11/8 – SEI Hosts Manufacturers Energy Forum

Friday, November 8th 2013

IMG_2745The Smart Energy Initiative, in conjunction with the Manufacturers Alliance of Chester and Delaware Counties, hosted an event Thursday morning for manufacturing firms with energy questions. The agenda included:

Benchmarking – Understanding where you are today
Developing an energy plan- Prioitizing first steps
Calculating ROI – Calculating project payback periods
On-site renewable energy – Is your site viable? Does it make sense?
Backup generation – Reducing or eliminating downtime due to grid interruptions Procurement -Leveraging your demand to buy energy, including clean energy, at a discount
Natural Gas – Can/should your company convert to natural gas?
Financing – Available resources and incentives to facilitate your projects

Thanks to our Sponsor!

Thanks to our Sponsor!

Speakers included:
Paul Spiegel
Practical Energy Solutions

Mark Fischer
PWI Engineering

A Case Study in Sustainability:
Walter D. Schroth, Chief Operating Officer
Eagle Design Group – Chester County

 

 

10/18 – SEI Training Grant Application Released

Friday October 18th, 2013

We are pleased to announce that the Smart Energy Initiative’s application for funding for ongoing incumbent worker training has been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry!

Retroactive to October 1st, these funds will be used to reimburse energy companies who train their existing workforce in the fields of energy efficiency, geothermal, solar PV, and compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles.

The first step is completing a training application by clicking here.

Contact Will Williams with questions, and stay tuned for more info!

 

9/27 – Sponsor needed for November’s Manufacturers Energy Forum

Friday, September 27th 2013

SEI and the Manufacturing Alliance of Chester and Delaware Counties have partnered to provide a program to answer manufacturer’s energy questions. We are looking for sponsors to help underwrite the cost of developing this event. Opportunities begin at $250! Read more about sponsorship by clicking here.Contact Jim Lauckner if you’re interested.

 

The event’s agenda includes:

Benchmarking
Developing an energy plan
Calculating ROI
On-site renewable energy
Backup generation
Procurement
Financing
SEI Advisory Services

Speakers include:
Paul Spiegel
Mark Fischer
A Case Study in Sustainability:
Eagle Design Group – Chester County

9/12 – Smart Energy Receives Training Funds for 2013-2014

Thursday, September 12th 2013

We are pleased to announce that the Smart Energy Initiative’s application for funding for ongoing incumbent worker training has been approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry!

Beginning October 1st, these funds will be used to reimburse energy companies who train their existing workforce in the fields of energy efficiency, geothermal, solar PV, and compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles. Training grant awards are contingent on a number of criteria; an application will be released next month.

Contact Will Williams with questions, and stay tuned for more info!

9/4 – Another Solar Career Moves Cohorts Completes Training

Wednesday, September 4th 2013

scm-blogStudents from the Philadelphia Solar Career Move program completed their three week intensive training session last month and are now prepared to make waves in the energy industry. This is an exciting opportunity for local employers to get highly skilled, pre-trained workers to help them meet their hiring goals in 2013 and beyond.

The Solar Career Move is a project funded by the Green Jobs Innovation Fund grant from the U.S. Department of Labor and is a part of the Jobs for the Future Greenways Initiative. It consists of a partnership between the Smart Energy Initiative, Infinite Solar, the Federation of Neighborhood Centers (FNC), the Job Opportunity Investment Network, and Philadelphia Works. The team members carefully screened over one hundred applicants to identify those individuals who best exemplified the qualities that lead to success in the skilled trades: ambition, math & reading proficiency, leadership experience in construction projects, reliability, and an entrepreneurial spirit.

The Federation was able to identify the 12 applicants that best demonstrated these qualities through a rigorous testing and interview process. They then put them through two full weeks of training in which they honed their math, electrical, mechanical, and professional development skills. Following this session, students participated in Infinite Solar’s week long, industry acclaimed Solar PV Hands-On Design and Installation Workshop. Now the students are preparing to take the NABCEP Entry Level Exam in a few weeks.

Read more about the Solar Career Move here or contact us to discuss hiring program graduates!

8/21 – EIA releases State Facts Sheets on Home Energy Use

Wednesday, August 21st 2013

CaptureThe US Energy Information Agency (EIA) just released the latest results of their Residential Energy Consumption Survey. Detailed information on the fact sheets cover many areas of interest:

  • Main heating fuel
  • Use of cooling equipment
  • Housing types and year of construction
  • Numbers of TVs and refrigerators
  • Overall energy use, electricity use, and expenditures
  • Residential consumption by end use (air conditioning, heating, appliances)

Key findings from Pennsylvania include:

  • Pennsylvania households consume an average of 96million Btu per year, 8% more than the U.S. average. Pennsylvania residents also spend 16% more than the average U.S. households for energy consumed in their homes.
  • Average electricity consumption in Pennsylvania homesis 10,402 kWh per year,which is lower than the national average, but 58% more than New York households and 17% more than New Jersey residents.
  • Pennsylvania has a lower percentage of apartment units and homes are typically newer than homes in the other Middle Atlantic states.

Read about the program here, and download the PA Fact Sheet by clicking here (PDF).

8/14 – Advantage Grant for Small Biz Energy Projects Closes September 6th

Wednesday, August 14th 2013

Small businesses in Pennsylvania can apply for 50-percent matching funds of up to $9,500 to adopt or acquire energy-efficient or pollution-prevention equipment or procedures. The grant application window closes September 6th!

Applicants must be a for-profit corporation, limited liability corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship or other legal entity with 100 or fewer full-time employees. The grant-supported project must be located in Pennsylvania, be owned by the applicant and save the business at least 25 percent plus $500 in annual energy consumption or in pollution handling or prevention related expenses.

Applicants may be manufacturers, retailers, service providers, mining operators or agricultural businesses. Eligible projects include HVAC and boiler upgrades, high-efficiency lighting, solvent recovery systems, waste recycling systems and auxiliary power units deployed as anti-idling technology for trucks.

The application deadline is Sept. 6. Eligible applications will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis from July 8 through Sept. 6 or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. Funding is eligible for those costs incurred between July 8, 2013and June 30, 2014.

Read more at the PA DEP website.

 

8/5 – Job Alert: Sustainability Administrative Intern in West Chester

Monday, August 5th 2013

SEI is pleased to post job openings from member companies and partners, as a means of effectively reaching qualified, local candidates in the smart energy industry. Additionally, SEI staff can review applications on you company’s behalf. If you’d liked to post a Job Alert, send descriptions and application instructions to Will Williams.

This is a student intern position located in West Chester, PA. Company is a communications electronics firm with a new organization-wide sustainability commitment. There is potential for this position to become permanent. Send resumes to Will Williams.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Data Management

  • Organize and file electronic documents; and
  • Use internal data management systems to maintain client and project records.

Data Entry

  • Tracking and logging of internal data, such as electric/water/waste invoices, to generate a corporate baseline

Other Administrative Duties

  • Assist in larger ongoing projects in multiple programs;
  • Attend internal meetings; and
  • Provide administrative support to Account Coordinators as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

  • Ability to learn quickly and adapt to a rapidly changing environment;
  • Ability to interface well with sustainability consultant company
  • Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail;
  • Ability to manage data files with strong attention to detail;
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills;
  • Capacity to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines; and
  • BA/BS in sustainability related field/major, or in final year of program in college.

Additional Preferred Skills

  • Interest in the Sustainability arena
  • Highly proficient with Microsoft Excel and Word.
  • Ability to interface with Accounting Dept
  • Familiar with carbon accounting a plus; but not required