Communities Information Digest 11-13-13

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U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (Region 7)Communities Information Digest

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November 13, 2013

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Note: New items are in *asterisks*.

News

*Applications Now Being Accepted for Smart Growth Americas 2014 Free Technical Assistance Workshops*Smart Growth America is now accepting applications for its 2014 free technical assistance workshops. Communities interested in learningabout smart growth strategies are welcome and encouraged to submit an application for one of 12 types of technical assistance workshops.Smart Growth America's free technical assistance workshops program, now in its third year, helps city and regional leaders find solutions to

local issues and concerns. These workshops help participating communities to grow in ways that benefit families and businesses whileprotecting the environment and preserving a sense of place. Smart Growth America will again offer 12 types of workshops as part of the freeprogram. These include: Implementing smart growth 101 Planning for economic and fiscal health Regional planning for small communities Sustainable land use code audit Smart growth zoning codes for small cities Complete streets Walkability workshop/audit Transportation performance measurement

Parking audit

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Implementing transit-oriented development 101 Cool planning: local strategies to slow climate change Using LEED-ND to accelerate the development of sustainable communitiesHow to apply:Any unit or subdivision of local government, Indian tribe or regional government is eligible to apply for these free workshops.Communities should select one workshop per application; applicants may submit additional applications for more than one workshop.

Applications are due by Friday, December 6, 2013 at 5:00 PM EST.In addition to annual free workshops, Smart Growth Americas technicalassistance is available year round for a fee. Our expert staff can help your community achieve its development goals. Learn more on SmartGrowth America's website.

*EPA Releases Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data from Large Facilities*

Recently,the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its third year of greenhouse gas data detailing carbon pollution emissions

and trends broken down by industrial sector, greenhouse gas, geographic region, and individual facility. The data, required to be collected

annually by Congress, highlight a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions as more utilities switch to cleaner burning natural gas. The 2012

data show that in the two years since reporting began, emissions from power plants have decreased 10 percent. This is due to a switch from

coal to natural gas for electricity generation and a slight decrease in electricity production. The data are accessible through EPAs online data

publication tool, FLIGHT, which is available for both desktop and mobile devices. This year, with three years of data for most sources, FLIGHT

has been updated with new features, including the ability to view trend graphs by sector and facility, and download charts and graphs for use

in presentations and reports. The data are also published through EnviroFacts, which allows the public to download data for further analyses.Access EPAs GHG Reporting Program Data and Data Publication Tool:

http://www.epa.gov/ghgreporting/.Access EnviroFacts:http://epa.gov/enviro/.

*EPA Awards $400,000 to Communities to Reduce Water Pollution, Build Resilience to Climate Change- Communities in Rhode

Island, Michigan, Nebraska, Indiana, Arizona, and South Carolina will receive funding for green infrastructure*

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced $400,000 to help six communities expand their use of green infrastructure

to reduce water pollution and boost resilience to the impacts of climate change. The funding is in support of President Obamas Climate Action

Plan, which directs federal agencies to identify climate-resilient investments such as agency grants and technical assistance for communities

across the country. This new funding continues the agencys support for communities using green infrastructure to reduce water pollution and

protect human health while increasing economic activity and neighborhood revitalization, job creation, energy savings, and open space. Greeninfrastructure builds resilience to the impacts of climate change, particularly by reducing the burden on local water infrastructure. In the last

two years, EPA has provided $1.35 million to more than 20 communities for green infrastructure. To share lessons learned from green

infrastructure projects, EPA is releasing a series of reports highlighting the work of communities that received technical assistance from the

agency in 2012, including Denver, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Portland. To learn about the six communities, and for more information on the

green infrastructure assistance, progress reports and strategy visit:http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/greeninfrastructure/gi_support.cfm.

