Resources
With support from the Sierra Club Florida, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed this toolkit for Florida communities committed to achieving 100% renewable energy.
Click 'Search' again after clearing for new results.
| Resource | Clean energy strategy | Who is this for? | Planning phase | This resource will help me answer... |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% RE Building Blocks: A practical toolkit for a sustainable transition to 100% Renewable Energy | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Developer; Government; Community Members | Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | What is the comprehensive definition of "100% RE"? How can communities and local governments measure the success of their efforts via effective mentoring and benchmarking? How can we ensure that 100% RE will address income inequality and contribute positively to social well being and the long-term protection of ecosystems? |
| 2021 Work Plan - Energy Future Collaboration between the City and County of Denver and Xcel Energy | Renewable energy; Electric vehicles; Energy efficiency; Energy planning; Resilience | Developer; Government; Community Members; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare | What are the short-term and long-term goals for the Energy Future Collaboration in the city of Denver, Colorado? What project values and locations across Denver will be involved in the energy future collaboration? What is each implementation groups' purpose and implementation project in Denver's Energy Future Collaboration efforts? |
| A Guide to Energy Master Planning of High-Performance Districts and Communities | Equity; Energy planning | Planner; Developer; Advocacy Groups; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | What are high-performance energy districts? How do I assemble a team for high-performance energy projects? How can a high-performance energy team develop financial and business models? How can a high-performance energy team engage with utilities to make a project successful? |
| A Guidebook on Equitable Clean Energy Program Design for Local Governments and Partners | Equity; Energy planning | Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | What resources are available for local governments and partners to use to advance social equity in clean energy program design and implementation within communities? What are some key takeaways and best practice recommendations based on related projects? |
| A Roadmap for Climate Forward Efficiency | Energy efficiency | Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How do legislators, utilities, and regulators align policy, prepare the market, deliver effective programs, and ensure equity in decarbonization goals? How can we align utility energy efficiency and deep decarbonization goals? What are some examples/models of climate-forward efficiency actions that can be adapted to serve other regions' unique characteristics? |
| Adapting Existing Energy Planning, Simulation, and Operational Models for Resilience Analysis | Energy planning; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare | How can we effectively integrate resilience considerations into energy sector models and tools? |
| Advancing Equity in Utility Regulation | Equity | Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members | Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | What are some perspectives on advancing equity in electric utility regulation from representatives of energy justice, consumer organizations, and a leading utility? What are the recommendations related to regulatory issues such as stakeholder engagement, defining "public interests," funding, electricity infrastructure siting, access to distributed energy technologies, consumer protections, bill affordability programs, rate design, program design, and metrics to track and evaluate results of policies, regulations, and programs intended to deliver equitable outcomes? |
| Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) TransAtlas | Electric vehicles | Researchers; Utility; Government; Developer; Community Members | Assess; Gather Resources; Adapt & Iterate | What kinds of alternative fuel stations are there and where are they located? Where can I find transportation data for specific districts, cities, counties, or state borders? Where are alternative fuel production facilities located? Which areas or regions lack transportation production facilities, fuel stations, or data? How do vehicle fuel types vary across locations? Does the vehicle fuel type pattern vary for low-income regions? |
| Affordability of Household Transportation Fuel Costs by Region and Socioeconomic Factors | Electric vehicles; Equity | Government; Utility; Community Members; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How does household energy burden vary across the country? What is the localized energy burden data and how can it be used to support local decision making? How do you calculate transportation energy burden? |
| AgriSolar Clearinghouse | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Funding/Financing Partners; Researchers | Convene; Engage; Assess | How can businesses, land managers, and researchers connect with trusted resources to support the growth of co-located solar and sustainable agriculture? What type of technical assistance is available to farmers, developers, and researchers to support the growth of solar and sustainable agriculture? What are the best practices and innovative solutions to barriers to solar development and sustainable agriculture? How can farmers, developers, and researchers evaluate innovative financing options? What sustainable agrisolar opportunities are there? |
| Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) | Electric vehicles | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding | Convene; Engage; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What are the various types of fuels for vehicles and what is the significance of each? What are the various types of public transportation? What kind of transportation statistics and data is available for my location? What costs and laws are associated with various types of vehicles and transportation development projects? |
| American Cities Climate Challenge Climate Action Playbook Brief: A Strategic Brief to Accelerate and Deepen Climate Action in Cities | Renewable energy; Electric vehicles; Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Government; Funding/Financing Partners | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How can America's cities lead the way in reducing carbon pollution? What must cities do to reduce carbon pollution? How do cities achieve carbon reduction goals? |
| American Cities Climate Challenge Renewables Accelerator: Tools and Resources | Renewable energy | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What tools and resources are available for pursuing clean energy projects? What are the recommendations or examples of equitable energy projects? What renewable options are available by state? What energy initiatives are being taken in my city or state? |
| Appliance Rebates Plan: To Decarbonize Households, America Needs Incentives for Electric Appliances | Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare | Is there a policy road map for federal infrastructure legislation that will enable the electrification of U.S. households? What are the new consumer rebates for the purchase and installation of modern electric appliances to make them cost competitive with fossil-fueled equivalents? What are the prime targets for consumer rebates for enabling electrification? Why is there a need for elevated rebate levels for low- and moderate-income households? |
| Autonomous Vehicle Heaven or Hell? Creating a Transportation Revolution That Benefits All | Electric vehicles; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What are the mobility, health, and economic implications of autonomous vehicles for marginalized groups? What is necessary in order for optimistic scenarios for the transportation revolution to happen? |
| BECC Webinar: Theories of Change for Encouraging Climate-Friendly Behaviors | Energy efficiency | Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | What role does human behavior play in energy reduction? What theories of behavior change inform behavioral reductions in energy use? What behavior change campaigns have been used by utilities, governments, nonprofits, and businesss to reduce energy use? |
| Best Practices for Conducting Energy Code Compliance Studies | Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare | Are newly constructed buildings meeting new code requirements? How can we recruit buildings for compliance studies? Who do you contact to get into the buildings? Does new commercial building construction include the IECC requirements such as lighting controls, lighting power density based on space usage, correct window efficiency, and HVAC installation? Do the buildings include appropriate levels of insulation, air barrier installation, and additional energy code and standard requirements? |
| Best Practices for Siting Solar Photovoltaics on Municipal Solid Waste Landfills | Renewable energy | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What are the benefits for siting solar photovoltaics (PV) facilities on potentially contaminated lands and municpal solid waste (MSW) landfills? How are MSW landfills well-suited for PV development? What are the best practices for siting PV on MSW landfills? |
| Better Buildings Decarbonization Resource Center | Energy efficiency | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; | What are the potential real-world emission reduction pathways for various building types? What are some existing solutions to developing better buildings? What programs and partners are available to assist developers with decarbonizing buildings? How can I learn more about better building design? |
| Better Buildings Financing Navigator | Renewable energy; Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Implement | What financing opportunities are available for funding energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in buildings? How can I find financing that fits my project's needs? Where can I explore all my financing options? How can I connect with financial allies? |
| Better Buildings Internal Engagement and Communication: Sharing Your Energy Vision | Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Convene; Engage; Assess | How can I be successful at internal engagement through social marketing? What is the UNMC: LiveGreen Ambassador Program? Is there a succesful example of internal engagement I should know about? |
| Better Buildings Renewable Energy Resource Hub | Renewable energy | Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | What renewable energy resources are available to me? Does renewable energy make sense for my organization? Where can I find funding/financing for renewables energy projects? What can I do to overcome technical/physical limitations when deploying on-site renewable energy? Who do I contact to work with my utility? Where can I access incentives? How do I go about incorporating green power into my energy procurement strategy? |
| Better Buildings Resilience Resource Navigation | Resilience | Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | Where can I learn more about resilience ? How can I develop strategies for reducing natural disaster risk? How can I improve my community's resilience? Where and what are the financing oppurtunites for resilience-based projects? |
| Better Buildings Toolkits | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Funding/Financing Partners | Gather Resources; Implement | Where can I find guidance, resources, and best practices for overcoming common barriers to financing, technology implementation, and data management? What types of toolkits are available to me to help my project's deployment? What financing resources are available to me? |
| Better Buildings Workforce Development Portal | Energy efficiency; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess; Gather Resources | How can my organization grow our energy efficiency workforce? What training, education, and job opportunites within the energy efficiency workforce are available? What resources, information, and other materials can help me address my workforce needs and take the next step toward an impactful career in energy efficiency? What content is available for someone looking to further their career path? What content is available for organizations looking to strengthen its current workforce? |
| Building Electrification: How Cities and Counties are Implementing Electrification Policies | Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What is building electrification? What are options for building codes? How can communities move toward electrification? What are some examples of electrification projects in the U.S.? |
| Building Energy Asset Score | Energy efficiency; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Gather Resources; Implement; Adapt & Iterate | How can I assess the physical and structural energy efficiency of my commercial or multifamily residential building? What does my physical and structural energy efficiency score mean? How does the energy efficiency score of my building compare to others? What upgrades can be made to improve the energy efficiency of my building? |
| Building Operations and Maintenance Best Practices: A Guide for Achieving Operational Efficiency | Energy efficiency | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | Where can I find useful information about operations and maintenance (O&M) management, technologies, energy and water efficiency, and cost-reduction approaches? What is effective O&M? Why is O&M important? What is the potential savings associated with good O&M? What are the major O&M program types? What are the guidelines for the structure of good O&M programs? What information sources and contacts will assist me in achieving good O&M practices and programs? |
| By the Numbers: The Benefits and Administrative Costs of Local Building Efficiency Policies | Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Government; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | What are the benefits of community-wide efficiency? What are the benefits of efficiency to marginalized communities? What the administrative costs of efficiency? What are some insights on policy design and implementation processes for efficiency? What are some recommendations and lessons learned for policies designed to meet climate goals? |
| Carbon Financing Decision Tree | Energy planning | Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What funding oppurtunities are available to private organizations, non-profits, and governments to meet decarbonization goals? How can leveraging financing products and knowing how to take advantage of resources available advantage my private organization/nonprofit/government organization? What are some financing methods suited to carbon financing? Which financing methods are most applicable to my project? |
| Charging Forward: A Toolkit for Planning and Funding Rural Electric Mobility Infrastructure | Electric vehicles; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What are the benefits and challenges of rural vehicle electrification? What partnership opportunities are available for the electrification of my rural area? What is a recommended plan for implementing EV infrastructure in rural areas? What funding and financing is available for electrification in rural areas? |
| City and County Solar Photovoltaics Training Program | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Government; Funding/Financing Partners | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | What decision support and resources are available to local governments seeking to expand solar development? How can governments set and achieve solar goals? How can governments identify solar projects? What project financing, policy, and incentives are available for government solar projects? |
| City of Harrisonburg Request for Proposals | Electric vehicles; Energy planning | Planner; Developer; Government; Funding/Financing Partners | Convene; Engage | What are the requirements and steps to lease parking spaces for operations, maintenance, and management of self-service EV charging stations in Harrisonburg, VA? What are the terms and conditions for implementing leased parking for EV charging stations in Harrisonburg, VA? What are the payment terms for leasing parking spaces for EV charging stations in Harrisonburg, VA? |
| City of Lodi Request for Proposals (RFP) Fleet Electrification Plan | Electric vehicles; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Funding/Financing Partners | Engage; Assess | What is the recommended strategy for a multi-tiered vehicle purchase and replacement process? What is the recommended integration strategy for complying with the California Air Resources Board Advanced Clean Fleets (AFC) regulation? |
| City of Raleigh Transportation Electrification Study | Electric vehicles; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What are the recommendations for efforts to advance transportation electrification both in their own operations and in the community more broadly? What is the recommended prioritization and decision-making for key aspects of transportation electrification actions and strategies? |
| City of Sacramento Request for Proposals: Curbside EV Charging Pilot | Electric vehicles; Energy planning | Developer; Government | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can my city effectively accelerate EV adoption by providing access to third-party owner/operators of EV chargers in the right-of-way? What are the next steps for deployment of future EV chargers in the right-of-way or curbside? What are the best EV charging technologies? What is the best business model for EV charging infrastructure? How can facilitating curbside EV charging target new EV users in a broader market? |
| City of Tallahassee Utilities Energy Efficiency Loan Program and Handbook | Electric vehicles; Energy planning | Government; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members | Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare | What financing is available for energy-saving appliances, measures, and systems, including solar? How do residential electric and natural gas customers of Tallahassee receive a loan? What are the terms and conditions of the loan for Tallahasee natural gas and electric customers? What energy efficient or energy-savings appliances are available for customers? |
| Clean Cities Coalition | Electric vehicles | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding | Convene; Engage; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can I network with stakeholders working to implement alternative fuels, advanced vehicles, and fuel-saving strategies? What alternative fuel and advanced vehicle projects, partnerships, and funding opportunites are available? Where can I go for technical support regarding alternative fuels, fuel economy improvements, and emerging transportation technologies? Are there resources to assist in the decision-making process regarding advanced transportation technologies and fuel economy information? |
| Clean Energy Career Maps | Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Community Members | Convene; Engage | What are the critical occupations and advancement routes in the green buildings and energy efficiency industry? What are "new-collar" jobs within the green buildings and energy efficiency industry? Which energy efficiency jobs do not require a traditional four-year degree and allow for on-the-job training? |
| Clear Sky Tampa Bay: A Resilience-Based Siting Toolkit for Solar+Storage | Renewable energy; Resilience | Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members | Plan & Prepare | How can we mitigate the effects of power outages on critical infrastructure and essential services? How can we evaluate the potential to deploy commercial-scale solar + storage applications on critical facilities? How can government staff, utilities, and other community partners prioritize critical solar + storage sites based on community resilience considerations, site feasibility, power requirements, and utility collaboration? |
| Climate Action: A Playbook for Hospitals | Renewable energy; Electric vehicles; Energy efficiency; Energy planning; Resilience | Government; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | How can hospitals capitalize on leadership opportunities to address climate change? What approach should hospitals take to address climate change? |
| Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool | Equity | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Assess; Gather Resources | How can we support the Justice40 Initiative and identify census tracts that are disadvantaged? How are disadvantaged communities defined and identified? |
| Community Energy Planning: Best Practices and Lessons Learned in NREL's Work with Communities | Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Convene; Engage | How can we form a more equitable energy planning process? How can we co-develop energy solutions with stakeholders? How can we make it easier for stakeholders to participant in energy planning? |
| Community Energy Resource Guide | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How can communities create a comprehensive energy action plan that will accelerate the use of cost-effective renewable energy resources and energy efficiency while significantly reducing climate impacts and fossil fuel-related emissions? What role do cities and communities play in energy transitions? How can cities and communities accelerate the process of energy transitions and set ambitious clean energy and sustainability goals? |
| Community Outreach and Solar Equity: A Guide for States on Collaborating with Community-Based Organizations | Equity | Developer; Government | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can my state's energy agency strengthen its relationship with under-resourced communities and engage in energy justice work? What are the steps and training my state's energy agency can take prior to pursuing collaboration with community-based-organizations (CBOs)? How do you structure community engagement? How do you build long-term, mutually beneficial partnerships with community stakeholders? How can I learn about environmental justice and energy justice? |
| Community Solar 101 | Renewable energy | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Researchers | Convene; Engage; Assess; Gather Resources | What is community solar? What is LMI community solar? What are the best practices for implementing community solar? What are some example projects and key takeaways for helping LMI households with community solar? |
| Community Solar Scenario Tool (CSST) | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare | How can I analyze different community or shared solar program options? Which community or shared solar options yield the best economic results? How can various inputs, such as system size, location, and project costs, impact the economics of a project from both a potential customer's perspective as well as the sponsoring utility? |
| Comprehensive Building Blocks for a Regenerative and Just 100% Policy | Renewable energy; Equity; Energy planning | Government; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can we achieve a 100% renewable energy policy grounded in principles of justice and equity? How are energy injustices created? How do we tackle structural injustices? |
| ComStock Data Viewer | Energy efficiency | Developer; Government; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How does the commercial building stock use energy? Which technologies and demand-side management strategies can improve energy use patterns? How do large groups of commercial buildings use energy throughout the day? |
| Cost of Renewable Energy Spreadsheet Tool (CREST) | Energy planning | Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Adapt & Iterate | How can I estimate the year one cost of energy and levelized cost of energy for our proposed projects? Is it possible to experiment with the process of setting cost-based incentive rates, and if so, how? What are the effects of different economic drivers on a given renewable energy project's cost of energy and levelized cost of energy? How does the price of our project differ from projects with different sizes, resource quality, location, and ownership? |
| Customer Damage Function Calculator | Energy planning; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can we justify investments in resilient solutions? How can we understand the costs of disruptive events and the cost of inaction? How can we create a baseline of costs incurred from an outage? |
| Database for State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency (DSIRE) | Energy planning | Developer; Government; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Gather Resources | What are some existing programs that may be beneficial to my energy project? What funding is available and what funding do I qualify for? What various energy project programs are there and what states are they located in? |
