Save the Date: SPEER's Annual Industry + Policy Workshop

In this newsletter:

Save the Date: SPEER's Annual Industry + Policy Workshop
Free Heat Pump Training Workshop
Upcoming Webinars
Demand Flexibility Training
Clean Energy Fund of Texas - Sign up!
Home Energy Rebates Update
What We're Reading

Save the Date!

SPEER's annual Industry + Policy Workshop will be held September 19-20! We'll cover increasing energy efficiency measures, how demand response programs and heat pumps can reduce peak demand and benefit consumers, upcoming 89th Texas Legislative session, local governments + resiliency, and more. Browse last year's topics and presentations here. We can't wait to see you there!

FREE In-Person Heat Pump Training Workshop

Join us for an in-person training workshop on March 5th and expand your knowledge of heat pumps as we redefine the market and the role of modern heat pumps. Heat pumps are vital for improving building efficiency and helping stabilize our energy grid by reducing peak demand and grid stress as well as consumers bills.

Learn from the experts at Mitsubishi Electric Trade HVAC as they cover IRA/IIJA funding opportunities, discuss where is the market going, what is driving the market change, new heat pump technologies, and much more. Big thanks to our generous sponsor Austin Energy! Download our flyer to learn more and register now.

Upcoming Webinars

Sealing Success: Residential Energy Code Inspections for Air Leakage (OJT)

February 6 at 10:30 AM CST (1.5 hours)

Another great, On-the-Job training, walk-through where we’ll perform the Air Barrier inspection of several houses and dig into what’s failing and how it should be addressed for compliance. We’ll dive into the air sealing requirements and how they are viewed in the field.

Building Operator Certification (BOC) Informational Webcast

February 7 at 10:30 AM CST

Most buildings can reduce their total energy use by 5-30% while fully maintaining or even improving comfort and function. BOC training provides building operators skill enhancement in energy efficient building operations, project planning, and improved decision making. Join this webinar to learn more about the BOC Program and how it can save your building significant energy and money.

The webcasts cover an overview of the BOC training and credentialing programs, including:

● Who benefits by attending BOC training

● Fundamentals of Energy Efficient Building Operations course topics and schedules

● Level I and Level II course topics and schedules

● BOC credential options

● How BOC graduates are improving their facilities

● Q&A with BOC staff

Achieving Justice 40 through Community Engagement

February 22 at 1:00 PM CST

In the pursuit of a more just and inclusive society, the concept of “Justice 40” has emerged as a crucial framework. Justice 40 aims to ensure that at least 40% of the benefits from federal investments in areas such as clean energy, infrastructure, and environmental policies directly reach marginalized communities. This webinar explores the pivotal role of community engagement in achieving Justice 40, offering a comprehensive blueprint for empowering these communities and fostering equitable progress.

We'll discuss:

Educate participants on the principles and goals of Justice 40 and its significance in achieving environmental and economic justice within communities.
Highlight real-world examples of successful community engagement efforts that align with Justice 40 principles, showcasing diverse approaches and outcomes.
Discuss the role of stakeholders, including government agencies, non-profit organizations, businesses, and community leaders, in driving meaningful community engagement.

Speakers:

Larry Franklin- Black Lives Veggies the Nonprofit
Laura Morrison- Executive Director, Texas Electric Transportation Resources Alliance (TxETRA)
Janis Bookout- Co-founder of Community Resilience Trust (CRT) and the Director of Earth Day Austin

Free Online Demand Flexibility Training

Through demand flexibility, we can move energy production and demand into greater alignment and reduce the need for costly infrastructure investments in transmission and central generation. It is the coordinated manipulation of energy consumption and production across grid devices on a massive scale while maintaining livability and comfort standards.

AESP is offering free, online courses that are convenient, and designed for energy efficiency leaders. Elevate your expertise with FLEX's accredited online courses and dive into topics such as water heaters, lighting, HVAC systems, and cutting-edge distributed energy resources (DERs) like solar, battery storage, and EVSE. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, FLEX FLEX's 3-course series offers flexible learning modules, and equips tomorrow's workforce with skills for grid-interactive energy technologies.

Clean Energy Fund of Texas

Our friends at the Clean Energy Fund of Texas, the first "green bank" in Texas, have a new e-newsletter with updates about financing for clean energy projects. The financial services partner, now in its third year, aims to save money and energy for thousands of low- and moderate-income people. From low-interest weatherization loans to solar, electric vehicle infrastructure and more, Clean Energy Fund of Texas is a key partner to help us make the green transition possible and equitable. Sign up today.

Home Energy Rebates Update

There are new resources for states and territories involving several updates on the HOME Energy Rebates programs. This including an updated Sample Application Responses and Guidance to assist states/territories in applying, a document on Integrating WAP with Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates, templates to help states facilitate access to energy consumption data, templates for states to submit their narrative to apply for full program funding under the programs, Guidelines for Leveraging Other Funding Resources with the Rebates, and updated FAQs.

Read the recent press release here.