• DallasLocation: Hatcher Station Training Farm, 4500 Todd St., Dallas 75210
• AustinLocation: American YouthWorks, 1901 E. Ben White Blvd., Austin 78741
Join Green Careers Texas for lunch time “Meet & Greets” during upcoming solar installation trainings. These events connect businesses with skilled individuals ready to make their mark in the solar industry.
The Texas Solar Energy Society approves and endorses this proven training model.
Access to Trained Installers: Meet candidates who have completed the training and are ready to work. Students are motivated, reliable, and have a passion for working outdoors. These individuals value teamwork, timely communication, and a keen interest in contributing to the sustainable energy landscape.
Invest in Talent: The solar industry is booming, offering living wage work starting from $18 to $20/hour, often with benefits like health insurance and retirement savings plans.
Support Green Careers: By participating, you’ll be supporting Green Careers Texas’ mission to empower individuals with innovative employment opportunities in the renewable energy sector.
Questions? Please contact Tracy Wallace at info@greencareerstexas.org. Green Careers Texas aims to empower individuals through innovative employment opportunities.
Since they were teenagers, Derrick and Eric Hoffman have been in the electrical services business, learning the basics from their father, Tom. As their apprenticeships evolved from part-time to journeyman to master electrician, the brothers Hoffman knew there was more they wanted to do in their trade. We caught up with Derrick to learn how he and brother Eric diversified their traditional business to include solar+storage.
NBA官方买球APP: You and brother Eric came from a traditional electrician training, working with and learning from your dad. What was the aha moment – that sudden realization when you and brother Eric decided to add solar+storage skills and services to Hoffman Electric and become HE Solar?
Derrick Hoffman and Powerwalls
DH: We grew up with a traditional exposure to the electrical trade with our dad. As we became older, it became a full-time gig. We grew up in the country outside of Austin, spending summers in Colorado and Utah. I think it’s fair to say we became tree-huggers due to the landscape of our upbringing. We became journeymen and master electricians as we earned a Bachelors’s Degree in Construction Technology at Texas State, loving the classes around sustainability. We installed solar on our houses and I became NABCEP-certified in 2011. That’s when we started HE Solar, the inspiration to do something that would make a difference.
NBA官方买球APP: And now your dad works for HE Solar!
DH: He does! He’s an incredibly valuable resource. And as batteries become more in demand, there’s nothing more essential than an experienced electrician. We’re lucky to have him working with us.
NBA官方买球APP: Let’s talk about your workload. Been busier than usual post-Uri? More demand for solar+storage?
DH: Yes and yes. We’re working long days to keep up. Before Uri, potential customers really weren’t interested in batteries. But now, storage is definitely part of the solar conversation. We don’t push folks to go solar but we want our customers to know more about the technologies. Current turnaround time for systems is anywhere from one and one-half to three months.
NBA官方买球APP: Would you say consumers are better informed about solar and storage? How’s your inventory? Can you get product?
DH: Yes, consumers are better informed. They ask good questions. We work closely with our distributors so we can forecast supply properly. We use REC Alpha and Panasonic panels. We’ve found these produce better in warmer climates like ours here in Central Texas.
NBA官方买球APP: With increased consumer demand, how’s your staffing? What kinds of skills are you looking for?
DE: This may sound flip but if they show up for a job interview, that’s a plus. Seriously, we’re actively looking for help, for those with a strong commitment to safety and doing the job right. It’s tempting to take shortcuts, but when you’re on a roof with a tight slope, shortcuts are the last thing you want. Whenever I interview potential employees, I emphasize the excellent career path opportunities, from apprenticeship to sitting for licensing exams. Demand for electricians has never been greater. And to have solar+storage experience is only going to stay on the rise.
NBA官方买球APP: Sounds like job security to me. Let’s talk a little bit about what’s happening with solar and the Pedernales Electric Cooperative (PEC). You live and work in PEC’s service territory. The PEC board has recently proposed a series of anti-solar policies and fees that, if adopted, could seriously sideline solar, affecting your business and PEC owners who are already solar customers or who want to go solar.
DH: We live and work in PEC’s service territory. These proposed solar rate increases and other punitive solar policies would definitely affect us, our business and our customers. Coops discourage customers from excess generation when they should be encouraging customer-sited generation to help with grid resiliency. We also service customers in Bastrop, Buda, Kyle, Dripping Springs, Wimberley, Johnson City, Canyon Lake, San Marcos and New Braunfels. Our average system size is 8-9kW which offsets between 70-90% of a customer’s load.
CAPTION
NBA官方买球APP: With Uri still in our collective memories, you’d think coops, which are owned by their members, would be aggressive about implementing policies that promote grid resiliency and clean energy. Apart from fighting PEC’s regressive solar policies, what’s your biggest challenge?
DH: The technologies constantly morph which is a good thing for efficiency. But it also means that when you service systems, you’ve got to have lots of different supplies on hand. And the National Electric Code (NEC) changes every three years. We’d love a 100% success rate, but we need to fine-tune each system every five years. Also finding and keeping employees who have a strong commitment to quality workmanship and respect for safety is always a challenge.
NBA官方买球APP: What’s surprised you the most with this work?
DH: Couple of things have surprised us: 1) how much we’ve learned about local areas. It was really a smooth transition for us as we moved into the residential solar space. Central Texas has become a lot smaller for us; and 2) as demand has grown, we’ve made friends and built strong relationships with our customers.
NBA官方买球APP: No surprise. Keep up the exemplary work, Derrick. Stay safe.
From humble beginnings to 21st Century, this is the signature event for learning to live comfortably in Central Texas climate
For nearly a quarter-century, Austin Energy Green Building (AEGB) and the Texas Solar Energy Society have been on the front lines raising awareness about energy-efficient design and construction to architects, builders, contractors, suppliers and Texas homeowners.
In 1992, a grassroots group in Austin, the Sustainable Building Coalition, sprang up from the enthusiasm created by AEGB and ‘green home’ tours became popular events. Staged in the Fall after scorching Texas summers and with a different name every year, the event lured curious Central Texans to explore residential and commercial spaces built specifically for efficiency, comfort and beauty. Ultimately, the Texas Solar Energy Society and AEGB collaborated to create the Cool House Tour; today we celebrate this 24-year partnership.
Rural homestead Cool House Tour 2020
Lucy Stolzenburg, former NBA官方买球APP Executive Director, came to the tour in 2007. Over its 24-year lifespan, the Tour has evolved from concept to the remarkable if not predictable success it is today, consistent with Austin’s heightened awareness of and predilection for sustainability.
According to Stolzenburg, AEGB considers five important areas: site, energy, water, materials and equitable access. “The Tour looks for 4 or 5 Star-rated homes or multifamily projects that fit into the tour geographically, have knowledgeable and enthusiastic owners and can easily demonstrate the features we consider crucial. The Cool House Tour promotes AEGB’s work to educate local residents on what they can do to build or remodel for our hot and humid Central Texas climate,” she said.
The application process to be part of the Cool House tour is rigorous. Tour organizers begin accepting applications from architects, builders and owners in early winter, working predominantly with 4-Star to 5-Star AEGB rated homes. “By February, we’re visiting potential projects. And let me just say: nothing nails it like a homeowner who spreads out all their past Cool House Tour guidebooks documenting their tour attendance.”
Interesting outcomes have emerged from the Tours.
ADU Cool House Tour 2020
Last year, the Tour highlighted a DIY remodel designed by the owners’ architect daughter. Though not rated in the program, it was a treasure of green design and construction: passive solar design protected the home from heat gain; rainwater collection under the decks filled the pool and irrigated the landscape; natural lighting negated any need to turn on the lights during the day; both solar PV and solar thermal were installed on the roof, and one of Austin’s first residential greywater systems for reuse was a special draw for those engineers who love building systems.