*EPA Recognizes WaterSense Partners of the Year for their Efforts in Promoting Water Efficiency*The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing its 2013 WaterSense Partners of the Year, including two partners whoreceived the first-ever WaterSense Sustained Excellence awards in recognition of their continuous high level of support. The Partner of the

Year awards program recognizes the commitment of WaterSense partners in promoting water efficiency to the American public. The award

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winners efforts, along with those of more than 2,700 other WaterSense partners, have helped Americans save 487 billion gallons of water and$8.9 billion in water and energy bills. View a list of winners and learn more about the 2013 Sustained Excellence Award winners, WaterSensePartners of the Year, and Excellence Award winners atwww.epa.gov/watersense.

*Energy Department Announces Topics and New Approaches for Grants to Small Businesses in Clean Energy Technologies*The Energy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) today announced new topics under its Small BusinessInnovation Research (SBIR) and Technology Transfer (STTR) program that will help small businesses develop innovative ideas and delivermarket-driven solutions. EERE's areas of interest range from energy-saving buildings and manufacturing to sustainable transportation andrenewable electricity generation.Click here to read the full story

*Energy Department Announces $60 Million to Drive Affordable, Efficient Solar Power*Building on President Obama's broad-based plan to cut carbon pollution and support clean energy innovation across the country, EnergySecretary Moniz announced today about $60 million to support innovative solar energy research and development. As part of theDepartment's SunShot Initiative, these awards will help lower the cost of solar electricity, advance seamless grid integration, and support agrowing U.S. solar workforce.Click here to read the full story.

Funding Opportu ni t ies

*December 16, 2013:Urban Waters Small Grants Program$40,000 to $60,000 each

December 16: Wells Fargo and the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation Environmental Solutions for Communities Grants ProgramGrants ranging from $25,000 to $100,000 eachhttp://www.nfwf.org/environmentalsolutions/Pages/2014rfp.aspx

*January 13:National Endowment for the Arts FY 2014 Our Town InitiativeGrants ranging from $25,000 to $200,000 each,

http://arts.gov/grants-organizations/our-town/grant-program-description

January 15:The Forest Services Community Forest and Open Space Program $4 millionhttp://www.fs.fed.us/spf/coop/programs/loa/cfp.shtml

February 20: National Science Foundations Energy for Sustainabilityhttp://www.grants.gov/web/grants/search-

grants.html?keywords=PD-14-7644

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Meetings, Conferences, & Events

November 18-20: Behavior, Energy and Climate Change (BECC) Conference 2013Sacramento, California http://beccconference.org/

November 18-20:2013 Louisiana Smart Growth SummitBaton Rouge, LAhttp://summit.cpex.org/register-now-for-the-2013-smart-

growth-summit/

November 20:2013 Massachusetts Smart Growth ConferenceBoston, MA.http://ma-smartgrowth.org/take-action/smart-growth-

conference/

November 20-22:GreenBuild 2013Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

February 10-12, 2014:Forward Thinking on the Front Range: A Smart Growth TourDenver, Colorado

February, 13-15, 2014:New Partners for Smart Growth Annual ConferenceDenver, Coloradohttp://newpartners.org/

*March 27-29: National Green Schools Conference, Sacramento, Californiahttp://greenschoolsnationalnetwork.org/conference/

*May 18 -20:2014 National Main Streets ConferenceDetroit, Michigan

June 4-7:22nd Annual Congress for New UrbanismBuffalo, New York

Webinars & Conference Calls

*Nature Explore Classroom (Arbor Day Foundation and KAB) Webinar, Nov. 13, 2013, 3-4 p.m.*This Webinar is designed to provide evidence-based solutions for creating nature-rich outdoor classrooms that offer children meaningful, daily

connections with the natural world. Research shows these outdoor classrooms support childrens skill development across all learningdomains. Learn how school-community-family connections are fostered in this innovative project. The Arbor Day Foundations and DimensionsEducational Research Foundations collaborative Nature Explore program works with Keep America Beautiful (KAB) in diverse communitiesand in varied settings to encourage and support the development of certified Nature Explore Classrooms. These outdoor classrooms supportwhatever curriculum a school may be using. through creation of a well-designed space that allows for bringing regular classroom activitiesand learning outdoors on a daily basis. This presentation will look at examples of completed projects and learn about their positive impact onchildren, families, community and the environment. Registerhere.

