January Speaker - Shawn Gehle

OC Renewables is proud to announce our first speaker for 2011. Our next meeting will be held on Thursday, January 13, 2011 at the Duck Club in Irvine.

Topic:
 
“Consumers as Producers“
Motivators for Reconsidering our Aging Distribution and Consumption-Centric Energy Model
 
Speaker Bio:
 
Shawn Gehle has sought a diverse experience in his career, which includes professional practice and teaching in the U.S. and abroad, believing that cross-disciplinary interaction contributes to his rigorous methodology for thinking and making.
 
Having formerly worked for BNIM Architects, one of the nation’s most recognized sustainable design firms, Shawn was instrumental in leading the design direction of projects and introducing BNIM to emerging materials and technologies. During his tenure at BNIM he was an integral part of the design and research team that worked on The David & Lucile Packard Foundation headquarters in Los Altos, California, a project that was nationally recognized with awards in sustainability and applied research. The experience solidified his commitment to long term thinking and the consequences of designing in our fragile environment, while reaffirming his interest in multidisciplinary design teams as means of achieving a balance the between the art and science in architecture.
 
Since moving to Los Angeles in 2005, Shawn has continued his material and sustainability research, most recently as a contributor to Blaine Brownell’s book "Transmaterial 2: A Catalog of Materials That Redefine Our Physical Environment". A brief stint working at Clive Wilkinson Architects, found him working directly with creative workplace guru Clive Wilkinson, helping to shape his interest in color and the role of graphic design in architecture.
 
While working with Gensler, Shawn has balanced his time between projects and applied research ranging from the recently completed Ritz Carlton Hotel and Residences at L.A. Live to the creation of the Los Angeles Community College District’s pioneering Sustainability Guidelines.

Call For Presenters!

We are looking for presenters to speak at future Orange County Renewable Energy Society (OC Renewables) chapter meetings. OC Renewables is the local chapter of the American Solar Energy Society. The Chapter's primary focus is to increase the intelligent use of solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies in Orange County. Made up of industry professionals, renewable energy providers, municipalities, and concerned citizens, the Chapter promotes the commercialization of renewable energy in order to facilitate its use in residential and commercial buildings.
 
 
The Chapter meets on the second Thursday of each month. The presentation topic should be in line with the organization’s vision and should consist of about 20 to 30 slides for a total presentation of approximately 30 to 45 minutes. Potential presenters are asked to email their bio and an outline of their presentation to info@ocrenewables.org.

Helpful Links

OC Renewables is a chapter of the American Solar Energy Society. Established in 1954, the American Solar Energy Society is the nation's leading association of solar professionals & advocates. Our fellow ASES chapters in San Diego and Northern California are on the web and doing great things in their local communities.



We have broken down this page into different sections: Renewables Providers, Renewables-Friendly Businesses, Renewables Education, Renewables Non-Profit Organizations, and Green Marketers and Events. Our members belong to these organizations and give them our highest recommendation.

Renewables Providers

Mehr Solar has planned, designed, and delivered more than 3.7 megawatts of solar energy systems throughout the United States. Mehr Solar is an approved contractor by the Electric & Gas Industries Association of America, licensed by the the California State License Board in excellent standing and a member of the American Solar Energy Society and the Solar Energy Industries Association. Mehr Solar has certified engineers, designers, and installation crews on staff.

Renewables-Friendly Businesses

Canopy Energy Consulting is a full service energy management solutions provider. They specialize in helping homeowner’s gauge their home’s efficiency by performing a comprehensive energy assessment, reduce their energy usage and save money on their utility bills through efficiency upgrades. Canopy’s holistic approach to energy efficiency provides you with the tools you need to successfully reduce your carbon footprint.



KPR Consulting provides Structural and General Civil consulting services for Buildings and Non-Building Projects. As a strong advocate of implementing renewable energies, KPR provides green solutions for clients interested in environmentally friendly technologies.




