What do you all think of the PSE Green Power Rewards program?  Is this something that PSE should offer in King County?? Ammen

Here’s how it works

Each household enrolled in PSE’s Green Power Program will receive one Rewards Card and two key fobs. Card holders will receive a discount on their purchase when they present their card to businesses participating in the Rewards Card program. Currently, PSE Green Power Rewards is offered in Thurston County as a pilot program. Check out Thurston County merchants to find participating businesses and their discounts.

PSE expects to roll out the Rewards Card throughout its service area in 2011.

Is your business in PSE’s electric service territory?

Enroll in PSE’s Green Power Program, participate in the Rewards Card program, and welcome more customers! If your business is already participating in PSE’s Green Power Program, find out more about the Rewards Card by calling a PSE Energy Advisor at 1-800-562-1482, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Green Power Rewards.

ATTACHED FORM: HomePrint Application

PSE is now accepting applications for participation in both the HomePrint Assessment program and/or the Home Performance with Energy Star Retrofit Rebate Program.

Please complete the attached application form and return with proof of BPI Building Analyst I certification. To be considered for training, all applications must be emailed to HomePrint@pse.com, with subject “Application Submittal,” by 5:00 PM Monday, January 3, 2011.

Applications may also be mailed to the address listed below, for delivery by the above date:

Puget Sound Energy
HomePrint Program
355 110th Ave NE EST-10W
Bellevue, WA 980004

You will be notified if you’ve been approved to attend one of the training sessions scheduled for Wednesday, January 26 or Friday, January 28, 2011, at the PSE Bellevue Campus by end of day January 17th, 2011.

Sincerely,

Luke Giustra – Energy Efficiency Services
Puget Sound Energy
355 110th AVE NE EST-10W
Bellevue, WA 98004
O:425.456.2682
C:425.516.5218
F:425.456.2706
lucas.giustra@pse.com
www.pse.com

The tax credits known as 25C are extended through 2011, but at a significantly reduced value and with changes made to some of the qualifying equipment standards. The new tax credits begin on January 1, 2011 and last through December 31, 2011. The main difference is an eligible homeowner can claim 10% of the costs for the installation of qualified energy efficient improvements, capped at $500.

Under the new law the max a homeowner could claim on equipment is:

• $300 for a qualified central air conditioner and heat pump (HVAC and hot water equipments)
• $150 for a qualified furnace or hot water boiler
• $50 for any advanced main air circulating fan.
• $300 for Qualified hot water heaters

The new law will also increase the qualifying standards for hot water boilers, including natural gas, propane, oil furnaces, and oil boilers to 95% AFUE. The qualifying standards for natural gas furnaces and propane furnace remain at 95% AFUE.

The qualifying standard for central air conditioners and heat pumps, which were modified by the Stimulus bill in 2009, are not changed.

The major difference is the new law reinstates the lifetime credit caps of 2005. This means any homeowner who has claimed more than $500 in 25C tax credits since January 1, 2005, is disqualified from any further credits.

To read the Tax Provision of 2009 ending Dec 31, 2010, click here to be redirected to the IRS page.

To read the Original Tax Provision of 2005, click here to be redirected to the IRS page.

“This information is provided to you as a courtesy by Efficiency First staff and should not be considered tax or accounting advice.  You are urged to consult an accountant or tax attorney if you wish to have certainty about your tax claims.”

Efficiency First Blog » Blog Archive » Important information on the 25C Tax Extenders Bill of 2011.

WSU Extension Energy Program > Building Efficiency > Energy Code.

The Washington State Building Code Council (SBCC) met on Friday, November 19, 2010 and entered into emergency rulemaking regarding duct sealing for existing residences when mechanical systems are altered or replaced (2009 WSEC 101.3.2.6). The SBCC voted to require testing but not sealing of systems “when a space-conditioning system is altered by the installation or replacement of space-conditioning equipment (including replacement of the air handler, outdoor condensing unit of a split system air conditioner or heat pump, cooling or heating coil, or the furnace heat exchanger)”. This code change is valid for 120 days during which time it is expected the SBCC will enter into permanent rulemaking.

The contractor is required to test the system and provide the test results to the building official and the homeowner. It is up to the homeowner to decide if they want to seal their duct system.

For additional information go the SBCC website at:

https://fortress.wa.gov/ga/apps/sbcc/default.aspx

SBCC – Home.

The YWCA opens doors to opportunity and self-sufficiency for women and families facing

poverty, violence and discrimination. With more than 100 years experience, the YWCA is the leading organization for moving women and families out of crisis and empowering them to achieve lasting independence. YWCA works with http://www.nhwa.org on the greenlight project that provides case management services and connects under-privileged and disadvantaged individuals to green-sector jobs.

