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Nov. 21, 2024
Energy resilience and readiness exercises, also known as black start or pull the plug exercises, have been implemented at the Department of Defense and other national security agencies. This training takes lessons learned from those exercises and outlines the value they could provide to all federal sites and facilities. This course will highlight the value of black start exercises as a means to evaluating and improving energy resilience. It will also cover interdependencies between power, communications, and mission systems; and provide actionable steps to start preparing for unplanned power outages.
Nov. 21, 2024
The FEMP Resilience team is excited to share a new opportunity for your agency's site personnel, energy managers, and resilience-focused working groups. The FEMP Resilience team is hosting a webinar this December to launch a new Mission Energy Resilience and Readiness Exercises (MERREs), also known as black start exercises, program offering. To help civilian agencies bolster resilience and contingency planning efforts, FEMP will provide training and resources to help you conduct your own MERREs. As part of this program, FEMP will be selecting a pilot agency site to receive FEMP assistance in conducting its own MERRE. If you'd like your site to be considered, email Epstein, Ethan Ethan.Epstein@hq.doe.gov to indicate your interest and be added to the list.
Join this exciting new program's kickoff training to learn more and get your questions answered on December 5, 2024 | 2:00 to 3:00 PM (Eastern) Introduction to Mission Energy Resilience Readiness Exercises (MERRE).
Nov. 15, 2024
Ongoing EVGrid Assist webinars bring in DOE and external experts to share information, highlight best practices and raise awareness about emerging research, solutions and approaches. This website provides prerecorded videos of webinars discussing EV grids.
Nov. 13, 2024
The Department of Defense's Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program (SERDP) is seeking environmental research and development proposals for funding beginning in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026. Projects will be selected through a competitive process. The Core Solicitation provides funding opportunities for basic and applied research and advanced technology development. Core projects vary in cost and duration consistent with the scope of the work proposed. The Statements of Need referenced by this solicitation request proposals related to the SERDP program areas of Environmental Restoration, Resource Conservation and Resilience, and Weapons Systems and Platforms. All Core pre-proposals are due January 7, 2025 by 2:00 p.m. ET. SERDP Executive Director will conduct a webinar on November 15 from 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. ET. offering valuable information for those interested in new SERDP funding opportunities.
Nov. 7, 2024
This webinar features the EPA's ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager, a powerful no-cost online tool that can help you track and manage your treatment plant's energy usage and energy savings from efficiency projects, as well as related greenhouse gas emissions. We will discuss the benefits of benchmarking water and wastewater treatment plants and demonstrate how you can create an account, add a property, input monthly energy use, and benchmark your systems at no cost to you.
Nov. 7, 2024
Continuous improvement of energy performance requires establishing effective energy management practices and processes. With current technology and a drive for energy efficiency, organizations of any kind can effectively use the endless data available to them to create an actionable energy management strategy. Join this webinar to hear from representatives across two different sectors -- schools and real estate--about how they are doing just that.
Nov. 6, 2024
Join us as we introduce and demonstrate the core functionality of EPA's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool. Attendees will learn how to navigate Portfolio Manager, add a property and enter details about it, enter energy and water consumption data, and generate performance reports to assess progress. Attend this webinar if you're interested in: Getting started with benchmarking. Understanding how to assess your energy performance. Generating reports.
Nov. 6, 2024
Are you well-versed in the basic functionality of the EPA's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool and ready to take advantage of more advanced features? If so, join this webinar to learn about the tool's most advanced features, including using spreadsheet upload templates to update property data, setting goals and targets to plan energy improvements for properties, creating custom reports, and using the Sustainable Buildings Checklist. Attend this webinar if you're interested in: Learning about Portfolio Manager's most advanced features, including goal setting, custom reports, and more
Oct. 25, 2024
The 2025 Conference will have three programming tracks:
• Natural and Cultural Resources
• Community, Tribal Partners, and Stakeholder Engagement
• Emerging Technology and Policy
Oct. 25, 2024
Attendees will learn about opportunities to engage with DOE-led efforts that are modernizing the future power grid and enabling a more resilient, secure, and equitable energy transition. This event will host thought leaders and working sessions to have a dialog about strategies for future energy systems through partnerships and technology transition across government, industry, research organizations, and local communities.
The summit will feature keynote speakers and focused sessions on the two summit themes: the DOE Grid Modernization Initiative and Clean Energy Cybersecurity.
Oct. 25, 2024
Enhancing energy efficiency through building envelope technologies doesn't just improve building performance – it can also play a key role in protecting bird populations. Join this webinar to learn how adopting smart lighting considerations and specialized glass patterns in new and existing buildings can minimize bird collisions with windows while optimizing energy efficiency.
Oct. 23, 2024
On 7 October 2024, EPA published several new frequent questions about managing end-of-life solar panels under RCRA. Find out how to use knowledge or analytical testing to make a hazardous waste determination on solar panels, how the RCRA regulations apply to solar panels that are reused and recycled, how solar panels can be recycled, and more on our website.
Sep. 20, 2024
The Department of Defense's (DoD) Energy and Environment Innovation Symposium is the nation's largest conference focusing on the DoD's priority environmental and energy issues. The Symposium will offer a variety of technical sessions and short courses, over 650 technical poster presentations, and networking opportunities at the Washington Hilton in Washington, DC from December 3-6, 2024.
