In the past year, wildfires and smoke have affected all of our nine Bay Area Counties.  How can our built environment respond to these challenges while also reducing contributions to climate change? 

This half-day BayREN forum explored how building features for energy efficiency and for wildfire resistance can work together and where they may conflict.  Focusing on residential buildings, presentations discussed fire resistance and energy efficiency of different home vintages, air sealing and indoor air quality, local Bay Area experiences with rebuilding after wildfires, and how all of these inform the design and construction of new homes as well as retrofits to make our communities more resilient. 

• Welcome and Introductions  | Deborah Elliot, BayREN Representative, Napa County | Emily Alvarez, BayREN Representative, StopWaste (Alameda County)
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Efficiency vs. Toxicity: Designing for Fire | Jeremy Knoll, BNIM Architects | Bob Renton, Henderson Engineers
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Rising Back Up: Achieving Savings and Resilience in Fire Recovery Areas | Scott Salyer, Sonoma Clean Power
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Resilient Home Remodeling: Efficiency, Electrification, and Wildfire Protection | Ann Edminster, Design AVEnues LLC
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Measuring the Air Inside During a Wildfire | Woody Delp, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Q&A and Closing Remarks
  • Watch the recorded presentation

This half-day BayREN forum explored the connections between climate change, energy efficiency, equity, and public health. Attendees heard about local examples of how health professionals, nonprofits, and local government staff are working together on these issues.

• Welcome, Introductions & Why We're Here | Kellen Dammann, BayREN Representative, Marin County | Demian Hardman, BayREN Representative, Contra Costa County
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Energy Inequity: Who Is and Isn’t Being Served | Eric Daniel Fournier, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability, UCLA
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Low Income Energy Assistance and Program Integration | Chris Miranda, Community Action Marin
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Energy Equity at the National Level | Brendan Wade Brown, Green and Healthy Homes Initiative
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Contra Costa County Asthma Initiative | Michael Kent, Contra Costa County Health Services Department
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Panel + Q&A | Moderator: Vinita Goyal, Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiatives
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Closing Remarks & Transition to Breakout Rooms
  • Watch the recorded presentation

This webinar will introduce BayREN’s Energy Target and Benchmark Tool:  what it is, how to use the tool to benchmark a building, and how to use it to prioritize upgrades in a portfolio. We’ll discuss how the tool complements existing practices including meeting Title 24 and compliance with state and local energy benchmarking requirements.

State and local benchmarking laws require tracking building energy use - but don’t specify usage targets. Energy codes require efficiency - but don’t require projects to set targets for energy use or cost.  The Energy Target and Benchmark Tool is a free web service that can be used to connect the dots between energy design and energy practice. The tool can be used to:

• Set an energy target - and put that target into context with other common goals including typical expected performance under the California Energy Code and more efficient targets, such as the 2030 Challenge or zero net energy)
• Quickly assess the feasibility of zero net energy
• Benchmark actual energy use against the target

Though the tool can be applied to any building, the webinar will zoom in on the municipal sector, exploring three example applications of the tool:

• Municipal facility design in San Francisco
• BayREN-provided ZNE assessment and design assistance for an individual facility
• Benchmarking and prioritizing action within a portfolio

To learn more about the tool, visit the Energy Target and Benchmark Tool page.

• Access the presentation here
• Watch the recorded presentation here

This half-day forum will provide an overview of significant changes to the 2019 Energy Code, including mandatory solar photovoltaic systems, and all-electric building and Energy Design Rating (EDR) compliance pathways for new homes. Technical experts will also spotlight new technologies that jurisdictions can seize to promote construction of all-electric homes and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in turn. This free event is open to all.

• Welcome and Introductions | Karen Kristiansson filling in for Deborah Elliott, BayREN Representative, County of Napa

  • Watch the recorded presentation

• Keynote: Goals of the 2019 Energy Code | Danny Tam, California Energy Commission
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• All Electric Buildings: From Design to Reality | Brad Jacobson, Principal EHDD
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Electrification Design Changes & Enforcement | Ted Tiffany, Guttmann & Blaevoet
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Efficient Electrical Technologies Panel |  Keith O'Hara & Todd Bell
  • Keith O'Hara, Eco Building Performance
    • Watch the recorded presentation
  • Todd Bell, Frontier Energy
    • Watch the recorded presentation

• Handouts
  • Bay Area Multifamily Building Enhancements- Clean Heating Pathway
  • BayREN Home+ Rebates
  • BayREN Decarbonization Measures

Energy storage is emerging as a potential solution for power reliability, emergency preparedness, and grid harmonization. What do cities need to know as energy storage becomes more common? This forum will provide a crash course on how storage fits within the overall energy landscape and energy efficiency efforts, as well as practical information and ideas for implementation, including code requirements. This free event is open to all and is co-sponsored by BayREN and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

• Welcome and Introductions | Jennifer West, Alameda County, BayREN Representative

  • Watch the recorded presentation

• Energy Storage Bootcamp: From the Basics to the Complex | Jin Noh, California Energy Storage Alliance
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• 2019 Energy Code Standards - Battery Storage Systems | Peter Strait, California Energy Commission
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• City of Fremont: Energy Storage Experiences & Installations | Rachel DiFranco and Jay Swardenski, City of Fremont
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• East Bay Community Energy- Solar and Storage for Resilience | JP Ross, East Bay Community Energy
  • Watch the recorded presentation

Note:  We apologize for the quality of the audio recordings for this event, which were affected by technical issues. Thank you for understanding.

