Energy Efficiency in Buildings awards

ACEEE is proud to announce that nominations for the Champions of Energy Efficiency in Buildings awards are now open and may be submitted online! The awards will be presented at the 2010 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings and will recognize leadership and accomplishment in the energy efficiency field. Winners will be selected based on demonstrated excellence in the following categories:

Research and Development (R&D): Excellence in research and development including baseline or background research, as well as R&D of products and practices.

Energy Policy: Excellence in energy policy including writing, educating, promoting, or supporting energy efficiency in energy policy, at the federal, state, or local level.

Implementation and Deployment: Effective design and implementation, including achievement of significant impacts on energy use.

Leadership: Exceptional personal leadership demonstrated in the development, implementation, or growth of important energy efficiency initiatives.

Nominations will be made by peers and the final awards will be chosen by the ACEEE Board of Directors Awards Committee.The 2010 Champions awards will be presented at the 2010 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings in Pacific Grove, California scheduled for August 15-20, 2010 at the Asilomar Conference Center. The "Buildings" Summer Study is the preeminent energy efficiency conference, and draws leading academics, energy efficiency professionals, government representatives, researchers, advocates for energy efficiency, and policymakers.

Please complete the nomination form below by June 1, 2010. We value your input and appreciate you taking the time to nominate the best leaders in our community. Notification letters about the status of your Award nomination will be sent the week of July 19-23, 2010.

Conservation Innovation Grants

The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, while leveraging the Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) into NRCS policy, technical manuals, guides, and references or to the private sector. CIG does not fund research projects. Projects intended to formulate hypothesis do not qualify. CIG is to apply proven technology which has been shown to work previously. It is a vehicle to stimulate the development and adoption of conservation approaches or technologies that have been studied sufficiently to indicate a likelihood of success, and to be candidates for eventual technology transfer or institutionalization. CIG promotes sharing of skills, knowledge, technologies, and facilities among communities, governments, and other institutions to ensure that scientific and technological developments are accessible to a wider range of users. CIG funds projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations.

Kohl's Commits $2 Million to Nonprofits Through National Volunteers Go Green Event

[From Philanthropy News Digest] Wisconsin-based Kohl's Department Stores has announced that it will award $2 million to nonprofits around the country through its A-Team employee volunteer program.

In recognition of both National Volunteer Week and the fortieth anniversary of Earth Day, the Kohl's National Volunteers Go Green (NVGG) event will elist the participation of tens of thousands of Kohl's employees in environmentally focused activities at youth-serving nonprofits. Activities will include working with the Urban Ecology Center to clean up Riverside Park in Milwaukee, participating in the Creek to Bay Clean Up in San Diego, and cleaning up Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle.

Since 2001, some 248,000 Kohl's employees have volunteered more than 828,000 hours at nearly 40,000 events through the A-Team program, with more than $21 million awarded to local nonprofits.

"Kohl's associates are giving back and going green, continuing the company's steadfast commitment to environmental leadership and volunteerism nationwide," said Julie Gardner, Kohl's executive vice president and chief marketing officer. "Serving our communities is part of who we are at Kohl's, and as National Volunteer Week and the fortieth anniversary of Earth Day approach, our associates will be out in force across the country making a meaningful difference for kids, furthering environmental progress, and having a powerful financial impact on local organizations."

“Kohl's Department Stores Announces Nationwide Volunteer Event, Will Give $2 Million to Local Nonprofits in Celebration of National Volunteer Week and Earth Day.” Kohl's Department Stores Press Release 4/06/10.

Strengthening Building Retrofit Markets

The Department of Energy (DOE) National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), on behalf of the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy's (EERE's) State Energy Program (SEP), is seeking applications to advance policies, programs, and market strategies that accelerate job creation and reduce energy bills, while achieving energy and climate security for the nation. This competitive announcement allows States to complete for funding designed to meet EERE nationally focused initiatives for the fundamental and permanent transformations of markets across all sectors of our economy. The two Areas of Interest are as follows: Area of Interest 1: Strengthening Building Retrofit Markets - this Area of Interest will assist states in developing approaches for retrofitting buildings in the nation's residential and commercial sectors. Area of Interest 2: Stimulating Energy Efficiency Action - this Area of Interest will assist states in generating the necessary policy and program frameworks to support investment in cost-effective energy efficiency for the long-term.

Expected Number of Awards:	18
Estimated Total Program Funding:	$28,000,000

Full announcement: https://www.fedconnect.net/

Conservation Innovation Grants

Expected Number of Awards:	60
Estimated Total Program Funding:	$25,000,000
Award Ceiling:	$1,000,000

The purpose of CIG is to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies, while leveraging the Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection in conjunction with agricultural production. CIG projects are expected to lead to the transfer of conservation technologies, management systems, and innovative approaches (such as market-based systems) into NRCS policy, technical manuals, guides, and references or to the private sector. CIG does not fund research projects. Projects intended to formulate hypothesis do not qualify. CIG is to apply proven technology which has been shown to work previously. It is a vehicle to stimulate the development and adoption of conservation approaches or technologies that have been studied sufficiently to indicate a likelihood of success, and to be candidates for eventual technology transfer or institutionalization. CIG promotes sharing of skills, knowledge, technologies, and facilities among communities, governments, and other institutions to ensure that scientific and technological developments are accessible to a wider range of users. CIG funds projects targeting innovative on-the-ground conservation, including pilot projects and field demonstrations.

2010 NRCS-CIG Announcement