Permaculture Properties is Orange County's Green Real Estate Sales and Marketing Specialist. Permaculture is headed by Evan Little. His services range from standard real estate sales and leases to specialized green real estate consultation.



BrightKnoll is a professional services firm focused on helping clients identify, plan, and execute initiatives to enhance profitability, increase customer reach, and improve business operations. Targeted results are achieved from the development of innovative ideas applied through business strategy, technology, and outsourcing.


One Block Off The Grid is a community-based program that organizes group discounts on residential solar panels.

Renewables Education

The Advanced Power and Energy Program (APEP) at UCI has had numerous demonstration projects.  For example, the Center includes ZEVNET, a demonstration project with the City of Irvine with electric cars (with company and community participation), a Distributed Technology Testing Facility, a combustion lab which can test different fuels as well as other testing and evaluation capabilities (the center has had a solar panel system on its building since the mid-90’s and has capability of testing connections of systems to the grid).


The Center for Solar Energy at UCI is doing research in:

• Metal-Semiconductor Hybrid Nanowires Utilizing Plasmonics for Concentrating Solar Radiation
• Quantum Dot Solar Cells
• Molecular Machines for Solar-Powered Photochemistry
• Direct Solar Thermal-to-Electrical Energy Conversion using Thermoelectric Nanowires
• Developing Sustainable Materials for Solar Energy Conversion

UCI also has an active student environmental community, with 11 different student clubs. One of those in particular is the Sustainable Energy Technology Club (SETC). The Sustainable Energy Technology Club is a student organization that promotes the inspiration, education, and application of sustainable ideas to students, particularly in science and engineering related fields. With the common theme of energy, club members will explore how science and technology can be used as a driving factor behind making changes in society with respect to a cleaner environment and less wasteful lifestyles. SETC will accomplish its goals by means of SETC's Energy Sustainability Seminar Series, monthly field trips or activities, and through the support of engineering student senior design projects where students are able to come up with their own solutions and to physically build or model them.

Allied Schools - Training for Green
At Allied, students can train to meet the growing demands of the renewables industry in a convenient, online environment.  From the Business of Solar and LEED Green Building Practices to Advanced Principles of Photovoltaic Installation, Allied offers a variety of self-paced training courses create a strong foundation for students who are working towards taking certification exams, such as:

NABCEP Entry Level Certification (Allied is an Approved Provider of the NABCEP Entry Level Exam)

• NABCEP PV Certification
• RESNET Home Energy Survey Professional Certification
• LEED Green Associate Certification Exam

After you complete training, Allied makes it easy to keep your credentials current. Allied offers online, self paced courses that have been approved by the USGBC, BPI, NABCEP and IREC for Continuing Education (CE) credits.

In addition to serving the needs of individual renewable energy students, Allied creates training solutions for companies in the renewables industry. Allied can supply your company with renewable energy graduates, as well as customized courses that meet the unique training needs of existing employees.

Allied is nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC). With over 825,000 enrollments since 1992, quality online education is their specialty.  Please visit www.training4green.com to learn more.

Renewables Non-Profit Organizations

The U.S. Green Building Council Orange County Chapter's mission is to engage all Green Building stakeholders to be the conduit of change for a more sustainable Orange County through innovative communication, education, resources and advocacy. We envision Orange County to be a vibrant place to live, learn, work and play.  USGBC-OC promotes the integration of the built and natural environments to foster sustainable, healthy, and prosperous communities.


OC Renewables is also a big fan of the Solar Energy Industries Association. Since 1974, SEIA works to expand the use of solar technologies, strengthen research and development, remove market barriers, and improve education and outreach for solar. They are also home to the Solar Bill of Rights.©


The California Center for Sustainable Energy is a non-profit organization dedicated to Greening Your World®. They are based in San Diego. They have a number of free workshops and are a handy resource for all things renewable.

Green Marketers and Events

Three Squares Inc. believes in designing strategies that ensure sustainable growth, communicate your commitment to social responsibility and instill loyalty from your customers.



