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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced it is seeking project proposals from companies to invest up to $11 million in solar energy technology development and commercialization. The Photovoltaic (PV) Technology Incubator program aims to shorten the timeline for companies to transition prototype and pre-commercial PV technologies into pilot and full-scale manufacture.

This will be the fourth installment of the successful PV Incubator program, which represents a significant partnering with U.S. industry to meet aggressive cost and installation goals and accelerate the commercialization of these technologies. DOE funds the program through its National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which provides program management and technical expertise.

The program is unique from previous versions in that it offers two tiers. Tier 1 projects will receive up to $1 million each through 12-month phased subcontracts, and focus on accelerating the development of innovative PV module-related technologies to the prototype stage. DOE anticipates selecting 4 – 6 Tier 1 projects for awards. Tier 2 projects will receive up to $4 million each through 18-month phased subcontracts, and focus on shortening the timeline for companies to transition innovative lab-scale and pre-commercial prototypes into pilot and eventually full-scale manufacture. DOE anticipates selecting 2 – 3 Tier 2 projects for awards.

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EPA Energy Star has been working hard to support hospitals for many years Now it’s your opportunity to return the favor.

• Learn the importance of EPA’s energy performance rating system to hospitals
• Help EPA improve and expand the rating system to new healthcare spaces

More than 3,000 hospitals have used EPA’s Portfolio Manager to rate energy performance, manage energy and water consumption, and track carbon emissions, making it the most widely used performance tool of its kind in the industry. The algorithm used to create the acute care hospital ratings is based on hospital energy data that was collected in 1997.

While this was the largest publicly available dataset on hospital energy use at the time, EPA is becoming concerned that it may be out of date.

In order to protect the credibility of the ENERGY STAR brand, EPA may consider discontinuing the hospital rating if new data cannot be collected.

EPA began collaborating with ASHE on a new expanded energy survey to avoid this outcome. Hear from EPA how you can participate in the ASHE energy survey and help maintain and improve the only publicly available, free-of-charge, national energy performance rating system for hospitals.

Users of Portfolio Manager need to fill out the survey — even if they are already tracking their energy use — because the survey helps assess possible new energy drivers like the presence of diagnostic medical equipment, patient census, and medical service compositions.

New ENERGY STAR scores will be more accurate, provide greater value for economic decision-making, and better reflect the latest trends in hospitals and other healthcare facilities. But before that can happen, ASHE needs your data! All surveys shared by ASHE to the EPA will be anonymous.

REGISTER ONLINE

Session 3: Everyone on Board! Effective Communications to Promote Your Hotel’s Green Practices  Designing a green program for your hotel is just the first step in developing an environmentally-friendly property. After that, you must bring your owners, senior management and staff on board; and communicate your achievements to your guests and potential customers.

Join us as we discuss new ideas to engage staff and guests in your green efforts. Learn how to develop a communications plan that demonstrates your hotel’s environmental commitment – helping to heighten public awareness and gain market share. Hear from your peers who are communicating their successful green efforts to internal and external audiences, and learn about helpful resources, including ENERGY STAR.

For more information and to register: Energy Star

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold two public listening sessions on potential changes to the water quality standards regulation before proposing a national rule. The current regulation, which has been in place since 1983, governs how states and authorized tribes adopt standards needed under the Clean Water Act to protect the quality of their rivers, streams, lakes, and estuaries. Potential revisions include strengthening protection for water bodies with water quality that already exceeds or meet the interim goals of the Clean Water Act; ensuring that standards reflect a continued commitment to these goals wherever attainable; improving transparency of regulatory decisions; and strengthening federal oversight.

Water quality standards are the foundation of the water quality-based approach to pollution control, including Total Maximum Daily Loads and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. Standards are also a fundamental component of watershed management.

The public listening sessions will be held via audio teleconferences on August 24, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. PDT.  Call-in number: (888)-689-4723;  Conference ID: 90713366

At the sessions, EPA will provide a review of the current regulation and a summary of the revisions the agency is considering. Clarifying questions and brief oral comments (three minutes or less) from the public will be accepted at the sessions, as time permits. EPA will consider the comments received as it develops the proposed rulemaking.

EPA will also hold separate listening sessions for state, tribal and local governments.

EPA expects to publish the proposed revisions to the water quality standards regulation in summer 2011.

More information at EPA Water Quality Standards: