State Issues New Guidance for Creating Energy Efficient Buildings
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The Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources
has issued
new voluntary building guidelines – known as “stretch codes” – to support the development of energy efficient buildings and to lower energy costs for building owners and occupants.
As part of the State’s broader directive from Governor Gina M. Raimondo to
“Lead By Example”
(Executive Order 15-17), the Office of Energy Resources is offering up to $500,000 to incentivize large-scale renovations or new construction for public sector using the stretch code. The incentive will be open to eligible municipal or public school buildings, and one or more projects will be selected through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process. The solicitation (
#7590559
) is posted on the
Rhode Island Division of Purchases website
. Proposals are due at 11 a.m. ET on Thursday, May 31, 2018.
Rhode Island’s stretch codes are part of a comprehensive effort to reduce long-term energy usage, support the state’s growing green economy and increase energy affordability for residents, businesses, and governments. They are now available for use not only for in all state construction and renovation projects, but also for private sector projects as well.
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Lead by Example Awards Issues Call for Nominees
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Does your state agency, municipality or public college have a recent clean energy or efficiency project worthy of public recognition? We want to hear about it!
The Office of Energy Resources (OER) is issuing a
call for nominations for the Lead by Example Energy Awards.
These awards will recognize state agencies, quasi-public agencies, municipal governments and state colleges and universities for significant contributions toward the promotion and implementation of comprehensive clean energy measures that advance Lead by Example goals, as set forth by Governor Raimondo in her December 2015
Executive Order.
To be considered, complete
this award application, answer the questions and submit it to OER by
March 30, 2018 at 4:00 PM. Anyone may make project nominations. Please note that all projects MUST be at least 50% constructed.
Save the date: the award ceremony will be held Friday, April 27, 2018 at 10 a.m.
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RI Energy Expo Offers Tips and Tools to Help Homeowners Reduce Energy Bills
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The 5th Annual Energy Expo, part of the Rhode Island Home Show, being held April 5-8 at the RI Convention Center, will offer you the chance to meet with energy experts and learn how to lower your energy bills.
Representatives from National Grid will share information about new rebates, products and programs that will help you live more comfortably, save energy, and most importantly, save money.
You may sign up for a no-cost home energy assessment and can speak with energy efficiency vendors about home improvements, such as smart home devices and efficient heating and cooling equipment. Additionally, s
everal solar installers will also be available to help homeowners determine if a rooftop solar array is right for them.
While you're at the show, visit the Energy Efficiency Showcase to see and experience a model energy-efficient home.
The Energy Innovation Hub, located next to the RI Convention Center offers interactive exhibits where you can learn how to take action towards creating a clean energy future.
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EC4 to Host Rhode Island Clean Transportation Listening Sessions
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The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Office of Energy Resources, and Department of Transportation – on behalf of the Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4) – will be hosting two public listening sessions to hear ideas on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector, increase the resilience of transportation-related infrastructure, and design solutions with environmental justice in mind.
Tuesday, April 3, 2018, 2:00 – 4:00 PM
Newport City Hall,
43 Broadway, Newport,
RI
Wednesday, April 4, 2018, 4:00 – 6:00 PM
Providence Career and Technical Academy
,
41 Fricker Street, Providence, RI
Your input will help identify opportunities and challenges in the transportation sector as we work to enhance transportation alternatives, reduce emissions, increase resiliency, develop and maintain our infrastructure, and protect vulnerable populations in the face of our changing climate.
Please provide your name, date of the session that you will attend, and any organizational affiliation.
Public comment may also be submitted to the email address above through April 13th.
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Rhode Island Army National Guard Cuts Energy Use
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The Rhode Island Army National Guard (RIARNG) has been busy since 2016, replacing inefficient, dated lighting with state-of-the-art LED fixtures in its facilities statewide.
The new LED fixtures feature occupancy and daylight sensors to ensure that they are turned off when they are not needed to help conserve energy.