Cyberia Media tells your story. Video. Motion Graphics. Print. ID. Web. Events. Booth. Kiosk. iPhone. Regional. National. Global. Personal. An audience of one... thousand... million... No screen is too small... No audience too big.




Honest Conversation.com is an internet marketing firm in Costa Mesa. Honest Conversation builds custom sites, optimizes those sites with search engines, integrates those platforms in social networks, manages online campaigns, and helps improve the relationship your organization has with your customers. A part of Honest Conversation.com's profits are donated to CarbonFund.org.

Get Involved with an OC Renewables Committee

OC Renewables is made up of the following committees with certain responsibilities. They are:

• Membership - Making sure that members are getting the most value of their membership in the organization.

• Education - Educating the public and stakeholders of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

• Advocacy - Advocating for public policies that advance the renewable energy and energy efficiency industry.

• Communications - Getting the word out about OC Renewables in Orange County and throughout Southern California.

Overview of OC Renewables

Per the bylaws, the purpose of OC Renewables is to:

Promote wide utilization of renewable energy through such means as providing renewable energy education, promoting the application of renewable energy technologies, and acting as a renewable energy technologies expert resource for the people of Orange County, CA, thereby increasing public awareness of renewable technologies and insuring its proper application.

A copy of the bylaws of this organization can be found here.

ASES Holiday Gift Offer - Sustainable Gifts

You may click on this logo for a PDF version.

Profit Plus Planet Conference - March 24-25, 2011

OC Renewables is proud to sponsor the Profit + Planet Conference hosted by The Paul Merage School of Business at UC Irvine. The event will be take place at the Marriott Irvine on March 24-25, 2011. More info at www.profitplusplanet.com.

Long Beach Solar Grand Prix will be held on April 9, 2011

Long Beach Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske is sponsoring the second Annual Solar Grand Prix (April 9, 2011) competition in which students, grade 6-12, are invited to design and build a solar-powered model car that will complete a race in the shortest possible time using the available power.

The Solar Grand Prix challenges students to use scientific know-how, creative thinking, experimentation, and teamwork to design and build high-performance model solar vehicles.
Teams will receive a Solar Car Kit, which includes a solar panel and an electric motor. Using any other materials, competitors will design and build a model solar-powered vehicle that will race on a 20-meter (65-foot) racecourse. The winner of the competition will be the team whose vehicle is the top finisher in a series of head to head elimination rounds.
For more information about the Solar Grand Prix, contact Jacob Sangiorgio, Neighborhood Liaison in the Office of Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske, 562-570-3102 or jacob.sangiorg@longbeach.gov

December 9 Holiday Mixer

OC Renewables and the Young Professionals in Energy Holiday Mixer

Thursday, December 9th, 2010 at 6:30pm
Kimera Restaurant and Lounge located at
19530 Jamboree Road, Irvine CA.

*Complimentary Valet Parking
 

The Orange County Renewables Society (OC Renewables) and the Young Professionals in Energy (YPE) have teamed up for a Holiday Mixer! Join us for a casual networking cocktail party in a stylish setting at Kimera Restaurant and Lounge in Irvine.

For more information on Kimera, please visit their website at www.kimerarestaurant.com. 

Contact info@ocrenewables.org or visit www.ocrenewables.org for more information.

 

Thanks to our partner!
 

Photo Gallery of Tesla Event

Some photos to share of last night's event. More details about what Kyrstin Muson had to say coming soon. Enjoy!

November OC Renewables Meeting - Tesla Motors

We have just announced details of our November monthly meeting. Kyrstin Munson of Tesla Motors will join us. Palo Alto, CA based Tesla Motors designs and manufactures Electric Vehicles (EVs) and EV powertrain components.  Tesla Motors' goal is to produce increasingly affordable electric cars to mainstream buyers – relentlessly driving down the cost of EVs.   It is currently the only U.S. automaker that builds and sells highway-capable EVs in serial production. 

If you love beautiful cars of the future, you do NOT want to miss this event!