*Sensible Steps for Mold and Moisture Control in Schools (EPA) Webinar Nov. 19, 2013, 3-4 p.m.*This webinar will provide current information about the health effects of mold; you will learn ways to prevent moisture and condensationproblems; and get the most up-to-date information about mold removal. Registerhere.

*ENERGY STAR Webcast: November 20, 1:00-2:00 PM (EST)Water: Benchmarking and Best Practices from WaterSense*

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Organizations can track their facilities water use along with energy use in Portfolio Manager to increase efficiency and improve performance.This webinar will feature the water management features in Portfolio Manager and give an overview of water trends in the thousands offacilities across the country that already use these features. Next the WaterSense program will discuss ways to save water and energy withWaterSense labeled products and best management practices. Finally, examples and case studies will detail improvements made in facilitiesand lessons learned along the way.Register Now.

*Department of Energy (DOE) Webcast: November 20, 3:00-4:00 PM (EST)Stakeholder Engagement and Outreach Webinar: Jobsand Economic Development Impacts of Offshore Wind*Starting more than a year ago, NREL initiated work to expand the Jobs and Economic Development Impacts (JEDI) model to include fixed-bottom offshore wind technology. Following the completion of the model (and in partnership with the DOE Wind Program, Illinois StateUniversity, and James Madison University), NREL supported the analysis of the regional jobs and economic impacts of offshore wind for theGreat Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Gulf Coast regions. The November Stakeholder Engagement and Outreach webinar will provide anoverview of the new offshore wind JEDI model and review the four assessments that have been completed. Advance Registration is notrequired. Login informationhere.

*ClimateChangeLIVE Education Resources HighlightsPart 1 (USFS) Webinar, Nov. 20, 2013, 7:30-9:00 p.m.*ClimateChangeLIVE distance learning adventure, brings you a wealth of climate change education resources and programs from 17 Federalagencies and non-profit organizations! We offer educators, a source of trusted, science-based materials, which are correlated to scienceeducation standards. This webinar will highlight climate change education resources and programs from four of our partners. NOAA has awealth of climate change education resources and programs to share with you. Learn about citizen science opportunities from ProjectBudburst. The Department of Energy will share the BITES (Buildings Industry Technology Electricity Scenarios) Tool which students can useto make policy changes in the four sectors and run scenarios to see how their changes impact CO2 output as well as primary energy sourcedependence. DOE will also highlight a variety of reliable sources of information related to energy concepts and data. National WildlifeFederation will highlight their Eco-Schools program and how you can move your school toward sustainability.Registerhere.

*EPA Webcast: November 21, 1:00-2:30 PM (EST)Energy Efficiency Costs and Savings at the National Level*Join us for next webinar in an ongoing series of Evaluation, Measurement, and Verification (EM&V) webinars for state agencies and officials.Topics covered in this webinar include the Energy Information Agency's (EIA) approach to capturing energy efficiency in their Annual EnergyOutlook (AEO) electricity forecast. We will also hear from national experts about new data on the costs to utilities and other programadministrators of acquiring energy efficiency savings. This webinar is hosted by EPA in conjunction with DOEs SEE Action EM&VWorkgroup. Registration information will be availableheresoon.

*ENERGY STAR Webcast: November 21, 1:00- PM (EST)Portfolio Manager Office Hours*Join this open session to ask your questions about the new Portfolio Manager tool. Portfolio Manager expert and technical team lead,

Alexandra Sullivan, will be answering questions on the general features and calculations of Portfolio Manager which are applicable toeveryone. Please note that property specific questions, such as why/how your propertys metrics have changed or why the tool shows certainvalues for particular years need to be investigated by an ENERGY STAR analyst to review your account, so please submit those questions onthePortfolio Manager website.Register Now

*NACo Webcast: November 21, 2:00-3:15 PM (EST) - Grow Your Countys Green Building Industry Webinar*

Building green provides many benefits: efficient operations, higher property value, comfortable and healthy spaces, creation of skilled jobs,and more. County governments can support local construction economies and meet growing demand for green buildings with thoughtfully

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designed policies, mandatory codes, and voluntary incentive programs. In this National Association of Counties webinar, the second of two,speakers will discuss best practices and common pitfalls of implementing county strategies, and highlight counties where these approachesare being piloted.Register Now

*Renovate Right: EPAs Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Program at Schools (EPA) Webinar, Dec. 17, 2013, 3-4 p.m.*In this webinar you will learn about the health effects of lead on children and how the RRP Rule applies to K-12 schools. You will also discoverways that school and early learning professionals can protect their students from lead poisoning.Registerhere.

Green Schools

*USDA Celebrates National Farm to School Month*

Nationwide Census on Farm to School Activities Identifies Over 38,000 Schools with 21 Million Students Serving Over $350 Million in LocalFood. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently highlighted important strides made in offering healthy, local food to millions of schoolchildren through USDA's Farm to School program, and emphasized the program's role in creating economic opportunity for America's farmersand ranchers. According to USDA's first-ever Farm to School Census, in school year 2011-2012, schools participating in farm to schoolactivities purchased and served over $350 million in local food, with more than half of participating schools planning to purchase even morelocal foods in future school years. USDA is focused on improving childhood nutrition and empowering families to make healthier food choicesby providing science-based information and advice, while expanding the availability of healthy food. America's students now have healthier and more nutritious school meals due to improved nutrition standards implemented as a resultof the historic Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010. USDA's MyPlate symbol and the resources at ChooseMyPlate.gov provide quick, easy reference tools for parents, teachers,healthcare professionals and communities.

USDA awarded $5.2 million in grants to provide training and technical assistance for child nutrition foodservice professionals andsupport stronger school nutrition education programs.Collectively these policies and actions will help combat child hunger and obesity and improve the health and nutrition of the nation's children.For more information on the Farm to School program, please visitwww.fns.usda.gov/farmtoschool.

*EPA Announces Funding for StudentsInnovative Green Technologies*U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced the 2013 recipients of EPAs People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) Phase Igrants. Forty teams of graduate and undergraduate students from across the country are each receiving a $15,000 grant for researchproposals that develop solutions to real-world environmental challenges. Each team will use the award to develop their projects throughout theacademic year. In the spring, they will travel to Washington, D.C., to participate in the annual National Sustainable Design Expo. While at theExpo, teams will share their designs and compete for EPAs P3 Award and a Phase II grant of up to $90,000 to further develop their projects.

Team projects are judged by a panel of environmental experts. In the past, P3 Phase II teams have gone on to create small businesses, whichare helping to further Americas green economy. More information on the 2013 Phase I P3 awardees:http://www.epa.gov/ncer/p3/current/.

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More information on the P3 program:http://www.epa.gov/P3.To learn more about Lucid Design visit:http://www.luciddesigngroup.com/index.html(not an EPA website; learn more:http://www2.epa.gov/webguide/exit-epa).

*Nature Explore Classroom (Arbor Day Foundation and KAB) Webinar, Nov. 13, 2013, 3-4 p.m.*This Webinar is designed to provide evidence-based solutions for creating nature-rich outdoor classrooms that offer children meaningful, dailyconnections with the natural world. Research shows these outdoor classrooms support childrens skill development across all learningdomains. Learn how school-community-family connections are fostered in this innovative project. The Arbor Day Foundations and DimensionsEducational Research Foundations collaborative Nature Explore program works with Keep America Beautiful (KAB) in diverse communitiesand in varied settings to encourage and support the development of certified Nature Explore Classrooms. These outdoor classrooms supportwhatever curriculum a school may be using. through creation of a well-designed space that allows for bringing regular classroom activitiesand learning outdoors on a daily basis. This presentation will look at examples of completed projects and learn about their positive impact onchildren, families, community and the environment. Registerhere.

*Sensible Steps for Mold and Moisture Control in Schools (EPA) Webinar Nov. 19, 2013, 3-4 p.m.*This webinar will provide current information about the health effects of mold; you will learn ways to prevent moisture and condensationproblems; and get the most up-to-date information about mold removal. Registerhere.

*Green Ribbon Schools Award Program for State of CaliforniaApplications Due December 27*The U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools (ED-GRS) recognition award honors schools that are exemplary in reducingenvironmental impact and costs; improving the health and wellness of students and staff; and providing effective environmental andsustainability education, which incorporates science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), civic skills and green careerpathways. The recognition award is part of a larger U.S. Department of Education (ED) effort to identify and disseminate knowledge aboutpractices that are proven to result in improved student engagement, higher academic achievement, and graduation rates, and workforcepreparedness, as well as a government-wide goal of increasing energy independence and economic security. K-12 public and private schools,early learning centers, and school districts are eligible for ED-GRS. APPLY NOW: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/fa/sf/greenribbonprog.asp

*Updated EPA Guidance on PCBs in Schools*EPAs updated guidance on PCBs in fluorescent light ballasts (FLBs) for school administrators and maintenance personnel is now availableon the EPA website. The guidance is available at:http://www.epa.gov/wastes/hazard/tsd/pcbs/pubs/ballasts.htm.

*Two New Mexico High Schools Powered by 80% Solar*Rio Rancho Public Schools of Rio Rancho, New Mexico have announced the completion of two solar arrays, one each at Cleveland and RioRancho High Schools; each array is approximately 1,200 kilowatts (kW). The arrays are expected to produce 4,650,000 total kilowatt-hours(kWh), enough electricity to cover roughly 80% of the two high school's annual power usage. Washington Gas Energy Systems owns andoperates the arrays under a 20-year power purchase agreement, selling electricity to the school district at a lower rate than what the schooldistrict typically pays. The school district plans to redirect the saved funding toward other academic priorities and needs. For more information,please visit:http://apps3.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/news/news_template.shtml?id=1872.

*March 27-29: National Green Schools Conference, Sacramento, Californiahttp://greenschoolsnationalnetwork.org/conference/

EPA Region 7s Healthy Schools Toolkit Provides New Online Resources for School Professionals, Providers and the PublicAs schools across the country are returning to classes, EPA Region 7 is introducing a suite of new, free web-based resources designed to

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help school administrators and service providers keep school buildings and facilities clean, green and healthy.EPA Region 7s HealthySchools Toolkit, available online atwww.epa.gov/region7/citizens/schools/toolkit.htm,consists of more than 50 educational and informationaldocuments structured around 15 separate subject areas: Asbestos, Chemical Cleanout, Composting, Energy Star, Green Cleaning, HealthySchools, School Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Lead, Mercury, Mold, PCBs, Radon, Rain Barrels, Rain Gardens and Recycling.Materials include PowerPoint presentations, fact sheets, brochures, flyers, and lists of helpful resources and contact information, all groupedby subject. The toolkit is part of EPA Region 7s Healthy Schools Initiative, which provides one-stop online access to programs and resourcesthat can help prevent and resolve environmental issues in schools:www.epa.gov/region7/citizens/schools.School representatives withquestions or comments about the new Healthy Schools Toolkit are urged to contact Kathleen Fenton, EPA Region 7s Healthy Schools

Coordinator, at 913-551-7874, [email protected]'s Children's Health Office Environmental Technical TrainingBelow is a collection of training for Healthy Homes and Healthy Schools, and Child Care Facilities. National Healthy Homes Training:http://www.nchh.org/Training/National-Healthy-Homes-Training-Center.aspx.Healthy Child Care Information for Child Care Providershttp://www2.epa.gov/childcare/healthy-child-care-information-child-care-providers.Healthy School Webinars:http://www.epa.gov/schools/webinars.html.Please note recordings from previous webinars are located on a few of these sites too. EPAChildcare website:http://www2.epa.gov/childcare.For more information, contact the EPA Regional Childrens Health Coordinators:http://www2.epa.gov/childcare/key-epa-contacts.