Sep. 3, 2024
The DOE announced that it has delivered on Congress's mandate to cut emissions from new or newly renovated federal buildings through the Clean Energy for New Federal Buildings and Major Renovations of Federal Buildings Rule. By meeting the requirements of the Rule, federal buildings will reduce pollution, improve air quality, create good-paying jobs, and take advantage of cost savings from using more energy-efficient equipment. These measures will help advance the adoption of cleaner, more efficient technologies for buildings that will lead the way to achieving President Biden's Federal Sustainability Plan goal of net-zero emissions from all federal buildings by 2045. This Rule, which implements the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) of 2007, requires federal agencies to phase out fossil fuel usage in new federal building construction or major renovation by achieving a 90% reduction in fossil fuel use for new projects started between fiscal years 2025 and 2029 and completely eliminating on-site fossil fuel usage in new projects beginning in 2030.
Aug. 16, 2024
Laboratories can use three to four times more energy than an average office building with cost-saving opportunities of 20%-40%! Organizations choosing to implement Smart Labs principles are taking the first step in reducing their building's carbon footprint while enhancing the health and safety of their most valuable assets, their staff. The Smart Labs training provides the framework necessary to assemble a collaborative team capable of evaluating laboratory performance while identifying and implementing efficiency improvements.
Jul. 31, 2024
The FEMP-funded Smart Labs Toolkit helps lab owners and operators plan and cost-effectively achieve safe, efficient, and sustainable laboratories no matter the size. Ventilation is a big topic in laboratory efficiency as it is one of the largest energy consumers. Smart Labs recently published a case study sharing the results of a new ventilation analysis performed at the USDA Forage Animal Production Research Laboratory. The computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis helped the mechanical engineering teams optimize the mechanical ventilation system of laboratories inside of main campus buildings. Read more about how this USDA lab and other national labs are leveraging CFD analysis.
May. 7, 2024
DOE is publishing a rule that establishes energy performance standards for the new construction and major renovation of Federal buildings, including commercial buildings, multi-family high-rise residential buildings, and low-rise residential buildings per the Energy Conservation and Production Act ("ECPA"), as amended by the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 ("EISA"). Consistent with the requirements of ECPA and EISA, DOE is establishing Federal building energy performance standards that require Federal agencies to reduce their use of on-site use of fossil fuels (which include coal, petroleum, natural gas, oil shales, bitumens, tar sands, and heavy oils) consistent with the targets of ECPA and EISA. This final rule also provides processes by which Federal agencies may petition DOE for a modification to the final standards. The effective date of this rule is 15 July 2024. POC is Mr. Rick Mears, U.S. Department of Energy, Office of the Under Secretary for Infrastructure, Federal Energy Management Program, FEMP-1, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. Email: cer-information@hq.doe.gov.
(Federal Register 1 May 2024 [Rule] Pages 35384-35439)
May. 1, 2024
In this issue, readers will learn about many examples of the adoption of technology and systems that are reducing the Army's environmental footprint. Working closely with industry, the Army is introducing more efficient turbine engines, hybrid electric power plants, alternative energy generating systems, cleaner manufacturing, virtual technologies and other innovations.
Apr. 30, 2024
FEMP plays a key role in helping agencies understand and meet the federal building energy efficiency standards for agencies' new construction and major renovation projects. These standards include base building efficiency as defined in the CFR by subpart A of 10 CFR 433 and 10 CFR 435, commonly referred to as the "residential" and "commercial" rules, respectively. This also includes the Clean Energy Rule for qualifying projects as defined by subpart B of 10 CFR 433 and 10 CFR 435. The Clean Energy Rule supplements both the base commercial and residential rules, transitioning new buildings and major renovations away from on-site fossil fuel derived energy consumption. Projects meeting the cost thresholds that trigger compliance with the Clean Energy Rule must also comply with both subparts A and B of the energy efficiency standards by first designing an efficient building (per subpart A) and then optimizing the design to reduce or eliminate on-site fossil fuel usage (per subpart B).
Apr. 17, 2024
The Innovative Grid Deployment Liftoff report is focused on identifying pathways to accelerate deployment of key commercially available but underutilized advanced grid solutions on the existing transmission and distribution system to address near-term hotspots and modernize the grid to prepare for a wide range of energy futures.
Apr. 3, 2024
The Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050: A National Blueprint for the Buildings Sector, is a comprehensive plan to reduce GHG emissions from buildings by 65% by 2035 and 90% by 2050. DOE led the Blueprint's development in collaboration with the HUD, the EPA, and other federal agencies. The Blueprint is the first sector-wide strategy for building decarbonization developed by the federal government.
Mar. 29, 2024
DOE announced the second cohort of communities selected as part of the Communities Local Energy Action Program (Communities LEAP), a unique technical assistance initiative designed to help disadvantaged communities and those with historical ties to fossil fuel industries take direct control of their clean energy future. The 30 selected communities will receive a total of $18 million worth of technical assistance to create tailored community-wide action plans that reduce local air pollution, increase energy resilience, lower utility costs and energy burdens, and create good paying jobs.