Mission Statement

The Orange County Renewable Energy Society (OC Renewables) is a non-profit member organization and a local chapter of the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) founded to promote the use of renewable energy and energy efficient technology through education, outreach, and public policy advocacy.

Western Riverside, state Energy Commission battle over $33 million in energy-efficiency funds

Western Riverside, state Energy Commission battle over $33 million in energy-efficiency funds

October OC Renewables Meeting Review

Thursday, October 14, 2010
Speaker: James Matarese, Principal, Canopy Energy Consulting
Topic: Residential Energy Efficiency

James Matarese is an Energy Consultant and Principal of Canopy Energy Consulting, specializing in commercial, industrial and utility grade energy management solutions. He has over ten years experience working with utility, municipal, commercial and residential clients. Areas of expertise include building performance, sustainable design and renewable energy. His technical specialties include Energy Audits, Solar Thermal, Solar Electric (PV), Lighting Retrofits, Water Management, Electric Vehicle Charging Stations, Sales and Marketing.

James has worked with SCE, SDG&E and ten Southern California municipalities to implement the Community Energy Partnership (CEP), where he provided energy tune-ups for low income and small business customers. He has also worked with PG&E to perform energy audits on large commercial facilities in downtown San Francisco as part of the Business Energy Coalition (BEC) demand response program. By partnering with large facilities such as Bank of America Plaza, Transamerica Tower and Union Bank of California the BEC was capable of shedding up to 50 MW during times of peak demand.

Click above to access the presentation.

October OC Renewables Meeting - 10.14.10 7 pm

James Matarese, Owner of Canopy Energy Consulting, will be our October meeting speaker!

Topic: Residential Energy Efficiency

When: Thursday, October 14. 6:45 pm Meet and Greet, 7:00 pm Meeting.

Where: Irvine Ranch Water District's "Duck Club" meeting room located at 5 Riparian View, Irvine CA. (Look for the OC Renewables Signs!!)

CleanTech OC - September 27, 2010

OC Renewables members may be interested in this event:

CleanTech OC 2010
http://cleantechoc.org/conference/index.htm

CleanTech OC 2010 is the first annual conference and expo promoting economic growth in the Orange County clean technology industry, likely to be one of the most significant engines for job growth over the next decade. CleanTech OC 2010 will provide a forum for the exchange of ideas, information, and business opportunities among clean tech companies, government entities, and academia, including facilitating investment, joint business ventures, and other collaborations.


The 2010 conference will be held Monday, September 27, 2010, from 9:00am - 6:00pm at the Hyatt Regency Irvine, 17900 Jamboree Road, Irvine, CA 92614.

September OC Renewables meeting - 09.09.10 7pm

Thursday, September 9, 2010
Speaker: Virginia Nicols, Corporate and Community Relations, EcoMotion
Topic: Making Sense of the Solar Deal: Top 10 Questions to Ask

Virginia Nicols, Certified Green Building Professional, is responsible for marketing and communications at EcoMotion. She has 20 years of business marketing experience, and ten years of promoting energy and water efficiency and solar power in Southern California cities. These projects have included city-utility partnerships funded by public goods funds. Virginia has managed communications efforts for partnerships involving Southern California Edison, Pacific Gas and Electric, Southern California Gas, and San Diego Gas & Electric.

Solar sales people, trainers and trainees, and potential purchasers of solar may pick up some pointers on September 9 that will keep a deal from going off the tracks.  Over the past four years, as independent “owner’s representative,”  Irvine-based EcoMotion has counseled hundreds of homeowners and dozens of businesses about the  solar potential of their roofs and parking lots.  EcoMotion helps compare bids and even draft RFPs so that all parties can make sense of the deal.   Virginia Nicols, head of Corporate and Community Relations for EcoMotion, will identify  TOP TEN MISTAKES to avoid when presenting – or comparing – a solar deal.

Recovery Act Propels 3 GW of Solar Projects in California

From CleanTechnica:

Recovery Act Propels 3 GW of Solar Projects to Front in California


In a last-minute race to the finish-line, the CEC has approved a staggering 2,800 MW (or 3 GW) of solar projects this month in California. Click the link above to read the entire article.

