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 Featured ZNE Project |
 Fort ZED - Zero Energy District
Fort Collins, CO
In an innovative public-private partnership to create a zero energy district (ZED), the City of Fort Collins, Larimer County, Colorado State University, Integrid Lab, and New Belgian Brewing Company joined forces in efforts to reduce their peak load and overall combined energy consumption. Results have already reduced their peak period loads by 20%.
 The FortZED project area encompasses four square miles, 6,000 residents, and commercial customers. This area represents 10-15 percent of the Fort Collins Utility distribution system. Funding was received from multiple sources including the U.S. Department of Energy's Renewable and Distributed Systems Initiative (RDSI). According to an article in Urban Land Magazine, DOE "provided $6.3 million for economic stimulus-related grants to help fund the FortZED RDSI's efficiency improvement and power-generation investments and testing processes. Participants, local consultants, and FCU chipped in another $5.1 million." The FortZED project will use a mix of strategies including smart grid technologies, supporting public policies, and renewable energy sourced within a 50-mile radius.
For more information: Read about the project in Urban Land Magazine or in the May 2013 issue of Public Power Magazine.
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| New Research | |
Army Releases Progress Report on ZNE Pilots
The Army has just released a summary report detailing the progress on its Net Zero Program. The report describes efforts of the 17 pilot projects in process that have been striving toward net zero water, waste and energy. The research describes implementation strategies, technology solutions, funding sources, as well as effort associated with outreach, behavior, collaboration and awareness campaigns. The report also notes best practices, key actions and plans for 2013 and beyond as well as efforts to institutionalize net zero efforts.
For more information: Read the Net Zero Pilot Installation Initiative Progress Report for 2012 or visit the U.S. Army website.
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ZNE Project Profile: FortZED Zero Energy District
Photo Credit:Tye Eden
California has been a leading state on the Zero Net Energy (ZNE) front for many years and other states have progressively been following suit. Now Colorado is distinguishing itself on multiple fronts including a new mortgage incentive program for residential ZNE buildings, two upcoming conferences on ZNE and the emerging zero energy district of FortZED. To find out about these events and more activities on the Path to Zero, read the Summer ZNE Action Bulletin below.
In this Issue:
About the Action Bulletin
In response to requests for more information on news and events in the zero net energy (ZNE) buildings arena, New Buildings Institute (NBI), in partnership with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), developed this ZNE Action Bulletin to keep you informed of new trainings, workshops, innovative buildings and developments with key strategic efforts in policy and planning.
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News & Events
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ZNE Leadership Network for Public Sector Early Adopters
On July 16th, NBI facilitated an inaugural meeting of the ZNE Early Adopters Leadership Network in Sacramento, CA. This meeting was the first in a series to support public sector leaders in building their knowledge of ZNE practice, process, and planning. The event was kicked off by speakers from the Governor's office, the CPUC, NBI, and the Department of General Services (DGS). The meeting laid the foundation for subsequent efforts by highlighting case study examples, providing new communication tools and resources and giving leaders an opportunity to "backcast" the steps they will take to reach their policy, building and portfolio goals for ZNE. A highlight of the meeting was a presentation by DGS describing 14 state building pilot projects aiming to achieve zero net energy status as part of efforts to implement a Governor's 2012 Executive Order to make all new state building ZNE by 2025. The leadership meeting was attended by more than 80 public sector leaders working towards ZNE buildings, portfolios and policy. NBI, CPUC, and DGS, will be hosting additional meetings in the fall and winter to help public sector leaders develop their methodology for planning, financing, design and stakeholder engagement.
For more information: If you are a representative from the public sector working towards ZNE, and would like more information on participation, please contact Heather Flint Chatto at New Buildings Institute.
Army Expanding Net Zero Program to All Facilities
According to the Federal Times, the Army is planning to extend its Net Zero program to all of its 156 installations by the end of the year. Fort Hunter in Liggett, California is one of the initial net zero pilot projects underway and is working with Sierra Energy to build a waste-to-energy project as part of its efforts. Progress toward energy efficiency on 17 U.S. Army pilot projects has been so effective that Richard Kidd, the Army's Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy and Sustainability, said "the idea of using only as much power as the base produces will be embedded in each installation's master plan, construction and design programs and even waste and recycling efforts." The Net Zero Program includes achieving these energy goals by 2020, reinforcing the Army's efforts towards overall sustainability including achieving net zero water and waste.
Colorado Offers $8,000 Mortgage Incentive for Residential ZNE
Colorado is helping move the housing market toward ZNE, and other states are beginning to follow suit. The Colorado Energy Savings Mortgage Program was signed into law earlier this year by Governor Hickenlooper making homebuyers of a new or renovated zero net energy home eligible for an $8,000 reduction in the overall cost of home mortgage financing. To qualify these homes must have a Home Energy Rating Score ( HERS) of at least 0, however homes with a 50% reduction (score of 50) will also still receive a reduction incentive. Legislative tax credit efforts are now underway for ZNE and high performance building in New Mexico and New York state.
