Peter J. Arsenault, FAIA, NCARB, LEED AP
Peter is a registered architect, sustainability consultant, author, and speaker whose 38 year career includes design and planning for governmental, educational, health care, residential, and religious buildings. He shares his experience at seminars and conferences and has published over 140 national continuing education articles. Peter has led AIA Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) programs and is a member of the Advisory Board of the AIA+20...
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Sunshot
What IKEA can teach us about the future of solar and energy efficiency in Texas
The big box furnishings retailer is going 100% renewable by 2020. A new solar-powered store near Dallas is the latest step.
By 2020, IKEA aims to be completely energy independent. Over 90% of its United States locations already have at least some rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels, including a brand new 181,500 square foot, 1.25MW array on top of IKEA Grand Prairie. This is the company’s fourth rooftop solar installation in Texas.
The flat-pack furniture retailer isn’t alone: o...
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Five reasons solar PV is the future of clean energy in Albuquerque
Sun belt status
About 300 days of sunshine a year makes New Mexico’s most populous city an ideal candidate for solar PV. Albuquerque is one of the only major cities that receives, on an average day, more than six kilowatt hours per square meter of surface area.
Strong local leadership
Last September, the Albuquerque City Council voted unanimously to work towards getting 25% of the city government’s energy needs from solar by 2025. Several municipal facilities in the area have alre...
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National Market Survey for Architects, Engineers, and Design Professionals
The Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) needs insights from architects, engineers, and design professionals across the country.
BCAP is conducting a national market evaluation in 2017 to help better inform efforts to develop effective training for design professionals. Our overall goal is to support strong growth in the design industry for the benefit of architects, engineers, and their clients. Participants who complete the market survey will be entered to win one of six $100 Amazon g...
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What does the next chapter of energy efficiency look like for Austin?
by Kamaria Greenfield, BCAP
When Texans look to their state capital, they see a diverse and sprawling metropolis of just under a million people, a vibrant cultural and economic hub, and a downtown skyline undergoing rapid transformation. Less visible is the city’s long and continued commitment to the energy efficiency of its built environment. Austin stands as a fine example of how a city can go beyond minimum statewide requirements to give its residents a better, greener future. In additi...
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Miami takes the next STEP with solar training for design professionals
by Kamaria Greenfield, BCAP
As of last summer, Florida’s energy code incorporates Section 406 of the 2015 IECC: the Energy Rating Index. This provision – which includes a backstop to ensure an efficient building envelope – represents a huge opportunity to integrate the power of renewable energy into new building designs. With over 100,000 new housing unit permits authorized in 2015 alone, Florida is a state poised to have a huge impact on national building energy usage patterns in the coming ...
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How these 22 cities could shape the future of solar photovoltaics
by Kamaria Greenfield, BCAP
The year 2030 is a meaningful one across the world of energy efficiency and renewable energy. The Architecture 2030 challenge aims to have all new buildings, developments, and major renovations be carbon neutral by this date. As a result of the Paris climate agreement, many countries have made pledges to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions on this same timeframe. And last month, the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative announced their own 2030 targe...
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Trainers Wanted for National Solar PV Education Project
by Maria Ellingson
The Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) and the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) are seeking five licensed design professionals (architects and/or engineers) to serve as solar photovoltaic (PV) trainers. This project will utilize a peer-to-peer approach to deliver education and resource access to designers in 18 training workshops across the country. Funding for this project is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy SunShot Initiative’s Solar Training and Educati...
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Timely Solar Training for Design Professionals Coming Soon
by Maria Ellingson, BCAP Program Director
NOTE: This blog post is part of the SunShot Initiative’s series on solar and real estate. Read all the posts here.
Learn more about the SunShot Initiative and register for training here
America’s demand for solar energy is spreading - and fast. In just the last eight years, solar electricity generation has increased 30 fold and solar jobs are growing 12 times faster than the rest of the economy. Recent federal policies are making solar even more...
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Solar PV Subject Matter Experts Wanted for National Training Project
The Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) and the Center for Sustainable Energy (CSE) are seeking Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to help develop, review and perfect solar photo-voltaic (PV) training materials and messaging for design professionals. Incorporating solar energy into the design of buildings and homes not only saves future owners from the expense of adding solar later, but will reduce the operational costs of the building.
BCAP and CSE have been selected by the U.S. Department o...
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