Mar. 11, 2024
This report describes the development of a method to assess battery energy storage system (BESS) performance that the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and others can use to evaluate performance of deployed BESS or solar photovoltaic (PV) plus BESS systems. The proposed method is based on actual battery charge and discharge metered data to be collected from BESS systems provided by federal agencies participating in FEMP's performance assessment initiatives. Long-term (e.g., at least 1 year) time series (e.g., hourly) charge and discharge data are analyzed to provide approximate estimates of key performance indicators (KPIs).
Mar. 11, 2024
The EPA requested FEMP technical assistance to evaluate feasibility of on-site solar photovoltaics (PV) and battery storage to support cost savings and decarbonization goals. Through this technical assistance engagement, a team of experts used NREL's REopt? web tool to evaluate the techno-economic viability of these technologies at nine EPA facilities, including Ada, Athens, Cincinnati-AWBERC, Corvallis, Fort Meade, Gulf Breeze, Montgomery, Narragansett, and RTP Main & National Computer Center. The analysis considered multiple ownership models, including direct purchase and third-party ownership/financing, as well as energy goals such as minimizing energy costs and achieving 50% renewable electricity annually. This technical assistance initiative identified five facilities where solar PV and battery storage could be cost-effective. It also provided insights into optimal system sizing and economic feasibility for these installations. Encouraged by these findings, EPA is now awarding a feasibility study for solar PV and battery storage at the Narragansett facility.
Mar. 4, 2024
The Department of Defense's National Defense Center for Energy and Environment (NDCEE) is excited to announce the opening of proposals for demonstrations of environmental, safety, occupational health, and energy technologies from March 1st to April 1st. They welcome submissions from all DoD Services, inviting innovative technologies, processes, and strategies that enhance energy security, Warfighter protection, military operations efficiency, or reduce environmental impacts. NDCEE wants your help shaping the future of defense through initiatives that bolster national security, safeguard our planet, and contribute to a more robust, greener, and secure tomorrow.
Feb. 8, 2024
For the first time, Pollution Prevention and Source Reduction Assistance Grants (between 2011 and 2022) have topped the one-billion-pound mark for reductions in hazardous materials and pollutants. In addition, cost savings of $2.3 billion resulted from companies buying fewer hazardous materials and shipping less hazardous waste, reducing regulated air emissions, treating less wastewater and buying less water, fuel and energy. Further success from these grants includes 20.8 million metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions and 31.9 billion kilowatt hour savings achieved mostly through energy efficiency and reduced use of energy.
Jan. 18, 2024
Funding from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Supports Energy Conservation Measures at 31 Facilities, Saving Taxpayers $29 Million in the First Year and Drastically Reducing the Federal Carbon Footprint. DOE announced $104 million for energy conservation and clean energy projects at 31 Federal facilities--the latest step in President Biden's strategy to reestablish the Federal Government as a sustainability leader. The funding represents the first of three disbursements from the historic $250 million in funding for the program in President's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Jan. 17, 2024
The EPA is adopting the Department of Energy's (DOE) Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Categorical Exclusion (CE) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to use in EPA's program and funding opportunities administered by EPA.
Dec. 13, 2023
Guidance for Federal agencies to select the most cost-effective and energy-efficient lighting systems available. Use the guide as a roadmap and reference to select the best lighting system for your facility.
Nov. 15, 2023
The Federal Energy Management Program works closely with agencies and partner organizations to coordinate interagency working groups. These groups focus on federal energy management and compliance with federal laws and requirements.
Nov. 9, 2023
DOE's Building Technologies Office (BTO) announced its Building Energy Efficiency Frontiers & Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) 2024 funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0003158). This funding opportunity will invest up to $30 million across nine topic areas to research, develop, and validate technologies with the potential to significantly advance building decarbonization. Since its inception in 2014, BTO has issued the BENEFIT funding opportunity announcement (FOA) to spur innovations that provide substantial improvements to building energy performance and occupant comfort. Technologies developed through BENEFIT 2024 will advance the state-of-the-art for HVAC equipment, lower the cost of building envelope and lighting retrofits, and make buildings more resilient to blackouts and extreme weather. Equitable decarbonization of the U.S. building stock is central to each topic in the BENEFIT 2024 FOA, emphasizing cost-effective, easy-to-deploy technology solutions, and community-oriented project partnerships.
Nov. 9, 2023
The United States Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (USPVDB) provides the locations and array boundaries of U.S. ground-mounted photovoltaic (PV) facilities with capacity of 1 megawatt or more. It includes corresponding PV facility information, including panel type, site type, and initial year of operation.
Nov. 7, 2023
This interactive training will educate learners about energy management best practices including the value of setting goals, developing a plan, identifying milestones, and documenting the tasks associated with those goals and milestones. During the training, you will discover why it's important to identify key stakeholders and core team members for each project or task and to get their support and buy-in.
Nov. 7, 2023
The slide deck provides an overview of GSA's Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center's (RRBITC) National Deep Energy Retrofit (NDER) ESPC project. The presentation provides project details, the various ECMs and how the project will meet its goals of electrification and decarbonization.
Oct. 30, 2023
The Renewable Energy Potential (reV) model is a first-of-its-kind detailed spatial-temporal modeling assessment tool that empowers users to calculate renewable energy capacity, generation, and cost based on geospatial intersection with grid infrastructure and land-use characteristics. More specifically, this open-source research and modeling assessment tool allows users to explore regional and statewide renewable energy supply possibilities, identify options for connecting those energy sources to the grid, and evaluate how much those solutions can cost.