| Developing Renewable Energy Projects Larger than 10 MWs at Federal Facilities | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | How can federal agencies effectively develop large-scale renewable energy projects at federal facilities? What types of large-scale renewable energy projects is the private sector pursuing? What is a common process that private sector developers use to select projects for investment? What are the fundamentals of a successful, financially attractive, large-scale renewable energy project? |
| Diversity Best Practices Guide for the Solar Industry | Equity; Energy planning | Developer; Government; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can the solar workforce become more diverse and inclusive? How do we build systems that support diverse workforce efforts? How can my workforce learn more about diversity and inclusion and implementing into their organizations? |
| Electric Transportation Toolkit | Electric vehicles; Equity | Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups; Community Members | Convene; Engage; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How do we establish education and outreach initiatives for EVs? How do we promote economic development through electric transportation? How can transportation electrification expand equity and access? How can our city engage our local utility in transportation electrification strategies? |
| Electric Vehicle Charging Justice40 Map | Electric vehicles; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Assess; Plan & Prepare | How can our EV charging planning efforts align with the Justice40 goals? Where are my community's charging stations in relation to disadvantaged communities? |
| Electric Vehicle Group Buy Programs: Handbook and Case Studies | Electric vehicles; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Community Members | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | What is a group buy program? Do group buy programs spur the sale of new EVs? What are benefits, costs, and challenges for dealerships interested in a group buy program? How does a developer or dealership market for a group buy program? How can a group buy program be utilized to help disadvantaged or underrepresented communities? |
| Electric Vehicles and EV Infrastructure: An Introductory Guide for Southeast Florida | Electric vehicles; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Plan & prepare; Maintain & Accelerate | How can governments support the transition to and expansion of EVs? What sustainability goals are realistic to track and implement in relation to EVs and EV infastructure? How can we develop successful and equitable infastructure for EVs? What policies can encourage EV deployment? |
| Electrification Checklist for Homeowners and Landlords | Energy efficiency | Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare | How can homeowners electrify their homes? What items can homeowners electrify in their homes? |
| Electrification Checklist for Renters | Energy efficiency; Equity | Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare | How can renters electrify their homes? What items can renters electrify in their homes? |
| Electrification for Decarbonization | Energy efficiency | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Utility; Researchers | Gather Resources; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | What is the current fuel usage for my electrification project? What are the potential electricity results for my electrification project? What is the energy impact of my electrification project? |
| Electrification Planning Chart | Energy efficiency; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can renters take part in home decarbonization and electrification? How much do various decarbonization and electrification actions cost? What steps can homeowners take to electrify and decarbonize? |
| Electrify Everything in Your Home: A Guide to Comfy, Healthy, Carbon-Free Living | Energy efficiency | Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Implement | Why should homeowners replace their fossil-fueled appliances with electric ones? How can homeowners replace their fossil-fueled appliances with electric ones? |
| Energy and Health Impact Calculator | Renewable energy; Energy efficiency; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare | What are the public health impacts of fossil fuel energy use in my community? What are the benefits of energy efficiency and renewable energy in my community? |
| Energy Code and Policy Guidance | Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Plan & Prepare; Implement | How can my local government co-develop energy projects with our most impacted communities? How can my local government work with their most impacted communities to implement actionable and equitable road maps and policy strategies to achieve a zero-net-carbon building sector? |
| Energy Codes are Life-Safety Codes | Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Implement | How does the energy code impact the health and safety of individuals? How does the energy code impact moisture management, indoor air quality, and fire satefy, and mitigate extreme temperatures and storms? |
| Energy Data Accelerator Stakeholder Engagement Strategy Guide | Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Convene; Engage; Assess | How can my community conduct building energy benchmarking? How can my utility and local government design a productive stakeholder engagement process when developing approaches to improve energy data access? |
| Energy Efficiency Program Impact Evaluation Guide | Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Implement | What are common terminology, structures, and approaches used for determining energy and demand savings, avoided emissions, and other non-energy benefits of efficiency programs? What are the key issues with improving energy efficiency portfolios, documenting the impacts of those portfolios, and comparing demand- and supply-side resources? |
| Energy Resilience Assessment Methodology | Energy planning; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | How can we assess risk and develop mitigations to reduce the impact of grid outages and other power disruptions? How can we assess the baseline resilience of a site? How can we identify and score hazards and vulnerabilities? How can we analyze risks based on hazard likelihood and vulnerability probability and consequence? How can we identify and prioritize mitigation actions based on cost, difficulty, and risk reduction? How can we develop an action plan and implement resilient solutions? |
| Energy Resilience in the Public Sector | Energy planning; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Government; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | How can energy-efficient facilities and other distributed energy resources reduce danger from natural disasters to public safety, security, and health? How can my community become more resilient and create a strategic energy plan? Where can I find assessment tools and toolkits to aid in building resilience in my community? |
| Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) Toolkit | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Gather Resources; Implement | What is energy savings performance contracting? Why should we pursue energy savings performance contracting? How can we pursue energy savings performance contracting? |
| Energy Savings Performance Contracting: Improving Infrastructure and Turning Waste into Wins | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Gather Resources; Implement | What is energy savings performance contracting? Why should we pursue energy savings performance contracting? How can we pursue energy savings performance contracting? |
| ENERGY STAR® Action Workbook for Small Businesses | Energy efficiency | Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare | How can small business owners increase energy and water efficiency on their properties? How can small business owners create and implement a cost-effective energy improvement program? |
| ENERGY STAR® Building Upgrade Manual | Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | How can I promote profitable energy efficiency upgrades in my community? How can my community plan, finance, and implement energy efficiency upgrades? |
| ENERGY STAR® Energy Savings at Home | Energy efficiency | Engineer/Planner; Community Members | Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can my simple actions make big difference in energy savings? What is the energy use of my home compared to others? How do I asses my home and get recommendations for energy efficiency improvements? What are some home improvement options for maximizing energy efficiency? |
| ENERGY STAR® for Commercial Buildings | Energy efficiency | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Community Members | Engage; Asses; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can I develop good energy management? What are the benefits and the financial value of good energy management? What is my building's energy performance? How can I improve my building's energy efficiency? How do I get my building ENERGY STAR-certified? |
| Energy System Transformation Playbook: A Step-by-Step Guide for Municipal Governments | Energy planning | Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What are the key steps governments should take to understand and implement greenhouse gas reduction strategies? What resources are available for climate action planning? How can governments establish an energy and emissions baseline? How can governments identify barriers and opportunities, select strategies and actions, identify co-benefits, and craft an engagement strategy for energy transitions? |
| Energy Transitions Playbook | Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | How can a community overcome energy and infastructure challenges in energy transitions? What are steps and recommendations in energy transitions? |
| Energy Zones Mapping Tool (EZMT) | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Researchers | Assess; Gather Resources | What is the energy distribution for a particular state or city? Which states or cities are slower to adopt renewable energy? What new power generation oppurtunities are available and where? What are the policies and regulation information for my region regarding energy distribution? |
| Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool (EJSCREEN) | Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Assess | How can I identify environmental justice communities in my area? Which communities in my area are most exposed to various environmental hazards? Where are the vulnerable communities in my area? |
| Equitable Access to Community Solar: Program Design and Subscription Considerations | Renewable energy; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Implement | How can we create programs that promote equitable access to community solar? Where are there community solar markets and potential subscribers? How can we conduct outreach to potential subscribers? |
| Equitable Building Electrification: A Framework for Powering Resilient Communities | Energy efficiency; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | What are the barriers to building electrification for low-income communities and renters? How can building electrification goals be aligned with producing healthy homes and local jobs? How can we establish community-led decision-making? How can we develop metrics for tracking progress toward emission goals? |
| Equity and Energy Collaboration | Equity | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Implement | What is energy equity? How can energy equity be measured? How can energy equity be effectively communicated? What are best practices for policy and programming that address inequities? How can we create partnerships in support of energy equity? |
| Equity Assessment Tool | Energy efficiency; Equity | Government; Community Members | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can my city develop policy road maps and strategies to achieve a zero-carbon building sector through a community collaboration process? How can I make this collaboration process center on racial equity? What are the metrics to apply to equity efforts? How do you use recommended metrics to evaluate equity efforts? |
| Equity Design Considerations for Federal Funding | Equity; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare | What are existing environmental and energy justice publications and tools that can help expand understanding of justice and center equity in energy and resilience projects? |
