News

DOE Launches $10.5B Grid Resilience and Innovative Partnerships Program

Sun behind power lines.

As part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Grid Deployment Office is administering a $10.5 billion program to enhance grid flexibility and improve the resilience of the power system against growing threats of extreme weather and climate change.
  
This program will accelerate the deployment of transformative projects that help ensure the reliability of the power sector’s infrastructure. The goal is for all American communities to have affordable, reliable, clean electricity anytime, anywhere.
 
Learn more about the three funding mechanisms of the Grid Resilience and Innovation Partnership Programs.

DOE Launches Prize to Streamline Solar Permit Process

Rows of solar panels on a rooftop.

The SolarAPP+ Prize is a $1 million program designed to accelerate the adoption of Solar Automated Permit Processing Plus (SolarAPP+).

SolarAPP+ is an automated permitting software tool that provides instant permit approval on code-compliant residential rooftop solar systems. For local governments that have adopted SolarAPP+, projects are permitted and inspected about two weeks faster than average, saving time for employees.
 
The Solar Energy Technologies Office will award prizes of $15,000 to local governments that successfully adopt or pilot SolarAPP+ in about five months. The SolarAPP+ Prize funding will help local governments lower the cost of the adoption process.

19 Organizations Selected to Receive Clean Energy Innovator Fellows

19 fellows at 7 public utility commissions, 3 municipal utilities, 6 rural electric co-ops, 3 grid operators

DOE announced the 19 institutions that will host fellows as part of the new $6 million Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship program. Recent graduates and energy professionals are matched with host institutions at critical energy organizations. The program seeks to increase access to clean energy career opportunities and accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. 
 
The fellows will spend one to two years working at selected public utility commissions, municipal and rural cooperative utilities, and grid operators. Specific projects they will work on include developing paths to 100% clean energy in specific states, addressing energy inequities in rural areas, updating rate designs, engaging stakeholders in grid planning, improving clean energy interconnection to the grid, and more.
  
Learn more about DOE fellowship and internship opportunities.  

Homeowner’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics

Two workers installing solar panels on the roof of a home.

The federal solar energy tax credit has increased! The Inflation Reduction Act expanded the tax credit to 30% of a solar energy system’s value. Learn about the recent changes and check if you're eligible to claim the credit.

Read about the solar tax credit in Spanish: Vea esta página web en Español.

Post-Secondary Programs Receive Zero Energy Design Designation 

Zero energy design designation with workers using drills to create a wooden home frame.

DOE awarded its first-ever Zero Energy Design Designation (ZEDD) seal of recognition to leading educational programs that are preparing architectural and engineering students to design and build high-efficiency, low-carbon buildings powered by renewables. Learn about the first cohort, made up of 17 educational programs available at 12 institutions globally, to earn the ZEDD designation.

DOE Announces Prize to Increase Equity and Develop Clean Energy Solutions for Underserved Communities

Phase 1: coalition commitment, Phase 2: coalition development, Phase 3: coalition impact, Summit Event

DOE announced a new equity-focused prize competition to accelerate decarbonization and support community driven clean energy solutions. The Community Clean Energy Coalition Prize is a $1.5 million multi-phase competition awarded for developing partnerships between organizations within communities to address community-identified energy challenges.
 
Sign up to compete in the new prize or learn more about DOE American Made Challenges.

What is Certification Nation?

Certification Nation - 30th Anniversary of Energy Star

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of ENERGY STAR, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awarding special, one-time recognition to any organization that has earned 2022 certification for at least 5 buildings or plants. 

Four levels of recognition are available.
You are eligible to apply for recognition with Certification Nation if you have already earned the ENERGY STAR for at least 5 buildings or plants. All members will receive a digital badge, graphic, sample social media posts, and a social media graphic. In addition:

  • Premier Members will receive a personalized letter from the director of EPA’s Climate Partnership Programs.
  • Executive Members will receive a personalized letter from a senior EPA official.
  • Elite Members will receive a personalized letter from a senior EPA official and will be included in an EPA press release.
Member: certify 5 buildings, Premier: certify 15 buildings, Executive: certify 50 buildings, Elite: certify 150 buildings

To join Certification Nation, remember to apply for 2022 ENERGY STAR certification for all your buildings and plants no later than December!

Finding Rebates on Commercial Building Equipment

EPA recently added another rebate finder tool, powered by Encentiv Energy, to the ENERGY STAR website. Start your search in the ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder to find incentives on products that are ENERGY STAR certified. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, the Utility Genius rebate finder contains additional types of commercial equipment in categories where ENERGY STAR certification is not available.

Events

2-in-1: What Is the Potential for an Integrated Furnace & Water Heater?

Oct. 27, 2022, 1–2:30 p.m. ET
Why are two pieces of equipment needed to heat a home and its water? What efficiencies might be possible if one piece of equipment could heat both? What products are available on the market to do this? What have experiences been with them? Bring your questions to this Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call and find out.

Register for the Integrated Furnace & Water webinar.

Inspiring a Clean Energy Workforce

Nov. 1, 2022, 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. ET
Learn about how Industrial Assessment Centers at higher education institutions foster energy efficiency and a built environment workforce by providing training, hands-on education, and job opportunities.

Register for the Inspiring a Clean Energy Workforce webinar.

Electric Vehicles and Residential Energy Efficiency – Prepping for the Historical Increase

Nov. 10, 2022, 1–2:30 p.m. ET 
Electric vehicles are slated to increase by historic numbers and with them a historic increase in residential charging and energy use. In this Better Buildings Residential Network peer exchange call, hear about efforts to prepare for that new reality, such as unprecedented investments and initiatives like the Equitable Building Electrification Framework.

Register for the Electric Vehicles webinar.

Outside-the-Box Options to Advance Multifamily Building Efficiency

Nov. 17, 2022, 1–2 p.m. ET
Multifamily buildings have historically been challenging when it comes to energy code requirements. Whether it's challenges related to envelope tightness and testing, implementing new technologies, storage or heat pumps, or even knowing which code to use—this building type is often the topic of conversation. In this webinar, speakers will present new multifamily research and insights to continue to advance efficiency through energy codes.

The DOE Building Energy Codes Program is offering a series of online seminars as a follow-on to the 2022 National Energy Codes Conference. Each biweekly session will cover a range of formats, from topic-based lectures to expert panels to interactive discussions. 

Register for the Multifamily Building Efficiency webinar.