Industry News & Announcements

>>USDA Launches New Initiative: Finances First Energy Efficiency Program Loans in Arkansas and North Carolina
Source: usda.gov
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that USDA has funded the first two loans under the new Energy Efficiency and Conservation Loan Program, which is designed to help consumers reduce energy bills through energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems. Read more here.

>>What’s New in HPC Credentials?
BPI, RESNET, ACCA Share Insight into Latest Home-Performance Contracting Programs
Source: achrnews.com / Kimberly Schwartz
Some homeowners may be wary of the legitimacy of HVAC contractors who have branched into providing home-performance services. One way to allay their fears is to present evidence of certification in this field. Here is a look at what’s new and coming soon in the world of home-performance credentials. Read more here.

>>EPA Awards Environmental Education Grants to Recipients in 18 States
Source: epa.gov
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced the completion of awards for the 2013 Environmental Education Model Grants Program. Projects include community energy education, summer programs for low-income teenagers, integration of multimedia learning tools into watershed education, environmental health education on the impact of climate change and asthma, and hands-on K-12 environmental education programs. From applications received in 2013, EPA has funded 20 grants from across the country, ranging from $75,000- 200,000 for a total of approximately $2.8 million.  Read more here.

 

>>Energy Department Offers $9 Million for Commercial Building Energy Efficiency
Source: energy.gov
The Energy Department is offering $9 million for energy-saving technologies that can be tested and deployed in offices, shops, restaurants, hospitals, hotels, and other types of commercial buildings. The funding will facilitate the implementation of market-ready solutions across the United States to improve commercial building energy efficiency, with a goal of demonstrating 20% savings or more across a variety of approaches. This funding opportunity seeks to support five to ten projects that will increase energy savings in commercial buildings by advancing the use of tools, solutions, and resources the Department has developed to help commercial building owners, managers, and professionals overcome barriers to efficiency.
The funding opportunity encourages building owners and occupants to demonstrate widely-applicable and self-sustaining approaches that address key challenges and make building efficiency improvements easier. Examples include:
 
•Green leases that help building owners and lessees save money
•Information for better decisions by using Department-developed energy modeling software to identify and predict a building’s energy performance
 
Concept papers are due on November 22. See the Energy Department news release and the funding opportunity announcement.

 

>>EPA Releases Climate Plans on Fifth Anniversary of President Obama’s Sustainability Initiative
Source: epa.gov   
As part of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, EPA released plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and preparing for climate change impacts such as flooding, sea level rise, severe weather and temperature extremes.These Sustainability Plans and Climate Change Adaptation Plans coincide with the fifth anniversary of President Obama’s 2009 Executive Order on Environmental, Energy and Economic Performance, which set aggressive energy, climate and environmental targets for agencies, and detail how EPA’s actions have already contributed to reducing the Federal Government’s greenhouse gas emissions by more than 17 percent since 2008 – the equivalent of permanently taking 1.8 million cars off the road. Read more here. 

>>The Lapolla Ty Pennington Sweepstakes
Source: lapolla.com
Enter for your chance at winning a trip for two to Las Vegas to hang out with Ty Pennington during the International Builder’s Show January 20-22, 2015 in Las Vegas. To qualify, fill out the form and like the Lapolla Facebook page. Sweepstakes ends January 10, 2014. Read more here. 

>>CPI Announces Major Milestone for Safety in the Spray Polyurethane Foam Industry
Source: americanchemistry.com
The Center for the Polyurethanes Industry (CPI) of the American Chemistry Council has reached a major milestone in its ongoing efforts for continuous improvement of health and safety in the  spray polyurethane foam (SPF) industry. 

More than 10,000 SPF professionals have completed CPI’s High Pressure SPF Chemical Health and Safety Training program. The interactive training program provides information about the use, handling and disposal of chemicals used to manufacture SPF. The training program, which is also supported by the Spray Foam Coalition, includes information about best practices for engineering controls and personal protective equipment. CPI also provides a similar training program for low-pressure SPF for weatherization professionals. 

Launched in 2010, the High Pressure SPF Chemical Health and Safety Training satisfies one prerequisite toward completing the Spray Polyurethane Foam Alliance’s Professional Certification Program. Offered in English and Spanish, this self-paced training is designed to be taken online or in a classroom setting, so it is possible for registered instructors to conduct their own training sessions in person. Read more here.

>>A "Seal" to Publicize the Spray Foam Coalition’s Commitment
Systems house members of the Spray Foam Coalition (SFC) now can widely publicize their commitment to product stewardship and product safety. In August, the SFC developed a new seal memorializing company commitment to the Coalition’s Code of Conduct. The Code is an annual commitment signed by each systems house member of SFC and represents a company’s pledge to promote worker and public health and safety with respect to its products. All sixteen SFC systems house members signed the Code earlier this year. The seal is a distinguishing mark for SFC members in the insulation industry. For more information on the Code of Conduct, visit the website or contact Justin Koscher, (202) 249-6617. 
 
>>EPA Increases Access to Chemical Information; Agency Seeks Input on Improvements
EPA has updated and improved ChemView, its one-stop database of chemicals regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). We have added more chemical information and improved usability, as well as introduced an easy way for you to tell us additional improvements you would like to see. Read the press release. Learn about the changes to ChemView and take the survey.