| Equity, Emissions, and Electric MHDVs: Mitigating Air Pollution in Colorado Through Policies and Programs to Accelerate the Electrification of Medium- and Heavy-duty Vehicles | Electric vehicles; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government | Plan & Prepare | What policies could have the potential to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission medium- and heavy-duty vehicles in my state? What are the barriers to vehicle electrification? |
| Evaluating Policies in Support of the Deployment of Renewable Power | Renewable energy; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Adapt & Iterate | What criteria and indicators can be used to evaluate renewable power policies? How can renewable power policies be evaluated for effectiveness, efficiency, equity, institutional feasibility, and replicability? |
| EVI-Pro Lite: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Projection Tool | Electric vehicles | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Researchers | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Adapt & Iterate | How much EV charging do I need to support electric vehicles in my state or city? How will electric vehicle charging affect the load profile? |
| EVI-Equity: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure for Equity Model | Electric vehicles; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What is "equitable" EV charging infrastructure? How equitable is the current EV charging infrastructure? What would more equitable EV charging infrastructure look like? What are the broader implications of equitable EV charging for environmental justice and energy justice? |
| EVI-FAST: Electric Vehicle Infrastructure - Financial Analysis Scenario Tool | Electric vehicles; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Adapt & Iterate | What are the risk associated with EV infrastructure based on distributions of input values? What are the trade-offs between two charging equipment scenarios? What is the expected financial preformance of an EV infrastructure planned scenario? |
| Federal Funding is Available for Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure On the National Highway System | Electric vehicles; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What is the federal government doing to increase EV charging infrastructure? What funding programs are available to plan for and build EV chargers, support workforce training for new technologies, and integrate EVs as part of transportation strategies? |
| Federal Funding Opportunities for Local Decarbonization (FFOLD) Tool | Renewable energy; Electric vehicles; Energy efficiency; Energy planning; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Gather Resources | How can we prioritize and leverage existing federal funding to advance system-wide energy transition goals? |
| Florida Advisory Council on Climate and Energy | Renewable energy; Energy efficiency; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare | What is the state of Florida doing to modernize energy policy, diversify energy sources, increase energy efficiency, and create opportunities for its most vulnerable citizens? |
| Florida Electric Vehicle Roadmap | Electric vehicles; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | What are the impacts of EV infastructure on the grid? What are the negative impacts of EV infastructure development to disadvantaged communities? What are the barriers to EV expansion? How can these barriers be overcome? What locations are lagging on expansion of EV infastructure? |
| Florida Energy Clearinghouse | Renewable energy; Energy efficiency | Government; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare | Where can consumers go to compare energy-saving technologies and learn more about energy usage, energy production, and renewable energy technologies? |
| Florida Student Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) | Equity | Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Engage; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How can students make connections and create positive change for the environment, public health, and revitalizing our democracy in their communities? |
| Fostering Equity in Local Clean Energy Policy | Renewable energy; Energy efficiency; Electric vehicles; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare | How can my community prioritize social equity in clean energy strategies? How can we develop an inclusive clean-energy workforce? How can we expand access to energy efficiency, renewable energy, and clean transportation for low-income individuals? |
| Greenlink Equity Map (GEM) | Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Assess | How can we visualize equity issues in our community? How can we visualize how burdens are spread across our community? |
| Guide to Equitable, Community-Driven Climate Preparedness Planning | Equity; Energy planning; Resilience | Government; Community Members | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What can governments do to design and implement a more inclusive, equitable planning process? What role does the government play in social inequity? What is equitable, community-driven prepardness planning? What are some equitable climate resilience planning solutions? |
| Guidelines for Community Commitments to 100% Renewable Energy | Renewable energy | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | What is a 100% renewable energy community? What are the guidelines for 100% commitments? What are some examples of 100% renewable energy commitments? |
| H2FAST: Hydrogen Financial Analysis Scenario Tool | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can I easily perform an in-depth financial analysis for hydrogen fueling stations? |
| Handbook on Siting Renewable Energy Projects While Addressing Environmental Issues | Renewable energy | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Assess; Plan & Prepare | How can renewable energy be pursued on contaminated sites? What are the benefits of reusing contaminated land? How can we evaluate the renewable energy potential of contaminated sites? How can renewable energy be integrated with superfund sites, brownfields, and RCRA cleanup processes? |
| Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD) Electric Retail Service Territories | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Researchers | Assess | Where are the electric retail service territories in my area? What types of utilities are in my area? |
| Homeowner's Guide to Going Solar | Renewable energy | Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How do homeowners start the process of installing solar? How much power can be generated with rooftop solar? Will homeowners save money by installing rooftop solar? Can homeowners get financing for solar? Are there state incentives and tax breaks to help homeowners install solar? How does solar impact the environment? How does solar impact the value of homes? |
| Household Savings Report: No Place Like Home: Fighting Climate Change (and Saving Money) by Electrifying America's Households | Renewable energy; Energy efficiency | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare | How can households in my community use existing technology to fight climate change without sacrificing standard of living? In what scenarios could American households decarbonize and achieve zero-carbon energy? What economic and workforce implications does decarbonization have? |
| Housing and Transportation (H+T) Affordability Index | Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Gather Resources; Assess | What are the housing and transportation costs associated with a given city or area? How much do low-income households spend on transportation ? Is there a significant difference in money spent on transportation between low-income areas and high-income areas? |
| How High Are Household Energy Burdens? | Equity | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | What are the causes of energy inequities and high energy burdens? What are the energy burdens in my area? How can my community reduce energy burdens by pursuing low-income housing retrofits, energy efficiency, and weatherization? |
| How to Apply for and Manage Federal Grants | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Gather Resources | How can my community successfully apply for federal grants? How can my community prepare for federal grants? How can my community access the systems required to apply to federal grants? What are best practices for grant management? |
| How to Electrify a Mid-Size City | Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare | What pathways can mid-sized municipalities take to achieve equitable electrification? |
| How to Put Electric Vehicle Charging in Your Commercial Building Code | Electric vehicles; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Gather Resources; Implement | How do you put EV charging in your commercial building code? Where do you implement EV charging for a commercial building code? |
| How to Put Electric Vehicle Charging in Your Residential Building Code | Electric vehicles; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Gather Resources; Implement | How do you put EV charging in your residential building code? Where do you implement EV charging for a residential building code? |
| In It for the Long Haul: Long-Term Financing Solutions for Energy Savings | Renewable energy; Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Gather Resources | How can my community find financing solutions for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects? |
| Inclusive Financing for Efficiency and Renewable Energy | Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Gather Resources; Maintain & Accelerate | How can energy efficiency and renewable energy projects lower energy costs for consumers? What are the benefits of inclusive financing? How can my community pursue inclusive financing? |
| Increasing Resiliency Through Renewable Energy Microgrids | Renewable energy; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can we quantify the economic and resiliency benefits provided by renewable energy in a hybrid renewable energy-storage-diesel microgrid? |
| InSPIRE Project Website | Renewable energy | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare | How can low-impact solar development reduce costs and environmental impacts while also providing benefits to local agriculture, soils, and ecosystems? How can my community pursue low-impact solar development? How can solar be developed in agricultural areas and in native landscapes? What are agrivoltaics? |
| Installation, Operation, and Maintenance Strategies to Reduce the Cost of Offshore Wind Energy | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can the cost of installation, operation, and maintenance of offshore wind projects be reduced? |
| Integrating the Value of Electricity Resilience in Energy Planning and Operations Decisions | Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Assess; Plan & Prepare | What are the costs and benefits of investments in resilience? Which metrics can we use to measure resilience benefits? How can we incorporate duration-dependent customer damage functions (CDFs) into grid- and campus-scale planning and operations models? |
| Integrating Variable Renewable Energy into the Grid: Key Issues and Emerging Solutions | Renewable energy | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Implement | What are the challenges of integrating variable renewable energy into the grid? How can we identify sources of power system flexibility? What are the impacts of renewable energy on reliability, the need for energy storage, and system cost? |
| Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Deployment Evaluation | Electric vehicles | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What are benefits, costs, and lessons learned for intelligent transportation systems? How can we analyze the benefits and costs of intelligent transportation system projects in our area? |
| Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Professional Capacity Building Program | Electric vehicles | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare | How do I evaluate, procure, and deploy standard based highway and transit technologies? What transportation and technology webinars are available? How do I build my expertise in intelligent transportation systems? |
| Investing in Climate Equity: Lessons and Opportunities for Increasing Green Bank Investments in Communities of Color | Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Engage; Plan & Prepare; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | What are some examples of green investing? What are some recommendations for green investments by financial instituitions? How are banks and financial institutions currently supporting green investments in LMI communities? What opportunities exist to expand the amount and scope of investments into the community? How have local and state governments incentivized investments by financial institutions in LMI communities to participate in green technologies? |