Then there’s the young architect who received 2 Stars on her first rated project. Instead of complaining about the low rating, she was thrilled to start working toward more efficient and sustainable design. “We’ve been delighted to feature her highly-rated work in the past few years.”
In the past few years, there’s been a decrease in footprint and square footage of the featured homes. Homeowners now understand good design can make a modestly sized home feel large, while saving on resources. There’s also been an increase in accessory dwelling units (ADUs), built to house extended family or create rental property for added income.
Affordable housing community Cool House Tour 2020
“If I had to pick one of our biggest challenges for a successful tour, it would be logistics, logistics, logistics.” Builders and owners scramble to get photos ready by mid-March. Perfect 5-Star rated homes might be located on the most dangerous streets for tour-goers. The heat can be brutal. “Last year, a home’s air conditioner shut down but AEGB staff saved the day with spectacularly fast-action!” During the recession years in 2009 and 2010, Tour organizers previewed 36 homes each year, ultimately featuring 18 for the Tour. “Over the years, we’ve found eight to 10 projects make a perfect tour.”
Except for 2020.
Because of COVID-19, this year’s Cool House Tour is entirely virtual. Three projects are on the Tour: a single-family home in the Texas Hill Country; an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) built as a rental that sits behind the original 1950s home; and The Jordan, a Foundation Communities’ multifamily project that provides affordable housing and learning opportunities to transform lives. Tour this year’s offerings of climate-responsive, energy efficient design and ask questions to the owners, architects and contractors who brought these homes to fruition, all from the comfort of your home!
The tour is sensibly and agreeably priced at $10; student tickets are $5. LEED professionals and AIA members are eligible for CEUs at $15. All proceeds benefit NBA官方买球APP.
REGISTER for the 2020 Tour, Sunday September 27, 2:00-4:00pm CDT.
With more than 30 years’ experience, we at Barley Pfeiffer Architecture have been involved in almost every type of residential project imaginable. Designing high-performance homes and remodels is our specialty. To date, we’ve completed more than 450 one-off custom homes and another 250 remodels. We continually look for new challenges and solutions to help people live better, more comfortable lives.
One of the more recent residential building types to emerge is the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU). Essentially a small house that can be built in your backyard, ADU’s add more accessible housing and increase neighborhood density. ADU’s usually have strict local requirements, so check with your local design professional before starting one of these projects. The effort may be worth it as we have found these small structures to be beneficial to the owner and exciting to design.
Why would a homeowner want to build an ADU?
It can generate additional income. More flexibility can be achieved by using ADU’s for temporary rental space, generating additional income without having to commit to a full-time tenant. Others use the extra space as a home office or overflow living/sleeping space. For our older clients who want to comfortably “age in place,” the ADU will be housing for a caregiver.
For these microcosms of larger homes, we design ADU’s to build small but live large. As architects, we add many features of a regular-sized home into the structure of up to 1,100 square feet, the typical maximum allowable interior livable square footage. Building small means building less and for less cost. But even with these size limitations, there are several design considerations that make these units live large.
Alternative dwelling unit designed by Barley|Pfeiffer Architecture. Credit: Mark Adams
One of the most important organizing ideas is to leave as much open space as possible and cluster bedrooms and bathrooms around it. Combining living, dining and kitchen into one space means a smaller footprint for these functions. And because the spaces open up to each other, they feel and live bigger. A full-size sofa, easy chair, end tables, a coffee table and wall space for a TV can be positioned for comfortable living while leaving enough room for a full-size contemporary kitchen with a freestanding island and eating bar.
This open living space, also known as the great room, allows for two full-size bedrooms with wall closets around it and each bedroom having its own adjacent hall-accessed bathroom. This layout makes for the perfect “roommate” unit, beneficial for those homeowners who live in college towns like Austin, Texas. In a current project, we’re building an ADU alongside new home construction to provide the owners with all the advantages stated above. In fact, this client has discussed building the ADU to live in while their new home is being built.
Another aspect of our build small, live large idea is enhanced energy efficiency.
ADU’s numerous benefits would be ineffectual if they consumed inordinate amounts of energy. We strive to make every Barley Pfeiffer Architecture design – big or small, intricate or modest – be highly energy efficient. We believe a home should first be comfortable to live in without using heating and air conditioning. If we achieve that, then the mechanical systems can be smaller due to reduced energy loads. Over its lifespan, right-sized mechanical systems will be more efficient, extending their life and saving money. The homeowner realizes lower initial installation costs and reduced maintenance costs over the lifespan of the ADU.
Most people frequently consider only the initial costs when building a home. At Barley Pfeiffer, we look not only at the initial costs, but also the costs to maintain and operate the house over its lifespan. These costs can be significant, so the more efficient we can be with the design and performance of an ADU, the more money our clients save over time.
Barley Pfeiffer Architecture pioneered several passive cooling techniques to deal with designing projects in our harsh Central Texas climate. We look for cues from homes that were built before the introduction of artificial cooling and heating systems and apply modern technologies to achieve better results. Our Central Texas summers can have several 100+ degree days extending from May through October. How do you stay cool in that extreme heat? Simple: get in the shade!
The homeowners of the 1800s and early 1900s knew this simple concept and built their homes with deep porches and broad overhangs. They strategically placed their bedrooms to allow prevailing breezes to move through, keeping them cooler and comfortable. We do the same thing. Our projects feature roof systems that act as shading umbrellas for the interior, keeping the heat out. Using these fundamental techniques, combined with common sense orientation, specific window placement and tried and true shading overhangs over all windows keeps direct sunlight out. These time-honored passive design techniques keep the inside cool, resulting in greater comfort.
We believe that if you build something, you can build it well even with modest budgets. Designing ADU’s that build small and live large, incorporating region-specific passive cooling techniques that utilize cost-efficient durable materials, yields all the elements for an ADU to live large, be comfortable and maximize the unit’s efficiency for the homeowner.
For a quarter-century, the American Solar Energy (ASES) has organized and delivered the National Solar Tour, the largest grassroots solar event in the U.S. This year’s all-virtual tour is being extended beginning September 28 and running through the official tour weekend, October 3 and 4. Carly Rixham, ASES Executive Director, talks about the Tour’s long-standing history and what we can expect to see this year.
SR: Clearly things are different today than they were 25 years ago when ASES launched the first solar tour.
CR: Definitely! What began as a local solar and sustainability tour at the Solar Living Institute, a former ASES Chapter, in Hopland, California, under the direction of John Schaeffer, expanded to become the National Solar Tour in 1995.
SR: Tell us about this year’s tour.
CR: The biggest distinction in this year’s tour is that it’s virtual. National Solar Tour week will showcase live programming from ASES and our partner Solar United Neighbors. Solar United Neighbors helps people join together to go solar and fight for their energy rights. You’ll view virtual solar tours, take a virtual test drive in an electric vehicle (EV), and experience solar through a week of never before seen programming. These events and tours are crafted to empower people to learn about solar technology and the process of going solar from their neighbors and people nationwide, all from the comfort and safety of their homes.
SR: I’m really looking forward to settling in on the couch and watching (popcorn included). Apart from the inherent differences for this year’s tour, what other challenges have you faced?
CR: Every tour has a different flavor. At ASES, we want to celebrate the variety but still provide useful structure and national attention. This year, going virtual has been a totally new challenge but it’s been a long time coming for the tour. The video tours are really fun and informative. Having the tour online connects our solar stories with easily accessible information to potentially much wider audiences.
SR: And the successes?
CR: Without being too self-aggrandzing, some 76% of tour attendees surveyed confirmed they are definitely or very likely to purchase and install solar or energy-efficient systems after attending the Solar Tour. This high conversion rate from tour goer to renewable energy consumer underscores the importance of consumer education. We’ll be interested to see the survey numbers after this year’s tour.
SR: The Tour also encourages local tours in cities. In Texas, we have tours in Austin, the Metroplex, Lubbock and Waco.
CR: That’s right. This year we have almost 40 local tours in Texas cities like Austin, the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Lubbock and Waco. Collectively, we have 177 Open Houses on the Tour
Carly Rixham is the Executive Director for the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). She is the Editor, Publisher, and Art Director for Solar Today magazine. She received her masters in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado at Boulder where she researched microalgae for the production of biofuel. While studying in Boulder, Rixham served as Director of Arts and Sciences at CU Energy. She has taught biology and ecology at the university and high school levels.
Guest editorial by Jonathan Kraatz, Executive Director USGBC/Texas and Robert Pegues, Quality Assurance Manager, Single Family Division, TexEnergy | Us-EcoLogic
LEED, Leadership for Energy Efficiency and Design, is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building types, LEED provides a framework for healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings.
There are several LEED certification levels ranging from the most basic LEED-certified (40 points) to LEED Platinum (80 points), the highest LEED green building certification. LEED scores are based on six primary categories ranging from seven to 38 points each with an additional 10 points for regional priority and design innovation.
Using LEED can seem daunting to the uninitiated. Each pathway to certification is unique and nuanced for each project, but there are some general rules and guidelines that can help anyone interested going down the path to sustainability in the built environment. Here’s a brief description of the nine categories:
LOCATION AND TRANSPORTATION (LT) – Location, location, location! Site selection is a critical component in any LEED project. Avoid flood plains and choose locations or communities close to local transportation and parks if possible.
SUSTAINABLE SITES (SS) – make sure the construction site is protected. Erosion control is key! Protect your construction site with erosion blankets and silt fencing. Planting trees not only beautifies your project, it also helps with permeability, reduced heat island effect and reduced heating loads by shading. Choose landscaping that is non-invasive and drought tolerant and consider reducing turf where possible. Borate is a great non-toxic pest control that can help your project keep the bugs away (and also counts toward some LEED credit).
ENERGY AND ATMOSPHERE (EA) – Energy Efficiency and design. The foundation of LEED is energy efficiency, which is expressed in a Home Energy Rating System (HERS) rating. The building thermal envelope and mechanical systems are two sides of the same coin, but each needs to be addressed separately.
For efficient thermal envelopes, design starts with advanced framing, exterior insulated sheathing, high performing windows and doors, and grade 1 insulation installation. ENERGY STAR’s thermal bypass checklist is your friend here.
For the mechanicals, consider tankless water heaters, 90 AFUE furnace, 16 SEER for cooling, inline mechanical ventilation fan and LED lighting. All of these components thrown into modeling software, shaken then stirred, will help your project meet ENERGY STAR requirements and a lower HERS index. Make sure an HVAC designer is on board to provide whole home load, system selection and distribution layout and flows.
WATER EFFICIENCY (WE) – Water Efficiency and design. Closely following Energy Efficiency, this category looks at the ongoing use of resources and focuses on water saving design feature both inside and outside of the home.
For efficient water use, focus on water efficient appliances, fixtures and fittings like low-flow faucets and fixtures and tankless/on-demand water heaters that can save water that would be wasted waiting for the desired water temperature.
Outside of the home, look for ways to reduce water needed for irrigation. This does interact with choices made in the Sustainable Sites section with regard to landscape selection and plantings and can also be achieved through rainwater capture and water recycling from domestic sources.
MATERIALS AND RESOURCES (MR) – Recycle, Reduce, Reuse… and durability
Order local products and construction materials where possible. Avoid tropical woods! Use the ENERGY STAR water management checklist and choose environmentally preferred products. Use advanced framing like California corners, ladder blocking, space roof rafters and floor joists 24 inches on center. Grab those detailed framing drawings and order just the right amount of lumber to reduce waste, which translates to lower waste hauling. Fly ash in concrete yields a greener, more durable finished product. Finally, consider using recycled carpet and pads or 100% hard flooring.
INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (EQ) – a cleaner indoor environment is a healthier indoor environment.
There are three steps to achieving healthy indoor living spaces:
Seal off and separate any possible contaminated sources. Typically, the main culprit here is a garage, combustion appliance zones and tracking in dirt. Seal off and separate the garage and install carbon monoxide (CO) monitors adjacent to the door. Create a space for easy shoe removal at the front or back entry. Determine the radon zone and install radon mitigation measures in high risk zones.
Install kitchen and laundry room exhausts and ENERGY STAR bathroom exhaust fans according to ENERGY STAR’s performance guidelines. Choose an inline mechanical ventilation fan to supply outdoor air and lower energy use to ENERGY STAR compliance.
Choose HVAC filters with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) rating of 10 or more. The higher the MERV rating, the better the filter is at trapping specific types of particles. For extra credit, consider two-stage or multi-stage HVAC equipment with dehumidification capabilities.
INNOVATION (IN) – new and improved! Get credit for using cutting edge practices. All projects must receive a preliminary rating. A verification team will review the project plans, design and identify specific scopes of work for each key member of the team. There is also room for additional credits for measures not covered within the current rating system.
REGIONAL PRIORITY (RP) – special credits for your neck of the woods. Choose from U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) list of additional regionally specific credits to help your project earn up to four credit points.
ON-SITE RENEWABLE ENERGY Solar’s benefits are closely aligned with the underlying goals of LEED: encouraging decreased carbon emissions, reduced reliance on traditional energy sources, improved air quality, better building decisions and ultimately a more environmentally responsible future for us all. The number of LEED points awarded in the Energy and Atmosphere category for solar is determined by the percentage of the project’s energy costs that are offset by on-site renewable energy.
Whether you’re a seasoned sustainability practitioner or just starting to dip your toes into the LEED pool, following these guidelines can help you navigate the complex world of green building and ensure your project attains LEED certification.
Jonathan Kraatz is the first Executive Director of the U.S. Green Building Council/Texas Chapter. In 2016, he facilitated the merger of four USGBC Texas chapters. Previously, Jonathan served as the Executive Director for the USGBC North Texas Chapter.
Robert Pegues joined the TexEnergy | Us-EcoLogic team in 2015 and holds the position of Quality Assurance Manager in the Single Family Division. Through his time with the company, he has become credentialed as a LEED for Homes Quality Assurance Designee, LEED Green Rater, National Green Building Standards (NGBS) Green Verifier, HERS Quality Assurance Designee, RESNET Rater Trainer, HERS Rater, and IECC Residential Inspector and plans examiner. Robert has also had an active role in development and advisement of the LEED for Homes version 4.1 protocol, LEED for Homes Production Builder certification review process, Energy Star 3.1 protocol, and 2018 IECC through North Texas Council of Governments Energy and Green Advisory Board.
This year, the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) National Solar Tour is featuring more than 60 locations nationwide, including homes and businesses in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Because of COVID-19, the national and all local tours will be virtual. We caught up with Rosa Orenstein, J.D., Executive Director of the North Texas Renewable Energy Group (NTREG) to learn more about what NTREG has planned for its 2020 Tour on October 3. Here’s that conversation.
Q: Despite the pandemic’s effects on life as we knew it, including annual Solar Tours, let’s talk about NTREG’s 2020 Solar Tour. How long has NTREG been doing this tour?
A: In 2009, NTREG member Paul Westbrook listed six homes for the DFW Metroplex Tour on his personal website. By 2015, the list (now on the DFW Solar Tour website) had grown to more than 50 homes and commercial sites, making it the second-largest Solar Tour in the U.S.!