ZNE Conferences
NBI - NASEO Getting to Zero Forum (policy & commercial buildings focused)September 17-18 | Denver, Colorado This gathering will bring together leading policymakers, program managers, design professionals and building owners for a first-of-its-kind meeting on issues related to zero-net energy (ZNE) performance in buildings. The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) is dedicating the final two days of its annual meeting to this important topic. Participants can register for the entire NASEO meeting starting on September 15 or take advantage of a special rate for the Getting to Zero National Forum portion only on September 17-18. ZNE North American Leadership Summit (primarily residentially focused)
October 8-10 | Irvine, California, In conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2
This Net-Zero North American Leadership Summit is designed to bring together leaders who want to drive and shape the future of the net-zero energy movement. ZNE innovators will convene to discuss the evolving practice, market-building initiatives, supporting pillars, and to form a common leadership agenda.
For more information: visit netzeroenergysummit.com/ or contact Sonja Winkelmann at Zero Energy Home Coalition.Net Zero CitiesOctober 23-24 | Fort Collins, ColoradoNet Zero Cities is an internationally focused conference to discuss best practices and inspire innovative thinking around net zero energy, carbon and water communities. Concurrent panels will explore these topics through the triple-bottom-line lens of technical and environmental solutions; people and policy; and economic development and business models. For more information: Visit the conference website at www.netzerocities.com
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Policy & Planning
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CEC Meeting on Definition of ZNE
On July 18, the California Energy Commission (CEC) held a public workshop to discuss and receive testimony on the definition of zero net energy in newly constructed buildings in California. This definition will be used for California's next Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) which is due out this November. Below are links to several of the presentations as well as comment letters and testimony.
CPUC Annual ZNE Commercial Stakeholder Meeting
October 3, 10:00 am - 4:30 pm | Pacific Energy Center, San Francisco
The Annual ZNE Commercial Stakeholder workshop will include an update on the CPUC Strategic Plan efforts, ZNE case study presentations, and new tools and resources including the ZNE Communication Toolkit.
CPUC Residential ZNE Action Plan Stakeholder Workshop
October 22, 9:30-12:30 (time is tentative) | California Energy Commission, Sacramento, California
The Stakeholder Workshop will include review and discussion of the draft Residential Action Plan and an opportunity to provide input on the plan's direction and content.
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| Education & Training | |
New Tools & Resources
ZNE Communications ToolkitNew Buildings Institute and Resource Media have developed a draft ZNE Communications Toolkit to help provide outreach and consistent messaging about ZNE, particularly in the commercial sector.  The Draft Toolkit is available for download on the NBI website at newbuildings.org/zne-communications-toolkit.
The ZNE Toolkit includes:
- ZNE Message Platform - Key messages for target audiences
- Sample ZNE Slide Presentation
- ZNE Companion Guide (Fact Sheets - frequently asked questions, plus general and audience-specific information)
This first foundational set of tools is primarily commercially oriented, however many of the materials have useful general information that may also apply several other building sectors. Stakeholders can help market-test the toolkit by sharing it with clients, owners, advocates, etc. and help us refine these tools by providing your feedback.
Zero-Net Energy New Home Design & Construction
September 10 - November 12 | Orange County, California (6 class meetings)
Co-hosted by the Building Industry Association of Southern California and Southern California Edison, this event will feature subject matter experts including Ann Edminster, Rick Chitwood, Nancy Malone, Nehemiah Stone, Steve Easley, Bill Dakin, Chris Calwell, and Gary Gerber.
Home Retrofits: Heading Toward Zero Net Energy
September 27, 9:00 am to 4:30 pm | Rohnert Park, California (4-four part series)
Co-hosted by PG&E and Solar Sonoma County, taught by Anne Edminster, Rick Chitwood, Gavin Healy, Chris Calwell, and Chris Hunt. This introductory course covers zero net energy (ZNE) definitions and their implications for setting ZNE and/or deep energy retrofit goals. Team qualifications and processes also will be discussed. A case study will illustrate a holistic design approach that addressed the building enclosure, space conditioning, and occupant priorities and lifestyle factors. We will also discuss issues influencing renewable energy system selection and design.
For more information: Visit the PG&E website for course description for course details and registration. |
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| Innovative Buildings | 
Photo Credit: Josh Partee
Marin Country Day School Learning Resource Center
The Marin Country Day School Learning Resource Center in Corte Madera, California was chosen as a 2013 AIA Top Ten Green Award earlier this year for its broad sustainable design strategies. The k-12 school project included a mix of new construction and renovations for a new library and technology center, classrooms, offices as well as a creek restoration, playground and courtyard. The project also includes a 95.5 kW photovoltaic array and is designed to use less than half as much as California energy code requirements. The project is well on the path to net zero with a total energy use intensity (EUI) of 20 KBTU and a net EUI of less than 7 KBTU/sf/year.
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| Other Announcements |
New ZNE Residential Website Launched by CPUC
As part of the CPUC New Residential ZNE Action Plan effort, the planning team has developed a new website with information about the draft Action Plan, 2020 ZNE Residential Vision Framework, frequently asked questions, and more. You can also submit new project case studies to be displayed on the site by completing an online form. To visit the new residential ZNE website go to www.californiaZNEhomes.com.
For questions: Contact Mindy Craig at Blue Point Planning.
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We look forward to hearing about your ZNE efforts. If you want to get the word out on related upcoming ZNE events, new research, buildings or other CA ZNE Action Plan news, please send info to Heather Flint Chatto at heather@newbuildings.org.
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