| IREC Clean Energy Resources and Training | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare | What kind of code and firefighter training is available? What kind of clean energy webinars and training are available? |
| Is It Possible to Buy A Zero-Energy Ready Home Without Breaking the Bank? | Renewable energy; Energy efficiency | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare | What is a zero net-energy home? How can community members build, buy, or rent affordable, hyper-efficient, zero net-energy homes? |
| Jobs Report: Mobilizing for a Zero Carbon America: Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, and More Jobs | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare | How can the U.S. achieve a zero-carbon economy? How can climate change mitigation be leveraged to support the economy and the energy industry in the U.S.? How will the energy transition impact the U.S. workforce? |
| Just Energy Policies: Model Energy Policies Guide | Equity; Energy planning; Resilience | Government; Utility | Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare | What resources are available to ensure that energy policies protect communities from harmful energy production processes and provide equitable access to economic opportunites in energy efficiency and clean energy? How can energy policies reduce harmful emissions? How can energy policies advance energy efficiency and clean energy? How can energy policies improve community resilience? |
| Just Energy: Reducing Pollution, Creating Jobs Toolkit | Renewable energy; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Implement | How can my community phase out toxic energy (e.g., coal, nuclear, and oil) and bring in clean energy (e.g., wind and solar)? How can my community plan for energy justice during the energy transition? How can community members engage the utility company and regulators? |
| Justice in 100 Scorecard | Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Community Members | Implement; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | What can we do to advance equity and justice in our field of work? What is the Justice in 100 Scorecard? How do I use the Justice in 100 Scorecard? |
| Landfill Methane Outreach Program (LMOP) | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Researchers | Plan & Prepare; Implement | How can my community reduce or avoid methane emissions from landfills? Where can I learn more about landfill gas? Where are landfill gas energy projects currently operating in the United States? |
| Local Government Guide for Solar Deployment | Renewable energy; Equity | Government; Utility | Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How can local governments increase access to and deployment of solar? How can the local government and stakeholders increase local access to and deployment of solar? What are new technologies and strategies for improving the equity of solar deployment at the local level? What existing real world applications and case studies are important to consider when planning to increase deployment of solar? |
| Local Government Project Portal: Goal Setting Guidance | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare | How can establishing renewable electricity goals help municipalities meet emissions goals and other key objectives? How can my community set renewable electricity goals? What aspects of renewable electricity goal-setting are considered best practices? |
| Local Governments for Sustainability USA (ICLEI) Greenhouse Gas Protocols | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Researchers | Assess | How can my community create a greenhouse gas emission inventory? How can we account for carbon emissions and sinks in our community accurately and consistently? How can my community estimate upstream emissions benefits from recycling, composting, and waste reduction efforts? |
| Local Greenhouse Gas Inventory Tool | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Assess | How can my local, tribal, or state government develop a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and forecast emissions through 2050? |
| Low and Zero Emissions Zones: Opportunities and Challenges in Designing Equitable Clean Transportation Policies | Electric vehicles; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Engage; Plan & Prepare; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | How can low- and zero-emissions zones benefit communities? How can low- and zero-emissions zones provide diversity, equity, and inclusion oppurtunities to a community? What are policy recommendations for power generation projects in low- and zero-emissions zones? |
| Low-Income Energy Affordability Data (LEAD) Tool | Energy efficiency; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Assess | What is the average energy burden in my area? What is the average annual energy cost for my area? What are the housing counts in my area? Which heating fuel types are common in my area? |
| Low-Income Solar Policy Guide | Renewable energy; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Implement | How can single-family, multifamily, and community solar help low-income communities? How can we provide training and pathways to employment in solar for local workers? Which policy tools support effective low-income solar programs? |
| Making Equity Real in Climate Adaptation and Community Resilience Policies and Programs: A Guidebook | Equity; Energy planning; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess | How can equity be built into climate adaptation and resilience policies and programs? How can equity be operationalized? How can equity be measured and analyzed? |
| Making Equity Real in Mobility Pilots Toolkit | Electric vehicles; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Plan & Prepare; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | How can the transportation sector minimize the financial, technological, physical, or cultural burden on low-income and minorities individuals? How can I embed equity in transportation project planning? How can I make transportation work for my community? What are some considerations to make regarding equity when developing an equitable mobility pilot project? What are the activities and cultural considerations to bear in mind when conducting community engagement? |
| Measurement and Verfication Operational Guide: Renewable and Cogeneration Applications | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Researchers | Assess | How can measurement and verification aid our renewable and cogeneration projects? How can my community design and plan using measurement and verification? How can my community collect, model, analyze, and report energy data? |
| Miami Dade Building Efficiency 305 (BE305) Initiative | Energy efficiency; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How can my community use policies and programs to promote improvements in building performance that increase energy and water efficiency? How can property owners in my community reduce building operation costs? How can my community help reduce utility cost burdens? How can property owners in my community access financing tools for efficiency improvements? |
| Microgrid-Ready Solar PV: Planning for Resiliency | Renewable energy; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How can microgrid-ready solar help my community plan for resiliency? Where can I find information on microgrids? How can I add microgrid considerations to my community's solar projects? |
| Mobility Equity Framework: How to Make Transportation Work for People | Electric vehicles; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Plan & Prepare; Adapt & Iterate | How can improvements be made in the transportation sector to prioritize people of color and lower-income communities? What are the necessary steps to achieve a community-centered transportation plan? What metrics can be used to ensure that the transportation system in place is community-centered and prioritizing people of color and low-income households? |
| Moving the Needle on Comprehensive Commercial Retrofits | Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Researchers | Plan & Prepare; Implement | How do comprehensive retrofits of commercial buildings compare to single-measure improvements? What programs exist that advance comprehensive commercial retrofits? How can comprehensive commercial retrofit programs be scaled? |
| Multifamily Energy Efficiency Retrofits: Barriers and Opportunities for Deep Energy Savings | Energy efficiency; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare; Implement | What strategies have been used to achieve deep energy savings in the multifamily housing sector through energy efficiency upgrades? What are the benefits of multifamily housing sector energy efficiency upgrades? What are the barriers to achieving deep energy savings in the multifamily building stock? |
| Multiple Benefits of Energy Efficiency | Energy efficiency; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare | What are the benefits of energy efficiency (beyond reduced energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions)? How does energy efficiency impact health and well being, air quality, the economy, and productivity? |
| My Florida Energy Projects | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Researchers | Gather Resources; Implement | Where can I find descriptions and data on existing Florida energy projects? Which existing Florida energy projects offer the best return on investment? |
| My Florida Home Energy | Energy planning | Government; Community Members | Assess; Plan & Prepare | How can homeowners in my community save energy and money spent on energy? Where can homeowners in my community customize a plan to start saving energy and money? |
| National Solar Jobs Census | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Implement | What is the state of solar energy industry employment in the United States across the supply chain? How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact solar employment? |
| National Solar Radiation Database (NSRDB) | Renewable energy | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare | How much solar energy exists in the United States at certain times? How can I predict the potential future availability of solar energy based on past conditions? |
| Non-Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) Options for Financing Solar Deployment at Universities | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Community Members | Gather Resources; Implement | What non-power purchase agreement (PPA) options exist for financing solar deployment at universities? What are the solar procurement processes within universities? |
| NYC 2020 Energy Conservation Code | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare; Implement | What energy conservation codes can my community enact? |
| NYC Local Law 88: Lighting Upgrades and Sub-Metering | Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare; Implement | How can requirements for lighting upgrades and sub-metering help buildings achieve significant energy savings? |
| Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy: Technical Assistance | Renewable energy; Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Government; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members; Advocacy groups | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | How can states and communities address strategic energy planning, policy, financing, and data management? What technologies can states and communities implement in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects? |
| On-Demand Better Buildings Webinars | Renewable energy; Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | What role can a building's envelope (walls, windows, roof, and foundation) play in energy conservation? How can data management help with energy conservation? What role can commercial lighting and refrigeration play in energy conservation? How can renewable energy integration help businesses reduce energy costs? Where can I find energy guidance for data centers, the industrial sector, and K-12 schools? |
| Owning the Benefits of Solar + Storage: New Ownership and Investment Models for Affordable Housing and Community Facilities | Renewable energy; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Gather Resources | What financing models exist to help LMI households adopt solar-plus-storage and what are the benefits of each of these financing models? |