You may qualify for training in green-sector industries, including:

* Construction
* De-construction
* Manufacturing
* Weatherization

You may also qualify for additional services, including:

* Job search preparation
* Job search assistance
* Soft skills support
* Employment connections
* Employment retention support

To participate in the GreenLight Project, you must be:

* 18 or older
* Low-income
* A resident of southeast Seattle (PUMA 1804) or White Center (PUMA 2005)
* Interested in updated training related to energy efficiency and renewable energy industries
* Legal to work in the U.S.
* Registered with the Selective Service (for men born in 1960 or later ) or have entered the U.S. after age 26

You must also be either:

* Unemployed, or
* A high school dropout, or
* An ex-offender, or
* A veteran

This program is funded by a federal grant from the U.S. Department of Labor through the GreenLight Project of the Workforce Development Council of Seattle King County.

YWCA of Seattle – King County-Snohomish County.

Public Utility District No. 1 of Snohomish County (DISTRICT) is requesting responses from qualified firms for residential energy audit and assessment services. This effort is a component of a larger Community Energy Efficiency Pilot, Community Power!. The residential audits performed will be funded in full through the Snohomish County Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) administered by Snohomish County Human Services.

If you are interested in submitting a Proposal for these services, please contact our Contracts/Purchasing Department at (425) 783-5500 or e-mail us at bids@snopud.com and request a packet. Responses must be submitted no later than 5:00 p.m. (local time) on Monday, November 22, 2010.

For additional information pertaining to this Request for Proposals, please visit www.snopud.com and select “Bids.” Planholders List, Addenda and Award Recommendation will be available for viewing on our website, in read only format.

The District encourages minority and women’s business enterprises to submit a proposal in response to this Request for Proposal.

DATE: November 3, 2010
PUBLISHED: November 5, 2010

Request for Proposals No. 1253 | Bids | Snohomish County PUD.

Presented in conjunction with the release of our newly updated Sustainable Energy Handbook for Business, Sustainable Industries invites you to join us for a free, one-hour webinar exploring the financing of energy efficiency retrofits on commercial buildings. Our two expert panelists from Johnson Controls and Unico Properties will discuss what financing is available and needed for commercial retrofit projects and share their experiences about making the case for undertaking energy efficiency improvements to internal audiences.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010 10:00 am
Pacific Daylight Time

WebEx Marketing WebEx Enterprise Site.

Enterprise Cascadia (EC) is seeking proposals for Home Retrofit Delivery Partners to participate in the City of Seattle Community Power Works home retrofit program. EC is releasing this DRAFT Request for Proposals (RFP) to seek input from potential respondents. A final RFP will be released on October 22.

SECTION I: Introduction to Community Power Works Introduction
In April 2010, the City of Seattle (the City) was awarded a $20 million Better Buildings grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. This award was based on achieving deep energy efficiencies in multiple building sectors within a target area in Central and South Seattle (a map of the target geography is included as Attachment A). Community Power Works (CPW) is a three-year initiative which will provide innovative incentives to spur building retrofits. In the residential sector, CPW’s goal is to complete 2,000 single family home energy retrofits by June 2013, achieving a minimum of 15% energy savings in each home retrofitted, and creating living wage jobs for workers. Home Retrofit Delivery Partners play a key role in utilizing and packaging the tools and incentives provided by the CPW program to motivate homeowners to pursue energy efficiency retrofits. CPW will provide a suite of new and existing tools that Home Retrofit Delivery Partners may use to catalyze home energy retrofits, including:
1.    Access to Financing a.    A revolving loan fund for energy efficiency retrofits
2.    Financial Incentive Programs
a. b. c.
A Carbon Reduction Incentive Fund Local utility residential incentive program HomeWise Low Income Weatherization Grant Program

3.    Information Delivery a.    Overarching CPW branding and marketing campaign and materials b.    Energy Performance Score (EPS) home energy audits to homeowners
4.    A comprehensive service delivery strategy that capitalizes upon and encompasses all of the above-mentioned tools

Read the rest here: CPW_DeliveryPartner_FinalDraft_RFP

* Multi-state group with individual awards for: Massachusetts: $2,587,976; Alabama: $3,013,751; Virginia: $2,886,500; and Washington: $2,587,500

Residential retrofits: This four-state partnership will retrofit at least 12,150 homes out of a target market of 300,000 homes across the four states by 2013 achieving significant energy savings in each home. The program plans to reach over 75,000 homes in that market by 2021 utilizing DOE's investment. The states will draw on national experts to implement energy modeling and benchmarking, consumer outreach, contractor management, policy development and innovative financing. The objective is to create a sustainable transformation in the market for home energy improvements. The project leverages state-level experience between the awardees to share best practices in an effort to establish a model that can be applied nationally to increase home retrofits by 2013 and beyond.

via EERE News: DOE Announces Nearly $30 Million in Competitive Awards for State Energy Efficiency Projects.