EPA New Sensible Steps Webinar Series

November 193:00p.m. Eastern -Sensible Steps for Mold and Moisture Control In Schools

December 173:00p.m. Eastern -Renovate Right: EPAs Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) Program at Schools

Participants will receive a certificate of completion for each webinar.

Other Commun ity-Related Info rmation & Events

*Energy Efficient Communities Can Compete for $5 Million Prize*As a nation, we have yet to fully tap into the enormous potential that energy efficiency offers to get more from existing resources, supportincreased resource productivity and economic growth, and enable individuals and entire communities to save money. The $5 millionGeorgetown University Energy Prize is calling on all partiescommunity members, local government, and utilitiesto work together to reduceper capita energy use in a substantial and lasting way. Although only one community will win the $5 million prize, all participants will receiveaccess to one-on-one technical assistance, annual workshops, case studies from other communities, tips for household energy conservation,opportunities to apply for seed grants, and direct engagement with federal policymakers. Interested community representatives can completea Letter Of Intent and sign up for updates as the competition prepares to kick off in 2014. To find out if you live in one of the 8,892 U.S.

communities eligible to compete, and to learn how the Georgetown University Energy Prize can help your community showcase its leadership,ingenuity, and commitment to improving energy efficiency, please visitwww.guep.org. For regular updates on the Georgetown University

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Energy Prize, follow the competition on Twitter at @GUEnergyPrize. Web Link:http://www.guep.org

*Energy Department Announces Partnerships to Help Deploy Combined Heat and Power, Boost Industrial Efficiency*Underscoring President Obama's Climate Action Plan to cut harmful emissions and double energy efficiency, the Energy Department is takingaction to develop the next generation of combined heat and power (CHP) technology and help local communities and businesses make cost-effective investments that save money and energy. As part of this effort, the Department launched today seven new regional Combined Heatand Power Technical Assistance Partnerships across the country to help strengthen U.S. manufacturing competitiveness, lower energyconsumption, and reduce harmful emissions.Click here to read the full story.

*Training Opportunities with ENERGY STAR*Before heading out on vacation for turkey, pumpkin pie, and all your other Thanksgiving favorites, be sure to get yourself an extra helping ofenergy efficiency trainings! Join EPAs ENERGY STAR program for commercial buildings to learn about a wide range of topics, includingenergy competitions, benchmarking water use, leveraging the ENERGY STAR brand in communications, and using the new Portfolio Managertool. To register for upcoming trainings, click the links below or visitesbuildings.webex.com.If you wont be able to attend, you can still viewrecorded trainings at this site (click View Event Recordings in the upper right-hand corner of the screen). If you have any questions, [email protected].

*SunShot Announces $60 Million to Drive Affordable, Efficient Solar Power*Building on President Obamas broad-based plan to cut carbon pollution and support clean energy innovation across the country, the SunShot

Initiative has announced $60 million to support innovative solar energy research and development. The awards will help lower the cost of solarelectricity, advance seamless grid integration and support a growing U.S. solar workforce.Click here to learn more.