Improving the energy efficiency of existing buildings will be a vital part of addressing climate change. This half-day event will focus on tools local governments can use to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from existing residential buildings, such as climate action plans, benchmarking, time-of-sale ordinances, reach codes, and incentives. Attendees will also have the opportunity to meet and share ideas with staff from other jurisdictions. This free BayREN Forum is open to all.

• Welcome and Introductions | Deborah Elliott, County of Napa, BayREN Representative
  • Watch the recorded presentation  
• BAAQMD Climate Tech Finance Program | Chad White, Bay Area Air Quality Management District
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Energy Efficiency and Existing Residential Buildings: Why Does It Matter?| Karen Kristiansson, Metropolitan Transportation Commission
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• City of Carlsbad: Climate Action Plan - Energy Efficiency Ordinances | Mike Grim, City of Carlsbad
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• City of San Jose: Energy & Water Building Performance Ordinances | Ariel Carpenter, City of San Jose
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• City of Davis: Resale of Property Ordinance | Greg Mahoney, City of Davis
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Residential Energy Efficiency Incentive Programs: Supporting Local Governments | Candis Mary- Dauphin, StopWaste
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Energy Efficiency Programs Looking Forward | Merrian Borgeson, NRDC
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Panel Discussion | Moderator: Deborah Elliott | Panelists: All Other Guest Speakers
  • Watch the recorded presentation

Energy efficiency not only saves energy and money, but also creates healthier buildings by reducing pollution, improving indoor air quality, and protecting the climate. This half-day forum will explore the links between public health and energy efficiency, including how they relate to equity and climate change. Speakers will include Linda Rudolph, Director of the Center for Climate Change and Health and Will Dominie from the Bay Area Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII). Attendees will also hear from local government staff who are implementing programs that bridge public health and energy efficiency. This free BayREN Forum is open to all.

• Welcome and Introductions| Kellen Dammann, BayREN Representative, County of Marin
  • Watch the Recorded Presentation
• Climate Change, Health & Equity| Dr. Linda Rudolph, Center for Climate Change & Health
  • Watch the Recorded Presentation
• Housing, Energy Efficiency & Health Equity | Will Dominie, Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative (BARHII)
  • Watch the Recorded Presentation
• Panel Session: Local Government Programs Bridging Public Health & Energy Efficiency | Moderator Will Dominie
  • Green & Healthy Homes Initiative | Marin County | Michelle Nochisaki, MCE - Watch the Recorded Presentation
  • Linking Health & Energy Efficiency to Energy Code Compliance | Demian Hardman, Contra Costa County - Watch the Recorded Presentation
  • Connecting Medically Vulnerable Residents with Energy Efficiency Services | Michael Kent, Contra Costa County - Watch the Recorded Presentation
  • Healthy Home Connect | Brett Bishop Build It Green- Watch the Recorded Presentation

The BayREN ePermit Tool is a free, online tool that provides information and building permit forms to homeowners and contractors for three of the most common types of home projects: replacing a hot water heater, replacing or adding new windows, and replacing all or part of a roof. The ePermit Tool is intended to:

• Make the permit process easier;
• Help building department staff by providing online resources for the public; and
• Improve energy code compliance.

This webinar will provide an overview and demonstration of the ePermit Tool, as well as information on how you can get a customized version of the tool for your jurisdiction.

One of the most powerful tools local governments have to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions is local energy reach codes. This half-day event will provide information on reach codes, including state requirements, timing considerations, and types of reach codes possible under California’s 2019 Energy Code. Attendees will also hear the initial results of studies that identify cost-effective measures local governments could require for new construction projects. In addition to technical experts, this Forum will include local government staff who have direct experience with local reach codes in a panel discussion to share lessons learned, with a focus on stakeholder engagement and other early steps of reach code development. Participants will also have the opportunity to meet and share ideas with staff from other nearby jurisdictions. This free BayREN Forum is open to all and will be co-sponsored with the Statewide Investor Owned Utilities Codes & Standards Team.

• Welcome and Introductions | Rachael Londer, BayREN  Representative, San Mateo County
  • Watch the Recorded Presentation
• Reach Code Overview | Karen Kristiansson, BayREN Codes & Standards Program Manager
  • Watch the Recorded Presentation
• Panel Session, A Local Government's Perspective on the Reach Code Process-
  • Moderator | Barry Hooper, San Francisco Department of the Environment- Watch the Recorded Presentation
  • Karen Kinser, City of Brisbane Deputy Public Works Director
  • Jason Crapo, Contra Costa County Chief Building Official
  • Bill Kelley, Marin County Chief Building Official
• Cost-Effectiveness Results for 2019 New Construction Reach Codes
  • 2019 Residential New Construction- Bill Dakin, Director of Engineering at Frontier Energy
    • Watch the Recorded Presentation
  • 2019 Nonresidential New Construction- Farhad Farahmand, Project Manager at TRC
    • Watch the Recorded Presentation
• Transforming Results into Reach Codes | Misti Bruceri, Principal of Bruceri and Associates, LLC
  • Watch the Recorded Presentation

At the Global Climate Action Summit in September 2018, governments from around the region, state, and world issued commitments to carbon neutrality by 2050 or earlier. What implications does this have for the built environment, existing energy efficiency goals, and local building codes? The final BayREN forum of 2018 examined the definition of “zero net carbon,” (ZNC) as well as how local governments can set policies for efficiency in energy and material use to achieve a ZNC built environment. The forum covered growing considerations in efficient design, energy use, and retrofits, enabling cities to go beyond incremental energy savings to achieve bold carbon neutrality targets. It introduced concepts of lifecycle carbon emissions from both operational and embodied energy usage, the importance of addressing materials in order to achieve the immediate emission reductions that are necessary, and local government policy tools.

