Author Archives: Aaron Dumas

B5.2 Feed-in Tariffs Offer feed-in tariffs to incentivize solar projects. Feed-in tariffs – and the similar policy of “production incentives” – are guaranteed prices that producers of renewable energy receive for each kilowatt hour (kWH) of electricity they generate. Successful … Continue reading →

B3.1 Energy education * Provide educational resources and technical assistance to industry professionals, building owners and managers on all aspects of energy efficient building design, retrofits, and operations for new and existing buildings. Providing energy education and technical assistance is … Continue reading →

B2.10 Energy project grants Secure grant funding for high-profile, innovative energy efficiency and/or technology projects on commercial buildings in the county. Grants help make innovative energy efficiency or clean energy technology projects economically feasible by offering a direct subsidy that … Continue reading →

B4.3 Commercial energy efficiency recognition Create a program that recognizes energy efficiency leadership in new construction. Municipalities can encourage more new construction to adopt energy efficient building practices by recognizing newly constructed or ugraded commercial buildings that demonstrate leadership in … Continue reading →

B2.8 Performance Standard * Set energy efficiency performance standards for commercial buildings with gross floor areas smaller than 50,000 square feet. Legislation passed in 2019 (HB 1257), mandates the Washington State Department of Commerce to implement energy performance standards for … Continue reading →

B4.10 EV-ready residential building code (See T3.5 EV-ready building code) Modify the residential building code to require builders of new single-family and multi-family housing units to install wiring, boxes, and other infrastructure to charge plug-in electric vehicles. The availability of … Continue reading →

B5.8 Solar-ready Amend local development code to require solar-ready construction for all building types. Installing solar photovoltaics on existing buildings is often difficult and cost-prohibitive. The roof space on older buildings is not designed with the addition of a PV … Continue reading →

B4.6 Energy efficiency tax exemptions * Create a local property tax reduction or credit for new buildings that meet an energy efficient performance standard. Virginia and Maryland have enabling statutes that allow municipalities to grant property tax credits, or establish … Continue reading →