*EPA Honors Freight Industry Leaders for Environmental Achievements*

EPA is honoring 55 companies as industry leaders in supply chain environmental and energy efficiency with its 2013 SmartWay Excellence

Awards. These awards go to companies that have demonstrated outstanding achievements in reducing carbon pollution and other harmful

emissions as they move goods across the U.S. more efficiently. EPA launched the SmartWay partnership program in 2004 to help the freight

industry improve environmental performance. Since then, SmartWay Partners have saved 65 million barrels of oil. This is equivalent to taking

over 5 million cars off the road for an entire year. SmartWays clean air achievements (28 million metric tons of carbon dioxide, 478,000 tons

nitrogen oxides, and 22,000 tons of particulate matter reduced) help to protect the health and well-being of citizens and provide for a more

competitive business environment. More information on SmartWay:http://www.epa.gov/smartway/ .List of Excellence Award recipients:

http://www.epa.gov/smartway/partner-resources/awards.htm.

*Energy Department Announces Winners of Housing Innovation Awards*The Energy Department announced winners of the first- ever Housing Innovation Awards, recognizing 46 diverse industry leaders bringing thebest in energy efficient building technologies and design to new and older homes and helping households save money.The competition, coordinated by theEnergy Department's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy,offered rigorous applicationcriteria within four building categories:DOE Challenge Home Builders,Home Performance with ENERGY STARParticipating Contractors,Excellence in Building Science Educator of the Year, andBuilding America Top Innovations.The Housing Innovation Awards recognizeleading builders, contractors, researchers, national laboratories, and building science organizations who are helping communities across thecountry save money and energy and are leading the way to affordable, comfortable, zero net-energy ready homes. The Housing Innovation

Awards support the Energy Department's commitment to help harness American ingenuity to commercialize and deploy cutting-edge

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technologies, as well as to promote improving the energy efficiency of the U.S. housing stock.Click here to read the full story.

*DOT Awards University Transportation Centers $63 Million*

The U.S. Department of Transportations (DOT) on September 26 announced approximately $63 million in grants to 33 UniversityTransportation Centers to advance research and education programs that address critical transportation challenges. The selected universitieswill research a wide range of transportation-related issues including: improving health and safety for all users of the transportation system,including bicycles, pedestrians, and transit modes; reducing carbon emissions and other environmental impacts of transportation through a

transition to zero-emission vehicles and fuels; and evaluating how increasingly autonomous vehicles affect driver behavior, safety, andperformance. See theDOT press releaseand thelist of grant recipients.

*Bicycle-Friendly Communities Announced*The League of American Bicyclists recently announced its annual selection of Bicycle Friendly Communities (BFC). Several suburban towns,including Menlo Park, California; Elmhurst, Illinois; and Ferguson, Missouri were chosen for the award, demonstrating that large urban centersaren't the only areas making biking better for millions of Americans. From the latest round of applications, the League chose 32 new BFCs,growing the overall number to 291 BFCs in 48 states. The BFC program provides cities and towns with a roadmap and know-how to makeeffective investments and take meaningful steps to increase bicycling in their communities.For more information, please visit:http://www.bikeleague.org/content/suburbs-join-rise-bicycle-friendly-communities.

*Report: U.S. States Advancing Energy Efficiency*

States have been essential to the progress the United States has made in using energy more efficiently, according to a new paper released onSeptember 24 by the National Governors Association (NGA). States play a critical role in advancing energy efficiency and are supportingefforts to help consumers lower their energy costs, reduce state energy expenditures, defer the need for new power plant investments,strengthen system reliability, and reduce environmental impacts. According to the paper, governors have worked with legislators, regulators,and others to advance energy efficiency in a variety of ways. Examples of recent state actions include conducting energy planning to analyzepotential energy savings and explore best practices, improving energy efficiency rules and standards for buildings and appliances, and usinginformation technology to spur enhanced energy savings by consumers and businesses. See theNGA press release.

