Sample Policy, Program Documents and RFP Library

State Energy Program (SEP)

• Award: $56.5M (for FY 2022, formula-based) 
• Eligible Uses: This highly flexible funding source can be used by states to fund general energy efficiency and programs to increase deployment of clean energy technologies in buildings, among other energy sectors and activities. This may include building energy benchmarking and building performance standards, shared energy manager programs, and other innovative program types. An example of an SEP-funded project is Kentucky's School Energy Manager program for which $5 million from the state’s allocated SEP funds went towards hiring 49 energy managers to benchmark the energy use of and recommend energy improvements for 144 participating school districts. Eligible recipients for SEP funds are states. Formula-based allocations found here.

Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)

• State Energy Program (SEP)
  • Award: $500 million (one-time, formula-based & competitive)
  • Eligible Uses: As an additional infusion of funds towards the SEP through the IIJA, the same activity eligibility criteria apply (see above). Eligible recipients are states. Formula-based funding allocations for state and local recipients were released in August 2022. The deadline for applying to this funding was November 4, 2022. More guidance can be found here.
• Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG)
  • Award: $550 million (one-time, formula-based & competitive)
  • Eligible Uses: This funding source supports immediately deployable local-level projects and programs for reducing fossil fuel emissions and improving energy efficiency in the transportation, building, and other sectors. EECBG funds can be used for building weatherization and energy retrofits, energy improvement strategies informed by initial building performance benchmarking. Formula-based grants are issued directly to states, local, and tribal governments. Of the total $550 million grant, states receive 28 percent to redistribute across smaller local governments, while 70 percent goes directly to mid- and larger-sized local governments via formula-based allocations. The remaining two percent of the grant funding is set aside for competitive funding opportunities among entities that are not eligible as direct grant recipients. Formula-based funding allocations for state recipients can be found here. Application instructions and resources can be found here. States can apply for EECBG program formula funding through July 2023.
• Energy Efficiency Revolving Loan Fund Capitalization Grant Program
  • Award: $250 million (one-time capitalization grants, formula-based)
  • Eligible Uses: The IIJA offers $250 million in capitalization grants for states to establish revolving loan funds that provide loans to eligible recipients for commercial and residential energy audits and building upgrades and retrofits. Eligible recipients under the commercial sector include public buildings, buildings of nonprofit organizations, and industrial sector buildings. On November 15, 2022, DOE released the guidance documents for the grant program, including application instructions for the capital available under the program, the capital allocations for the program (including priority state allocations), an application checklist, the reporting template, and a template for declining funds for the program. The guidance documents also include the Administrative and Legal Requirements Document for the states. Applications by states for this program are due to DOE no later than April 21, 2023.
• Energy Improvements at Public School Facilities
  • Award: $500 million (one-time, competitive)
  • Eligible Uses: This funding will go toward energy efficiency (envelope, HVAC, lighting, controls, etc.), ventilation, renewable energy, alternative vehicles, and alternative fuel vehicle infrastructure improvements in K-12 schools. As such, energy improvement opportunities identified by existing K-12 focused shared energy manager programs may be financed by this funding. Eligible recipients are local educational agencies (school districts) and one or more partners, which could include non-profits, for-profits, and community partners. Local governments may also be included as eligible application partners. The announcement for the first $80 million tranche of funding was released in December 2022 and can be found here. The deadline for concept papers was 5:00pm ET on January 26, 2023, which were required to be eligible to submit a full application by 5:00pm ET on April 21, 2023. 
• Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation (RECI)
  • Award: $225 million (one-time, competitive)
  • Eligible Uses: This funding will go towards state-led activities related to building energy code adoption, enforcement, training, as well as “innovative approaches”, that includes building performance standards to address the energy performance of existing buildings. Eligible recipients are local educational agencies and one or more schools, non-profits, for-profits, and community partners. The formal funding opportunity announcement has been released by DOE as of December 2022, which can be found here. The submission deadline for an initial concept paper (which applicants must submit in order to be eligible to submit a full application) was January 31, 2023.