2019 DFW Solar Tour workers
Q: That’s some true braggin’ rights! What about this year’s tour with COVID-19? What did you do to switch gears from an in-person to a virtual tour?
A: Not surprising, we had to completely change our thinking and processes to go virtual for 2020. For example, instead of showcasing more than 50 sites, we’re only showcasing 10 sites. We’re also having two Solar 101 video presentations narrated by the hosts. Volunteers from Dallas College/Northlake Campus, the Tour’s Terawatt sponsor, will edit the videos so they’re tight and crisp. On October 3, Solar Tour Day, NTREG will run those videos continuously on its YouTube channel. Also, each of the 10 sites will hold public Q&A sessions at specified times throughout the day so the public may still participate.
On the plus side, we saved a little on the up-front costs; we won’t need as many t-shirts or signs or advertising outside online advertising. Our DFW Solar Tour website, currently being updated, will be up and running by early September. Challenges for sure, but the 2020 Tour is definitely coming along nicely. We’re all excited about this year’s Tour.
Q: What criteria does NTREG use to accept homes and businesses for the tour?
A: Generally, participants who want to showcase their homes or businesses sign up through the DFW Solar Tour Website. The Solar Tour Committee reviews each of those sites and determines which ones will serve both the educational mission of NTREG and the sharing of the enthusiasm and challenges which the homeowner has encountered in the installation and performance of their system. Over the years, we’ve had very good applicants that fulfill the criteria to be accepted. Rarely has NTREG turned away a proposed site.
DFW Solar Tour 2019
Q: Besides this year’s 180 to go virtual, what other things have been some of your biggest challenges?
A: Throughout the years, the biggest challenge has always been raising the funds to cover all costs and finding enough volunteers to staff all sites. This was especially difficult in 2018 when we had 52 sites! Since we like to have about three volunteers for each site, that means increased costs for t-shirts, signs, marketing, advertising and, of course, volunteers. It was a logistical challenge, but our volunteers and Solar Tour Committee weren’t deterred. As if those inherent challenges weren’t formidable enough, throw in a tornado on the day of the Tour and you can see why 2018 will go down as one of, if not the most difficult years for our Solar Tour.
The other big challenge has been finding underserved and underrepresented communities to participate. We’ve undertaken aggressive efforts to increase participation from vulnerable communities and people of color, but clearly we’ve not made anywhere near the progress we would like to see and are aiming for. We still have work to do.
Q: That said, talk about some of your successes.
A: That’s easy. Our biggest success has been the participation of so many homes and businesses around the DFW Metroplex. We’ve had sites almost as far south as Hillsboro, as far north as McKinney and as far west as Weatherford. More recently, we have begun to see some results from our outreach efforts to vulnerable communities and people of color. As I mentioned, we’re still not where we want to be but we continue to increase our efforts.
By Katherine Searcy, Chair, NBA官方买球APP Board of Directors
The Texas Solar Energy Society’s mission is Equitable Access to Solar Energy for Every Texan. Green building enables the efficient use of solar energy by reducing the total energy needed for a home or business, which in turn reduces the size of the required solar photovoltaic system. In this way, green building is foundational to and interwoven with the widespread adoption of distributed solar. This issue of the Solar Reflector focuses on green building: the requirements for residential green building certification, accessory dwelling units, and solar home tours, both locally and nationally.
Green building encompasses not only energy efficiency and renewable energy, but also water efficiency, healthy materials, and regionally appropriate design. The nationally recognized green building rating system, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), provides a holistic framework to evaluate and incorporate these myriad components into a building’s design. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) administers the LEED program. Our first article, written by the Texas chapter of the USGBC, highlights the key requirements to obtain LEED certification for a home.
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are small, secondary structures located on the same property as a primary dwelling. These charming structures can increase urban density and offer flexible living arrangements. In our second article, Alan Barley shares strategies for getting the most out of these small spaces and for ensuring they are as energy-efficient as conventionally sized homes.
Our final article highlights several green building home tours: our very own Cool House Tour, the American Solar Energy’s National Solar Tour, and the North Texas Renewable Energy Group’s (NTREG) DFW Solar Tour. The Texas Solar Energy Society is excited to share the 2020 Cool House Tour in a virtual format on Sunday September 27 from 2 to 4 pm. We hope you will join us!
The 2020 Tour marks the 24th year that NBA官方买球APP has collaborated with Austin Energy Green Building. This year, we’ll highlight three distinct building types: a rural homestead, an urban accessory dwelling, and an affordable multifamily community. This lineup emphasizes that thoughtful design can deliver healthy, green homes for a variety of contexts and budgets. The virtual tour will include live discussions with the teams involved in each project; we hope that these conversations, along with the virtual tours, will retain the enjoyment and educational benefits of an in-person tour. The tour content will be available after the event day, enabling more people to experience and learn from the tour. There’s still time to register!!
The Cool House Tour is part of the National Solar Tour (nationalsolartour.org), which is coordinated by our parent organization, the American Solar Energy Society. The National Solar Tour will occur from September 28 through October 4. Homeowners and business owners across the country will share inspirational examples of solar integration and green building. Our chapter, NTREG, will hold their DFW Solar Tour virtually on October 3.
With all the uncertainty we are facing collectively, I find it reassuring to connect with the inspiring people and projects highlighted in this Solar Reflector. I hope that you, too, will find inspiration and useful, shareable ideas for your home, business, and community. As always, we’d love to hear your inspiring solar stories and your ideas for how NBA官方买球APP can help improve equitable access to solar for every Texan. We look forward to hearing from you.
Guest blog: Katherine Burk Cheema is a West Texas native and a proud Texas Longhorn Alumna. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, paddle boarding and kayaking. All opinions are her own.
I found my way into solar by way of the software industry. I grew up in West Texas around the boom and bust of the oil and gas industry. The innovative and cutting-edge nature of the solar industry appealed to me, and I was drawn in by the job-growth engine for the economy which I assumed equated to better energy access for all– especially for Texans. The growth of the solar industry matched with a career in high tech appealed to me as a pairing that would stay relevant and competitive for the next fifty years. I was highly motivated and ready to launch my career in solar.
As someone who had worked in the tech industry for many years, I had grown quite accustomed to being one of the few women in the workplace (and one of the even fewer women in leadership). But perhaps nothing could have prepared me for the gender homogeneity of the solar industry. If you work in solar, then you probably already know that the state of diversity in our industry is dire.
The National Solar Jobs Census of 2018 found that of the more than 242,000 solar workers nationwide, women represented 26.3% of the workforce. Representation of women in technical roles like installation and engineering is even more alarming. Early on in my career, I had more than my fair share of interactions with male peers in the space that made me question if I was going to be able to carve out a space for myself in the industry.
Ironically, I often meet solar professionals who tell me how hard it is for them to find skilled and qualified candidates for roles at their firms. Sourcing and retaining solar professionals are a widespread problem in the industry.
In 2018, roughly 26% of solar companies reported it was “very difficult” to hire qualified workers, an 18% increase from the previous year. Seemingly innocuous hiring strategies like limiting your top of funnel to individuals with experience in the industry can yield unintended consequences like this supply/demand imbalance. By eliminating our bias in the recruiting and interviewing process, I believe we can overcome this serious challenge that our industry faces.
If you are committed to increasing the gender diversity of your team, let’s talk some table stakes: hiring women means you have to pay them a fair and equitable wage relative to their male counterparts. There is a 26% gender wage gap in the solar industry, as men are more likely to earn higher wages than women at all position levels. About 37% of men fall in the wage bracket of $31 to $74 per hour, compared to only 28% of women.
