Empowering Energy Efficiency: Boulder's Sustainable Progress

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

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

3. Climate Action Plan (CAP) & Carbon Tax • CAP outlines actions, strategies and estimated results from 2007-2012 • Tax on November 2006 Ballot to fund the CAP • Passed by > 60% of votes • Tax collected through IOU (Xcel Energy) per kwh • Generates ~ $1.6M/year

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

5. Barriers to Implementation • Time • Knowing who to call • Various rebate and incentive sources • Financing

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

7. Strategizingfor Action Reduce Use Build Better Ramp Up Renewables Drive Less Waste Not Grow Green

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

9. Key Components

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

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

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

13. Partnerships

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

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

16. Thank you! Yael Gichon City of Boulder Local Environmental Action Division Community Planning and Sustainability 303-441-3878 gichony@bouldercolorado.gov