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"Employers may be tempted to turn down the thermostats this fall, but this quick fix could lead to hidden costs," said Clay Nesler, Johnson Controls' vice president. "Energy efficient systems and equipment is the win-win alternative, allowing businesses to save energy and money without sacrificing workplace productivity."

• 69% of the 800 US office workers surveyed for the study said they are "willing to sacrifice" their preferred ideal temperature on the job if that helps conserve energy.
  
• 45% said they think their employers are not doing enough to make their offices more energy efficient.
• 78% of workers said their productivity falls when they feel too cold or too hot at the office
• 98% said their offices are too hot or too cold at some point.

Solutions to Workplace Comfort

The study found that as a result

• 49% said they use a fan when they feel too hot,
  
• 28%  use a space heater
• 30% said they leave their office building to warm up or cool down by taking a walk.
• 41% report their discomfort to an office manager or facilities worker
• 69% try to remedy the situation by adding or removing a layer of clothing.

The findings provide further insight into employee behavior and workplace conditions.

Redevelopment of the Hollywood Park Racetrack

With the Inglewood's City Council July 8 approval of the redevelopment of the Hollywood Park Racetrack -- a reported $2 billion direct investment in the city -- local contractors here and in surrounding communities are jockeying themselves into position to partner with the general contractor selected to transform the 238-acre urban redevelopment site.

The pre-construction process has now begun for one of the largest urban infill projects in the nation.

The Hollywood Park redevelopment project will feature retail stores, theaters, parks and homes at the corner of Century Boulevard and Prairie Avenue.

Hollywood Park Tomorrow -- the construction arm of the development entity of the Hollywood Park Land Company -- is comprised of a mix of entertainment, retail, residential, office, civic, gaming and recreational projects.

Phase One:  Retail District

Plans for the first-phase retail district includes four major retail anchors as well as streets lined with restaurants and smaller stores. Additional attractions include a 15-screen movie theater, sidewalk cafes and fine dining restaurants.

Don Del Rio, a flooring contractor who recently founded the Inglewood Contractors Association (ICA), is partnering with Hollywood Tomorrow to try to ensure an 18 to 30% ratio of minority and women owned businesses get into the development of this massive redevlopment project.

Hollywood Park Tomorrow projects that the development could create 19,000 construction and permanent jobs and contribute over $100 million in taxes to Inglewood's Redevelopment Agency.

In terms of climate bill. The Efficiency First trade association  has successfully lobbied to exclude REEP from prevailing wage requirements for all buildings except commercial over 6000 sq. Ft.

NATE's certification tests represent real world working knowledge of HVAC and HVACR systems and candidates can earn installation and/or service certification in one or more specialty areas.

Specialties include:

• Air Conditioning
• Air Distribution
• Heat Pumps
• Gas Furnaces
• Oil Furnaces
• Hydronics Gas
• Hydronics Oil
• Light Commercial Refrigeration
• Commercial Refrigeration
• Senior HVAC Efficiency Analyst

David Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency , appeared before Congress in 2008 to discuss the potential for increased energy efficiency:

Civic Infrastructure with EnergySmart Schools Program

DOE  showcases new and retrofitted energy efficient infrastructure throughout our communities. We plan to expand our EnergySmart Schools program, which is focused on reducing K-12 schools' energy consumption, reducing the energy bills for state and local governments, and turning our schools into energy-secure community centers.

DOE Technical Assistance to Public Schools on Gulf Coast

Last year, DOE committed up to $1.5 million in technical assistance to provide 75 comprehensive energy audits in public schools throughout the New Orleans area. In addition to supporting an energy efficient rebuilding in New Orleans and on the Gulf Coast, these comprehensive audits will identify opportunities for New Orleans' public schools to save up to $1 million annually on utility bills.

High Performance Schools as Energy Efficiency Learning Incubator

High-performance schools also serve as learning incubators on energy efficiency and the associated environmental advantages. Schools are often hubs of local communities--reaching students, parents, teachers, administrators, municipal agents, and service employees--making schools a natural vehicle for transmitting the national priority for energy efficiency and environmental protection.