• Welcome and Introductions | Jeffery Liang, BayREN Representative, StopWaste (Alameda County)
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Panel Session | Moderator: Miya Kitahara, Program Manager, StopWaste
  • Defining Zero Net Carbon | Larry Strain, Siegel & Strain Architects 
    • Watch the recorded presentation
  • Lifecycle Carbon for New Construction| Bruce King, Ecological Building Network
    • Watch the recorded presentation
  • Energy Efficiency Upgrades with Carbon in Mind| Nick Dirr, Association for Energy Affordability
    • Watch the recorded presentation
  • Empire State Building Case Study and Panel Questions
    • Watch the recorded presentation
• BAAQMD Grant: Reducing Embodied Carbon in the Built Environment | Alice Zanmiller, BayREN Representative, County of Marin
  • Watch the recorded presentation

Join us to discuss impacts of the 2019 Building Energy Standards on options and opportunities for reach codes in the coming code cycle. Learn about significant changes in the 2019 Standards, exchange ideas for reach codes opportunities and share considerations, challenges and experiences with other local governments, and identify strategies and tools to ensure successful adoption and implementation processes.

Reach Codes Best Practices Workshop Presentation Materials

2020 Vision Workshop Presentation

2019 Reach Codes Process and Timeline

2019 Reach Codes Opportunities

Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) provide much-needed housing in an environmentally friendly way, but state building code requirements, including the 2016 Energy Code, can create barriers for property owners interested in building ADUs.  This forum will include a series of presentations from industry experts and government staff about the energy code requirements for ADUs, the role of ADUs in providing housing in the region, and no-cost resources for facilitating the construction of energy-efficient ADUs. 

• Forum Agenda
• Welcome and Introductions | Deborah Elliott, BayREN Representative
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• ADUS: Policy Changes & Role in Meeting Regional Housing Need | Ada Chan, Regional Planner, ABAG/MTC
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Recent Energy Code "Clarifications" for ADU's | Gina Rodda, Principal Owner, Gabel Energy
  • Watch the recorded presentation 
• Lessons Learned from ADU Projects in the Bay Area | Kevin Casey, Founder & CEO, New Avenue Inc.
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• ADUs, Energy Efficiency, Conservation & Waste Prevention | Kol Peterson, Owner, Accessory Dwelling Strategies, LLC.
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• What Can Local Governments do to Advance ADUs | Josh Abrams, Principal, Baird + Driskell Community Planning
  • Watch the recorded presentation

This forum presented several new strategies and tools for energy code compliance. Presentation included a broad perspective of common energy code compliance challenges faced by local governments, followed by case studies and information on several innovative approaches, including electronic tools for residential and commercial projects and in-person assistance for local governments.

• Forum Agenda
• Welcome and Introductions | Kellen Dammann, BayREN Representative
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Energy Code Compliance: The Broader Perspective | Brian Selby, Principal, Selby Energy Inc.
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Leveraging the HERS Registry | Roy Eads, Senior Technical Manager, CalCERTS, Inc.
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• BayREN’s Electronic Permit Tool in Practice | Demian Hardman, Senior Planner, Contra Costa County
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Energy Code Coach Program | Erin Malcolm-Brandt, Senior Manager, Center for Sustainable Energy
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Acing the Energy Code Compliance Process | Jill Marver, Senior Program Manager, Pacific Gas & Electric
  • Watch the recorded presentation

The first Regional Forum for 2018  "Increasing Reliability and Resiliency with Microgrids: How to Implement from Design to Interconnection" was held in San Francisco on March 27.

Microgrids are localized grids that have the potential to improve reliability and resiliency of the grid, offer a backup energy solution for communities during grid outages, and contribute to achieving California’s clean energy future. This forum aimed to help local governments, utilities and the private sector understand the benefits of microgrids, what to expect when planning a microgrid and how to navigate some of the complexities of creating a feasible design model. Presentations included an update on the State’s microgrid roadmap, project case studies and resources available to support the design process.

• Forum Agenda
• Welcome and Introductions | Rachael Londer and Andrea Chow, BayREN Representatives
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• California Energy Commission Microgrid Roadmap Update | Anthony Ng, CEC
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Oakland EcoBlock | Daniel Hamilton, City of Oakland
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Ready, Set, Resilience: Berkeley Energy Assurance Transformation | Katie Van Dyke, City of Berkeley
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• North Bay Community Resilience Initiative: The Path to Resilience and Sustainability | Greg Thomson, Clean Coalition
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• PG&E Microgrid Categories | David Rubin, PG&E
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• USGBC- Assessing & Verifying Microgrids through PEER | Brenden McEneaney, USGBC
  • Watch the recorded presentation
  • To learn more about the PEER standard, go to peer.gbci.org. For specific technical questions, please contact Jamie State at jstatter@usgbc.org. Here are some examples of projects from the PEER v2 launch this week.
• Panel Session: Microgrid Opportunities and Challenges for Local Governments
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Closing Statements | Rachael Londer, BayREN Representative

