Air Quality & Energy Conservation

Air Quality
&
Energy Conservation

If you can see through it and not smell it, it’s OK, right? Well, unfortunately, it’s not quite that simple. The Ozarks is quite fortunate to enjoy very healthy air, but it is healthy because of the hard work of individuals, business/industries, including local utilities, and volunteers. If you have a compromising health condition, you may want to sign up for air quality level alerts or find out where to check out air quality in real time.

Federal Webinars

The following webinars are being offered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies this month.

EPA webinars

Upcoming Webinars for State and Local Climate and Energy Programs

There are 32 upcoming webinars on climate and energy topics offered by federal agencies and others. All webinars are free of charge, but space may be limited or require registration in advance. Let us know if you have upcoming webinars you would like us to include in future newsletters. Our previous webinars can be found here.

Portfolio Manager. ENERGY STAR offers several webinars on Portfolio Manager every month. These webinars explain how to navigate different parts of Portfolio Manager, from basics to advanced features.

Find dates and register

Portfolio Manager – Ask the Expert. Every other Wednesday at noon, ENERGY STAR holds Portfolio Manager "Ask the Expert" webinars that give users an opportunity to ask their questions directly to EPA experts in an open forum. Want to talk to a “real” person? Have a question about how Portfolio Manager calculates your score? Want to learn more about switching to Green Power? Join this public forum to ask your Portfolio Manager questions.

US Department of Energy (DOE) webinars

Real Time Air Quality Data

State: Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Federal: EPA

EnviroFlash Get air quality information here

Volkswagen Trust Funds

Volkswagen Trust Funds

Electric Charging Stations in the State of Missouri

Department of Natural Resources awards $1.2 million for electric vehicle chargers through Volkswagen Trust

Springfield City Utilities

City Utilities

Electric Vehicle Charger Rebate program for new-home construction. Click here for more details.

EPA

There are 42 upcoming webinars on climate and energy topics offered by federal agencies and others. All webinars are free of charge, but space may be limited or require registration in advance. Let us know if you have upcoming webinars you would like us to include in future newsletters. Our previous webinars can be found here.

Federal Webinars

The following webinars are being offered by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal agencies this month.

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) webinars

February 21, 1 PM (ET) - Successful State Programs for Renewable Energy on Contaminated Sites

EPA’s RE-Powering America's Land Initiative is hosting this webinar to help you learn about common types of successful state programs, their impacts, and implementation tips. A panel of renewable developers focused on contaminated sites will describe how they have participated in state programs and how those programs have reduced the risks, improved the speed, and lowered the costs of their renewable energy projects on contaminated sites.

Portfolio Manager. ENERGY STAR offers several webinars on Portfolio Manager every month. These webinars explain how to navigate different parts of Portfolio Manager, from basics to advanced features.

Find dates and register

Community Change Technical Assistance (CCTA) Webinar Series

Webinars will occur every Tuesday through at least March 2024. These webinars will provide information on the content and requirements of the Community Change Grants (CCG) Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), available technical assistance, and answer questions about the grant application process.

February 20, 3 PM (ET) – CCG NOFO Track I Overview

February 27, 3 PM (ET) – CCG NOFO Track II Overview

March 5, 3 PM (ET) – CCG Community Plans: Engagement, Governance, and Strength

March 12, 3 PM (ET) – Complying with Federal Grants Requirements and Developing a Compliance Plan

March 19, 3 PM (ET) – Preparing a Grant Budget

Date To Be Determined, 3 PM (ET) – Project Evaluation

US Department of Energy (DOE) webinars

February 14, 12 PM (ET) - 2024 National Community Solar Partnership (NCSP) Annual Summit

The 2024 NCSP Annual Summit will convene NCSP members and other community solar stakeholders to learn about new and expanded tools and resources to accelerate community solar deployment, engage with community solar leaders from across the nation, and explore the roles organizations can play in rapidly deploying community solar to deliver benefits for all.

February 15, 1 PM (ET) - Addressing Existing Buildings: Building Performance Standards and Implementation Support Tools

In this webinar, speakers will discuss the use of Building Performance Standards (BPS) and outline best practices, tools, and financial incentives that can be leveraged to support BPS implementation.

February 29, 2 (ET) - Efficient and Healthy Schools Program Winter Webinar

Join the Efficient and Healthy Schools Program to receive support and guidance on 2023-2024 Recognition. This call will specifically focus on two recognition categories: Retrofit Revolutionary & Performance Pro.

March 21, 1 PM (ET) - Energy Code Enforcement Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Communities

With fewer building department staff, longer distances to travel between job sites, and less opportunity for workforce education and training, energy code enforcement can present unique challenges in rural communities. This webinar will highlight some of these specific challenges faced by code officials and others in the field and describe existing solutions and new opportunities to help improve code enforcement and compliance.

Building Energy Codes Program (BECP) Energy Code Webinar Series

Join the DOE Building Energy Codes Program for the 2023-2024 Energy Code Webinar Series! This monthly webinar series, regularly scheduled for the third Thursday of every month at 1 p.m. (Eastern), will provide an opportunity to learn, discuss, and engage on timely and important energy code topics throughout the year. Each monthly webinar will be presented across a range of engaging formats, from topic-based lectures to expert panels and interactive discussions.

February 15, 1 PM (ET) – Addressing Existing Buildings: Building Performance Standards and Implementation Support Tools Register Here

March 21, 1 PM (ET) – Energy Code Enforcement Challenges and Opportunities in Rural Communities Register Here

Better Buildings Webinars

The Better Buildings Webinar Series takes on the most pressing topics facing energy professionals, with new experts leading the conversations on proven best practices, cost-effective strategies, and innovative new ways to approach sustainability and energy performance.

February 27, 11 AM (ET) – Illuminating Impact: Integrated Lighting Campaign Gives Back to the Community

March 5, 11 AM (ET) – Getting a Handle on Clean Hydrogen

Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Competitive Program Energy Planning Webinar Series

This webinar series, hosted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in partnership with the Office of State and Community Energy Programs, provides training in valuable tools for EECBG Program recipients.

February 22, 2 PM (ET) – ResStock™ Analysis Tool Training Register Here

March 19, 12 PM (ET) – Financing Upfront Capital and Revenue Register Here

US Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) webinars

The Fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5) chapter webinars are an opportunity for you to hear about the findings of a particular chapter from the authors themselves. Each virtual one-hour event is expected to include some time for Q&A.

February 14, 3 PM (ET) – Human Health & Covid-19

February 15, 2 PM (ET) – Adaptation

February 16, 10 AM (ET) – International

February 20, 1 PM (ET) – Midwest

February 21, 4 PM (ET) – Transportation

February 22, 3 PM (ET) – Northeast

February 23, 11 AM (ET) – Southwest and Western Wildfires

February 27, 1 PM (ET) – Northern Great Plains

February 28, 3 PM (ET) – Air Quality

Other Webinars

These webinars are not offered by federal agencies, but EPA thought may be of interest to you.

February 15, 2 PM (ET) - Solar Adopter Income and Demographic Trends: An Update from Berkeley Lab

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory has released the latest edition of its annual report, Residential Solar-Adopter Income and Demographic Trends. In this webinar, report authors from Berkeley Lab will present their findings. Their presentations will be followed by a Q&A with the audience.

United States Energy Association (USEA) webinar

February 15, 1:30 PM (ET) - Supply Chain Challenges for the Energy Sector

This meeting offers insight into mining, oil & gas production, electric utility growth and product replacements that have been delayed at generation, distribution, bulk electric and transmission. The net zero or decarbonization and global geopolitical changes have made these issues even more pronounced in 2023-now.

EPA Publishes 28th Annual U.S. Greenhouse Gas Inventory

EPA Finalizes Ozone NAAQS, Retaining Current Standards

Carbon emissions dropped 17 percent globally amid coronavirus

Ozarks Clean Air Alliance

The Ozarks Clean Air Alliance (OCAA) is a voluntary, non-regulatory subcommittee of the Community Partnership of the Ozark's Environmental Collaborative. OCAA guides the region's education and outreach efforts to reduce the negative health and environmental effects of air pollution.

Transportation Tips:

Choose a cleaner commute – car pool, use public transportation, bike or walk when possible.
Combine errands to reduce mileage, “cold starts” of your vehicle and avoid extended idling.
Consider an electric vehicle or hybrid to conserve or avoid fossil fuels.
Keep cars, boats, and other engines properly tuned and avoid engines that smoke.
Follow gasoline refueling instructions for efficient vapor recovery. Don’t “top off” your gas tank. Be careful not to spill fuel and always tighten your gas cap securely.

For the Garden:

Use electric lawn equipment when possible. Consider purchasing electric equipment such as lawn mowers, weed eaters, and leaf blowers.
Use manual tools when possible. Consider purchasing manual equipment such as push reel mowers, rakes and hedge clippers.
If using gas-powered equipment, purchase a four-cycle engine. Four-cycle engines emit less air pollution than two-cycle engines.
Properly maintain your equipment. Follow the manufacturers guidelines; keep the underside of the mower deck clean; maintain sharp mower blades; periodically tune-up your equipment; change the oil and clean or replace filters.
Reduce mowing time. Use low maintenance turf grasses that grow slowly and require less mowing. Decrease your lawn area (mowing area) by planting more trees, shrubs and flowers.