Industry News & Announcements
>>2015 Energy Codes Conference Returning in 2015
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is holding an energy codes conference for the first time since 2011. This conference, scheduled for March 24-26, 2015, in Nashville, Tennessee, will be solely dedicated to energy codes. A major theme will be achieving compliance but sessions will cover development, adoption, policy and research. An agenda will be available soon. Click here to register.
>>Signs of Stress Must Not Be Ignored, IEA Warns in Its New World Energy Outlook
Source: iea.org
Events of the last year have increased many of the long-term uncertainties facing the global energy sector, says the International Energy Agency’s (IEA)
World Energy Outlook 2014 (WEO-2014). It warns against the risk that current events distract decision makers from recognizing and tackling the longer-term signs of stress that are emerging in the energy system. Read more
here.
>>House Passes Bill to Limit EPA 'Secret Science'
Source: thehill.com
The House passed legislation in November to prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from issuing new regulations unless it provides the scientific data to justify them. Passage of the measure, H.R. 4012, the "Secret Science Reform Act," fell largely along party lines with a vote of 237-190. Read more
here.
>>Energy Department Offers $5 Million for Residential Energy Efficiency, Partnerships
Source: energy.gov
The Energy Department announced a $5 million funding opportunity that includes support to develop and demonstrate new residential energy efficiency solutions. The funding will also help research into building energy efficiency at universities and colleges.
The Energy Department will provide $4 million to support the demonstration of high-impact energy efficiency technologies and practices that can produce 50% energy savings in new homes by 2025 and 40% energy savings in existing homes by 2030. Provided through the Department’s Building America program, the $4 million in funding will help U.S. homeowners save as much as $12 billion a year by supporting the development of energy-saving measures. Read more here.
>>Clariant’s Exolit® OP 560 Confirmed as Safer Flame Retardant for PU Foam
Source: clariant.com
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identified Clariant’s oligomeric phosphonate polyol (OPP) flame retardant – marketed under the trade name Exolit® OP 560 – as a safer alternative to pentabromo diphenylether (pentaBDE), traditionally used for giving fire protection to foam. Read more
here.
>>Registration for the 2015 Race to Zero Student Design Competition Closes Dec. 15
Source: energy.gov
Apply your ideas to real-world solutions for sustainable, energy-efficient housing and compete against other talented universities as they race to develop the most technically sound, market-ready solutions for zero energy ready homes. Carl Franklin Homes in Dallas, Texas, will build one or more of the winning designs from this year's competition. Teams can design homes to the specifications of Carl Franklin Homes' design team, and the winners will see their designs actually built. These homes will be sold to our nation's veterans, active duty or retired, providing them with sustainable, energy-efficient housing. REGISTER YOUR TEAM now for the opportunity to design the homes of our future and see your creation become a reality!
>>Research for Real-World Results: Dec. 17 Webinar
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Building America program will host a free webinar on Dec. 17 that will offer information about the latest advances in residential building technologies and practices. The webinar, Building America: Research for Real-World Results, is being presented by Building America research team and national laboratory experts and DOE Program Managers and will be held from 3-4:30 p.m. EST. Click
here to register.
>>EPA Calls for Nominations for Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award - Due Dec. 31
Source: epa.gov
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its call for nominations for the
2015 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards for companies or institutions that have developed a new process or product that helps protect public health and the environment. Nominations for innovative technologies in six categories are due to the agency by December 31, 2014.