EPA Honors 24 Organizations for Green Power Leadership

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency presented its 13th annual Green Power Leadership Awards to 21 Green Power Partners and threesuppliers for their achievements in advancing the nations renewable electricity market. By using green power, communities, businesses andorganizations can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, support Americas growing renewable energy industry, improve publichealth, and help transition the United States to cleaner energy sources. The winning organizations are recognized for dramatically increasingtheir green power purchases, installing large-scale solar panel arrays, and leading innovative renewable energy procurement efforts, amongother actions. To view the 2013 Green Power Leadership Award winners, visit:http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners.htm.

*USDA Awards $14 million for Smart Grid Technology*The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on October 24 announced funding for rural electric utility system improvements, including morethan $14.3 million to implement smart grid technology and nearly $11 million to improve electric service for Native Americans.

In Georgia, the Colquitt Electric Membership Corporation will receive a $9.8 million loan guarantee for smart grid projects. And in New Mexico,the Sierra Electric Cooperative's $4.3 million loan guarantee includes $536,000 for smart grid projects. With this latest announcement, the

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Obama Administration has invested $152 million in smart grid technologies nationwide during 2013. See theUSDA press release.

*New Book: Measuring Urban Design: Metrics for Livable Places*

This new book provides researchers, designers, planners, and lay people with an empirically tested tool to measure the elusive qualities thatmake us want to take a stroll down a neighborhood street. The book contains illustrated, step-by-step instructions and a scoring sheet foreasy calculation of urban design quality scores. Operational definitions are included, as well as measurement protocols for five intangiblequalities of urban design: imagability, visual enclosure, human scale, transparency, and complexity. For more information, please visit:http://islandpress.org/ip/books/book/islandpress/M/bo8383101.html?utm_source=Ewing+MUD+50-70%25+email+2013%2F10%2F24&utm_campaign=Author+Reid+Ewing+50-70+book+eblast&utm_medium=email.

*Energy Department Invests $12 Million to Slash Red Tape and Speed Solar Deployment for Homes and Businesses*As part of the Obama Administration's efforts to ensure America's continued leadership in clean energy and double renewable electricitygeneration once again by 2020, the Energy Department today announcedeight teams to spur solar power deploymentby cutting red tape forresidential and small commercial rooftop solar systems.Click here to read the full story,

*Energy Department Announces Federal Energy and Water Management Awards*The Energy Department today recognized 25 winners across the federal government as recipients of the 2013 Federal Energy and WaterManagement Awards. These annual awards highlight federal agencies' commitments to lead the nation in implementing efficiency measures

to improve energy, water, and vehicle fleet management that save taxpayer money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Click here to readthe full story.

*Draft EPA Office of Water Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plan Released for Public Review and Comment*EPA has released its draft Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plans for public review and comment, including the plan of the Office ofWater. The implementation plans provide detailed information about the actions EPA plans to take to help communities adapt to a changingclimate. The impacts of a changing climate, including increased extreme weather, floods, and droughts, affect EPA's work to protect clean airand water. The Draft EPA Climate Change Adaptation Implementation Plans recognize that EPA must integrate climate adaptation planninginto its programs, policies, rules, and operations to ensure that the Agency's work continues to be effective even as the climate changes. TheOffice of Water's Plan provides an overview of the opportunities available within the EPA to respond to the challenges that a changing climateposes to protect the quality of national water resources and drinking water. The public comment period closes on January 3, 2014. For more

information, visit theEPA Adaptation Implementation Plans page.

*EPA Updates its Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Communities*Earlier this year, EPA released an updated version of itsSustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments(PDF),designed to help local governments identify and remove barriers to sustainable design and green building in existing codes and ordinances.The toolkit discusses codes and ordinances that would affect the design, construction, renovation, and operation and maintenance of abuilding and its immediate site. The toolkit includes an assessment tool and resource guide, along with a guide to developing an action planfor implementing changes within a communitys permitting process.

*Energy Department Launches Alternative Fueling Station Locator App*As part of the Obama Administration's commitment to expand access to data and give consumers more transportation options that save

money at the pump, the Energy Department today launched a new mobile app to help drivers find stations that provide alternative fuel for