Oct. 26, 2023
This is a web-based tool that enables users to explore aggregate energy use data from more than 150,000 commercial and multi-family buildings in the United States. The new Data Explorer tool will help building managers unlock potential savings based on the data from ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager®, the nation's largest energy benchmarking platform for commercial and multifamily buildings.
Oct. 25, 2023
DOE published the "2023 Better Buildings Initiative Progress Report," which summarizes the achievements of DOE's Better Buildings public and private sector partners since the initiative's inception in 2011. The report shows that partnering entities, including more than 900 businesses, state and local governments, utilities, housing authorities, and other public and private organizations, to date have collectively saved $18.5 billion through efficiency improvements and cut harmful carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 190 million metric tons-- an amount roughly equivalent to combined annual emissions of 24 million homes. This report also includes the results of the Better Climate Challenge, an initiative that challenges major building portfolio owners and industrial partners to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 50% within 10 years. In year one of the Challenge, partners have reported on nearly 1 billion square feet of buildings and 1,500 industrial plants. Through the Better Buildings Initiative, DOE aims to improve energy efficiency in the commercial, industrial, and residential sectors and accelerate cost-effective decarbonization solutions across the economy--supporting the Administration's efforts to lower energy costs for American families and businesses while addressing the climate crisis.
Sep. 15, 2023
DOE announced more than $6.3 million for six research and development projects to improve fish passage and protection technologies and reduce the environmental impacts of hydropower on species and ecosystems. Fish passage and protection technologies provide a way for fish to navigate barriers such as dams and impoundments and provide river connectivity by enabling fish movement and migrations. These selections support an increasingly important role for hydropower in providing grid reliability as the United States transitions to a clean energy system with more variable resources like wind and solar. These projects were selected as part of the Water Power Technologies Office's Advancing Fish Passage and Protection Technologies funding opportunity. Learn more about this and other water power funding opportunities.
Sep. 8, 2023
GSA has reported progress toward key sustainability goals in recent years across its buildings portfolio. In this report GSA's aggregated buildings portfolio data show it exceeded prior goals for energy efficiency, water efficiency, emissions reduction, and renewable electricity share in fiscal year 2021, however GSA officials cited lack of access to capital as a challenge it faces in meeting future federal sustainability goals. GSA officials said the scale and scope of the projects needed to achieve net-zero building emissions by 2045 will require resources beyond what has historically been available.
Sep. 1, 2023
The Carbon Pollution-Free Electricity (CFE) Program Availability Map is a searchable database of clean energy purchasing programs offered by vertically integrated utilities (i.e., those responsible for generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in their service territory). It is published by the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) and is intended to assist federal stakeholders with identifying CFE options that meet E.O. 14057 requirements.
Aug. 16, 2023
Registration is now open for FEMP 50, a special two-day celebration organized by the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) to commemorate 50 years of federal energy management. FEMP invite you to join them for a virtual training session on 12 and 13 September 2023.
FEMP 50 is an opportunity for all energy and water management enthusiasts to come together, learn, collaborate, and celebrate the remarkable achievements made in the realm of federal energy management over the past five decades. This event will feature engaging training sessions, insightful discussions, and the chance to interact with leaders from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and FEMP.
Aug. 9, 2023
DOE unlocked billions of dollars in private capital to improve the efficiency and sustainability of federal facilities. DOE competitively awarded contracts to 20 energy service companies (ESCOs) to provide Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) for federal agencies, marking the fourth generation of such contracts awarded by DOE since 1998. Energy and water infrastructure projects financed through DOE's ESPC indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract offer guaranteed cost savings for federal sites. With a ceiling of $5 billion per ESCO contract, they require no upfront government funding and are designed to pay for themselves over time. Federal agencies interested in initiating their next ESPC project are encouraged to contact the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) to get started. Stakeholders, including federal agencies, ESCOs, and the public can visit FEMP's ESPC program page to view the awarded contracts and access further information about ESPCs
Aug. 7, 2023
The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) released the new Climate Smart Building Initiative (CSBI) Tool to support data-driven plans and progress towards greenhouse gas emission reduction targets across an agency's portfolio of covered facilities using performance contracting (utility energy service contract (UESC), energy savings performance contract (ESPC), and ESPC ENABLE). The CSBI Tool is an Excel-based workbook that works with the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Buildings Workbook and leverages FEMP DOE ESPC Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) program award data. The CSBI Tool helps agencies in planning performance contracts, estimating annual energy use reductions, scope 1 and 2 emission reductions, and project investment. The CSBI Tool supports Section 205 of Executive Order 14057 Achieving Net-Zero Emissions Buildings, Campuses, and Installations, and the Executive Order 14057 Implementing Instructions, specifically on leveraging performance contracting.
Jul. 20, 2023
DOE proudly announced the third round of signatories to the Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), demonstrating the ongoing commitment and collaboration between the public and private sectors in fostering innovative vehicle technologies.
Jun. 29, 2023
Leading organizations share their experiences, successes, and challenges in their pursuit of low carbon emission strategies; partners focused on two or more buildings/plants over the course of two years. The design, implementation, and completion of the Better Buildings Low Carbon Pilot were instrumental in understanding the pathways being taken to reduce emissions from building and manufacturing operations.