Sample Field Study Contractor Language

• NASEO's sample RFP for two field studies in southwestern states

• Clean Energy Communities
  The Clean Energy Communities (CEC) program is administered by the New York State Energy Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) and incentivizes municipalities in New York to implement clean energy and energy efficiency projects from a pre- approved list of “high-impact actions”, based on which they can pursue grant funding and recognition opportunities.
• Massachusetts Green Communities
  The Green Communities Designation and Grant Program was created by the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and designates a municipality a "Green Community" after they meet five criteria, upon which they can access grants to implement clean energy projects in public buildings and facilities. All municipalities, regardless of Green Community recognition status, can access technical support from DOER on conducting energy efficiency improvements.
  • Massachusetts DOER Municipal Energy Technical Assistance Grant Program 
    • In 2020, the DOER Green Communities Division made $250,000 available for municipalities to contract independent third parties for assistance with developing and managing energy projects. 
  • DOER: Green Communities Technical Assistance for Massachusetts Municipalities Request for Response  
    • A request for response published by the DOER during the first program year of Green Communities that solicits a qualified vendor to help municipalities meet Green Community criteria by performing initial site visits and developing action plans.
  • Regional Energy Planning Assistance Grant Program
    • In subsequent years of the Green Communities Program, DOER has offered Energy Planning Assistance (REPA) Grants to eligible Technical Assistance Agencies including Regional Planning Agencies to augment municipal capacity necessary to: 1) participate in the Green Communities Designation and Grant Program; and 2) advance clean energy projects in under-resourced municipalities. Linked is a bid solicitation for the 2021 REPA program year.
• Illinois Energy Now Trade Ally Program
  The Illinois Energy Now Trade Ally Program, which ran between 2012 and 2015, developed a network of industry experts and private energy service providers to train on statewide incentives and energy efficiency technology. The program then facilitated relationships between the public sector and private energy service providers and fostered competition through a recognition program for service providers that performed the most public sector energy efficiency upgrade projects. This program was created through a State Energy Program Competitive award in 2012 ($427,500).
• Focus on Energy and Wisconsin Utility's RFP for Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program Implementer
  Focus on Energy, an agency that offers resources, financial incentives, and implements energy projects on behalf of utilities across Wisconsin, released this request for proposal (RFP) for an experienced implementer for their Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program. The RFP seeks program designs that support the needs of multifamily building owners, property managers, and tenants; that target the affordable housing market; and that address the multifamily sector's unique "split incentive" of energy efficiency benefits between building owners and tenants.
• Michigan Battle of Buildings
  In its eighth year, the Michigan Battle of the Buildings is an annual program that recognizes commercial (including multifamily homes) and industrial buildings for reducing energy consumption and implementing energy efficient practices. Building owners benchmark their building energy use with ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and by participating in the program, join a network of building owners and operators, energy service and product providers, and financing institutions to exchange ideas.

Existing Toolkits and Resource Libraries

To access technical assistance on implementing building performance standards or benchmarking policies, please contact Caterina Hatcher and Brendan Hall from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) at (statelocal@energystar.gov).

• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards Policy Toolkit
  A Toolkit maintained by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that offers key resources, policy considerations, and strategies for using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager when implementing state and local benchmarking and building performance standards.
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Resources
  The full inventory of EPA's tools and resources for benchmarking policies and building performance standards
• U.S. Department of Energy Building Performance Standard Resource Library
  A comprehensive list of resources from U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) on building performance standards, including software tools for program implementation and guidance on target-setting.
• Building Performance Standards | Institute for Market Transformation
  A comprehensive list of resources from IMT for designing a city or statewide building performance standards.
• Model Ordinance for Building Performance Standards | Institute for Market Transformation
  A model ordinance for cities and states to adopt and customize in designing their own standards, which includes suggested administrative structures, performance metrics, compliance thresholds, and program deliverables.
• Comparison of U.S. Building Performance Standards | Institute for Market Transformation
  A matrix of all existing building performance standards in cities and states across the U.S.
• Comparison of U.S. Commercial Building Energy Benchmarking and Transparency Policies | Institute for Market Transformation
  A matrix of all existing commercial building energy benchmarking and transparency policies in cities and states across the U.S.
• NASEO Benchmarking and Building Performance Standards Policy Page
  A NASEO webpage that includes links to benchmarking ordinance and building performance standard development resources, lists existing state and local policies and programs, and provides policy design guidance.  

Training and Task Force Development

• Notice of Funding Availability - High-Performance Building Technical Assistance, Training, & Capacity Building | Washington, DC District Department of Energy and Environment
  Notice of funding issued by Washington, D.C. DOEE soliciting a third-party nonprofit organization to offer training, capacity building, and technical assistance to building owners, managers, and other building sector stakeholders towards complying with the city’s building energy performance standards program.
• Notice of Funding Availability - High Performance Building Innovation & Training Hub | Washington, DC District Department of Energy and Environment
  Notice of funding issued by Washington, D.C. DOEE soliciting a third-party organization to develop a hub or platform that captures examples from leading cities with high performance building initiatives and connect building sector representatives to collaboration, innovation, capacity building, training, and technical assistance opportunities.