Speakers Included:

• Anthony Ng, Energy Commission Specialist, Energy Deployment & Market Facilitation Office, California Energy Commission
• Daniel Hamilton, Sustainability Manager, City of Oakland
• Greg Thompson, Community Microgrid Initiative Director, Clean Coalition
• Katie Van Dyke, Climate Action Program Manager, City of Berkeley
• David Rubin, Pacific Gas and Electric
• Brenden McEneaney, Performance Excellence in Electricity Renewal (PEER),United States Green Building Council

Additional Resources:

• Association of Bay Area Governments Resilience Program, Energy Planning: Implementing Microgrids as a Resilience Strategy was held September 28, 2017. Additional resources, including agenda, workshop presentations, and webinar recordings can be found here.
• City of Fremont Fire Station Microgrid Demonstration and Case Study
• Bay Area Regional Collaborative Model Solar Ordinance Update handout

Training Title: Zero Net Energy for Residential New Construction
Facilitator: Ann Edminster

The RECSI Expo Seminar will introduce and discuss Zero Net Energy (ZNE) fundamentals and practices.

• What is ZNE?
• How does ZNE impact energy use and building performance?
• How do we meet the energy needs of a building?

A panel of local design, utility, and construction professionals will discuss ZNE after the seminar.

Event Details:

2018 Redwood Empire Construction Technology Expo
Veterans Memorial Auditorium
1351 Maple Avenue Santa Rosa, CA
Thursday March 22, 2018

Seminar: 1:30PM-4:00PM

Admission is FREE and registration is not required. Food and beverages will be provided.

More information is available on the CSI Redwood Empire Chapter website.

The last Regional Forum for 2017  "Matching Supply with Demand: Preparing Local Governments for the Rise of Renewables and Its Impact on the Grid" was held in San Francisco on October 24.

The uptake of solar PV is becoming one of the most disruptive influences on the electricity grid. With the impending adoption of the 2019 Building Standards and with many local governments now implementing ordinances that mandate solar PV on new residential construction, this forum aimed to help local governments and the private sector understand the implications on the grid, and discuss how they can advance strategies at the local level to help stabilize the grid and mitigate integration impacts.

• Forum Agenda
• Welcome and Introductions | Deborah Elliot, BayREN Representative
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Keynote Presentation: Why Sonoma Clean Power is Incentivizing Electric Vehicles | Cordel Stillman, Sonoma Clean Power
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• California Energy Code and the Grid - Navigating the Political Landscape | Chris Bradt, Frontier Energy, Inc.
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Local Solar and Storage - Benefits to the Grid and Your Community | Kelly Knutsen, California Solar Energy Industries Association
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• It All Adds Up to Zero - California's ZNE Future (and What We're Doing About It) | Rory Cox, California Public Utilities Commission
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• California's Commercial ZNE Action Plan Update - Identifying the Best Plan for the Future | Mindy Craig, BluePoint Planning
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Panel Session: How can Local Governments Prepare for the Rise of Renewables and its Impact on the Grid?
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Closing Statements | Deborah Elliot, BayREN Representative

Speakers Included:

Cordel Stillman, Director of Programs, Sonoma Clean Power
Chris Bradt, Senior Program Manager, Frontier Energy, Inc.
Rory Cox, Senior Regulatory Analyst, California Public Utilities Commission
Kelly Knutsen, Senior Policy Advisor, California Solar Energy Industries Association
Mindy Craig, Principal, BluePoint Planning

Many local governments are setting and meeting ambitious targets aimed at improving energy efficiency in public buildings while encouraging the private sector to do the same. This forum showcased local case studies on municipal innovation, discussed the needs and trends in the commercial real estate industry, and assessed how stakeholders can help exchange knowledge between industry sectors. Representatives from the City of Richmond and the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), along with PG&E and consultants from DNV-GL formed a panel session to discuss municipal innovation, commercial building needs, and the nexus between the two.

• Forum Agenda
• Welcome and Introductions | Candis Mary-Dauphin & Jeffery Liang, BayREN Representatives
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Opening Presentation: Municipal Buildings as Trendsetters - In Theory and In Practice | Brendan Havenar-Daughton, PG&E
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• BayREN Municipal ZNE Technical Assistance Program and City of Richmond Case Study | Blake Herrschaft, DNV-GL & Adam Lenz, City of Richmond
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Energy Efficiency in the Commercial Sector - Trends and Needs | Hafsa Burt, BOMA Oakland/East Bay Chapter Codes & Standards Committee & John Eckmann, CBRE
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Panel Session: How can local governments improve leadership in the building sector

The second quarterly Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) Regional Forum, properly titled Local Mandatory Solar Ordinance as a Pathway for New Residential Zero Net Energy (ZNE) Construction, focused on informing local governments about the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) mandatory solar ordinance model and approval process. Over 70 people from building, energy and local government communities, including a legislative aide with the County of San Mateo Board of Supervisors, attended the event either in person or online which featured panel discussions and presentations from city managers and climate and energy experts.