But it isn’t enough to just attract talented women to your team – you must provide professional opportunities and skills to retain them. Employers must create and foster an environment that motivates women to build a career at your company. This is why initiatives like equitable family leave policies that ensure women never have to make the choice between starting a family or advancing their careers are so crucial.
Chances are that if you’re reading this article, you’re less likely to be a woman or person of color. But that doesn’t mean you can’t be a change agent. In fact, numerous studies show that sentiment in the solar industry is evolving, albeit slowly. Recent data suggests that a growing percentage of solar companies are establishing strategies to make their workforces more diverse. The percentage of firms reporting a strategy to increase the representation of women increased from 14% in 2017 to 24% today, as just one example.
There’s a lot of work to be done in the solar industry to address these challenges, but I’ve never been more optimistic that the best companies in the space will tackle these issues head-on with innovative solutions. Despite the adversity I’ve faced in the industry as a woman, I never once have regretted my decision to join it and am excited to witness what the future holds.
The Texas Energy Poverty Research Institute (TEPRI) is a nonprofit 501(c)3 that advances equitable solutions for affordable, reliable, and clean energy. We accelerate the move towards an energy system that supports healthy, thriving communities. We work with teams of experts from inside and outside the energy sector to conduct research, build evidence, create tools for practitioners, and partner with local jurisdictions to demonstrate new models that can scale for widespread impact for people who contend with low-incomes.
TEPRI seeks a Program Manager to develop and manage energy projects that support TEPRI’s goals including piloting market-based solutions such as solar/storage/virtual power plants. Our objective is to create new pathways for people who contend with low-incomes to benefit from the newest energy technologies. We are seeking candidates with keen intellectual curiosity and a deep interest in making a positive impact at the intersection of energy and poverty. The Program Manager will work closely with TEPRI staff to achieve the objectives of TEPRI’s strategic plan.
The ideal candidate will have demonstrated experience managing project teams, a strong creative and entrepreneurial spirit, technical skills in the solar and energy sector, experience communicating with different types of stakeholders, and exceptional skills in building relationships with diverse stakeholders. Essential duties include:
Program Management Responsibilities (70%)
• Manage and expand TEPRI’s solar/storage/virtual power plant portfolio.
• Develop TEPRI’s energy efficiency and demand response portfolio.
• Negotiate and oversee contracts that align with TEPRI’s mission and research including future proofing designs.
• Oversee creation of resilience hub operating procedures and develop relationships with local organizations involved in disaster preparedness.
• Support TEPRI’s research and education initiatives by testing assumptions before and after installation of systems.
• Develop financing models and funding pathways to bring projects to fruition.
• Support the development of grant funding for TEPRI initiatives.
• Participate on relevant industry committees and working groups.
• Effectively communicate the work of TEPRI to a broad stakeholder network.
• Manage staff, project budgets, compliance, metrics, and timelines.
Program Support Responsibilities (15%)
• Support TEPRI team members on their project portfolios.
• Participate in writing reports for publication and stakeholder networks.
Other Organizational Support (15%)
• On an as-needed basis, support other programs including community outreach.
• Support TEPRI’s social media accounts and participate in the creation of communications.
• Assist in writing funding proposals.
Qualifications
Education and Experience
• Masters degree with a minimum of 4+ years of professional work experience in a related field, or Bachelors degree with 6+ years of professional work experience in a related field.
• Experience working in a team environment, alternating between team player and team lead.
• Experience with a mix of private and public sector, project-based environments including project development, university research, consulting, or professional services preferred.
• Experience adapting communication mediums to meet different types of stakeholders.
Skills and Abilities
• Knowledge of competitive and vertically integrated electric markets.
• Financial analysis skills to determine best equipment design, retail plans, and options to braid multiple funding sources such as tax credits, grants, and equity.
• Familiarity with Public Utility Commission and ERCOT processes and avenues for engagement.
• Demonstrated project management skills including budgeting, compliance, adhering to timelines. Ability to conceptualize projects, track progress, and communicate results.
• Must be able to work independently and enjoy figuring out complex project challenges.
• Willingness and ability to learn new subject areas and skills.
• Ability to communicate complex technical findings in a succinct and easy-to-understand manner using captivating language meant to engage the public.
• Must be creative and undeterred by challenges.
• Must be flexible and capable of changing directions as opportunities arise.
• Demonstrated professionalism and the ability to act or speak on behalf of the organization.
• Ability to develop strong relationships, work collaboratively, motivate partners.
• Management experience a plus.
• Experience working with federal contracts a plus.
Communication, Outreach, and Culture
• Strong communication skills including writing and speaking to community leaders, businesses, and donor audiences.
• Able to handle media inquiries and engage technical and non-technical audiences.
• Skilled at getting along with a wide variety of people who have diverse perspectives.
• Ability to meet commitments on time and within budget.
• Practices patience, respect, and kindness, and brings joy to your interactions.
• Good sense of humor.
Environment
TEPRI is a young and growing non-profit. We have a small team of innovative and creative thinkers. Our team works in an office space located on W. 6th Street in downtown Austin, Texas and has a hybrid in-office/virtual work schedule. We encourage everyone across the spectrums of race, ethnicity, nationality, ability, age, gender identity and expression, educational background, sexual orientation, and religion to apply.
Compensation and Contract
TEPRI offers a competitive salary and health/retirement benefits. Salary range is negotiable based on experience.
By Patrice “Pete” Parsons, NBA官方买球APP Executive Director
We have had articles on this topic in the past, but with all the recent press, I feel compelled to address the issue of consumer protection again. Solar in Texas has seen explosive growth in the last few years, and Texas Solar Energy Society recognizes that while there have been unfortunate incidents in which consumers received unethical treatment, we have an opportunity to build consumer confidence in critical home solar and battery solutions.
NBA官方买球APP, along with our Business Members & partners, are working to ensure families and businesses have the confidence in our industry solutions. Part of this effort has been working on a consumer protection bill filed in the current Texas legislative session. New policy can help the growth of our industry and build consumer trust.
On Jan. 31st, Senator Zaffirini (D-21) filed SB 1036, the Residential Solar Retailer Regulatory Act, which will regulate residential solar retail transactions by requiring an registration for solar salespersons and installers, authorizing fees, and providing a path for civil and administrative penalties for those bad actors.
NBA官方买球APP, in collaboration with trusted installers, AARP, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations, and the Texas Solar Storage Association (formally Texas Solar Power Association), have joined forces to provide input on this solid consumer protection bill. We thank all our partners involved who have already been walking the halls of the Capitol to promote it to legislators.
We are working closely with the Senator’s office to be sure that consumers get the protection they need and the confidence they deserve, while at the same time ensuring this supports a growing residential solar industry.
In the Texas House, Representative VanDeaver submitted HB 1640, which we also support, calling for the creation of a guide called, “The Transparency and Best Practices Guide for Rooftop Solar Systems for Homes.” The guide would “provide customers with current information, best practices and guidelines to consider when deciding whether to install a rooftop solar system for their home,” and would be posted to the commission’s website and provided to utility providers electric utilities. We think this guide would be a great resource for those homeowners wanting to adopt solar.
Why Consider Going Solar?
There have been many articles in the press recently about the solar industry that are failing to identify the actual reasons togo solar. Aside from the obvious environmental benefits of using clean energy, the opportunity to reduce your electric bill can be a huge factor, especially during Texas’s increasingly hot summers & cold winters. Resiliency during the increasingly prevalent extreme weather events we experience in Texas is also an added benefit when you add storage to your system. To that end, you’ll also be contributing to grid stability as you provide much needed power to the grid during extreme weather events.
