March 2021 Program Updates
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As you begin new projects or continue construction on existing projects, we have some helpful reminders, tips, and information for you below.
Intake Process Streamlining
- The Program will accept third-party energy assessments as a substitute for providing an intake form.
- For projects that include lighting retrofits, the assessment must contain a complete lighting inventory. If the assessment does not include an inventory, contractors will be required to submit a separate lighting inventory/proposal as part of the intake process.
- Please keep in mind that the Program will still need to prepare a pre-retrofit energy model to establish baseline energy savings. The third-party’s report information about equipment specs will be incorporated into the baseline model, but the Program will not accept third-party energy savings estimates.
Random Pre-Inspection Process
- To streamline the intake process, the program has implemented randomized pre-inspection QC rates that are reviewed and adjusted based on the performance history of the contractor and the size of the projects. Please check in with your Account Manager for clarification or guidance.
Sales Tool Coming Soon
- The Program is developing a convenient tool to help you estimate project incentives during initial sales discussions with customers. Your Account Manager will be reaching out to you once the tool is available to walk you through how to use it and answer any questions you may have. Keep an eye out in the next couple of weeks for the launch announcement.
Managing Project Costs
The Program is implementing a new process to better track projects costs:
- First, in the pre-construction stage, contractors are now required to provide a copy of the customer signed contract or quote with the project’s estimated cost included. The project costs shall only include costs related to the labor and materials for the energy efficiency equipment and installation.
- At the end of the project, in the post-construction stage, contractors must provide a signed and paid invoice that indicates and shows the net price amount paid by the customer, inclusive of the project incentive.
Please note that the Program staff reserves the right to dispute any prices that seem excessive throughout the project. If you have any questions, please speak with your Account Manager.
Regarding Change Orders, these are required when there is a deviation from the Reservation Letter in the following instances:
- Scope of Work
- Project Cost
- Installation Completion Date
The Program will accept a Change Order subject to Program review. The Program will not accept any increased project costs or equipment quantities without an approved Change Order.
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For the months ahead, we wanted to introduce a new segment of our Participating Contractor Monthly Newsletter, a Contractor Spotlight. This will allow us to highlight a Participating Contractor each month and allow them to share some information about their business and their favorite parts of participating in the Program. Our first Contractor Spotlight is on Bottom Line Utility Solutions (BLUS).
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BLUS has been an industry leader in water conservation and green energy solutions for over 20 years, whose goal is to help their customers save money and the environment. BLUS started out as a company that provided basic toilet and irrigation installation and has grown into a company that provides an entire green solution for each customer. Their passion truly is saving water and energy, so it is very rewarding knowing that each project helps them achieve that environmental responsibility. They also love hearing from customers about the savings they see on their utility bills after installation.
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What is your favorite part of participating in the SoCalREN Multifamily Program?
“Because of the SoCalREN Multifamily Program, we are able to serve more customers and install a variety of different conservation measures. As one of our core values, participating in SoCalREN projects helps us reduce the carbon impact while saving our clients valuable time and money upgrading their assets.”
What has been your favorite project over the last few years? “Zen Senior Living has been one of our favorite multi-measure projects over the past few years and we were very proud to offer the SoCalREN Program to this senior living property. Our crews respectfully and safely entered these homes and installed LED lights, thermostats, and gas and water-saving devices. The residents were grateful for the caution and care we took during the installations and appreciated the savings they would realize on their utility bills. We are thankful for SoCalREN as it allowed us to help Zen Senior Living’s owners and our state’s most vulnerable residents achieve unprecedented levels of energy savings while creating a positive impact on our environment.”
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Requesting Marketing Materials
Face Masks Now Available!
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After the Virtual Kick-Off event, we had a lot of Participating Contractors request materials. We are working to get these items ordered and shipped as soon as possible. We are also now offering Program branded face masks available on the “Requesting Marketing Materials” page. As of now, we are only offering one pack of ten masks at a time but plan to offer more later in 2021. To request face masks, please click here.
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Exciting Announcement – ReEnergizing Communities Podcast
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Launching at the end of Q1, SoCalREN is introducing its first-ever podcast, ReEnergizing Communities! ReEnergizing Communities will give leaders in sustainability who are making a difference across Southern California a platform to discuss their important work. Whether showing property managers and local governments better choices for energy use or highlighting opportunities for individuals in disadvantaged communities to pursue careers in energy and water efficiency, this podcast aims to connect listeners to conversations that can help influence change at work, at home, and in their communities.
The pilot episode of the ReEnergizing Communities podcast is focused on the topic of energy resiliency. Energy resiliency is defined as an entity's ability to withstand or recover quickly from disruptions in available and affordable energy resources. To help discuss this important topic are two representatives from the City of Palmdale, Ben Lucha, and Kathy Wells, as well as Lujuana Medina from Los Angeles County and Chris Ford from The Energy Coalition.
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Please visit the SoCalREN COVID-19 Impacts and Updates page for the latest information on-field activities, links to State and local government resources, and other information related to the pandemic. If you have any questions, please reach out to your Account Manager.
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No Cost Resource: SoCalREN Energy Efficiency Learning Center
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Participating Contractors; have you taken advantage of the SoCalREN Energy Efficiency Learning Center (EELC)? Did you know that the EELC is available for you and your staff at no-cost? Participate in e-learning courses at your own pace from the comfort and safety of your home or office. Participating Contractors can access the SoCalREN EELC as a Program benefit at no cost. The EELC offers an expanding catalog of courses in a variety of categories including HVAC, Sales and Marketing, Commercial Energy Efficiency, Continuing Education Units, Building Performance Institute (BPI), Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), and North American Technician Excellence (NATE).
All these accredited courses can be found in the EELC. Currently, there are more than 80 active courses available. To access these courses, please email the SoCalREN team, and a login will be created for you and any staff members interested in taking advantage of this Program benefit offered by SoCalREN. Start this year off right by reviewing what the EELC has to offer for you and your staff!
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Connect With Us On Social Media
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Give us a follow! Keep up with Program updates, virtual events, and other news happening related to the Multifamily Program. Don’t forget to tag us if you’re photographing any of your current projects. We will be sure to highlight and repost your post!
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