Wall Street Journal
Oct. 9, 2018
The Environmental Protection Agency has put on hold plans to update its system for rating the energy efficiency of office and industrial buildings, pausing after some big landlords complained the methodology would unfairly penalize their properties.
More...
CSBE
The Coalition for a Sustainable Built Environment has launched a campaign to oppose the EPA’s proposed
Affordable Clean Energy rule
that critics say will undermine efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the environment.
The building industry letter states that, “Abandoning commitments to reduce fossil fuel generation will make it much more difficult for the building sector to continue reducing GHG emissions. Worse, by attempting to reduce the cost of fossil fuel at the expense of renewable sources like wind and solar, the ACE creates powerful financial disincentives for the economy to move towards cleaner forms of energy.”
The letter is open until October 25; the EPA is accepting comments on its proposal until Oct. 31. To sign the letter,
click here.
Associated Press
Oct. 9, 2018
Shelters in one coastal Florida county aren't being opened for
Hurricane Michael
because they are considered reliable only up to a Category 2 hurricane.
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Daily Energy Insider
Oct. 9, 2018
Several energy efficiency groups recently announced their support for a bill, H.R. 6949, that encourages the use of combined heat and power (CHP) and waste heat and power (WHP) systems.
The CHP Support Act promotes CHP and WHP technology by authorizing continued funding for 10 Technical Assistance Partnerships (TAPs) for five years. These programs provide education, screening, and guidance to companies before, during and after installation.
More...
Wall Street Journal
Oct. 9, 2018
Exxon Mobil Corp., once a powerful skeptic of global warming, will now be among the first oil companies to put money into the fight to make climate change a political priority in Washington.
The U.S.’s largest energy producer will commit $1 million over two years to promote a national tax on carbon as a way to address the environmental issue. The funding will back an initiative designed to appeal to the Republicans who now control Washington, and may open the door for Exxon’s peers in the oil industry to follow.
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NEW IN CONGRESS
ACTION
Sponsor:
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Latest Action: Senate approved Yea-Nay Vote. 99–1 (Oct. 10, 2018)
NEW BILLS
Sponsor:
Rep. Charlie Crist (D-FL)
Introduced: Oct. 5, 2018
AGENCY ACTION
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Oct. 10, 2018
Premise plumbing systems are key to the built environment, given that our ability to live and thrive in buildings is highly dependent on efficient and sustainable access to potable water. The design of premise plumbing systems in the U.S. is based in part on decades-old data embodied in building codes, much of which was developed at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
However, many important factors affecting these systems have changed considerably in recent years. Per capita water demand has declined, new materials have been introduced into plumbing systems, and there are growing concerns regarding human exposure to opportunistic pathogens in plumbing systems and other water quality issues. New information is needed to ensure that premise plumbing systems are designed, installed, and operated such that the goals of water efficiency, water quality, and energy efficiency are considered in an integrated manner. NIST requests information from the public regarding measurement science needs that must be addressed to inform future code revisions, green building standards, and guidance documents in ways that enable safe, reliable and efficient plumbing systems in buildings. Responses to this RFI will assist NIST in its execution of a project to investigate approaches that can reduce water and energy consumption and reduce or prevent water quality problems by informing improvements in plumbing system design, codes and standards.
Variable Refrigerant Flow Multi-Split Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Working Group Public Meeting
Dept. of Energy
Oct. 10, 2018
DOE will be holding its next round of public meetings for the Variable Refrigerant Flow Multi-Split Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps working group on October 15, 2018 from 11am-5pm and on October 16, 2018 from 9am-5pm.
• Monday, October 15, 2018 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at U.S. Department of Energy, Forrestal Building, Room 6E-069, 1000 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121.
• Tuesday, October 16, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 901 D St. SW, Suite 930 Washington, DC 20024.
If you plan on attending the meeting in person please register by sending your name and company information via email to
ASRAC@ee.doe.gov
. In addition, you can attend the public meeting via webinar. To register for the webinar please visit the VRF Working Group page. If you are a foreign national please
contact Regina Washington
to register.
ARCHIVES