Jun. 26, 2023
The DOE has updated its organizational structure and changed certain titles and reporting duties within the Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security. This final rule updates certain DOE health, safety and security regulations to reflect the new titles and organizational names. Additionally, the final rule makes further minor updates to these regulations to improve clarity and delete obsolete references. This rule is effective 26 June 2023. POC is Mr. James Dillard, DOE, Office of Environment, Health, Safety and Security, Mailstop EHSS–11, 1000 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20585, Tele: (301) 903–1165, or Email: james.dillard@hq.doe.gov. (Federal Register 26 June 2023 [Rule] Pages 41289-41295)
Jun. 22, 2023
EPA issued a final rule under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) program that establishes the biofuel volume requirements for 2023 to 2025. This final rule builds on the RFS program's progress over the previous two years and reflects the Administration's commitment to strengthen the nation's energy independence, advance low-carbon fuels, and support agricultural communities. The final rule strengthens U.S. energy security by reducing reliance on foreign sources of oil by roughly 130,000 to 140,000 barrels of oil per day over the time frame of the final rule, 2023–2025. The final rule also discusses EPA's intent to monitor the ongoing implementation of the RFS program and its impacts on domestic refineries, which have a critical role to play in our energy security. The Set Rule establishes the biofuel volume requirements and associated percentage standards for cellulosic biofuel, biomass-based diesel (BBD), advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel for 2023–2025. It also completes EPA's response to a court remand of the 2016 annual rule by establishing a supplemental volume requirement of 250 million gallons of renewable fuel for 2023.
Jun. 5, 2023
A bill to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to require the Secretary of Energy to create a plan for research, development, and commercialization projects capable of making significant reductions in the greenhouse gas emissions or carbon intensity of qualified fuel production facilities. (Congressional Record: 10 May 2023 [House] Pages H2243-H2245)
Apr. 11, 2023
The EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) ecolabel now includes criteria focused on reducing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses from the supply chain for solar panel production. EPEAT was developed using a grant from EPA and is owned and managed by the Global Electronics Council. It is the first global ecolabel to set threshold criteria for embodied carbon in photovoltaics. Embodied carbon refers to the amount of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the extraction, production, transport and manufacturing of materials.
Mar. 24, 2023
The Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced $250 million in funding from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to help federal agencies implement net-zero building projects and set an example in sustainability as the nation works to transition to clean energy and combat climate change. More energy efficient buildings will also save taxpayers money. The funding program--Assisting Federal Facilities with Energy Conservation Technologies (AFFECT)--is part of the Administration's Investing in America agenda that is addressing the climate crisis in a way that creates good-paying jobs, grows industries, and makes the country more economically competitive.
Mar. 21, 2023
The FEMP Facility Evaluation (Audit) Decision Tree 2.0 is a resource to identify suitable facility evaluation (audit) approaches to meet the federal comprehensive energy and water evaluation requirements codified in 42 United States Code 8253(f)(3)(A) and enacted by the Energy Act of 2020 Section 1002, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 Section 432, and earlier laws. This resource contains criteria and interactive features for selecting an appropriate type of evaluation (audit) for covered facilities. The Audit Decision Tree 2.0 is intended to be used in conjunction with the FEMP Audit Definitions, the FEMP Consolidated Facility Management Guidance (update in progress), and the best practices and expert judgment implemented by agencies to complete comprehensive energy and water evaluations and incorporate contracts (i.e., energy savings performance contracts or utility energy service contracts) at covered facilities.
Mar. 20, 2023
This case study report describes a grid-interactive efficient building (GEB) renovation project at the General Services Administration's (GSA's) Oklahoma City (OKC) Federal Building, and demonstrates that GEB-ready strategies and technologies can be deployed across buildings with minimal investment. The case study showcases a leading example of a GEB project in the federal buildings space and provides key information on the project roles, processes, costs, and benefits. The findings from this successful GEB project can be used to help pave the way for additional GEB-ready retrofits in the future.
Mar. 1, 2023
Checklist provides federal agencies with a standard set of tasks, questions, and reference points to assist in the early stages of battery energy storage systems (BESS) project development. The checklist items contained within are intended for use in procurement of commercial scale lithium-ion BESS, although they may be used more generally for other BESS technologies.
Mar. 1, 2023
Metering for solar photovoltaics is critical for operations & maintenance, and systems without metering could present life-safety concerns. The new Metering for Federal Solar PV in Remote Locations resource highlights key considerations for remote sites, presents seven potential metering options, and provides information about how to identify the optimal option for a given site.
Mar. 1, 2023
This edition highlights proactively considering the environment and acting accordingly, in support of Environmental Operating Principle #2. Content includes commentary from Mr. Edward Belk, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Director of Civil Works, sharing how the Civil Works mission is being advanced through environmental considerations and partnerships. This issue also features initiatives from across the Army environmental community that proactively consider the environment to shape a sustainable future for current and future generations.
Jan. 27, 2023
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a report discussing their analysis quantifying the potential of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) as a widespread renewable energy option in the United States.