A Tesla!!!

This beauty showed up at a recent meeting. Thanks to Tesla Motors of Irvine for bringing it by!

Evan Little Profiled in Solar Today

One of our members, Evan Little, was profiled in the July/August Edition of Solar Today, the magazine of the American Solar Energy Society. OC Renewables is, of course, the local chapter of ASES. Congratulations, Evan!

Click on the picture to read the article.

Westminster Green Expo

The City of Westminster's 2nd Annual Green Expo is right around the corner!

When? Thursday, August 26,2010

Where? Civic Center, Sunken Gardens, 8200 Westminster Blvd., Westminster, CA

Who? Photovoltaic systems, electric cars, hydrogen cars, tankless water heaters, water conservation kits, cool roof, sustainable architecture, LEED Certified Point Systems, Whole House Energy Audit, AB811 Low Interest Financing, Organic Fruits and Vegetables, and Much More!

Cost? FREE

Seminar is from 1:30 to 3:30 pm on the CA Green Building Standards Code. Expo from 3:30 to 6:30 pm. Live Music at 6:00 pm by "The Music Factor" Delicious homemade food for purchase by local non-profit groups Abrazar, Inc. and Kiwanis Club of Westminster.

August 11 Meeting Review

We had a

very good meeting on Thursday, August 11 with Jack Sahl, Ph.D. Director, Environment and Resource Sustainability at Southern California Edison. Here are some of the highlights.

• Per capita use of power has stayed relatively the same since the 1970s.
• Technology is so much better with vehicles than even five years ago
• End to end life cycle assessments help SCE prioritize. Conducting these assessments will be one of the most fun professions of the future.
• As citizens and interested persons in renewables and power, we must get involved in the PUC proceedings.
• SCE is focusing on the following areas in the near future: Renewables and Storage Integration, Grid Control and Asset Optimization, Workforce Effectiveness, Smart Metering, and Energy Smart Customer Solutions

Smart Grid: California Solar Associations Push for Feed-in Tariffs

Smart Grid: California Solar Associations Push for Feed-in Tariffs

Feed-in Tariff programs from a Smart Grid perspective. Interesting stuff and wanted to share.

Thanks to you all for an excellent meeting last night!

Westminster Green Expo on Thursday, August 26

The City of Westminster will host their 2nd Annual Green Expo on Thursday, August 26. The seminar on Cal Green Building Code starts at 1:30 pm. The expo starts at 3:30 pm and runs until 6:30. More information can be found here:

http://www.westminster-ca.gov/depts/cd/building/green_events/green_expo.asp

Hope to see you there!

Helpful Links Page Overhaul

The OC Renewables Helpful Links page went through a major overhaul today. This page strives to be the one-stop center for green and renewables in Orange County. If you would like to see your organization on here, contact us for more details.

Federal Lenders Threaten National PACE Loans. But is their logic sound?

It was a topic of discussion at last week's OC Renewables meeting that lenders Freddie Mac & Fannie Mae could jeopardize national Property Assessed Clean Energy loan programs (PACE loans). PACE loans allow private property owners to pay for energy efficiency upgrades (such as solar installation) through their monthly property tax bills, thus avoiding the steep up-front expense and keeping the fees associated with the house rather than the individual making the upgrades. PACE programs have been successful in towns across the country. But Freddie & Fannie may put an end to PACE:
"...[T]he two government-chartered agencies that buy and resell most home mortgages are threatening to derail the effort by warning that they might not accept loans for homes that take advantage of the special financing." -- NY Times: "Loan Giants Threaten Energy-Efficiency Programs"
The logic is that if the property owner takes advantage of a PACE program, but later defaults on their mortgage and the house remains unsold and must be federally "bailed out", taxpayers could be left holding the bill. (For more on the local credit crisis, check out our neighbors at Irvine Housing Blog.)

But Grist reports that property owners who have taken advantage of PACE programs are actually 11% LESS likely to default on their homes than the national average.