EnergySmart schools can help reduce carbon dioxide emissions contributing to global warming, because energy efficiency helps slow demand for new power generating plants.

Federal Government Increases Smart Energy Management

As the largest energy consumer in the United States, the federal government also has a tremendous opportunity and a responsibility to lead by example with smart energy management.

Executive Order 13423, issued in January 2007, directed all federal agencies to cut their energy consumption by 30% throughout the federal complex.

Energy Saving Performance Contracts

DOE has committed to meet or exceed this mandate through its Transformational Energy Action Management (TEAM) initiative by maximizing the use of Energy Saving Performance Contracts for clean energy technologies, and making the energy efficiency decisions that will make DOE the leading performer and advocate for energy efficiency within the federal sector. Through projects soon to be under contract implemented as a result of recent audits at our largest energy-using sites, the DOE expects to use performance-based contracts to finance over $400 million in energy improvements that will deliver at least a 20% reduction in energy intensity and ensure that new on-site renewable generation accounts for 4% of our electricity production. The DOE is meeting major milestones to achieving statutory and Presidential requirements.

SOURCE: 
Testimony of David Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency before the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, United States House of Representatives. Topic: Buildings Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gases, July 17, 2008, EERE Energy Efficiency Programs

David Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency , appeared before Congress to discuss the potential for increased energy efficiency in new and existing buildings to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Public Education and Outreach for Market Penetration

The Department of Energy is also focusing on broad public education and outreach in order to facilitate widespread market penetration of energy efficient technologies

Public campaigns, such as the "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign, have been used to drive public awareness. Each fall the Department, in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, encourages consumers to change out old incandescent bulbs for new compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) that have earned the ENERGY STAR seal of approval. The "Change a Light, Change the World campaign" is now in its seventh year.

DOE Outreach Partnership with Walt Disney

In order to further encourage consumer adoption of energy efficient technologies like compact fluorescent lamps, DOE has embarked upon an innovative partnership with the Walt Disney Corporation. DOE announced in 2007 that it had teamed up with Disney in a nationwide campaign to promote energy efficiency through a TV spot based on the Disney Pixar film "Ratatouille." The 30-second animated spot features the characters from the movie, and urges viewers to make the switch from incandescent bulbs to ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent lights. The spot, showcased nationwide during primetime viewing hours, reached more than 117 million households between June 15 and August 15, 2007, through networks including HGTV, Food Network, and DIY.

DOE Campaign to Target 8 to 12 Year Old Children

Also, we are working on a campaign to be launched late this summer targeting 8 to 12 years old on they can  learn to become more energy efficient.

DOE Military Base Campaign

Another campaign, launched this past Earth Day, challenges military bases nationwide to replace their incandescent light bulbs with CFLs in on-base housing. The joint DOE and Department of Defense campaign, called "Operation Change Out," will help bases across the country increase energy efficiency, save money on utility bills and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

DOE Influences Policymakers, Industry and Consumers

Through these and other campaigns, the Department is committed to motivating policymakers, industry, and consumers to embrace energy efficiency values in their states, cities, and homes.

DOE Building Technologies Program Best Practices Website

The Department's Building Technologies Program website is also a helpful educational resource for the public.

The site details best practice guidelines for realizing 30% energy savings, and is aimed at homeowners, builders, or designers who seek to incorporate energy-efficient building practices into a new or existing home.

The Building Technologies guidelines address each step of the home-building process, based on an integrated or whole building, approach. They cover the planning and financing of a home or renovation project, the design and construction phase, and ongoing maintenance. While many best practice guidelines apply regardless of geography, others are tailored to the challenges of a specific climate zone, a key consideration in creating an energy-efficient home.

SOURCE: 
Testimony of David Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency before the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, United States House of Representatives. Topic: Buildings Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gases, July 17, 2008, EERE Energy Efficiency