| Pathways to 100: An Energy Supply Transformation Primer for U.S. Cities | Energy planning | Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can cities act on and influence their energy systems in new and creative ways? How can municipalities outline strategies to transform their energy supply? How can we organize for energy transformation? |
| Picturing Where to Electrify Everything in Your Home | Energy efficiency | Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups; Community Members | Plan & Prepare; Implement | How can homeowners electrify their homes? What are replacement options for home appliances? What questions should homeowners ask contractors about electrification? What is the best way to run electric appliances? |
| Plan Integration for Resilience Scorecard GUIDEBOOK: Spatially evaluating networks of plans to reduce hazard vulnerability | Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare | How can my community create a network of community plans to reduce hazard vulnerability? What are community policies that affect vulnerability? How can my community determine planning districts and delineate hazard zones? How can my community assess its physical and social vulnerability? |
| Power Sector Resilience: Flexible Adaptation Pathways | Energy planning; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can my community plan for current conditions and prepare for uncertain future conditions? How can the flexible adaptation pathways approach help my community plan for resilience? |
| Pro-Benchmarking is Pro-Business, And Here's Why | Energy planning | Government; Community Members | Assess | How can energy benchmarking help businesses in my community? |
| Process Guide for City-Community Collaboration | Equity | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What role do cities play in racial and climate justice? How can cities work with communities to obtain data-driven equity insights that inform climate and sustainability strategies? How can cities become better aligned and have more effective collaboration with communities? |
| PV System Operations and Maintenance Fundamentals | Renewable energy | Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Implement | How can my community properly and safely operate and maintain solar installations? What are the recognized safety requirements for solar servicing and repair? |
| PVWatts | Renewable energy | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How much energy could be produced by solar energy in my community? How much would solar energy systems cost in my community? |
| Quantifying and Monetizing Renewable Energy Resiliency | Renewable energy; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Researchers | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What unique value do renewable energy hybrid systems provide in increasing resiliency? How can we quantify the amount and value of resiliency and monetize the resiliency provided by renewable energy hybrid systems? |
| RE100: Introduction to Renewable Energy | Renewable energy; Energy efficiency | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Plan & Prepare | What are the basics of electricity, renewables, and energy efficiency? How much energy can renewables produce? Why is renewable energy beneficial? What are the economics of renewable energy? |
| Regulatory and Permitting Information Desktop (RAPID) Toolkit | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Assess; Plan & Prepare | What federal and state regulations do I need to be aware of when seeking renewable energy and bulk transmission project approval? Where can I find more information about these regulations? What are the best practices for efficiently obtaining permitting? |
| Renewable Denver Initiative | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | How can my community advance its renewable energy goals and expand the economic and environmental benefits of renewable energy to more community members? What do community solar garden projects look like in other communities? How can my community obtain funding, buy-in, and utility approval for its renewable energy development projects? |
| Renewable Energy to Support Energy Security | Renewable energy; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare | What is the relationship between energy security and energy resilience? What are the threats to energy security and what can my community do about them? How can renewable energy support energy security? |
| REopt: Renewable Energy Integration and Optimization | Renewable energy; Energy planning; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Adapt & Iterate | Are distributed solar, wind, battery storage, combined heat and power, and thermal energy storage economically viable in my area? Which system sizes and dispatch strategies for distributed solar, wind, battery storage, combined heat and power, and thermal energy storage will minimize energy costs? How long can my distributed solar, wind, battery storage, combined heat and power, and thermal energy storage systems sustain critical load during grid outages? |
| Request for Qualification: PGandE Electric Vehicle Fast Charge Program Supplier | Electric vehicles | Developer; Government; Utility | Convene; Engage | What is the EV Fast Charge Program? What is the scope of work for a qualifying EV service provider to provide direct current fast charging for the EV Fast Charge Program? What are the minimum requirements for vehicle service providers to implement EV services for the EV Fast Charge Program? |
| Residential Energy Consumption Survey | Energy efficiency; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Assess | How many households in my state use electricity as their only source of energy? What end uses are most common in the United States by fuel type and household income? How many households in my area are energy insecure? |
| Resilience Roadmap | Energy planning; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | What is resilience? How can my community create an intergovernmental resilience plan? How should my community convene multi-jurisdictional stakeholders when creating a resilience plan? |
| Resilient Power Project Toolkit | Energy planning; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | What makes a power system resilient? What are the economic benefits of a resilient power system? How should our community approach the planning and development of resilient power installation? How can our community's resilient power installation be financed? |
| Resilient Renewable Energy Microgrids | Renewable energy; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | Why should we consider renewable energy-battery-diesel hybrid microgrids for backup power? How can we estimate economic savings from hybrid microgrids? How can we quantify the resilience gain from hybrid microgrids? Will hybrid microgrids work in my area? |
| ResStock Data Viewer | Energy efficiency | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How can we identify which residential building stock improvements would save the most energy and money in our community? What is the potential for building improvements in different segments of the housing stock (i.e., in homes of a certain vintage, with specific heating fuel types, or with a certain type of wall construction)? |
| ResStock State Fact Sheets | Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | What is the residential energy efficiency potential by state? How much money and energy could be saved by energy efficiency measures by state? How much energy efficiency jobs are in each state? |
| ReThink Energy Florida | Energy planning | Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How can we help Florida communities take action and achieve energy independence? |
| Revolving Loan Funds in Commercial Real Estate | Energy planning | Government; Utility | Gather Resources | What is a green revolving fund and what are its benefits and barriers? Where can commercial real estate organizations learn about revolving loan funds for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects? |
| Rewiring America: Data and Maps - Benefits of Electrification | Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Maintain & Accelerate | What benefits might the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) bring to my community? What are the benefits of electrification? Which appliances need to be replaced and electrified? How much money could be saved and how many households could save money with electrification? How many jobs could be created with electrification? How many emissions could be reduced with electrification? |
| Rewiring Communities: A Plan to Accelerate Climate Action and Environmental Justice By Investing in Household Electrification at the Local Level | Energy efficiency; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How can we reduce residential greenhouse gas emissions? How can we help frontline communities and low-to-moderate income households electrify? |
| Rural Capacity Map | Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can my community build the capacity (including the staffing, resources, and expertise) needed to apply for energy project funding? How can we identify communities that need support to obtain funding from the Infrastructure and Jobs Act? |
| Rural EV Infrastructure Funding Matrix | Electric vehicles; Equity; Energy planning | Government; Funding/Financing Partners | Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | What are the federal programs that fund rural electric vehicle infrastructure? What type of EV activities are eligible for funding under different programs? What EV activities are eligible for funding? |
| SEE Action Guide for States: Energy Efficiency as a Least-Cost Strategy to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Air Pollution and Meet Energy Needs in the Power Sector | Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How can my community create a pathway to expand energy efficiency? What benefits does energy efficiency provide? |
| Shared Accountability Guide: Companion to the Shared Accountability Framework For Community Implementation of a 100% Clean and Renewable Energy Commitment | Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | How can accountability help my community implement our 100% clean and renewable energy commitment? How can community leaders and municipal staff collaborate to establish and manage a long-term accountability process? How is racial equity related to accountability, resilience, and energy transitions? |
| Shared, Electric, and Self-Driving: How states and municipalities can encourage autonomous vehicles to be shared and electric | Electric vehicles; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare | What is the projected impact of autonomous vehicles on emissions and travel behavior? How is the auto industry planning for autonomous vehicles? What are policy recommendations for autonomous vehicles? |
| Sharing the Sun: Community Solar Deployment, Subscription Savings, and Energy Burden Reductions | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | What is community solar? What are the different archetypes of community solar ownership? How does community solar development vary by state? How have various policy and market factors shaped community solar deployment? |
| Sierra Club Florida | Energy efficiency | Government; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can we practice and promote the responsible use of Florida's ecosystems and resources? How can we promote 100% clean energy transitions in Florida communities? What is Florida's role in mitigating climate change? |
| SmartCities Dive: Kansas City streetlight-mounted EV charger pilot aims for equity, accessibility | Electric vehicles; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How can my community make EV charging infrastructure more equitable and accessible to individuals who do not own their own home and to those without garages? |
| Solar APP+ | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Implement; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | Where can I access standardized plan review software that can run compliance checks and process building permit approvals for rooftop solar systems? |
| Solar Community Engagement Strategies for Planners | Renewable energy | Engineer/Planner; Community Members | Convene; Engage | Is solar energy less efficient in communities with less sunlight? Should we wait to install solar until technologies have been further developed? How do the long term benefits outweigh the up-front costs of solar? Does solar panel installation negatively impact the environment? |