The first two facilities, completed in 2016, decreased their energy use by 44 percent compared to the baseline year, and have resulted in a 34 percent reduction in energy costs. RIARNG is also planning on converting three other facilities within the coming months, and is going to be completing a full exterior lighting retrofit on its largest site, the Camp Fogarty Regional Training Site, located in East Greenwich.
RIARNG utilized funding from multiple programs including the Rhode Island Public Energy Partnership, as well as incentives from National Grid to reduce the cost of its projects.
The State's
Lead by Example initiative promotes the adoption of clean energy measures across public sector facilities and state agencies. State and municipal employees are helping to reduce energy costs and mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with Rhode Island's economic, energy and environmental goals.
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Left: Vincent Graziano, President of RISE Engineering, with Charlie Soum, Energy Specialist, Residential Services.
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If you have had a free home or business energy audit through National Grid, you have probably met someone from RISE Engineering. RISE serves as the utility’s lead vendor for various energy efficiency programs. Their energy specialists evaluate buildings to identify affordable energy-saving opportunities such as LED lighting solutions, heating and cooling system upgrades, insulation, air leakage sealing and other improvements that reduce energy costs. Their staff also helps utility customers take advantage of available financial incentives and financing options.
RISE offers much more than home energy audits – it provides energy efficiency services to government agencies, cities, towns, colleges and companies. RISE recently worked with the Rhode Island National Guard to replace old lighting fixtures with state-of-the-art LED fixtures in eight buildings. RISE also helped the City of Cranston replace 9,600 streetlights with LEDs and make other energy efficiency improvements to municipal buildings, schools and libraries.
Vincent Graziano, president of RISE, is a graduate of Bryant College and is proud to employ 325 people across New England and New York, including 157 Rhode Islanders. RISE also supports the next generation of energy professionals: it currently employs an undergraduate intern and five graduates from the University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension’s Energy Fellows Program. Over the company’s 40-year track record, it has conducted thousands of energy retrofit projects of all types and sizes totaling over $1 billion in energy savings throughout the Northeast.
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UPCOMING EVENTS & MEETINGS
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March 24
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
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Pick up maps at Tiffany's Salon & Spa located at 21 West Street, Barrington, RI
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April 3
2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
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Hosted by DEM, OER, DOT, Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4)
Newport City Hall, 43 Broadway, Newport, RI
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April 4
12:15 to 1:45 p.m.
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Hosted by Renew Energy Initiative (REI) & Rhode Island College School of Business
Rhode Island College, Alger 110, 600 Mt. Pleasant Avenue, Providence, RI
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April 4
4:00 to 6:00 p.m.
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Hosted by DEM, OER, DOT, Executive Climate Change Coordinating Council (EC4)
Providence Career and Technical Academy
41 Fricker Street, Providence, RI
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Rhode Island Convention Center
1 Sabin Street, Providence, RI
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April 7
9:00 to 11:00 a.m.
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636 Wood Street, Bristol, RI
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April 10
9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
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Knights of Columbus, 7 Valley Road, Middletown, RI
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April 11
3:00 to 4:30 p.m.
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Hosted by the R.I. Energy Efficiency and Resource Management Council
The VETS Loft, 6th Floor, Veterans Memorial Auditorium, 1 Avenue of the Arts, Providence, RI
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April 14
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
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For address and directions contact:
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April 19
9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
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Public Utility Commission, 89 Jefferson Boulevard, Warwick, RI
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April 19
3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
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1 Capitol Hill, Second Floor, Conf. Room B, Providence, RI
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by Solar Energy Industries Association
Boston Park Plaza, Boston, Mass.
Register
by Mar. 26 to get the early bird rate.
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April 27
10:00 - 11:00 a.m.
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Hosted by the Office of Energy Resources
Rhode Island State House - State Room
82 Smith Street, Providence, RI
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April 28
10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
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Hosted by Mass Energy and the City of Somerville
Mount St. Mary's Abbey, 300 Arnold St., Wrentham, MA
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Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel
425 Summer Street, Boston, MA
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Would you like to add your energy-related event to our calendar? Send the details and event URL to our editor at
robert.beadle@energy.ri.gov
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