How to Choose an Installer
The Texas Solar Energy Society wants to stress that unethical practices are not the norm for solar businesses in Texas. However, consumers should protect themselves by doing their due diligence before giving the green light to a solar installer. Remember the old adage, if it’s too good to be true, it probably is. Here are some simple steps to start:
Always get bids from at least three different solar installers.
Battery energy storage systems, commonly referred to as BESS, have quickly become an invaluable tool in the energy industry, for both utilities and small-scale applications alike. The systems work by drawing energy from the grid (or a localized power source), storing the charge, and later releasing it to provide electricity or other grid services as needed.1 Typically, BESS charge when energy is cheap and demand is low, and then discharge the stored energy when demand and prices are higher.2 At the residential level, BESS connect to the homeowner’s distribution system, drawing energy from solar panels interconnected to the system. This allows homeowners to control when excess solar energy is sent back to the power grid or to store it for when the home’s demand is highest.
The ability to “island” a home in this manner provides increased resiliency for homeowners during instances of grid failure.3 For example, during last summer’s Hurricane Beryl, thousands of Houston residents who had previously installed a combination of solar panels and battery storage were able to take advantage of their BESS technology to retain electrical power throughout the course of the citywide outage.4 Many were even able to use extension cords to power several of their neighbors’ basic appliances, demonstrating the resiliency that BESS can bring to neighborhoods.5
Similarly, BESS can improve grid resiliency, as evidenced during 2021’s Winter Storm Uri. Bandera Electric Cooperative, a cooperative located in the Texas Hill Country, has been a pioneer of BESS for several years. During the storm, the cooperative signaled its battery users to discharge their stored energy,6 powering parts of the community while reducing pressure on backup generators.7 The procedure ended up saving Bandera around $43,000, showing the important role BESS can play in grid resiliency.
BESS also can deliver financial benefits, depending on whether a customer’s utility allows such options. The technology can perform peak shaving and load shifting to lower homeowners’ electric bills by discharging when demand and costs are high.8 Doing so helps users avoid the high costs associated with peak usage times while ensuring more energy is available throughout the distribution grid, thus lowering costs for all utility clients. This has the added benefit of reducing grid strain, especially during the hottest days of summer. Additionally, homeowners can potentially sell excess energy from BESS in the state’s pilot aggregate distributed energy resource (ADER) program. The program, currently capped at 80MW, relies on battery storage as a core component.9 It uses an automated response system to follow ERCOT instructions, allowing participating customers to sell surplus power to the grid upon signal. However, for an individual to take part in the ADER, their utility must already be a participant.
When compared to traditional backup generators, battery storage systems have higher upfront costs but save more money in the long run. A previous report from Texas Solar Energy Society comparing the costs of solar and storage with traditional generators found that solar storage systems’ upfront costs fall within the $8,500-$10,000 per unit range.10 Generators range from $1,000-$7,000 per unit, making them initially cheaper, but they have higher operational costs due to refueling and maintenance requirements. An average propane generator would cost $20,000 in fuel and $1,000 in maintenance over a ten-year period.11 In comparison, a lithium-ion residential BESS costs about $50 per kW annually to operate and maintain.12 For a Tesla Powerwall, this would equate to around $6,800 over a ten-year period, saving consumers a substantial amount of money. Moreover, since BESS facilitates consumption of solar energy in lieu of grid electricity, customers enjoy reduced utility bills. Thus, homeowners pay more in the long run for generators than they do for batteries despite the difference in upfront costs.
The resilience and financial benefits of BESS have made them an appealing option for solar customers across Texas, and the energy industry has been rapidly expanding their battery offerings with numerous brands to choose from. Solar installers have also expanded their service offerings so that customers can use the same installer for BESS that they selected for their solar installation. In conclusion, due to its benefits and the variety of options available, battery storage has become one of the energy industry’s most exciting innovations.
These resources, compiled by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), cover a wide variety of topics, from the process of choosing and installing a solar energy system, to understanding how it impacts the value of a home. Learn more below.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) supports research & development to harness America’s abundant solar energy for secure, affordable, and reliable solar energy.
In each Solar Report newsletter, we feature one of our highly regarded Platinum Business Members with an exclusive interview. This month, NBA官方买球APP Communications Director Tamara Kowalski reached out to Inclusive Prosperity Capital (IPC) Smart-E Loan Program National Director Madeline Priest to learn about the company’s mission, accomplishments, and impacts on customers.
Origins and Leadership
Inclusive Prosperity Capital, Inc. (IPC) is a non-profit clean energy financing organization dedicated to ensuring everyone has access to the benefits of clean energy and resilience. Spun out of the Connecticut Green Bank in 2018, IPC focuses on aligning investment capital and financing programs with organizations, projects, and community initiatives that benefit underserved markets. Our Smart-E loan program has been live in Texas since March of last year.
I have worked in the residential clean energy and energy efficiency space for 15 years. My first energy efficiency job was a three-year, 14 town, grassroots organizing campaign to get more energy audits and residential rooftop solar completed in the state of Connecticut. Then, in 2013, I moved to the Connecticut Green bank where I managed its residential Smart-E Loan and Solar for All programs, designed for underserved consumers while ensuring strong consumer protections, including traditional credit and alternative credit underwriting strategies. Thanks to those programs Connecticut reached “beyond parity” for residential rooftop solar penetration in low-income census tracts and communities of color.
Mission and Vision
We provide a gateway to inclusive prosperity by engaging with communities impacted most by climate change. We invest in clean energy and resilience in partnership with local initiatives and organizations to provide energy security, climate justice, and economic growth. We believe everyone should have access to the benefits of clean energy and resilience. Together, we can create change in underinvested neighborhoods and underserved markets to achieve inclusive prosperity.
Approach to Projects
We truly believe that contractors are the face of the clean energy industry in the residential market and we designed our Smart-E Loan program to be easy for lenders, contractors, and homeowners. With flexible timing of loan disbursements to meet industry needs, low contractor fees, low loan rates, long terms, and an easy application for your customers, we feel like the product is a real no brainer!
Career Impact
Meeting with and listening to the needs of our contractors has been the most impactful. I’ve learned so much about different business models, policies, technology advancements, and issues. I love when our contractors tell me their customers’ stories with pride. Together, we help real people and at the end of the day, that’s what matters.
Key Accomplishments
I take a lot of pride in the real impact our program makes for communities. I love hearing stories from small, local businesses that were able to double the size of their crew with access to easy, affordable financing solutions. It makes me very proud to hear how this program made the dream of going solar a possibility for a family who is trying to save money to make ends meet.
Even though each state has unique solar policies, so many things are a universal experience! Customers want to gain control of their energy costs. Everyone wants a path to do so that is easy and doesn’t have a lot of unnecessary barriers and is affordable.
Challenges Faced
Making connections with folks who haven’t heard of us or our track record of running great financing programs for over 10 years! We might be new to Texas, but we’re not new to solar financing. We’ve worked with small businesses and local lenders for over a decade, helping them grow and serve more customers.
Unique Contributions or Initiatives
In addition to the Smart-E Loan Program, IPC is proud to lead the Community Power Coalition, which was awarded $249.3 million under the EPA’s Solar for All program. This transformative program is designed to scale innovative residential-serving community solar and multifamily solar development and deliver meaningful benefits to low-income and disadvantaged communities across 46 states, including Texas, Puerto Rico, and Washington, D.C. If you are a community solar or multifamily solar developer, you can learn more about the program and sign up for our mailing listhere.
Future Outlook
We are really looking forward to adding more Smart-E lenders, expanding our list of eligible contractors, and serving more Texans in their journey to clean energy and energy independence.