Jan. 27, 2023
This webinar series is part of the DOE EVGrid Assist: Accelerating the Transition initiative. It aims to support decision makers by providing timely information on a wide range of topics important to the integration of electric vehicles and the grid.
Jan. 24, 2023
Every Wednesday at 12:00 PM (Eastern) join this live webinar to ask their questions directly to EPA experts in an open forum. Want to talk to a "real" person? Have a question about how Portfolio Manager calculates your score? Want to learn more about entering Green Power? Join the webinar, and EPA will answer all your questions about ENERGY STAR's Portfolio Manager in this public forum.
Dec. 30, 2022
This guidebook provides clear descriptions of the law's tax incentives and funding programs to build a clean energy economy, lower energy costs, tackle climate change, and reduce harmful pollution. The Guidebook will help users better understand how they can benefit from these investments and unlock the full potential of the law. The Guidebook walks through the law program-by-program and provides background on each program's purpose, eligibility requirements, period of availability, and other key details.
Dec. 30, 2022
DOE is publishing a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking SNOPR to establish revised energy performance standards for the construction of new Federal buildings, including commercial buildings, multi-family high-rise residential buildings, and low-rise residential buildings per the ECPA, as amended by the EISA of 2007. This document presents an updated proposal with a new focus that accounts for the needs of Federal agencies and the goals of the Administration and responds to comments received on prior NOPR and SNOPR documents. Consistent with the requirements of ECPA and EISA, this document presents revised Federal building energy performance standards that would require reductions in Federal agencies' on-site use of fossil fuels (which include coal, petroleum, natural gas, oil shales, bitumens, tar sands, and heavy oils) consistent with the targets of ECPA and EISA and provides processes by which agencies can petition DOE for the downward adjustment of said targets for buildings. DOE will accept comments, data, and information regarding this SNOPR no later than 21 February 2023. POC is Mr. Jeremy Williams, U.S. DOE, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Building Technologies Office, EE-5B, 1000 Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20585-0121. Email: Jeremy.Williams@ee.doe.gov. ( Federal Register: 21 December 2022 [Proposed Rule] Pages 78382-78436).
Dec. 21, 2022
This free web-based energy modeling tool Sketchbox™ enables organizations to conduct energy analysis for new construction and major retrofits of commercial buildings. The tool allows for early energy simulation to inform building design and improve building performance without adding cost.
Dec. 19, 2022
This fact sheet lays out the Biden-Harris Administration's agenda to make equitable and efficient electric options available for everyone. The Administration goals are to reduce America's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 50-52% by 2030, to achieve a carbon pollution-free electricity grid by 2035, and to reach net-zero GHG emissions by no later than 2050.
Dec. 19, 2022
This slide deck from the ISWG provides a recapped the carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) goals of EO 14057, as well as the four strategies for sourcing CFE to comply with the EO Implementing Instructions. Additionally, the slide deck provides links to FEMP's extensive CFE-related resources for federal agencies.
Dec. 9, 2022
The Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), announced a new proposed rule to electrify and cut emissions from new or newly renovated federal buildings. Beginning in 2025, these facilities will be required to reduce their on-site emissions associated with the energy consumption of the building by 90% relative to 2003 levels. In 2030, the standard will fully decarbonize the on-site emissions in new federal buildings and major renovations. These measures will help advance the adoption of cleaner technologies for buildings that are necessary to achieving President Biden's goal of net-zero emissions in all federal buildings by 2045.
Dec. 8, 2022
The Administration announced the first-ever Federal Building Performance Standard, setting an ambitious goal to cut energy use and electrify equipment and appliances in 30 percent of the building space owned by the Federal government by 2030. This action is the latest step forward in pursuit of President Biden's goal of achieving net-zero emissions in all Federal buildings by 2045. Federal Building Performance Standard requires agencies to cut energy use and electrify equipment and appliances to achieve zero scope 1 emissions in 30 percent of their buildings by square footage by 2030. To reach that mark, agencies will be buying American-made products such as heat pumps, electric water heaters, and other energy efficiency and building system technologies supported by the Inflation Reduction Act.
Dec. 8, 2022
The goal of the Federal BPS is to eliminate scope 1 emissions from standard building operations for applicable facilities. The Federal BPS supports multiple goals and requirements of E.O. 14057, including reducing agency scope 1 GHG emissions (Sec. 202); achieving net-zero emissions across each agency's portfolio of buildings, campuses, and installations by 2045 (Sec. 205); and reducing facility GHG emissions by 50 percent by 2032, prioritizing improvement of energy efficiency and elimination of on-site fossil fuel use (Sec. 205). The Federal BPS provides guidance on deep energy retrofits and strategic equipment replacement in existing buildings, campuses, and installations to meet emission and energy reduction goals.
Dec. 2, 2022
The November 2022 edition of The Corps Environment is now available and can be accessed online at: https://www.dvidshub.net/publication/issues/65712.
This edition highlights providing environmental and economic benefits, in support of Environmental Operating Principle #3. Content includes commentary from Col. Matthew F. Kelly, commander of U.S. Army Environmental Command (USAEC), sharing his impressions after taking command and his focus on building upon USAEC's legacy. This issue also features initiatives from across the Army environmental community that are providing enduring environmental benefits around the globe.