Grist also reports that successful PACE participants are taking action. The Long Island town of Babylon is suing Fannie and Freddie over this threat to PACE loans, because their Long Island Green Homes program has enabled 300 homeowners to invest more than $3M in energy-efficiency retrofits.

What can we do? WRITE TO YOUR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVES.

Says Grist:
Long Island Rep. Steve Israel (D) and other members of Congress are considering introducing legislation to resolve the dispute, but there's no guarantee a bill would pass through Congress's busy schedule any time soon (or ever).

Free Webinar on Tuesday, July 13 10 AM PDT: Clean Energy Federal Legislation

To register, visit www.efficiencycouncil.org/webinar

OC Renewables Meeting: July 8th, 6:30pm

We'll be having a BBQ and hearing from Phil Hodgets, City of Westminster.

Irvine Ranch Water District's "Duck Club."
5 Riparian View, Irvine CA. (Look for the OC Renewables Signs!!)

Please join us!

State & Municipal Loans Make Solar Affordable for Californians

The LA Times published an article this week about Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE). This is a program in which homeowners don't have to pay the price up front for solar panels. Rather, a small fee is added to their property taxes, which residents pay off over many years. The assessment (and energy savings!) stay with the house even if the owners move.

Says Gary Gerber, President of the California Solar Energy Industries Association:
"Let's say you replace your $100 utility bill with a $100-a-month payment to your property taxes — it's pretty close to a wash," said Gerber... "And if it isn't a wash this year, then two or three years from now it will be, because energy costs are going up.

California is one of 19 states that have passed PACE legislation. On Earth Day 2010, Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 77, authored by Senator Fran Pavley (D-Santa Monica). According to the Governor's website, SB 77 enables commercial and residential property owners to make energy upgrades using bonds and/or loans that can be repaid through their property tax bill. Up to $30 million will be available for California's PACE Reserve Program.

The LA Times article tells the story of one happy PACE participant, Ed Smith of Santa Rosa:

[Smith] figures his property taxes rose $100 a month while his electric bill has dropped as much as $300 a month over the last four months.

"It's been totally fantastic," Smith said. "We'd been wanting to do something green. I've been recommending it to my neighbors. It would be a great thing for schools to do since they have flat roofs that catch a lot of sun. Plus school districts need to save money."

Tune in to future OC Renewables posts & meetings -- we are working to bring local experts in to tell us how to take advantage of these new incentives.

Full article:
PACE loan program makes solar energy more affordable for homeowners - latimes.com

May OC Renewables Meeting - Economics of Solar Thermal

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Speaker: Dr. Burkhard von Spreckelsen, President of Valliant Solar Systems, Inc.
Topic: Economics of solar thermal under the new California incentive CSI Thermal and Solar-Thermal PPA


Click above to access the presentation.

Speaker for April 8th Meeting

OC Renewables is proud to announce that Dr. Darr Hashempour will be speaking at the next regular meeting on Thursday, April 8 at 6:45 PM.

Dr. Hashempour is one of the pioneers in our industry and an authority in clean energy, renewables and Green power.  He has been with fortune 500's for many years and is the founder of Expedient energy and co-founder of Omni Power, both headquartered in Orange County.

We will meet at the Duck Club once again. Click here for a Google Map. Looking forward to seeing you on the 8th!

Webinar on AB811 financing

Looks like a good presentation this Wednesday at 9 AM. Hat tip: Dix Henneke



Dear California Efficiency First Supporters,
Please register here for a California-focused webinar this Wednesday, March 17, at 9am PST to learn about upcoming home performance property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing (aka Assembly Bill 811). Presenters will include:
•   Steven Schiller, Board Chair, California Energy Efficiency Industry Council (webinar Co-host)
•   Kelley McKanna, Project Manager, Renewable Funding (PACE administrator for San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles Counties and 14 counties for the California First Program)
•   Mark Fischer, Sr. Vice President of Operations, The Grupe Company (home owner services)
•   Doug Donovan, Director of Residential Services, Greener Dawn (sustainability advisors)
In addition, Panama Bartholomy, who is an Advisor to the Chair of the California Energy Commission will discuss California-related workforce development issues. 
Please sign-up for the webinar by registering here: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/852286730
Efficiency First wants to make sure our California supporters gain key insights into how to best leverage PACE legislation and related initiatives to expand business and become a leader in the industry.  
California is ramping up its home energy efficiency incentives programs, so please join us for this webinar to hear the latest. 