Final Thoughts
To learn more about the Smart-E Loan program and how you can offer it to your customers visit our website.
So you’re thinking about joining the 3 million U.S. homeowners who have gone solar. Solar energy will help you save on your monthly electricity bills and combat climate change, but what needs to happen to get those solar panels on your roof?
Along with understanding the solar installation process, being familiar with your individual circumstances, like the age of your roof, can help you be a more informed solar consumer. Here are the steps to take to get powered by sunshine.
Choose a solar installer. An installer can help you determine if your roof is suitable for solar panels. Start by researching qualified, insured installers online or ask for recommendations from people who have gone solar. Comparison-shop by asking multiple installers to come assess your roof. Make sure your installer is licensed and certified by a reputable organization like the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. When reviewing your contract, make sure you understand the terms and don’t hesitate to ask questions. e la luz del sol.
Note: Your solar installer will guide you through the process and some companies will do everything else for you! But, here’s what else needs to happen:
Make sure your roof can support solar panels. A solar installer, roofing expert, or structural engineer can help you determine your roof’s solar suitability. It can help to know when your roof was installed or replaced, but if you don’t know and can’t ask the previous homeowners, your local government should have a record of when it issued the building permit. (It can often save you money if you install solar at the same time as a roof replacement.)
Determine your home’s solar potential. Aside from your roof’s condition, your home’s solar rooftop potential depends on your geographic location, the position of your home in relation to the sun, how much shade you have, and the PV system you and your installer choose. These mapping services and tools can help you find out how much sunlight will reach your solar panels, along with your potential cost savings from going solar, but your installer can assess this for you too. Note that online tools estimate our solar potential using remote data sources, like satellite data. For a detailed evaluation of your solar potential, talk to an installer.
Calculate your electricity needs. Reviewing your previous electricity bills can help you figure out how much power you need annually and seasonally. This is a good time to do a home energy audit to see whether you need to make any energy-saving home improvements so that you can get the most out of your system. Your installer can look at your bills to help you determine your current and long-term energy needs. Remember to consider any recent or future changes to your home that may affect your usage. For example, you may have just bought new energy-efficient appliances, or you could be planning to buy an electric vehicle that will need charging.
Evaluate your finance options. You can buy or lease a PV system. Buyers can either purchase a system outright or obtain a solar loan. When you own a system, you receive solar tax credits and incentives, but you won’t if you lease. Some solar loans allow you to take advantage of the federal investment tax credit up front by allowing the loan provider or solar installer to take the credit in exchange for a reduced system cost or loan amount. Leasing a system can go one of two ways: You can pay a leasing company a fixed monthly payment for the use of your PV system, or you can enter a power purchase agreement, meaning you’d buy the electricity your system generates based on a set price per kilowatt-hour.
Obtain permits and schedule inspections. Give your installer the information they need to obtain the permits and arrange the inspections that your local government requires. The PV system installation generally takes only a few days, but permits and inspections can take weeks to months. It depends on the local regulations in your area. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s SolarTRACE tool can give you an idea of how long it may take to complete the permitting, inspection, and interconnection process in your jurisdiction.
If your home is not suitable for rooftop solar, you can still get the benefits of clean energy by investing in a community or shared solar program. By going solar, you can play an active role in achieving the nation’s goal of a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035. For more information, visit the Homeowner’s Guide to Going Solar.
This blog post is part of the Energy Department’s Summer of Solar campaign, which lifts up stories of the diverse Americans who use solar energy and the communities that are making it easier to go solar.
Photo Credit: Residential solar project in Anchorage, Alaska, by Dennis Schroeder / National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Ready to turn your love for the environment into a fulfilling career? EarthShare Texas (ESTX) is excited to announce a wide variety of job opportunities from its member organizations working on conservation, sustainability, and environmental protection in the Lone Star State! Whether you’re just starting out in the green workforce or looking for a new challenge, there’s something for everyone who wants to make a real difference in our state and beyond.
Take a look at the job board at the link below for more details about open positions within the ESTX network.
Austin Energy has launched a new solar program that is the first of it’s kind in the industry. The Solar Standard Offer Program will let commercial customers lease out their rooftops and/or parking lots for solar installations—at no cost to themselves—and to be compensated for the solar power generated.
The program will allow property owners who might not otherwise have the finances, credit or possibly just not the interest to invest in solar themselves, to receive the benefits of solar. Participating solar contractors will finance, install and maintain the solar systems, and Austin Energy will purchase the energy produced at a set rate. System capacity must be between 50 kW and 10 megawatts.
The energy produced supports Austin Energy’s Community Solar Program, which offers renewable energy to residential customers, including low-income customers who participate in the Customer Assistance Program (CAP). The program contributes to the AE’s climate, affordability, and energy sustainability goals.
Program Participants
System Host: An existing Austin Energy commercial customer willing to host a community solar project on their property.
System Owner: Either the system host or a third party that leases space from the system host to install and operate a solar system for the Community Solar program.
Participating Solar Contractor: The solar installation company applying for permits and installs the solar system.
Applications opened on January 14th. See more details and apply:
Phase Two: Residential & Small Commercial Installations
The program is already preparing to expand! On Wednesday, January 29, Austin Energy hosted the first in a series of stakeholder meetings to develop this expansion to include small commercial and residential installations.
You can watch a recording of the meetingon YouTube.
At least two more stakeholder meetings will be held regarding this topic:
By Patrice “Pete” Parsons, NBA官方买球APP Executive Director
We are saying goodbye to a very busy, yet successful 2024, and are just as energized by the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in 2025. There is plenty to tackle. Although in many ways, last year marked some significant milestones for solar energy in Texas, with record-setting demand and installations (although mostly utility-scale), we recognize that maintaining this momentum is critical. There are forces in the Texas Legislature that would like to make it harder for solar to thrive, threatening grid reliability and increasing costs both for large- and small-scale solar.
With the 89th Legislative Session beginning on January 14th, NBA官方买球APP’s focus in 2025 will be on educating legislators, and tracking, supporting (or opposing) solar-related bills already filed this session. We are also helping develop language on legislation not yet submitted.
To this end, we will continue working with legislators, other organizations, and stakeholders, as well as our Business Members, who have been diligently collaborating on NBA官方买球APP Steering Committees created this year for this purpose.
Bills We Are Tracking
CONSUMER PROTECTION
HB 1640 (VanDeaver): Transparency and creation of a best practices guide for rooftop solar systems for homes. We will be supporting this bill.
SB 1036 (Zaffirini): Relating to the regulation of residential solar retail transactions; requiring an occupational registration; authorizing fees; providing civil and administrative penalties. We were helping with the language on this bill, which will affect the relationships between solar salesman, installations and consumer protection. Sen. Zaffirini’s office says that this will be the most important piece of legislation for her in this next session. I have been working with installers, AARP, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations and the Texas Solar Storage Association (formally Texas Solar Power Association) on the language. We think this will be a great bill if passed and will provide help to the industry at large.
Senator Zaffirini: Solar Financing (to be submitted): The Senator’s other piece of distributed solar legislation is focusing on the financing aspect of purchasing solar through lenders. This bill was a piece of legislation she introduced in the last session that received push-back from lenders. It also protects consumers who must begin paying on their loans before their installations start performing. We are working closely with the Senator’s office to be sure that consumers get the protection they need, but at the same time does not cause harm to the ethical body of installers in the state. Most installers fall into the latter category. We think this will be a great bill if passed and will provide help to the industry at large.
SOLAR-READY REQUIREMENTS
HB407 (Morales): Relating to solar compatibility for residential construction and making it a criminal offense to make fraudulent representations when making a solar sale. Also relates to municipal and county requirements for solar energy and device compatibility for certain residential construction. We will be supporting this bill.
