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Happy New Year!
In this first newsletter of 2023, we focus on the themes of community-based solutions and how addressing clean energy and sustainability can contribute to growing local and regional economies.
The events and resources we're sharing in this issue offer tools and models to help in this process.
Here is a summary:
- January 17th Zero Waste webinar on how smarter reuse and recycling helps local communities - and the central role that people, opportunity, and markets play in responsible production, use, and waste systems.
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Author Rana Foroohar discusses her new book Homecoming: The Path to Prosperity in a Post-Global World (with interviewer Walter Isaacson) about the need for economic policies that benefit all communities - and how green technologies are part of that solution.
- January 20th webinar: Equipped for Action: Tools, Resources and Opportunities for a Low Carbon Future from the US Department of Energy (DOE). It will address the DOE's Better Climate Challenge for decarbonizing buildings and corresponding career advancement.
- The EcoBlock project in Oakland, California - a pilot project to develop neighborhood-based solutions using microgrids and other technologies to accelerate a more resilient and carbon neutral future.
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LE Blog article on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and how it can benefit everyday Americans. Plus see the accompanying video The Biggest Climate Bill of Your Life - But What does it DO!? with its easy-to-understand and entertaining recap.
- Green job opportunities spanning utility/grid modernization, buildings, and industry.
We invite you to connect with the Leaders in Energy (LE) community to accelerate clean energy and sustainability solutions. Join us by subscribing to this newsletter, becoming part of our LinkedIn group, and following our social media.
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Making Waste Less Wasteful | |
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WEBINAR – Zero Waste: Building a Better Community – Reimagining Our Waste Management Systems – January 17th
In a circular economy, local waste management services will need to be transformed to emphasize overall waste reduction and facilitate reuse while more efficiently collecting, sorting, and recycling what’s left.
This program will explore how zero waste municipalities can reduce waste and maximize diversion of waste from landfills and waste-to-energy facilities for reuse and recycling.
On January 17th from 7:00 – 8:30 pm EST via Zoom. Registration required.
Topics/Speakers
Andy Smith, Interim Recycling and Environmental Services Section Manager, King County WA
Sophia Hosain, Zero Waste Manager, Department of Public Works, Baltimore MD
Commentator
Erik Grabowsky, Chief, Solid Waste Bureau, Arlington VA
Moderator
Carrie Thompson, Chair, Arlington’s Solid Waste Committee
Sponsors
Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions Arlington Hub, EcoAction Arlington, Sierra Club Potomac River Branch, Leaders in Energy, Alliance for Regional Cooperation
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BOOKMARKED – Homecoming:
The Path to Prosperity in a Post-Global World
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Author Rana Foroohar is interviewed by Walter Isaacson (on the Christiane Amanpour Show) in "The Failed Age of Globalization and a New Era of 'Homecoming' "
Foroohar, a global economic analyst for CNN and columnist at the Financial Times, is the author of Homecoming: The Path to Prosperity in a Post-Global World. She has examined how economic globalization over the past 40 years has led to growing income inequalities among communities and regions in the US. While the flow of capital and labor to cheaper-labor countries made TVs and other consumer goods cheaper, these lower prices did not make up for the lost income and jobs. Simultaneously, prices were continuing to rise in key living essentials - housing, education, and healthcare. The Covid pandemic further raised the awareness of fragile global supply chains and over-reliance in sourcing products such as medical masks and pharmaceuticals from other countries.
Foroohar advocates policies that encourage national economic resilience, share wealth more broadly, are inclusive of all communities, along with expanded local and regional business. She says that new and green technologies - additive manufacturing, smart grids and sensors, etc. - can play an important role in growing a new, more community-based, transformative economy that "brings everyone along."
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Transformative Tools & Models | | |
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FREE WEBINAR – Equipped for Action: Tools, Resources and Opportunities for a Low Carbon Future from the US Department of Energy – January 20th
Take advantage of this opportunity to learn about the new tools and strategies available to advance your building or portfolio toward decarbonization, emissions reduction, and
a more sustainable future! The webinar is on Friday, January 20th, 11 am EST.
The distinguished panelists are Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellows with the U.S. Department of Energy. They will explain how we can get involved in the Better Climate Challenge, access building decarbonization resources, understand the suite of DOE’s data tools, and explore tools to advance your personal career and the green workforce.
This event is being offered by the Council on Women in Energy and Environmental Leadership (CWEEL), a division of the Association of Energy Engineers.
Speakers:
Mariana Egea-Casalduc, Jenny Wiedower, and Sydney Applegate
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Creating a Resilient, Carbon Neutral Future Block-by-Block in Oakland, California: The EcoBlock Project
EcoBlock is a neighborhood-based pilot project which is creating a block-scale community microgrid with in-home energy and water-efficient retrofits. It provides a radical retrofit of existing residential homes to improve resilience, sustainability, and quality of life for all community members. It's spearheaded by the California Institute for Energy and Environment at the University of California-Berkeley.
The project is working to achieve economies of scale in a whole-block approach as compared to a piecemeal one-house-at-a-time approach. This includes setting up a legal framework for a community association to help share local power generation and supply. The EcoBlock solar microgrid and energy storage will be co-owned through a democratic organization managed by the community participants.
Solutions will encompass central and distributed battery storage, shared bicycles, rain gardens, street trees, insulation and improved thermal comfort, energy and water-efficient appliances, shared electric scooters, electric vehicle charging and sharing.
Dr. Miriam Aczel, with Leaders in Energy, serves on the project management team for this activity.
Learn more at The EcoBlock website. View a brief EcoBlock Overview video below.
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Exciting News from the Blog | |
The Inflation Reduction Act: How Does It Benefit Everyday Americans?
by Dr. Miriam Aczel and Kate Ringness
This article highlights key initiatives under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) that can benefit citizens and consumers – such as electric vehicle subsidies, home energy efficiency improvements, efficient appliance rebates, investment tax credits for renewable energy and energy storage, and community initiatives. Additional resources with more info on the IRA are also provided. Some believe that this bill may be the best and most important one in America's recent history. Read more here.
Check out the article's recommended video titled - "The Biggest Climate Bill of Your Life - But What does it DO!?" It provides a big picture synopsis of the key provisions of the Inflation Reduction Act in an easy-to-understand and entertaining format. See the 22 minute video below.
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Intelligent and Connected Buildings Engineer, Senior - - 72292 (boozallen.com). Booz Allen - Albany and New York, New York; and Washington, DC
Grid Modernization Technology Development Strategist, Senior - - 71578 (boozallen.com). Booz Allen - Albany and New York, New York; and Washington, DC
Manager, Residential Retrofits for Energy Equity, ACEEE, position is located in Washington, DC or can be remote.
Industry Program Director, ACEEE, position located in Washington, DC. Hybrid or potential for fully remote.
Director – Power Utility Resilience - Arlington, VA - Hybrid / Remote North America, TetraTech. Arlington VA - Other positions are listed here.
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Connect with the Leaders in Energy Community | |
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Leaders in Energy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Your support enables us to develop our communications and programs. If you find our materials and programs useful, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution.
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