March OC Renewables Meeting - Introduction to Concentrated Photovoltaic

Thursday March 11, 2010

Speaker: Adam Plesniak, Lead Engineer - Boeing Solar Energy Team
Topic: Introduction to Concentrated Photovoltaic

ASES Board Member speaking in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Section of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers presents:

LA ASME January Presentation:
“Are Renewables Enough to Avoid Hitting the
Climate Change Wall”

At The Metropolitan Water District, Conference Room 101.
Thursday, March 18th, 2010, 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
All ASME members, student members, public, engineering students and teaching staff are invited.
Plenty of free parking is available.

Prior to the presentation there will be a short business meeting of the LA Section Executive Committee.

Topic: Solutions to the dual crisis of peaking global oil production and global warming will be presented. Nine non-carbon energy options are considered and we will see how they stack up against the goal of an 80% reduction of carbon emissions by 2050. Superseding the technical issues is the inability to reach policy support long enough to support solutions to a century long problem. The concept of “energy tribes” is borrowed from the cultural anthropologists as an aid in understanding the nature of the conflicts over energy perceptions and policy. An attempt is made to find a way to use the conflicts to fashion an approach to a solution. This presentation is taken from the book, Hitting the Wall: A Vision of a Secure Energy Future.

Speaker: Richard Caputo, author of Hitting the Wall: a Vision of a Secure Energy Future. He obtained his MSME at Carnegie-Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and his BME at Manhattan College, New York City, New York. Richard has retired after 25 years as an engineer at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of Caltech and has been a mediator who has done court mediations in three states. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the American Solar Energy Society and is active in the San Diego Chapter.

Directions:
Fwy 110: Drive to downtown LA, Take 101 South Fwy and exit at Alameda East to the Union Station.
Fwy 5: If going North, take 101 Fwy and exit at Alameda East. If going south, take Fwy 10 exit to downtown, and then Fwy 101 and take Alameda East exit.
Fwy 10: Drive to downtown LA, take 101 North Fwy and exit at Alameda East to the Union Station.

Park anywhere in the underground garage (it’s after hours so there is plenty of parking). Take an elevator to the lobby, and register at the Lobby guard desk. The Meeting is in the MWD Conference Room 101 on the Lobby level, diagonally across from the guard desk.

Pasted Graphic

AB 920 update

From our good friends at CleanTechnica...

AB 920 now gives solar homeowners two additional options for the excess kilowatt-hours in our credit at the end of the year.  We now have the option of rolling over month-to-month indefinitely – banking credits for later, when we can finally buy an electric car, maybe! – or we can take the cash at the end of each year. (The exact cash amount won’t be finalized by the CPUC till By January 1, 2011.)
So, if you are installing solar this year, you should feel free to overbuild your solar system, because now you can be paid cash (or rollover credits) for the excess. But be sure to sign up for one or other of the new end-of-year credits options with your solar estimator. Otherwise, per DSIRE: “If the customer makes no affirmative election for either option, the utility will be granted their NEG at the end of the 12 month period with no compensation to the customer”.
OC Renewables will be keeping a close eye on this going forward. Keep us posted as well if and when you hear the latest!

Meeting Thursday (Tomorrow) Night!

Just a friendly reminder that OC Renewables meets tomorrow, Thursday March 11th, 2010 7pm (6:45 meet & greet).

Speaker: Adam Plesniak, Lead Engineer - Boeing Solar Energy Team

Topic: Introduction to Concentrated Photovoltaic
Location: Irvine Ranch Water District's "Duck Club" meeting room located at
5 Riparian View, Irvine CA. (Look for the OC Renewables Signs!! They look like the OC Renewables logo!!)