TAXES
SB419 (Meza): Relating to the determination of the market value of solar energy property for ad valorem tax purposes (adding ad valorum taxes to homeowners for their solar installations.) We will be opposing this bill.
HOAs
HB431 (Cortez): Relating to the regulation by a property owners’ association of the installation of solar roof tiles. (HOAs, allows for solar homeowners to use solar shingles on their roofs instead of traditional panels. We will be supporting this bill.
NET METERING
HB 912 (Moody): Relating to the compensation of a distributed renewable generation owner in certain areas outside of ERCOT. This does away with net metering in El Paso. We will be opposing this bill.
SOLAR IN SCHOOLS AND CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
SB 799 (Menendez): Directs TCEQ to provide “assistance to public school districts to submit applications for federal and state funding for the installation and purchase of electric school buses and solar panels in public schools.” We will be supporting this bill.
Texas Backup Power Package (Johnson): Passed last session, but needs $1.8 billion appropriated still for backup power at nursing homes, hospitals, and other critical facilities. Must be capable of operating for at least 48 continuous hours, not more than 2.5 megawatts of load provides power sourced from: (A) a combination of natural gas or propane with photovoltaic panels and battery storage; or (B) battery storage on an electric school bus. We will be supporting this.
REGULATIONS ON UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR, WIND AND BATTERIES
SB 819 (Kolkhorst), HB 553 (Patterson): Relating to the permitting of renewable energy generation facilities by the Public Utility Commission of Texas; authorizing fees. It requires operators to obtain a permit from the PUC before construction or operation. It mandates setbacks, environmental impact assessments by TPWD, public notice, and hearings. It also creates a cleanup fund for facility removal. It will also will end use of Ch. 312 agreements. We will be opposing this bill.
As written currently, the bill will require anyone who wants to go solar, or already has solar, to get a permit and to notify surrounding neighbors up to 25 miles away, in the event they want to take issue. We are working to make sure that small scale solar is not included in this bill.
Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS):
HB 1378 (Troxclair) –Requires a municipality or county to prohibit energy storage within 500 yards of real property. HB 1343(Virdell) – Establishes a permitting process for batteries. It requires operators to obtain a permit from the PUC before construction or operation as well as fire mitigation, location and public hearing requirements.
SB1212: Relating to the interconnection and integration of distributed energy resources and Aggregated Distributed Energy Resources (ADER), which concerns small scale storage. By Senators Nathan Johnson & Sarah Eckhardt. We will be supporting this bill.
PUCRULE
In addition to efforts at the Legislature, NBA官方买球APP is also working with the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) to get a new utility interconnection rule created for distributed solar that will streamline the process and make it easier on the homeowner to get their solar turned on and begin receiving savings on electricity usage. This streamlined process not only helps the customer have access to their energy savings but will also eliminate some installer soft costs that can then be passed down to the consumer.
NBA官方买球APP is working on a new regulatory development that should improve the solar installation process for homeowners and smaller companies in Texas, if implemented. As distributed energy has increased in popularity throughout the state, the Public Utility Commission of Texas’ (PUC) rules for connecting distributed energy resources (DER)—small-scale energy sources like solar panels and battery storage—to the grid have not kept up. Current regulations were created years ago and meant mostly for large-scale solar installations. Their requirements often hinder the interconnection process for smaller-scale solar and make interconnection needlessly difficult, holding small- and large-scale DER to the same regulatory requirements despite operating at very different levels. NBA官方买球APP is working to develop language for the PUC for two new rulings intended to streamline the interconnection process for small-scale solar by distinguishing them from large-scale systems.
The new rules, intended to be implemented in 2025, are designed to save customers time and money. One will specifically address installations of 50kW and smaller (residential) and the other will target installations 50kW-2500kW (small to mid-size commercial). These should simplify the process for homeowners and small to mid-size businesses. The rulings will also cover community solar projects of these sizes and include residential-scale battery storage for the first time. By omitting unnecessary requirements and speeding up interconnection of small-scale DER, the rulings are expected to save customers money and allow them to begin reaping the benefits of distributed energy sooner.
Examination of the existing regulation, substantive rules 25.211 and 25.212, reveals why such a solution is beneficial. The rules apply broadly to any installation under 10MW connecting to the distribution grid. As of now, if application of a specific requirement seems inappropriate for a proposed DER system, customers only have two options. They or their installer can either agree with their utility on different requirements or petition the PUC for a good cause exception. Both options are complicated and time-consuming, meaning smaller customers often end up complying with unnecessary measures.
Examples of such measures include pre-interconnection studies, required communications, protective equipment, and approval timelines. In the status quo, utilities can mandate pre-interconnection studies for all customers – fees are prohibited for small-scale DER, but the study itself is not. The study can take up to four weeks, slowing down proceedings and costing utilities and customers alike more money. Additionally, customers must provide the utility with “detailed information” concerning proposed systems. Rule 25.211 specifies such communications are subject to PUC rules 25.84, 25.272, and 25.273, none of which directly correlate to DER. This muddles communications and further convolutes the interconnection process.
Furthermore, rule 25.212 requires all DER to include protective equipment to prevent tripping of utility system breakers. Small-scale distributed resources produce too low wattage to trip high-voltage utility breakers, so this measure is excessive and adds unneeded costs. Finally, the stipulated timeframe for interconnection is four to six weeks from a utility’s receipt of a completed application and two weeks’ notice for startup testing. Enforcing the same timeline for a simple residential system as a large commercial system is illogical. These examples demonstrate why holding small DER to the same requirements as large DER creates unnecessary hurdles which lengthen and complicate the interconnection process. NBA官方买球APP anticipates that its collaboration with the PUC to create separate rulings will correct these problems, thereby making interconnection faster and cheaper for small-scale DER customers.
Carly Rixham is the Executive Director for the American Solar Energy Society (ASES). She is the Editor, Publisher, and Art Director for Solar Today magazine. She received her masters in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology at the University of Colorado at Boulder where she researched microalgae for the production of biofuel. While studying in Boulder, Rixham served as Director of Arts and Sciences at CU Energy. She has taught biology and ecology at the university and high school levels. 
Jonathan Kraatz is the first Executive Director of the U.S. Green Building Council/Texas Chapter. In 2016, he facilitated the merger of four USGBC Texas chapters. Previously, Jonathan served as the Executive Director for the USGBC North Texas Chapter.
Robert Pegues joined the TexEnergy | Us-EcoLogic team in 2015 and holds the position of Quality Assurance Manager in the Single Family Division. Through his time with the company, he has become credentialed as a LEED for Homes Quality Assurance Designee, LEED Green Rater, National Green Building Standards (NGBS) Green Verifier, HERS Quality Assurance Designee, RESNET Rater Trainer, HERS Rater, and IECC Residential Inspector and plans examiner. Robert has also had an active role in development and advisement of the LEED for Homes version 4.1 protocol, LEED for Homes Production Builder certification review process, Energy Star 3.1 protocol, and 2018 IECC through North Texas Council of Governments Energy and Green Advisory Board. 
The Texas Solar Energy Society’s mission is Equitable Access to Solar Energy for Every Texan. Green building enables the efficient use of solar energy by reducing the total energy needed for a home or business, which in turn reduces the size of the required solar photovoltaic system. In this way, green building is foundational to and interwoven with the widespread adoption of distributed solar. This issue of the Solar Reflector focuses on green building: the requirements for residential green building certification, accessory dwelling units, and solar home tours, both locally and nationally.
Guest blog: Katherine Burk Cheema is a West Texas native and a proud Texas Longhorn Alumna. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her family, paddle boarding and kayaking. All opinions are her own. 