• Forum Agenda (PDF download)
• Welcome Presentation and Introductions | Rachael Londer and Andrea Chow, San Mateo County BayREN Representatives
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• ZNE and CEC Model Solar Ordinance | Amy Dryden | Build It Green
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Mandatory Solar in New Home Construction | Rachel DiFranco | City of Fremont
  • Report on Jurisdictions with Mandatory Solar Ordinances (PDF Download)
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• City of San Mateo Reach Code Adoption | Kathy Kleinbaum | City of San Mateo
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Bay Area Regional Solar Ordinance Toolkit | Yvette DiCarlo | Bay Area Air Quality Management District
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Renewable Water Heating Model Local Ordinance | Rachel Golden | Sierra Club
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Primer on Solar Technology and Incentivizing Residential Solar for Homeowners and Developers | Christina Armor | Business Council on Climate Change
  • SunShares FAQ 
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Panel Session: Expediting ZNE Buildings through Solar Ordinances and Incentives
  • Watch the recorded presentation

The Innovation & Impact Symposium, presented by ProspectSV, will feature the latest developments in Energy, Mobility and the Built Environment. The region’s leaders from the startup, corporate, public and research communities will discuss what it takes to implement these ideas for maximum impact. With a Keynote Presentation by Steve Westly, and featuring speakers from Tesla, Microsoft, Integral Group, Navigant Research, and SoCal Edison, the event will connect you to like-minded visionaries!

Date: June 14, 2017

Location: Microsoft Conference Center, 1065 La Avenida Street, Mountain View, CA 94043

Tickets: Available at Whova. Save 10% off the ticket price by using the event promo code "BAYREN"

More information: Visit the Innovation & Impact Symposium website.

Course Description:

As our electricity supply becomes cleaner as a result of increased use of renewables, electricity becomes an attractive fuel source to designers and builders interested in reducing residential greenhouse gas emissions and creating zero net energy buildings. This all-day class will focus on efficiency gains and emissions reductions from electric heat pumps in new and existing buildings and will cover the advantages and limitations of these systems, the available technology and refrigerant types, as well as Title 24 compliance considerations. It will be taught in two parts which may be taken together or separately, as follows:

• 9 am to 12:00pm : “Space Heating” - The morning session will provide an overview of electric heat pumps for space heating for both ducted and ductless systems. It will include a discussion of indoor air quality issues, and building envelope considerations. Register online.
• 12:pm to 1 pm – Networking lunch provided by BayREN (limited to those registered for both sessions)
• 1 pm – 5 pm “Water Heating” - The afternoon session will provide an overview of heat pumps for water heating. It will include a discussion siting and sizing of equipment, as well as other water heating strategies such as solar thermal and recirculation pumps. Register online. 

Date: Tuesday, June 6, 2017

Location: Berkeley West Branch Library

This course is Sponsored by PG&E under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission Public Goods Fund and hosted by the City of Berkeley, BayREN , and StopWaste.

Passive House California (PHCA), in collaboration with the City of Berkeley's Office of Energy & Sustainable Development, is hosting a workshop on heat pump water heaters.

Join the workshop to explore this new technology:

• Why install heat pump water heaters?
• Manufacturers share their products
• How to install them (residential and commercial)
• What needs to be inspected and how can policy makers help?

The event will include an open forum for audience discussion and questions, followed by refreshments and networking.

This workshop is for: Water Heater Installers, Contractors, Policy Makers, Building Inspectors, Building Performance Contractors.

Cost: Free for PHCA members, $10 for general public

Date: Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Time: 3.00pm - 6.00pm

For registration, visit www.passivehousecal.org, and download the flyer for more information.

The focus of this workshop was to help local governments address misconceptions and questions about 2016 Title 24, Part 6 (Energy Code) implications for designing new, or applying deep energy retrofits for, all-electric low-residential buildings, which are expected to increase as local governments work to integrate state goals to achieve zero net energy (ZNE) buildings.

• Forum Agenda (PDF download)
• Welcome Presentation and Introductions |  Kellen Dammann and Alice Zanmiller | Marin County BayREN Representatives
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards ZNE Strategy (PDF download) | Christopher Meyer, California Energy Commission
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• ZNE: Efficient HVAC and Domestic Hot Water (DHW) Systems and Strategies (PDF download) | Russ King, Benningfield Group, Inc.
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Local Education and Outreach Initiatives Update | Sarah Moore, City of Berkeley
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Multifamily Retrofits & Electrification (PDF download) | Sean Armstrong, Redwood Energy
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Panel Session: Local Government Interest in All-Electric Residential Buildings
  • Watch the recorded presentation

Additional supporting resources:

• 2016 Energy Standards Water Heating - Minimum Water Heater Energy Factor Reference Guide (CEC) (external link)

Join us for a two hour presentation aimed at supporting local governments working to integrate state goals to achieve zero net energy buildings (ZNE). Attendees will hear case studies on ZNE buildings, learn about new programs and tools to support local government including ZNE policy and plan development, as well as new research and emerging trends.

Ralph DiNola, Chief Executive Officer of New Buildings Institute will be on hand to answer your questions and share resources to help attendees build knowledge on ZNE design and operation strategies, effective policies and codes, planning approaches, and how to support advancement of zero energy buildings. BayREN in partnership with the Sonoma County Regional Climate Protection Authority invite you to join us for this free event for local governments.

Who should attend: City and county government officials, architects, engineers, building owners, planners, project managers, others interested in zero net energy.

Cost: Attendance is free!

RSVP: Please RSVP to Carolyn Glanton at Carolyn.glanton@rcpa.ca.gov or (707)565-5361.

