May 2018
Newsletter
SEDAC Announcements

Energy Efficiency Planning: Benchmarking

Do you need help planning for energy efficiency? Perhaps you want to find ways to cut energy costs or develop a 5-year master plan to allocate building improvement funds.  SEDAC can help.  Email  info@sedac.org  or call 800.214.7954 to get started. Our quick advice is free for any business, organization, or public sector entity. 

We often recommend benchmarking as a  first step in energy planning.  Work with SEDAC, or use the ENERGY STAR® PortfolioManager®, to compare your building's energy performance to other similar buildings in similar climates. You can also benchmark a portfolio of buildings to identify the best and worst performers. The worst performing buildings usually have the greatest potential for improvement. 
Wastewater Treatment Plant Efficiency Program 

Find out how you can save energy and money in your wastewater treatment plant.  SEDAC and the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC), on behalf of the Illinois EPA Office of Energy, are providing free energy usage assessments to help municipalities reduce the cost of wastewater treatment.   

Apply now at sedac.org/wastewater, call us at 800.214.7954 or email us at info@sedac.org to get started. 

Funding has been provided in whole or in part by the Illinois EPA Office of Energy.
Illinois Energy Conservation Code Training Opportunities

Online On-demand Code Training. SEDAC, on behalf of the Illinois EPA Office of Energy, offers free online energy conservation code training modules that can be accessed anytime, anywhere. These modules provide introductory-level information about the Code for architects, building engineers, electricians, administrators, designers--anyone involved in constructing and designing commercial or residential buildings. We describe and clarify key provisions, explaining why they matter and providing suggestions for meeting requirements. 

These modules are based on the Code currently enforced (2015 IECC, with Illinois and Chicago amendments); modules will be updated to reflect the 2018 IECC provisions when they go into effect in 2019. 
 
You can receive continuing education credit from the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) and the Building Performance Institute (BPI) for completing our courses.  To access our courses, please go to sedac-energycode-training.thinkific.com . 
Missed an energy conservation code webinar or workshop? 
Watch past webinars here, and past workshops here. Webinars and workshops include "2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) Updates" and "Residential/Commercial Air Sealing, Infiltration & Ventilation."
Technical Support. Have a question about the Illinois Energy Conservation Code? Call SEDAC at 800-214-7954 or email us at energycode@sedac.org for technical support and individualized guidance . Our website, sedac.org/energy-code, also provides resources and information about the Code, including a FAQ page. 

Funding has been provided in whole or in part by the Illinois EPA Office of Energy.
SEDAC Resources for Libraries

SEDAC has provided technical assistance to over 90 public libraries across Illinois, identifying ways they can save energy and money and helping them implement energy savings recommendations. Check out our resources for libraries to get ideas and inspiration for becoming more energy efficient. 
Resources include: 
Net Zero Energy Grants for Buildings and Wastewater Treatment Plants

The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation is offering grants for buildings and wastewater treatment plants committed to achieving site net zero energy performance or better. The Foundation seeks to fund projects that take a holistic approach, maximizing energy efficiency in addition to offsetting all of their energy consumption with on-site generation from renewable resources.  

See the Net Zero Energy Building Program and the Net Zero Energy Wastewater Treatment Plants Program for more information about eligibility and how to apply. 
SEDAC Quick Tips

Thermostat wars
Do the women in your building complain about being cold? It isn't just that they are wearing short sleeves and dresses while the men are wearing suits and ties. 

A study published in Nature Climate Change found that temperature standards for buildings are often based on the metabolic rates of men, not women. Because of metabolic differences,  women typically feel colder than men and prefer a warmer room (77° F vs. 72° F). Other factors--age, size, clothing--also affect how people experience temperature.  
 
If temperatures are too cold or too hot, employee productivity goes down. For this reason, SEDAC recommends listening to building users and adjusting thermostat controls to help everyone be more comfortable. Bumping up the thermostat a few degrees in the summer (from 70° to 75°) will help female employees feel more comfortable and save energy and money, too. 
SEDAC is an applied research center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign,  
working in collaboration with 360 Energy Group. SEDAC provides technical assistance and performs research to reduce energy consumption. SEDAC also provides energy efficiency services to Illinois public sector agencies through the utility energy efficiency programs.  

sedac.org / 800-214-7954 / info@sedac.org
Providing effective energy strategies for buildings and communities