Nov. 4, 2022
The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) has approved an exemption that would relieve federal agencies from the historic preservation review requirements under the National Historic Preservation Act regarding the effects of the installation of certain electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) on historic properties. The exemption goes into effect on 26 October 2022. POC is Jaime Loichinger, tele: (202) 517-0219, email: jloichinger@achp.gov. ( Federal Register 2 November 2022 [Notice] Pages 66201-66204).
Oct. 4, 2022
Federal agencies have discovered many effective practices to make their buildings sustainable. Many share policies, strategies, case studies and tools through the Interagency Sustainability Working Group (ISWG). This website provides a repository for casestudies of specific practices and projects that agencies have actually employed.
Oct. 4, 2022
Federal agencies have discovered many effective practices to make their buildings sustainable. Many share policies, strategies, case studies and tools through the Interagency Sustainability Working Group (ISWG). This website provides a repository for broad policies and strategies covering the whole government or entire agencies, services or bureaus, which set the context for achievements in Federal high-performance buildings.
Oct. 4, 2022
Federal agencies have discovered many effective practices to make their buildings sustainable. Many share policies, strategies, case studies and tools through the Interagency Sustainability Working Group (ISWG). This website covers and links to systems, methods, databases, calculators, checklists, etc. designed to help Federal officials and their partners achieve their high-performance building goals.
Oct. 4, 2022
The proper operation of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system within a commercial building is essential to providing a comfortable and healthy indoor environment for occupants. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that organizations can save 5-20% annually on energy bills simply by following operations & maintenance (O&M) best practices. This collection of resources can help building operators properly maintain HVAC systems to improve performance, save energy, and prolong the life of commercial HVAC equipment.
Oct. 3, 2022
The United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service successfully deployed a solar-powered EV charging station at the Wolf Creek Job Corps Civilian Conservation Center to serve its five-vehicle fleet. The Job Corps Center is a residential campus situated in the remote Umpqua National Forest in Oregon's Cascade Range, which provides free education and job training programs for young adults. Due to the high financial cost of installing electric infrastructure in remote areas with limited access to the grid, the Forest Service chose to purchase a charging system that requires no grid connection..
Oct. 3, 2022
This course provides foundational information that will help agencies understand the fundamental characteristics of the utility industry in the United States. With this information and understanding, federal agencies will be better prepared to meet the 100% carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) goals by 2030 as outlined in Executive Order 14057. This training provides attendees with an overview of the utility industry, and a suggested approach for assessing, strategizing, and implementing plans for increasing consumption of CFE.
Sep. 29, 2022
The Federal Energy and Water Management Awards recognize individuals, groups, and agencies for their outstanding contributions in the areas of energy and water efficiency, resilience, and technology achievements; distributed energy; cybersecurity; and fleet management at federal facilities.
Sep. 27, 2022
The study, done in partnership with the DOE and with funding support from the Office of EERE, is an initial exploration of the transition to a 100% clean electricity power system by 2035--and helps to advance understanding of both the opportunities and challenges of achieving the ambitious goal. Overall, NREL finds multiple pathways to 100% clean electricity by 2035 that would produce significant benefits, but the exact technology mix and costs will be determined by research and development (R&D), manufacturing, and infrastructure investment decisions over the next decade.
Sep. 21, 2022
Energy & Environmental Building Alliance (EEBA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the winners of its 2022 Housing Innovation Awards, the highest honor builders can receive for constructing Zero Energy Ready Homes. These high-performance homes are so energy efficient--often 40 to 50% more efficient than typical new homes--that they can offset most or all the energy they consume with a renewable energy system. The Housing Innovation Awards recognize top builders of homes certified to DOE's Zero Energy Ready Home (ZERH) specifications, which set the federal government's highest bar for energy and environmental performance in new residential construction. This year's awards featured 26 homes across 18 states.
Sep. 16, 2022
The Administration is launching coordinated actions to develop new floating offshore wind platforms, an emerging clean energy technology that will help the United States lead on offshore wind. This action will position the U.S. to lead the world on floating offshore wind technology. Globally, only 0.1 GW of floating offshore wind has been deployed to date, compared with over 50 GW of fixed-bottom offshore wind. America will seize this opportunity to be a frontrunner on floating offshore wind technologies, as part of President Biden's plan for a clean energy economy built by American workers.
Sep. 16, 2022
This web tool helps federal facility managers and resilience planners understand the cost of an electric grid outage. Users enter site characteristics and critical load information into the tool, then estimate the types of outage costs they may incur--from immediate losses to costs that accumulate each hour the power is out. The FEMP-sponsored CDF Calculator provides essential data for those tasked with justifying the benefit of resilience investments for their facilities. The calculation baselines the cost of inaction to help facility managers understand the value of resilience solutions, such as redundant systems or enhanced energy security.
Sep. 16, 2022
Implementation of the Energy and Infrastructure Provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 September 12, 2022 This EO lists the administration's eight goals to guide implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and authorizes the new White House Office on Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation to coordinate that process.
Sep. 14, 2022
This EO lists the administration's eight goals to guide implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and authorizes the new White House Office on Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation to coordinate that process.
Sep. 13, 2022
This FEMP webpage provides information about on-site electricity contracts, including contract options, benefits, limitations, and sample documents. The page also provides background information on how to understand if this type of contract is right for a given site and how to get started.