Agenda:

Brief overview of California state ZNE goals and policies
National and California trends
Spectrum of Government Approaches, Evaluation & Prioritization of Projects, Planning Charrettes, Funding
Discussion – Barriers and opportunities
Intro to Planning Process, ZNE Planning Workbook & Sample ZNE Plan
Discussion – Stakeholder Mapping
Overview of ZNE Communications Toolkit, Case Studies, Fact Sheets, ZNE Watch List, ZNE Action Bulletin
Q&A

This Forum brought together local government policymakers, building department staff, architects and energy consultants working to integrate state goals to achieve zero net energy (ZNE) buildings. Attendees heard about case studies on ZNE buildings, new programs and tools to support local government ZNE policy and plan development, as well as new research and emerging trends. Following the forum, attendees were invited to tour a ZNE building and find out more about the ZNE design process from the building architect.

• Forum Agenda
• Welcome and Introductions
  • Program Overview & Introductions | Rich Chien, BayREN
  • Overview, CA Goals, Market Trends and National Status of ZNE | Cathy Higgins, NBI
  • Overview of ZNE City Policies | Betty Seto, DNVGL
• ZNE Case Studies, Pilots & Programs
  • ZNE Case Studies, Pilots and Programs | Peter Turnbull, PG&E
  • San Jose Environmental Innovation Center (SJEIC) | Anna Szabo, City of San Jose | Jill Eyres, Group 4 Architecture, Research + Planning
• Local Government Strategies for Getting to Zero
  • Spectrum of Government Approaches, Evaluation & Prioritization of Projects, Planning Charrettes, Funding | Heather Flint Chatto, NBI
  • Municipal ZNE: Project Engineering as Reach Code Technical Assistance | Heather Larson, BayREN | Erik Pearson, City of Hayward | Bruce Playle, Indigo | Hammond + Playle Architects, LLP
• Planning for ZNE
  • Intro to Planning Process, ZNE Planning Workbook & Sample ZNE Plan | Heather Flint Chatto, NBI
• ZNE Tools & Resources
  • Overview of ZNE Communications Toolkit, Case Studies, Fact Sheets, ZNE Watch List, ZNE Action Bulletin | Heather Flint Chatto, NBI
  • Municipal Policy Templates: Accelerating ZNE Buildings Community-wide | Betty Seto, DNVGL
  • Zero Energy Performance Index (zEPI) & Outcome Based Energy Code | Barry Hooper, BayREN
• Incorporating ZNE into your Policies & Delivery Process
  • Design, Operations, Procurement | Cathy Higgins, NBI

This Forum brought together local government policymakers and sustainability staff, building department staff, city planners, and energy consultants to learn about the changes to the 2016 CALGreen requirements for residential buildings. Attendees were able to meet their BayREN County Representative and connect with energy code experts who shared best practices to increase understanding of 2016 CALGreen requirements and how local projects are going beyond CALGreen.

• Forum Agenda
• Opening Remarks and Introduction | Deborah Elliott | Napa County & Edgar Ventura | BKi
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Green Building Code Priorities and Policy: An Elected Official's Perspective | Mayor Jeff Aalfs | Town of Portola Valley
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Updates to the 2016 CALGreen Code | Emily Withers | California Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD)
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Beyond CALGreen: Cost Effective Zero-Net Energy Homes | Bob Massaro | The Healthy Building Companies
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• 2015 Update to the California Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance | Michelle Koo | City of Hayward & Kelly Shoonmaker | StopWaste
  • Watch the recorded presentation

This Forum brought together local government policymakers and sustainability staff, building department staff, city planners, and energy consultants to learn about the changes to the 2016 building Energy Efficiency Standards for residential and nonresidential buildings. Attendees were able to meet their BayREN County Representative and connect with energy code experts who shared best practices to increase understanding of 2016 Energy Code developments and best practices for compliance (permit applicants) and enforcement (building departments).

• Forum Agenda
• Opening Remarks and Introduction | Kellen Dammann| Marin County & Edgar Ventura | BKi
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Keynote Address:
  • What's New with 2016 Code: One Perspective | Martin Bond | Community Energy Services
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Presentations:
  • 2016 Energy Standards Overview | Javier Perez | California Energy Commission
  • 2016 Building Energy Efficiency Standards Handouts
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Effects of the 2016 Energy Code Changes on Bay Area Building Departments| Russ King | Benningfield Group, Inc.
  • Residential Compliance Documents List, Residential Compliance Process Flow Chart, Nonresidential Compliance Process Flow Chart
  • Watch the recorded presentation

This Forum brought together local government policymakers and sustainability staff, building department staff, city planners, and energy consultants to learn about the the variety of free programs and customizable resources available to building departments interested in implementing best practices for improving energy code compliance and enforcement and/or promoting green building and "beyond code" initiatives, sometimes called "reach codes". Attendees were able to meet their BayREN County Representative, learn about implementing cost-effective green building codes, Home Energy Score and the READ Program.