Contact ocrenewables@gmail.com for details.

Solar Buildings Panel Webinar on March 4

Join us for a Webinar on March 4

Solar Buildings Panel

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/566867801

The ASES Solar Buildings Technical Division will present a panel of distinguished solar scholars who will present a wide range of topics on solar buildings. They will also focus on questions asked by ASES members throughout the country. The panelists and the areas they initially discuss are: 
     -  Vikram Sami (of Lord Aeck Sargent) – Solar Energy in Buildings: Why its important and what resources are available. 
      -  Michael Bendewald (of RMI) – Environmental Footprinting: including a demonstration of Greenfootstep (RMI’s Footprinting web based program) 
      -  Walter Grondzik (of BSU) – Commissioning Green Buildings 
      -  Tom Butler (of LAS) –  CFD analysis of a historic farmhouse 

After answering questions related to their short presentaions, these panels will address questions received from ASES members that were sent in the run up to this event. Send questions to ChaptersQ&A@ases.org

Please forward this invitation to your chapter and subchapter boards and members. Thanks.

Title:
 
Solar Buildings Panel



Date:

Thursday, March 4, 2010



Time:

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM MST

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.


System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer


Richard Caputo
Board Chapter Representative
ASES Board of Directors

Upcoming Lecture at UCI

A.G Kawamura, the Secretary of California's Department of Food and Agriculture, will speak at UCI's Engineering Hall Auditorium.
His topic is "The Nexus Between Energy, Water, and Agriculture in the State of California."

5 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 3
Engineering Hall Auditorium (Building 308, UC Irvine Campus)
There is no cost to attend the lecture, but we do ask that you R.S.V.P. to Jana Santiago at js@apep.uci.edu no later than 5 p.m. on Tuesday, March 2.

Thank You!

Thank you to everyone who turned out for our February chapter meeting of the Orange County Renewable Energy Society! It was nice to see such a diverse crowd with industry professionals, policy makers and concerned citizens represented.


Also, a special thank you to Dr. Lori Greene of UCI’s Center for Solar Energy for presenting such a complex subject matter in a way that we can all understand! Click here for a copy of her presentation.

Next Chapter Meeting – March 11, 2010 @ 7pm (6:45pm meet & greet). Our presenter will be Adam Plesniak, Lead Engineer. Boeing Solar Energy Team. The meeting will be held at the Irvine Ranch Water District's "Duck Club" meeting room located at 5 Riparian View, Irvine CA.


March Challenge! Please help us spread the word about OC Renewables! Our success depends on the support of each and every one of you. We challenge you to invite as many friends, family members and co-workers as possible for our March 11th chapter meeting. The person who can get the most people to attend will receive a special prize (to be determined). We’ll track everyone’s success through the sign in sheet at the meeting.


Thank you again and we look forward to a successful 2010!



James Matarese

President

OC Renewables

February OC Renewables Meeting - Overview of Solar Technologies

Thursday February 11, 2010

Speaker: Dr. Lori Greene, Director of Research Development and Outreach
UC Irvine Center for Solar Energy

Dr. Lori E. Greene received her Ph.D. in Materials Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. Her dissertation research focused on nanotechnology and solar energy conversion. Her Nanowire Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells paper is now one of the most cited articles in Nature Materials, a premier peer-reviewed journal. At UCI, Dr. Greene is the Research Development Officer and Outreach Coordinator for the Center for Solar Energy in the School of Physical Sciences and leads the development of grant proposals, the graduate student lunch forum on solar energy, and university activities and community outreach programs relating to solar energy and other green technologies.

Click above to access the presentation.

Helpful Links updates

We've updated the links page with some interesting renewable items going on here in Orange County. It will serve as a one-stop resource for all things renewable. Feel free to add some of your favorites!

Hello!

Welcome to the ocrenewables.org blog! We'll have something soon for you in the next few weeks. Stay tuned.....