Sep. 13, 2022
The Naval Facilities Command (NAVFAC) is partnering with the REopt analysis team and Electric Vehicle (EV) Tiger Team developed under FEMP direction to plan for 233 EV charging ports and 12 MW of solar photovoltaic (PV) generation. NREL is providing technical assistance to help NAVFAC design a smart charge management approach to align zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) charging with PV generation at Camp Blaz. Currently under construction on the island of Guam, Camp Blaz is scheduled to open in 2027, the same year that E.O. 14057 requires all light-duty vehicle fleet acquisitions to be ZEVs. As the DoD base of the future, Camp Blaz will benefit from a system aligning its ZEV charging with times that up to $150k PV would otherwise be curtailed and wasted annually.
Sep. 9, 2022
The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Strategic Plan underscores the DOE's commitment to creating a workplace that celebrates Americans of all backgrounds. The plan outlines Departmental actions to sustain an inclusive and accessible work environment by strengthening recruitment, retention and promotion, while removing inequitable barriers to advancement and development opportunities. The plan represents the culmination of months of work at DOE to support President Biden's Executive Order 14035, which reaffirms that the American workforce is at its strongest when it reflects the diverse communities it serves.
Sep. 9, 2022
The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Oak Ridge National Laboratory along with other federal partners has conducted a muli-year assessment on the effects of climate change on water available for hydropower at federal facilities and the marketing of power. This website contains the results of these studies along with assessments published in 2012, 2016, and 2022.
Sep. 7, 2022
A DOE website providing information about decarbonization and steps on implementing a successful decarbonization strategy.
Sep. 7, 2022
This toolkit contains resources to help HVAC contractors and service companies work with their customers through a step-by-step method of evaluating and managing their inventory of RTUs and how to make the business case for high-efficiency replacements.
Aug. 31, 2022
The August 2022 edition of The Corps Environment is now available and can be accessed online at: https://www.dvidshub.net/publication/issues/64976. This edition highlights employing an open and transparent process, in support of Environmental Operating Principle #7. Content within this issue recognizes our U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) environmental and sustainability champions and features initiatives from across the Army environmental community that are providing environmental benefits across the globe.
Aug. 10, 2022
The Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) provides this tool to federal agencies seeking to procure solar photovoltaic (PV) systems with a customizable set of technical specifications. Select the plus sign in the rows below for more information about each specification.
Jul. 28, 2022
The Administration, through the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), launched new initiatives to connect families to more reliable clean energy, lower electricity bills, and create good-paying jobs in the domestic solar industry. DOE, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), announced that five states and Washington, D.C. will support the pilot of the Community Solar Subscription Platform to connect families to solar energy and lower electricity bills through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and other low-income assistance programs. DOE also announced $10 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to jump-start solar energy careers in underserved communities.
Jul. 21, 2022
The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation announced a $1.5 million award to National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) and the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) that will foster collaboration in the development and deployment of a national electric vehicle (EV) charging network that will benefit all Americans. The partnership will convene stakeholders across local, state, and federal government to ensure that EV charging station infrastructure investments are made in a strategic, coordinated, efficient, and equitable manner with public and private-sector partners. The work will be critical to the Joint Office's role in EV infrastructure investments made under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Jun. 17, 2022
This webpage connects federal agencies to Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) carbon pollution-free electricity (CFE) resources and provides information to increase federal agency understanding of on-site and off-site CFE options.
Jun. 16, 2022
The Joint Office of Energy and Transportation announced it is accepting nominations for committee members that will make up the Federal Advisory Committee Act Electric Vehicle (EV) Working Group, which aims to make recommendations regarding EV development, adoption, and integration across the United States. The office seeks nominations for individuals representing EV manufacturers, labor organizations, public utilities and regulators, tribal governments, the trucking industry, and other groups.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorized the creation of the EV Working Group to make recommendations on a broad range of EV topics including how the federal, state, and local governments and industry can prepare the U.S. workforce for more EVs on the road; supporting U.S. competitiveness in EV charging and infrastructure; and ensuring sustainable EV integration into the electric grid.
Jun. 13, 2022
The DOE selected 19 projects, with a total funding of $6 million, that will pursue innovative, targeted, early-stage ideas in solar energy research and development. These projects, representing 13 different U.S. states, will support President Biden's goal of addressing the climate crisis by driving innovation and speeding clean energy deployment to achieve a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035 and net-zero emissions energy sector by 2050.
The projects were selected through the Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) Small Innovative Projects in Solar (SIPS) 2022 Funding Program. SIPS projects focus on novel, high-risk, or high impact ideas that can produce significant results within the first year of performance, quickly validating new concepts and laying the foundation for continued research. SIPS is an ongoing SETO program that has funded more than 100 projects since it began in 2015.
Jun. 8, 2022
The Biden-Harris Administration is authorizing the use of the Defense Production Act (DPA) to accelerate domestic production of clean energy technologies. Specifically, the President is authorizing the Department of Energy to use the DPA to rapidly expand American manufacturing of five critical clean energy technologies: Solar panel parts like photovoltaic modules and module components; Building insulation; Heat pumps, which heat and cool buildings super efficiently; Equipment for making and using clean electricity-generated fuels, including electrolyzers, fuel cells, and related platinum group metals; and Critical power grid infrastructure like transformers.
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