• Forum Agenda
• Opening Remarks and Introduction | Rachael Londer | County of San Mateo & Edgar Ventura | BKi
  • Watch the recorded presentation
• Keynote Addresses:
  • Stakeholder Engagement in the Standards Development Process | Peter Strait | California Energy Commission
    • Watch the recorded presentation
  • Regional Climate Protection Strategy for the San Francisco Bay Area | Abby Young | Bay Area Air Quality Management District
    • Watch the recorded presentation
• Presentations:
  • Residential Energy Assessment and Disclosure (READ) | Lisa Pontecorvo | StopWaste
    • Watch the recorded presentation
• Above Code Ordinance Opportunities| Jake Tisinger | Build It Green
  • 10 Building Code Opportunities for California Local Goverments
    • Watch the recorded presentation

This Forum brought together Building industry professionals, including building department officials, architects, and contractors to learn about exciting electronic tools and resources developed to assist with energy code related responsibilities. This forum included dynamic breakout discussions facilitated by building industry professionals to develop strategies and best practices to promote greater uniformity in code interpretation in building departments throughout the Bay Area.

• Forum Agenda
• Opening Remarks and Introduction | Omar Pena | Marin County BayREN Representative
• Keynote Speaker: Passive House in California | Graham Irwin | Essential Habitat Architecture
• Product Snapshot Presentations:
  • BayREN Resources | Chris Bradt | BKi on behalf of BayREN
  • CodeCycle | Kim Goodrich | CodeCycle
  • Energy Code Ace | Misti Bruceri | Misti Bruceri & Associates, LLC on behlaf of Energy Code Ace

This Forum brought together department staff, contractors and other building industry peers to share location-specific challenges and solutions stemming from inconsistent and confusing interpretations of the Energy Code. This forum included dynamic breakout discussions facilitated by building industry professionals to develop strategies and best practices to promote greater uniformity in code interpretation in building departments throughout the Bay Area.

• Forum Agenda
• Opening Remarks and Introduction | Cal Broomhead | San Francisco County BayREN Representative
• Presentations:
  • Meeting the Challenges of 2013 California Energy Code | James Zhan | San Francisco Dept. of Building Inspection
  • Top 3 Most Misunderstood Energy Codes | Russ King | Benningfield Group
• Speaker Series:
  • Speaker | James Zhan | San Francisco Dept. of Building Inspection
  • Speaker | Russ King | Benningfield Group
  • Speaker | Tom Garcia | CodeCycle

This Forum brought together department officials, contractors, architects, policy makers and energy consultants to engage with California Energy Commission staff and other policy implementers on how to improve the energy code development  This forum will also included a dynamic breakout discussions facilitated by building industry professionals to develop strategies, resources, and support networks to further enhance collaboration among the various industries responsible for complying and enforcing code.

• Forum Agenda
• Opening Remarks and Introduction | Juan Romero | Santa Clara County BayREN Representative
• Presentations:
  • California's Building Energy Efficiency Standards: Policy Objectives, Participation and Outreach | Heriberto Rosales & Peter Strait | CEC
• Panel Session: Advancing the Stakeholder Engagement Process in Energy Code Development
  • Moderator | Cal Broomhead | San Francisco County BayREN
  • Panelist | Cathy Chappell | TRC, Inc.
  • Panelist | Charles Cormany | Efficiency First
  • Panelist | Heriberto Rosales | California Energy Commission
  • Panelist | Peter Strait | California Energy Commission
  • Panelist | Jeff Pollock | California Association of Building Energy Consultants (CABEC)
  • Panelist | Jim Benya | Benya Burnett Consultancy
  • Panelist | Linda Derivi | American Institute of Architects (AIA)

This Forum brought together local and state government policy leaders, building department personnel, and energy consultants throughout the Bay Area region to share policies and programs influencing small cities. Featured topics included Existing Buildings Energy Efficiency Action Plan (AB 758), the BayREN Codes & Standards Regional Plan Check program, and a shortened version of the training course “Improving Energy Code Compliance in Low-Rise New Construction".

• Forum Agenda
• Opening Remarks and Introduction | Trishia Caguiat | Solano County BayREN Representative
• Presentations:
  • Existing Buildings Energy Efficiency Action Plan (AB 758) | David Ismailyan | California Energy Commission
  • Bay Area Regional Plan Check Program | Demian Hardman| Contra Costa County
  • Coordinating Plan Check with Field Inspection for Residential New Construction | Russ King | Benningfield Group Inc.
• Panel Session: Existing Buildings Energy Efficiency Action Plan (AB 758)
  • Moderator | Wes Sullens | StopWaste
  • Panelist | David Ismailyan | California Energy Commission
  • Panelist | Martha Brook | California Energy Commission
  • Panelist | Jenny Berg | BayREN Program Manager (ABAG)
  • Panelist | Alex Portesawver | City of Benicia

This Forum brought together building department personnel, local government policy leaders and energy consultants throughout the Bay Area region to learn about regional and statewide initiatives aimed at addressing energy code enforcement barriers and challenges, and hear the major findings from the Permit Resource Opportunity Program Final Report and Energy Guide (available here).

• Forum Agenda
• Opening Remarks and Introduction | Andrea Chow | San Mateo County, Office of Sustainability
  • Session A: Compliance Improvement from the Ground Up
    • PROP Final Report Findings | Lynn Benningfield | Benningfield Group
    • 2015 Compliance Improvement Activities | Juan Romero| Santa Clara County
  • Session B: Initiatives for Improving Code Compliance
    • Bay Area Regional Plan Check Pilot Program | Demian Hardman| Contra Costa County
    • Residential HVAC Alts. Permit Compliance: A Best Practices Guide | Marissa Spata | Center for Sustainable Energy

At this Forum,  attendees learned valuable tools and resources for implementing critical policies relating to energy efficiency in community design and how to leverage existing policies and apply best practices that support the needs of their communities.

