Updated Form F: Life Cycle Analysis (LCCA) Tool available now

Form F: Life Cycle Analysis (LCCA) Tool is one of the compliance documents for the Clean Buildings Performance Standard, specifically for buildings pursing compliance through the investment criteria. The purpose of this tool is to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of energy efficiency measures. This tool is updated annually.

The form was updated on March 25, 2024. The Investment Criteria Tool (Form F) updates incorporate the following:

• The latest nominal and real discount rates.
• The latest fuel escalation rates from the NIST Handbook Supplement.
• The updated Social Cost of Carbon to correspond with the latest EPA supplemental report.

Available for download: New Clean Buildings Performance Standard Integrated Document

The February 2024 version of the Clean Buildings Performance Standard Integrated Document includes covered buildings in Tier 1 and Tier 2.

• Please fill out the Smartsheet form to download the new document.

Hey there energy enthusiasts! We are thrilled to announce that the highly anticipated AESP’s Demand Flexibility Report is now live and ready for your perusal. Dive in to discover the latest insights and trends in energy management that will spark a surge of excitement in your sustainability journey. Don’t miss out on this electrifying opportunity to stay ahead of the curve and power up your knowledge arsenal!

UNLEASH THE INSIGHTS

Inside this report, you will find several insights including:

• A brief history of demand flexibility
• Why grid flexibility is more important than ever
• Benefits of distributed energy resources
• Implementation challenges of demand flexibility
• Key technologies supporting demand flexibility
• Current pilots
• Successful implementations

Beginning this year, all proposed inverter-based Distributed Energy Resources (DER) must use inverters certified under Underwriters Laboratories (UL) 1741 Supplement B (Standard for Safety Inverters, Converters, Controllers and Interconnection System Equipment for Use with Distributed Energy Resources, Supplement B and labeled as UL1741-SB) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 1547-2018 (Standard for Interconnection Interoperability of Distributed Energy Resources with Associated Electric Power Systems Interfaces).

The new inverter requirement will go into effect on the following schedule:

• On or after April 1, 2024: New DER interconnection applications submitted that require an engineering review must use inverters certified under UL1741-SB
• On or after July 1, 2024: All new DER interconnection applications submitted must use inverters certified under UL1741-SB.

The new inverter requirements have been adopted to support City Light’s grid modernization efforts. UL1741-SB inverters have communications functionality that can provide important information to the utility. In the future, as more and more customers adopt photovoltaic technologies, the new inverters will allow the utility to understand how much energy customer solar is generating in real time. This new inverter standard supports the utility’s progress toward a carbon-free, electrified future where customers have more choice about energy generation.

For more information, please contact [email protected]. You can review the 2024 RESC on City Light’s website at web8.seattle.gov/city-light-engineering-standards/RESC.

Our friends at Better Bricks recently shared this incredible story and video where new HVAC technology and approaches improved the comfort and air quality of this k-12 school in Monument, Oregon. Read on here at Better Bricks or check out the case study for more details!

NEEA/ BetterBricks have created some cards to provide key learning points and discussion topics on energy efficiency to engage your team in discussions and provide you with the information needed to pursue energy efficiency in commercial buildings. Using these cards should create engaging and thought-provoking discussions and insights around sustainability, energy, and environment. There are two sets below, one for Commercial and one for Industrial buildings.

• Commercial Energy Talk Cards
• Industrial Energy Talk Cards

Share what you learn with us in the comments or bring your insights to the next conference, tradeshow or water cooler!