Current Call to Action

>>SBA Launches Growth Accelerator Fund, Deadline for Competition Is Aug. 2
Source: SBA.org
The U.S. Small Business Administration is launching a $2.5 million competition for accelerators and other entrepreneurial ecosystem models to compete for monetary prizes of $50,000 each to fund operating budgets. To award the prizes, applicants will be judged by an expert panel that will consider each applicant's stated mission, founding team members and business goals among other core components. The application deadline is August 2, 2014.

>>Request for Qualifications -- BPI GoldStar Contractor™ Program, Deadline Is Aug. 7
Source: bpi.org
The Building Performance Institute, Inc (BPI) is accepting proposals from training providers in all aspects of business management, quality management, and sales and marketing training with a focus on small business home performance contracting companies participating in the BPI GoldStar Contractor™ Program.

The goal of the BPI GoldStar Contractor Program and this Request for Qualifications (RFQ) is to provide a pathway for contractors to achieve excellence in home performance services to their customers. The BPI GoldStar Contractor program helps contractors identify needed skills in a company's business and quality management systems and provides training support to enhance these skills.

Proposals will be accepted through August 7, 2014 by 5 p.m. (ET)

>>BPI's Home Energy Auditing Standard Released for Public Comment, Deadline Aug. 25

Source: bpi.org

The Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI) announced that BPI-1100-T-201x: Home Energy Auditing Standard is now available for public comment for a period of 45 days. BPI-1100-T-201x was developed in an effort to standardize and clarify what is included in a whole-building, science-based energy audit of existing homes.

To view the standard, visit: Standards Under Review

To submit comments, visit: Formal Public Comment Process

>>EPA Proposes to Replace and Reduce Harmful Greenhouse Gases
Source: epa.org
The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing to prohibit the use of certain chemicals that significantly contribute to climate change where safer, more climate-friendly alternatives exist. This is the agency’s second action aimed at reducing emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a class of potent greenhouse gases, under President Obama's Climate Action Plan.

This action is estimated to reduce greenhouse gases by up to 42 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent by 2020, equal to the carbon dioxide emissions from the annual electricity use of more than 5 million homes.

Under the authority of the Clean Air Act, EPA’s Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program evaluates substitute chemicals and technologies that are safe for the ozone layer. The proposed action would change the status of certain high-global warming potential (GWP) HFCs that were previously listed as acceptable under the SNAP Program to be unacceptable in specific end-uses based on information showing that other alternatives are available for the same uses that pose lower risk overall to human health or the climate.

The HFCs and HFC-containing blends affected by the proposal are used in aerosols, motor vehicle air conditioning, retail food refrigeration and vending machines, and foam blowing.

EPA will accept comment on the proposal for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register.

Learn more about EPA’s SNAP Program and the proposal: http://www.epa.gov/ozone/snap/regulations.html

>>EPA Seeks Comments on Potential Revisions to its Risk Management Program
Source: epa.gov
On July 24, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Request for Information (RFI) to seek comment on potential revisions to its Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations and related programs to modernize its regulations as required under Executive Order (EO) 13650: Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security.

During the 90-day comment period, EPA asks for information and data on specific regulatory elements and process safety management approaches to enhance public health and safety, and aid local fire, police, and emergency response personnel to prepare for and respond to chemical emergencies. The information received will be used when reviewing chemical hazards covered by the RMP and to determine how this program should be expanded to improve chemical facility safety. The RFI does not commit the agency to rulemaking.

To view EPA’s RFI and provide public comment, visit http://www.epa.gov/emergencies/eo_improving_chem_fac.htm

The public will have 90 days to submit written comments online, www.regulations.gov (the portal for federal rulemaking), or by mail.