• Forum Agenda
• Opening Remarks and Introduction | Wes Sullens| BayREN Codes & Standards Program Representative
• Presentations:
  • Panel 1: Quick review of changes to Energy and Green Building Codes
    • Energy Code, Title 24 Part 6 | Russ King | Benningfield Group Inc.
    • CALGreen Code, Title 24 Part 11 and LEED | Wes Sullens | StopWaste
    • Green Point Rated | Bruce Mast | Build It Green
  • Panel 2: Motivations, Benefits and Options for Going Beyond Code
    • Berkeley's BESO Policy and Implementation | Billi Romain | City of Berkeley
    • San Francisco's LEED and GPR Policies | Barry Hooper | San Francisco Department of the Environment
    • Palo Alto's Updated Green Ordinance| Peter Pirnejad | City of Palo Alto
  • Panel 3: Resources for Reach Code Adoption & implementation
    • Process for Local Gov't Filings and Adoptions | Marshall Hunt| PG&E
    • BayREN Cost Effectiveness Studies| Elizabeth Joyce| ARUP
    • BayREN Tools and Resources | Wes Sullens | StopWaste
  • Handouts and Resources:
    • Changes to the Energy Code Measures Summary
    • List of Local Green Building Filing Ordinances

At this Forum,  attendees learned valuable tools and resources for implementing critical policies relating to energy efficiency in community design and how to leverage existing policies and apply best practices that support the needs of their communities.

• Forum Agenda
• PowerPoint Presentations
  • Opening Remarks and Introduction | Daniel Hamilton| ABAG
  • Fiscal Impacts of Building Energy Efficiency in California | Antony Kim | UC Berkeley Center for Resource Efficient Communities (CREC)
  • Sustainability Best Practices and Policy Frameworks for Local Governments | Daniel Hamilton | ABAG
• Lightning Round Policy Presentations
  • Palo Alto's New and Improved Green Building Ordinance: How, What, and Where! | Peter Pirnejad | City of Palo Alto
  • Marin's e-Inspection Program for Energy Efficiency | William "Bill" Kelley | County of Marin
  • Benicia's Graywater System Incentive Kit |Alex Porteshawver | City of Benicia
  • Building Energy Saving Ordinance: Accelerating Savings with Energy Information Disclosure | Billi Romain | City of Berkeley
  • EV Readiness: Context and Opportunities for Action | Rafael Reyes | Bay Area Climate Collaborative
  • BayREN and CaliforniaFIRST Residential PACE Financing: What, Why, Who, How, and How Much? | Jonathan Kevles | Renewable Funding
• Handouts and Resources
  • Municipal Fiscal Impacts of Building Energy Efficiency in California: A Guidebook for Local Officials | William EIsenstein and Louise Mozingo| UC Berkeley CREC
  • Sustainability Best Practices Framework | Institute for Local Government (IGL)
  • California Adaptation Planning Guide: Planning for Adapting Communities | California Emergency Management Agency and California Natural Resources Agency
  • The Marin Carbon Project (this project was referenced by one of the speakers during the meeting) LINK HERE: https://www.marincarbonproject.org/

This Forum was an opportunity for local building department staff and building professionals to ask California Energy Commission staff about interpretations for enforcement of 2013 Title 24 Part 6 – the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards. The handout below contains the questions and answers on the Energy Code, discussions, and clarifications from this Forum.

• Forum Agenda
• PowerPoint Presentations
  • Open Remarks and Introduction | Daniel Hamilton | ABAG
• Handouts and Resources
  • CEC Responses on Energy Code Interpretations

This Forum brought together government policymakers and sustainability staff, energy and water utility staff, and energy professionals to explore programs and technologies that help consumers reduce their water and water heating use, and how local governments can leverage these programs to help reach their climate action plan goals.

• Forum Agenda
• PowerPoint Presentations
  • Opening Remarks and Welcome| Daniel Hamilton | ABAG
  • Finding Value in Water-Energy Program Partnerships | Sam Newman | Pacific Gas & Electric
  • What does the Future of Water-Energy Efficiency look like? | Edward Spang| UC Davis Center for Water-Energy Efficiency
  • Water-Energy Nexus: Strategies and Initiatives | Clifford Chan & Richard Harris| East Bay Municipal Utility District
  • Policies and Programs for Cost Effective Water and Energy Use Efficiency | Gary Klein| Gary Klein & Associates
  • PAYS® on Water Bill Financing: Every Drop Counts | Misty Mersich| Regional Climate Protection Authority
• Handouts and Resources
  • Efficiency PAYS Simplified Data Sheet | Rebecca Brown | BKi

Bay Area elected officials and leaders attended this Regional Forum to hear updates about key state priorities and municipal green building programs from Assembly Member Nancy Skinner and CPUC Commissioner Michael Picker.

• Forum Agenda
• PowerPoint Presentations
  • Opening Remarks and Welcome| Daniel Hamilton | ABAG
  • California's Zero Net Energy Building Goals | Cathy Fogel | California Public Utilities Commission
  • Zero Net Energy: KB Home's Approach to Sustainablity | Jacob Atalla| KB Home
  • Zero Net Energy: What it is, Why it is talked about so much & the role of local governments | Amy Dryden | Build It Green
• Handouts and Resources:
  • Commercial & Residential Green Building Requirements & Reach Codes