| Solar Demographics Trends and Analysis | Renewable energy; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare | What are the demographic trends among residential solar adopters? |
| Solar Energy International Trainings and Certifications | Renewable energy | Engineer/Planner; Developer | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare | What are the basic concepts behind renewable energy technologies? How do you design and install solar panels? What are the tools and techniques for operating and maintaining solar systems? |
| Solar Market Pathways: Building Resilience with Solar + Storage | Renewable energy; Energy planning; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Community Members; Government; Utility; Funding/Financial Partners | Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What are the practical, technical, regulatory, and financial aspects of implementing resilient solar? How can we accelerate deployment, remove barriers, and lower costs for solar? How can we integrate resilient solar into emergency management plans and processes? |
| Solar Permitting | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | Why should we simplify our community's solar permitting process? How can we simplify our community's solar permitting process? |
| Solar Project Development Pathway and Resources | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | What steps should we take to develop a solar energy project? How can we assess our solar site opportunities? How can we solicit solar project proposals? What resources and tools exist to assist us in achieving our solar project? |
| Solar Ready Vets Network: Training and Workforce Development Resources | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Government | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Implement | How can we work to strengthen solar industry career pathways for veterans? |
| Solar State By State Map | Renewable energy; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare | How much solar capacity is installed by state? How many Americans work in the solar industry by state? How many solar energy systems are installed by state? How can we advocate for fair compensation and solar-friendly rate design in the solar industry? |
| Solar TRACE: Solar Time-Based Residential Analytics and Cycle Time Estimator | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What are the median timelines for rooftop solar projects? What are the permitting and interconnection requirements that might impact rooftop solar project timelines or install costs? How many rooftop solar installs are there by state? |
| Solar with Justice: Strategies for Powering Up Under-Resourced Communities and Growing an Inclusive Solar Market | Renewable energy; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How can governments, philanthropic foundations, community organizations, and other stakeholders help expand the solar market to under-resourced communities? What is the difference between community solar, shared solar, and locally controlled solar? How can solar help adddress the challenges faced by under-resourced communities? How can we expand and improve commnity solar project financing? |
| Solarize Campaigns: Helping Communities of Color Access Rooftop Solar | Renewable energy; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How can our local government expand access to solar in communities of color and low-income communities? How can solar help to lower energy burden? |
| SolSmart Guidance for Advancing Solar Equity | Renewable energy; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How can our community remove unintentional barriers and ensure that all populations have the opportunity to go solar? How can we make energy more affordable and accessible to everyone? How can we integrate equity concepts into our solar policies and procedures? |
| SolSmart Issue Brief: Solar and Resiliency, Integrative Financing Strategies for SolSmart Communities | Renewable energy; Equity; Energy planning; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | How can my community expand our solar and resilience project financing options? How can we integrate our solar energy goals with our community resilience goals? How can we identify community goals with stakeholders? |
| SolSmart Resources | Renewable energy; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare | Where can we find resources and guidance for solar planning and zoning, permitting and inspection, market development, and community engagement? |
| SolSmart Solar PV Fire Safety Training | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Government | Plan & Prepare; Adapt & Iterate | What precautions should fire safety staff take when a solar system is present on a building during a fire? How can fire safety staff identify and avoid potential hazards with increased solar deployment? What new procedures, codes, and products are relevant to fire safety staff with increased solar deployment? |
| SolSmart Webinar: Best Practices in Solar Planning and Zoning | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | What are best practices for including solar in land use plans and zoning ordinances? How can our local government set solar development goal? How can our local government ensure that solar farm development creates agricultural, environmental, and water quality co-benefits? How can our local government minimize risks of solar development? How can our local government include solar in local planning documents? How can we provide maximum siting options for rooftop and ground mount solar while preserving our community's character and historic resources? |
| SolSmart Webinar: How Local Governments Can Buy Renewable Energy and Support Market Development | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | How can our local government procure renewable energy and support renewable energy market development, including power purchase agreements and community solar? How does the regulatory landscape impact renewable energy purchasing options? |
| SolSmart Webinar: How to Develop a Solarize Campaign | Renewable energy; Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | What are the basics of a successful Solarize campaign? How can we keep more economic value in our community and involve LMI customers in the solar development process? |
| SolSmart Webinar: Planning and Zoning Best Practices for Large-Scale Solar | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | What are best practices for planning and zoning for large-scale solar in our community? How can we provide maximum siting options for ground mount solar while preserving our community's character and historic resources? How can large-scale development of solar create agricultural, vegetative, environmental, and water quality co-benefits? |
| SolSmart's Toolkit for Local Governments Resiliency: Solar + Storage | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | How do solar-plus-storage systems work? How can our community foster the development of solar-plus-storage systems? What do successful solar-plus-storage systems look like at the local level? What does the permitting process for solar-plus-storage look like? |
| SolSmart's Toolkit for Local Governments: Community Solar | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Community Members | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | What are the basics of community solar? What are options for ownership models of community solar? What do successful community solar projects look like? |
| SolSmart's Toolkit for Local Governments: Market Development and Finance | Renewable energy; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | What are the benefits and challenges of third-party solar ownership? What are the benefits and challenges of direct solar ownership? What can our local government do to increase the financing opportunities that are available for solar systems? How can our local government use financing tools to increase solar adoption in LMI households? |
| Southern Alliance for Clean Energy: Florida | Equity | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can we equitably transform the way we produce and consume energy in the Southeast? Who can we partner with to showcase the impacts of high-risk energy sources, energy efficiency, and renewable energy sources using analytics and multi-disciplinarity? |
| Standard Contracts and Securitization Resources | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Implement | How can I develop standard contracts for the residential and commercial sectors? Where can I find examples and templates for standard contracts? What are the best practices of solar installation and O&M? |
| State + Local Decarbonization Policies for the South | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | What is the state of climate policy in the southern states? What are policies that could drive climate action in the southern states in the electricity, building, and transportation sectors? What are agricultural and oceans policies that could drive climate action in the southern states? How could carbon pricing drive climate action in the southern states? |
| State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Evaluation, Measurement and Verification Resource Portal | Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can my community evaluate the impact of energy efficiency programs and calculate savings for energy efficiency measures and demand response programs? How can my community estimate savings from residential behavior-based programs, measure efficiency progress in government buildings, and manage and validate results in industrial facilities? How can my community evaluate project impacts to air quality and emissions? |
| State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network | Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How can my community design and implement policies and programs that drive investment in energy efficiency, create jobs, and reduce consumer costs? How is energy used in my community? How can behavior be used for energy efficiency? What is the State and Local Energy Efficiency Action (SEE Action) Network and the National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency? |
| State and Local Energy Profiles | Renewable energy; Electric vehicles; Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | How can my community make data-driven energy decisions? What data is available for renewable procurement, energy consumption, commercial buildings, and vehicle information for my city or county? |
| State and Local Planning for Energy (SLOPE) Platform | Renewable energy; Electric vehicles; Energy efficiency; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Developer; Utility; Advocacy Groups; Community Members; Researchers | Assess; Plan & Prepare | How can my community achieve 100% decarbonization? How can my community reduce our carbon emissions? Where does vulnerability exist in my community? How high are the energy and transportation burdens in my community? How much renewable energy potential is in my community? How much would renewable energy cost in my community? |
| State of Maryland's 16-Agency Energy Competition | Energy planning | Government; Utility | Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | How can my community mobilize the largest energy-consuming state agencies to reduce their energy use? What is a lead-by-example model? How might competitions with public recognition and technical assistance be used to reduce energy use? What does a successful agency energy competition look like? |
| Strategies for Workforce Development: A Toolkit for the Solar Industry | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Developer; Government | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | Where can I find tools (including an implementation guide, case studies, and best practices) for workforce development and work-based learning for the solar industry? How can teaming with the public workforce system and starting work-based learning programs benefit companies in our community? |
| Survey of Household Energy Insecurity in Time of COVID | Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare | What is energy insecurity? What are the challenges faced by energy insecure households? What contributes to energy insecurity? How do energy insecure households cope with their conditions? How did the COVID-19 pandemic contribute to energy insecurity? |
