Making the Most of Energy Efficiency Yael Gichon City of Boulder, CO Southwest Renewable Energy Conference

Context   Smart policy decisions = solid foundation   Financial resources, community support, and political will to be an innovator and leader   History of preserving the environment   2002: Kyoto Protocol

Climate Action Plan (CAP) & Carbon Tax  CAP outlines actions, strategies and estimated results from  Tax on November 2006 Ballot to fund the CAP  Passed by > 60% of votes  Tax collected through IOU (Xcel Energy) per kwh  Generates ~ $1.6M/year

What we’ve been up to…  Energy Audits to Residential Energy Action Program (REAP)  Neighborhood Sweeps, Direct Install  HPwES  Rebates

Barriers to Implementation  Time  Knowing who to call  Various rebate and incentive sources  Financing

Challenges  Need to combine technology (implementation) with behavior change initiatives  Data acquisition/ownership, tracking results  Meeting the goal, voluntary programs are slow to penetrate  Supporting market transformation  Tenant/landlord split incentive  Financial investment a perceived barrier (ROI, simple payback)

Strategizing for Action ReduceUse Build Better Ramp Up Renewables Drive Less Waste Not Grow Green

Solution: Two Techs  The Two Techs program seeks to generate significant GHG reductions and… –Overcome barriers to residential investment in energy efficiency –Provide a simple, one stop shop –Offer solutions for all building types –Leverage available financial incentives

Key Components

Program Features  Social mobilization  Customer intake –Prescreening –Scheduling  Audits –Walkthrough by Concierge –Comprehensive w/ Concierge –Energy concierge  Direct installation  Education & facilitation Direct Install Measures: CFLs Low-flow showerhead Smart strips w/ $15 co-pay Faucet aerators Water heater insulation blanket Water heater pipe insulation Programmable thermostats w/ $10 co-pay Air sealing up to 30 minutes

Program Features (cont)  Measure Installation –Insulation and air sealing –Equipment and retrofits  Ongoing engagement  Financial support –Rebates, subsidies & tax credits –Financing (PACE update and Micro-loans)  Quality Assurance/Quality Control  Flexibility

SmartRegs  Update to city’s housing code  Requirement for energy efficiency in rental housing  Target energy performance level through: –Performance (HERS 120) –Prescriptive  All rental properties must meet standard by January 2, 2019  Two Techs – SmartRegs compliance pathway

Partnerships

Funding  City of Boulder Carbon Tax  Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant – Allocated  Xcel Energy  Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant – Competitive –Boulder County fiscal agent –$25M to regional programs, ~$4M for Two Techs

Lessons Learned  Collaboration is KEY  Leverage existing resources  Minimize redundancy  Branding and naming is harder than it seems  Involve stakeholders early on and often

Thank you! Yael Gichon City of Boulder Local Environmental Action Division Community Planning and Sustainability