water leak surveys and landscape consultations for residential, commercial, industrial, and institutional properties. Info available at: http://www.fresno.gov/Government/DepartmentDirectory/PublicUtilities/Watermanagement/Conservation/Surveys.htm#Survey

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission offers an incentive program with several water efficiency rebates for high efficiency toilets, clothes washers, and urinals that can serve as an example for incentive programs in other regions.

The Interstate Renewable Energy Council released the document "Net Metering Model Rules" in 2009 to highlight best practices in net metering. Information on REC ownership guidelines is highlighted on page 5..

The purpose of these guidelines is to allow for the use of solar energy sources while protecting the integrity of Howard County’s Historic Districts and to recognize environmental initiatives of the County, State and Federal governments.

This guideline provides information on the installation, operation, and decommission of geothermal heating and cooling systems in Ohio for state and local government agencies as well as the geothermal heating and cooling industry. The recommendations are intended to help ensure that geothermal heating and cooling systems are installed in a manner that will prevent ground water contamination, will protect drinking water sources and public health ,and help protect the owner’s investments.A

A commonly stated problem among contractors when obtaining California building permits is that it is difficult to know exactly what information is needed by the building department, and when or if a permit is required. This confusion is common with permits issued over-the-counter, typically for re-roofing, window replacement, water heater replacement, insulation upgrades and HVAC change-outs. This paper from the Energy Code Compliance Improvement Advisory Group discusses the scope of the problem, and steps for implementing solutions, such as web-based systems that enable contractors to pull permits remotely.

As the market has become more aware of energy efficiency and green buildings, the importance of providing real estate appraisers with necessary information to thoroughly analyze the effects of energy performance on property value has increased as well. This report aims to increase credibility and reliability of property valuation by helping appraisers and other interested parties to understand, find, and rigorously apply available information on energy performance in buildings.

In May 2010, the City of Philadelphia required all new construction in the City to use highly reflective roofing materials that meet or exceed Energy Star cool roof standards. Cool roofs are constructed or coated with a reflective material that deflects the sun's light and heat, reducing indoor temperature on hot days, extending the life of the roof, and reducing the outdoor air temperature of the surrounding area. The cool roof law was a key first step toward the City's anticipated adoption of green building standards.

Modesto Irrigation District, an independent, publicly owned utility in California's Central Valley, offers a $35 rebate and free appliance pick-up for old refrigerators and freezers, in order to ensure that their hazardous and toxic components may be properly disposed of.

Southern California Edison offers a $50 cash rebate and free pick-up of old, energy-inefficient freezers and refrigerators. Local governments can publicize similar programs offered by utilities and through regional partners.

The Refrigerator/Freezer Recycling Program promotes responsible recycling of refrigerators and freezers and offers a $50 incentive. Approximately 95% of each appliance is recycled. The program promotes the use of energy efficient appliances, and eliminates harmful refrigerants.

This presentation details the energy efficiency upgrades that the Central Shenandoah Planning District Commission has been able to pursue in 20 localities through grant funding, as a part of its Regional Energy Efficiency Strategy. In addition to completing energy audits and retrofits in a number of jurisdiction, the project has provided green job training to local residents as well as energy efficiency education and outreach benefits.

Nine case studies from around the U.S. of successful regional efforts to deploy more solar. These regional programs include: permitting standards, PACE financing, solar planning and ordinance, solar map project, collaborative procurement, and solar initiatives.

This 4 page excerpt details several examples of regional efforts to coordinate and streamline permitting for residential PV systems.

This analysis describes the process of completing a net zero retrofit. Net zero energy describes buildings whose energy consumption and emissions are fully offset by renewable energy, preferably generated on site. The process of taking an existing building to net zero energy is similar to that of a deep energy retrofit, with some additional considerations.

Since 2010, Renew Boston has serving Bostonians in adopting energy efficiency measures through a new partnership between the City of Boston and both utility companies, NStar and National Grid. The Renew Boston Strategic Plan reports on the successes and challenges of delivering energy efficiency measures in Boston and looks to the future to make Boston a national leader in energy conservation.

In 2012, Maryland became the first state in the country to make energy generated by geothermal heat & cooling (GHC) technologies eligible for the Renewable Portfolio standard as well as for Renewable Energy Credits equivalent to 1 MegaWatt-hour (MWh) of electricity through House Bill 1186. To qualify for RECs, the GHC technologies must meet Energy Star requirements, and displace either old or fossil fuel-powered heating systems. More information about eligibility and registering for RECs can be found on the Maryland Energy Administration website.

In 2012, the City passed a Renewable Energy Ordinance, now codified in Chapter 18.185 of the Municipal Code, to implement policies of the General Plan to facilitate renewable energy production, energy conservation, and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. In particular, the Renewable Energy Ordinance provides specific use allowances and flexibility in permitting for solar and wind energy systems, as well as other emerging technologies.

RES-BCT is a tariff mechanism that allows local governments or campuses located in IOU service areas to apply excess renewable energy produced from a customer account as energy credits on another of its metered accounts. Eligible public entities include cities, counties, campuses, special districts, school districts, political subdivisions, or other local public agencies. To learn more about RES-BCT tariffs at each of California's three investor-owned utilities, visit the CPUC's RES-BCT Program page and click the appropriate service area.

In 2004, the City of Columbia adopted a renewable energy ordinance mandating the city to purchase or generate electricity from eligible renewable energy sources on a specified schedule until 2028 through its municipal utility, Columbia Water & Light. In January of 2013, the City Council revised the ordinance, increasing the percentage of required renewable energy from 10% to 15% by 2018, from 15% to 25% by 2023, with a new goal of 30% by 2029.

The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) provides financial assistance to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to purchase, install, and construct renewable energy systems; make energy efficiency improvements to non-residential buildings and facilities; use renewable technologies that reduce energy consumption; and participate in energy audits, renewable energy development assistance, and feasibility studies. The REAP program provides grants to rural small businesses and agricultural producers for up to 25% of the cost to purchase and install renewable energy generation systems, flexible fuel pumps and energy efficiency projects. The maximum amount of a REAP Guaranteed Loan is $25 million per loan request. The minimum loan amount is $5,000. Up to 75 percent of total eligible project costs can be covered through the REAP Guaranteed Loan Program. Eligible applicants include: rural small businesses and agricultural producers. Nonprofits and public projects are not eligible.

The Carbondale Energy Plan outlines the desire of the community to construct buildings in a more environmentally responsible and energy efficient manner, which includes energy efficiency and renewable energy provisions. The hyperlink below displays the Town's ordinance which includes the program overview. The solar-related sections are highlighted.

This paper encourages investor-owned electric utilities to meet an industry-wide goal to spend at least five percent of annual fleet acquisition budgets on plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) and technologies. Electrification of the transportation sector will enable electric utilities to support environmental goals, build customer satisfaction, reduce operating costs, and assure the future value of existing assets.