| Sustainability Education and Economic Development (SEED) Resource Center | Energy planning | Government; Community Members | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can community colleges in my area prioritize sustainability as a major driver of economic growth? What resources are available for community colleges to become more sustainable? |
| Sustaining Clean Mobility Equity Programs | Electric vehicles; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | What are common challenges developers face when establishing clean mobility equity programs? What strategies are recommended to maintain clean mobility equity program services after initial grants run out? What are the standards to follow for equitable investments? What makes a clean mobility equity program sustainable? |
| Technical Resilience Navigator | Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Implement | How can organizations manage the risk to critical missions from disruptions in energy and water services? How can organizations be proactive in identifying and addressing vulnerabilities to their critical energy and water systems to reduce outage impacts and support continuous mission operations? |
| Technology Brief: Air Sealing in Multifamily Housing | Equity; Energy efficiency | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare | How can air sealing benefit multifamily housing? What is the correct level of air tightness for multifamily buildings? |
| Technology Brief: Deep Retrofit of Multifamily Housing | Equity; Energy efficiency | Engineer/Planner; Utility; Government | Plan & Prepare | How can my community achieve signification reductions in energy use in multifamily housing through energy efficiency upgrades? What is the Custom Multifamily Program? What does successful use of the Custom Multifamily Program look like? |
| The Benefits of Electric Vehicles for Businesses | Electric vehicles | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare | How can an electric vehicle fleet save local businesses' money? What can businesses do to support transportation electrification? |
| The Benefits of Electric Vehicles for Local Governments | Electric vehicles | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare | What are the advantages of prioritizing electric vehicles (EVs) compared to gas-powered vehicles? What exisiting EV government programs are currently in place? How succesful have these existing government programs been? What can the government do to support electric vehical transportation? What partnerships are available for promoting electric vehicle transportation? What steps can the government take to get involved in transportation electrification? |
| The Carbon-Free City Handbook | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | What are the most important actions my community can take now to become carbon-free? How can we implement climate policies and actions that will put us on an aggressive path toward a low-carbon economy? How can we create a low-carbon plan that includes buildings, transportation and mobility, electricity, industry, and biological resources? |
| The Distributed Energy Resource Risk Manager | Renewable energy; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Implement | How can organizations manage security and privacy risks for distributed energy resources? How can organizations maintain the highest standards of cybersecurity? How can organizations comply with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Risk Management Framework? |
| The Electric Vehicle and Photovoltaic Power Purchase Handbook: A toolkit for developing electric vehicle and rooftop solar group purchase programs | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Plan & Prepare; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | What is an EV and rooftop solar group purchase program? How can my community develop EV and rooftop solar group purchase programs? How expensive are group purchase programs? Do group purchase programs spur more EV and solar purchases? How can a group purchase program be run most effectively? |
| The Energy Data Management Guide | Energy planning | Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can my community establish a robust and sustainable energy data management program? How can we generate buy-in for a data management program? How can we create a central energy database and streamline access to the database? How can we drive engagement and communicate results of our data management program? |
| The Energy Democracy Scorecard | Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | What is energy democracy? How can my community shift how our energy infrastructure is owned, developed, and controlled and transition away from an extractive and burdensome energy system to a renewable and collective one? How can my community critically analyze its current and future energy system? |
| The Energy Justice Workbook | Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare | What is energy justice? What does energy justice have to do with the energy transition? Why should my community care about energy justice? How can my community create policies that consider energy justice? Do our existing or proposed energy policies include energy justice principles? |
| The Greenlined Economy Guidebook | Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate; Adapt & Iterate | How can an economic system be designed to meet the needs of disadvantaged and underserved communities, particularly communities of color? How can my community create an economic system that is cooperative, regenerative, democratic, non-exploitative, and inclusive? What standards can my community follow for equitable community investment? |
| Through the Local Government Lens: Developing the Energy Efficiency Workforce | Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Enginner/Planner; Developer; Government; Advocacy Groups | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Implement | How can my community create a robust and diverse energy efficiency workforce? What do successful energy efficiency workforce development programs look like? |
| Top 9 Reasons to Update to a Newer Energy Code | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Utility; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Implement | How can the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) benefit my community? What are the key improvements in the 2018 IECC? |
| Tracking the Sun | Renewable energy | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Implement | What are the trends among grid-connected, distributed solar systems in the United States? What are common distributed solar project prices and characteristics, including system sizes, module efficiencies, ownership models, mounting configurations, and non-residential customer segmentation? |
| Training-to-Job Pipelines | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Implement | How can we leverage unemployed youth to build a skilled clean energy workforce? How can we help unemployed youth enter the clean energy workforce, remove barriers to career entry, and connect them with employers? |
| Transportation Toolkit | Electric vehicles; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Government | Plan & Prepare | How can the transportation sector (including infrastructure, land use patterns, and available services) become safer and more comfortable for my community members? What are key policies that my local government can adopt to enable more walkable and bikeable neighborhoods? How can my community improve transportation without big infusions of state and federal funds? |
| U.S. Federal Highway Administration's Implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law | Electric vehicles; Equity | Government; Funding/Financing Partners; Community Members | Convene; Engage; Assess | What is the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) currently working on? What programs are being developed or are currently enforced by the FHWA? What role does the FHWA play in equity and environmental justice? |
| Understanding 'Energy Insecurity' and Why it Matters to Health | Equity | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What is energy insecurity? What are the health and social implications of energy insecurity? How does energy insecurity add to the hardship for low-income households? |
| USDA Atlas of Rural and Small-Town America | Equity | Government; Utility; Community Members; Advocacy Groups; Researchers | Convene; Assess; Plan & Prepare | What is the demographic makeup of my community? What are the economic and employment trends of my community? What is the industrial composition of my community? Is my community rural, dependent on a certain industry, in persistent poverty, or losing population? |
| Valuing the Resilience Provided by Solar and Battery Energy Storage Systems | Renewable energy; Resilience | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How do solar photovoltaic systems impact commercial project resilience? How can the benefits of solar photovoltaics systems for commercial projects be quantified? |
| Weatherization Assistance Program: Weatherization Management Resources | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | Where can weatherization professionals (including installers, technicians, auditors, inspectors, and trainers) learn more about weatherization processes and job tasks, monitoring, allocation formulas, field guides and variance requests, and rules and regulations? Where can weatherization professionals find energy audit tools? |
| Weatherization Assistance Program: Weatherization Standardized Curricula | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility | Implement; Maintain & Accelerate | Where can weatherization professionals (including installers, technicians, auditors, inspectors, and trainers) learn more about weatherization processes and job tasks? |
| Webinar: Learn About Federal Funding Opportunities for Your Community | Energy planning | Government; Utility; Funding/Financing | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources; Implement | How can we get involved in federal funding processes? What local projects are eligible for funding? How do I set up notifications for funding oppurtunities as they arise? What documentation and steps are recommended to achieve funding? |
| What You Need to Know About the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant | Energy planning | Government; Funding/Financing Partners; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | Where can I find accessible information about the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) and its Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG)? How will EECBG funds be distributed? What are the eligibility requirements for the EECBG? What are eligible activities under the EECBG? What can my community do to prepare for the EECBG funds? |
| Workforce Development Board Finder | Energy planning | Government; Community Members; Advocacy Groups | Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | How can my community access workforce development boards in our area? How can I connect my community to employment information and career development training opportunities? |
| Workforce Projections to Support Battery Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Installation | Electric vehicles; Equity; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Researchers | Convene; Engage; Assess; Plan & Prepare | What are the workforce needs associated with the development of light-duty and medium/heavy-duty battery EV charging infrastructure? How can we identify equitable pathways toward "high-road" jobs for priority communities within the EV industry? |
| World Bank Group Environmental, Health, and Safety Guidelines | Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government; Utility; Funding/Financing Partners | Assess; Plan & Prepare; Gather Resources | What are general and industry-specific examples of Good International Industry Practice? What are good practices to follow for the environment, occupational health and safety, community health and safety, and construction and decommissioning? |
| Xcel Energy Carbon Reduction Plan: Net-Zero Energy Provider by 2050 | Energy planning | Utility; Government | Assess; Plan & Prepare | What does a utility clean energy pathway look like? What intermediate steps can be taken to reach the goal of a net-zero energy future by 2050? |
| Zero Code | Renewable energy; Energy efficiency; Energy planning | Engineer/Planner; Developer; Government | Plan & Prepare | How can my community construct code-compliant, zero-carbon buildings that use local clean energy? How can we apply code-compliant, zero-carbon construction to new commercial, industrial, and mid- to high-rise residential buildings and to existing buildings? |