Determining Final and/or Interim Performance Standards

• Understanding and Choosing Metrics for Building Performance Standards
  An EPA white paper that provides a framework and supporting analysis to help policymakers understand key differences among building performance metrics and select the best to apply to their jurisdiction’s building performance standards.
• Request for Proposals for consultants to develop energy utilization index targets for the commercial building energy performance standard. | Washington Department of Commerce
  Washington State Department of Commerce issued a request for proposal to determine the EUI-based benchmarking target for each property type subject to compliance under the Washington Clean Buildings Performance Standard.
• Required Retrocomissioning Scope | Boulder, CO Building Performance Ordinance
  Establishing retrocommissioning as a baseline energy saving measure, the building performance standard in Boulder, CO defines the required scope of retrocommissioning if not conducted by a local energy utility.

Program Assessment

• Notice of Funding Availability - Pathways to DC Building Energy Performance Standards | Washington, DC District Department of Energy and Environment
  Notice of funding issued by Washington, D.C. Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) soliciting a third-party organization to conduct a cost benefit study on the impacts of the city’s building energy performance standards program as mandated by the Clean Energy Omnibus Act of 2018.

K-12 Public Schools

• Kentucky School Energy Managers Project Case Study
  This case study summarizes the Kentucky School Energy Managers Project (SEMP), which used funding from the State Energy Program and partnerships with local investor-owned utilities to deploy 49 energy managers to implement energy management plans and identify energy savings opportunities across most school districts in Kentucky.
  • Kentucky School Boards Association and School District Sample Memorandum of Agreement – School Energy Managers Project
    This customizable memorandum of agreement was signed between each school district participating in SEMP and the Kentucky School Boards Association (KSBA) to develop a partnership for administering the energy manager program.
  • Kentucky SEP ARRA Final Project Overview – School Energy Managers Project
    This report describes the activities undertaken with grant funds towards SEMP, which included recruiting school district participants, codifying and advertising energy manager job description and performance requirements, conducting various trainings for the final energy manager candidates, and monthly reporting from energy managers on implementation of the ENERGY STAR 7-Step energy management process.
  • Kentucky SEP ARRA Final Project Goals – School Energy Managers Project
    This report presents the goals of SEMP and describes tasks accomplished under each goal. Goals of the program included creating a statewide network of energy manager professionals, supporting and coaching the energy manager workforce, introducing best energy practices for the energy managers, and developing and implementing procedures for timely reporting.
  • Kentucky SEP ARRA Final Project Partnerships and Regions – School Energy Managers Project
    This report provides details on the number of energy managers, school districts, and district partnerships engaged through the administration of SEMP, in addition to capturing a map of all participating K-12 school districts (144 out of Kentucky’s total 174 school districts).
• Rhode Island Municipal Energy Management Services Provider Solicitation
  This is an RFP document issued by the Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources (the State Energy Office) soliciting professional energy management services to support municipalities and school districts throughout Rhode Island. For more information, please contact Nathan Cleveland, Programming Services Officer at the Rhode Island Office of Energy Offices (nathan.cleveland@energy.ri.gov).
• School Uplift - Energy Efficiency Grants - TVA EnergyRight
  Tennessee Valley Authority, a federally owned electric utility, offers the School Uplift program that provides grant funding towards energy upgrades in under-resourced schools and offers energy management training to faculty, staff, and students on energy efficiency and conservation practices. The State of Tennessee has been a key partner in School Uplift, providing matching grants through the Energy Efficient Schools Initiative fund since the program's pilot.

All Public Buildings

• West Virginia Benchmarking and Transparency Initiative
  In 2018, the West Virginia Office of Energy, funded by a USDOE Competitive SEP Award, began a statewide Benchmarking and Transparency Initiative, using ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, and develop a comprehensive building inventory that led to the unanimous passing of HB 2667: Energy Savings in Public Buildings. This bill sets the state's first energy reduction goal of 25 percent by 2030, establishes a state benchmarking and disclosure policy and calls for a comprehensive performance contracting program. This initiative engages a cohort of agency stakeholders to benchmark state and municipal buildings, as well as university and high school staff and students to benchmark all K-12 school and higher education buildings.
• Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Local Climate Action Plan and Shared Energy Manager Program
  The Pennsylvania DEP offers the Local Climate Action Program (LCAP), an SEP-funded initiative that connects and trains local governments with students from Penn State University to collaboratively develop greenhouse gas emissions inventories and identify climate-related vulnerabilities on behalf of the local government. This collaborative effort offers a unique professional development opportunity for the students and results in the publication of a climate action plan for the municipality, which also then qualifies the locality to access free assistance from shared energy managers (third party engineering and energy professionals contracted by the state) to begin implementing energy efficiency improvement measures.

EV Infrastructure Programs

• EV States Clearinghouse
  The EV States Clearinghouse is a one-stop shop for state agencies as they plan for and implement EV infrastructure programs under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and includes example EV infrastructure RFIs and RFPs from the states. The Clearinghouse is a password-protected site for states only; state agencies may register for a free account.