Synapse: This Week's News for LA’s Best Buildings
LA Is Prioritizing Environmental Justice On Path To 100% Renewables
For decades, power system planning has optimized costs and efficiency over the experiences of some communities, meaning vulnerable neighborhoods have long suffered proximity to polluting power plants and lack of access to more efficient technologies. But national momentum building around clean energy transitions presents a pressing opportunity to change this — making sure the benefits of cleaner power systems are delivered broadly to all communities.
Prioritizing environmental justice was a crucial component of the recently released Los Angeles 100% Renewable Energy Study (LA100), a partnership between the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to analyze how the second-largest city in the nation can reach its 100% renewable energy goal equitably and economically.
Jaquelin Cochran manages NREL’s grid systems analysis group and served as principal investigator for LA100. Check out this interview with her to learn more about how this landmark study is helping LA move the needle on prioritizing environmental justice — and what is next for NREL in continuing to center equity in our research.
Biden Seeks CRE Volunteers For Climate Goal Commitments
Biden is seeking owners of commercial buildings to make "commitments" to hit three sustainability goals for the purpose of being showcased at an upcoming public event, industry lobbying group Real Estate Roundtable announced. The three commitments were outlined in a fact sheet issued by RER as follows:
To install a "significant" number of electric vehicle charging stations across a company's portfolio.
To purchase, directly or through credits, clean power equivalent to the amount of electricity consumed by "an entire or majority portion" of the portfolio.
To share data on the portfolio's energy consumption with federal agencies and the U.S. Department of Energy's laboratories.
Companies large enough to be deemed "significant" that commit to those goals in the next seven to 10 days have a chance to be named "partners" with the Biden administration and be featured at the Department of Energy's Better Buildings Summit, scheduled to be held from May 17-20 and attended by Cabinet-level government officials. Interested companies are encouraged to contact White House Council on Environmental Quality Senior Director of Building Emissions Mark Chambers.
How to Fund Efficiency in Affordable Housing? Finance Forum Speakers Offer Insights
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many low- to moderate-income households have struggled to pay their energy bills, as millions have lost critical income and many face higher utility bills because of increased time spent at home. Their homes, in particular, would benefit from energy-saving upgrades to reduce utility costs.
Yet such upgrades have historically attracted a relatively small share of financing. To address this inequity, ACEEE is holding an interactive session at this month’s Finance Forum: “Financing Efficiency in Low- to Moderate-Income and Affordable Multifamily Housing.” The panel will look at new capital sources and financing structures that target efficiency upgrades in this hard-to-reach market.
Better Buildings' May Top 10 Efficiency Solutions
The 10 most-viewed resources on DOE Better Buildings Solutions Center from the past month include newly updated toolkits for energy efficiency project financing, support materials for energy management information system (EMIS) specification, and solutions from partners IHG Hotels & Resorts and New York City Housing Authority. Check them out!
Leading With Empathy - Actors Talk Climate Change
“Leading with Empathy – Actors Talk Climate Change,” is a conversation among environmental-activists Danny Glover (Lethal Weapon), Lee Rodriguez (Never Have I Ever) and Colby Minifie (The Boys) moderated by Tim Guinee (Homeland). These actors are on the front line igniting important conversations in communities around the world. Find out what draws them to speak out and how they connect with a wide range of audiences. Learn about incorporating sustainability in our industry practices and what we can all do while we still have the chance to turn things around.
This is the third Sustainable Entertainment Education Series (SEEDS) event produced by GreenProductionGuide.com.
When: May 13, 1 p.m. PST
