BPI classes at a greatly reduced price

In partnership with the SC Energy Office - Midlands Technical College will offer Building Performance Institute [BPI] Weatherization/Energy Efficiency classes at a reduced price for a limited time.

They will be offering BPI Building Analyst classes in January 2012 at a per student costs of $500/student. List price for the class is $1620/student so this is an extremely good deal, but it is currently only available for the classes listed below. Funding is limited so registrations will be on a first come first serve basis. Please enroll today to reserve your seat.

· BPI Building Analyst class, January 9 – 15, 12 students max
Course number: CEWEZ-506-28

· BPI Building Analyst class, January 16 - 22, 12 students max
Course number: CEWEZ-506-29

· BPI Building Analyst class, January 23 - 29, 12 students max
Course number: CEWEZ-506-30

All classes will be held at the Airport campus in the RSC Building. Classes will begin promptly at 8 AM – 5 PM M-F. You must also complete your 2 hour “one on one field exam” either in the evening or on Saturday/Sunday/or the following Monday.

You can enroll online here or by calling MTC Registration Dept. at 803-732-0432.

If you have any questions, please call John Leighty on at 803-466-4055 [c].

H.R. 2454 Cap and Trade Energy Bill explained

We had a question come in from a real estate agent about H.R. 2454 and how it requires a home seller to get their home up to the latest energy and water regulations before it can be sold. It seems that this information has been circulating the internet and e-mail lists for a couple of years now, and we wanted to set the record straight.

H.R. 2454 DOES NOT mandate the retrofiting of older homes to the latest energy or water standards. The Bill, which has not yet passed both houses yet, does have language about providing incentives to homeowners who choose to make these repairs.

See this Snopes.com page to learn more about this Bill and what it really says.


The second part of the question asked of us was whether or not we had HERS raters in the Columbia area that could help homeowners make these repairs. The answer is YES.

It is the suggestion of the HBA Green Building Council that, if a homeowner wishes to reduce their energy bill through home repairs or remodeling, they contact one of these professionals to find the best and most cost effective ways of doing so. Taking a "shotgun approach" to fixing these problems my result in spending remodeling dollars on the wrong items and not reducing energy costs whatsoever. A simple home energy audit performed by SCE&G (or other power company/co-op) or using an independant HERS rater can pinpoint the exact cause(s) of energy leakage in a particular home thus making repairs more effective in reducing energy loss.

Learn more at www.columbiagreenbuilders.com or contact us to find a HERS rater in our area.

SCE&G 2012 ENERGY STAR® New Homes Program

SCE&G has announced its 2012 ENERGY STAR New Homes Program. SCE&G will be offering financial, marketing, and training incentives to participating home builders that construct ENERGY STAR qualified homes in its electric service area.

If you are interested in learning more about this program, a Program Information meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 16 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the SCE&G Lake Murray Training Center. Please e-mail Brad McCoy at BMccoy@icfi.com by Nov. 11 to secure seating for this session.

Green is Good for Business Conference

We've been attending/exhibiting in this conference since it was started. It's a great way to learn what's new in green technology and ideas in our city, state, region and nation. Here's what they have planned this year:

September 13, 2011 - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

•The always popular Green Expo, bigger than ever
•Plenty of delicious, local foods
•Great green networking
•Exciting keynote speakers... this year: Harris Deloach Chairman and CEO of SC-based Sonoco Products, a multi-billion dollar global packaging manufacturer and 2011 Gold Class Award recipient in Sustainable Asset Management's Sustainability Yearbook 2011.
•Informative breakout sessions for all levels of green businesses
•As we celebrate the fifth year of the conference, we're mixing things up a little and have a few surprises up our green sleeves! (Check out the brand new Chevrolet Volt and other alternative fuel vehicles up close and personal).

Still a great deal at just $50 per person!
Save $10 per registration if you register three or more people from the same organization. Click here for more information.

September 13, 2011 - Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center

Green: The New Standard?

Greater Columbia Business Monthly magazine is looking at the state of real estate in our area in their July 2011 issue (now available). HBA President Wade McGuinn and Vice President Tony Thompson weigh in on the local market in this issue.

Another article takes a look at "green" residential construction in the Greater Columbia, SC area. Green Building Council of Greater Columbia Chairman Joseph Gilmore, past Chairman Mark Bostic, and members Thom Chumney and David Watkins all speak on their experiences with building and remodeling green. Check it out here.

The Responsible Bathroom Water Conservation Tour 2011

Water Utilities are at the forefront of water conservation. We are ready to inform consumers, as well as plumbers, about wisely using the available supply of clean water. As a water customer, you can benefit from water conservation tips to save water, energy, and money in your own household.

Here's one way to do that: Attend this event! (Details below)
- Get info to save you money on purchasing water-efficient products
- See hands-on demonstrations featuring new technology
FREE water conserving showerhead with purchase of low flow toilet to first 25 attendees!

Join us at HD Supply on Monday, June 20 from 11a to 1:30p for this free event. Located in West Columbia at 1065 Sunset Blvd., W. Columbia, 29169.

2011 Energy Expo and Fair Housing Event

Lexington & Richland Counties along with the City of Columbia present this free-to-attend event Friday, April 29 from 10a to 6p at the Saluda Shoals Park River Center. We'll be among the energy efficiency and demo exhibits and we're also giving a talk on green homes. Come on out and see us!

SCE&G 2011 ENERGY STAR® New Homes Program

SCE&G is proud to announce its 2011 ENERGY STAR New Homes Program. SCE&G will be offering financial, marketing, and training incentives to participating home builders that construct ENERGY STAR qualified homes in its electric service area.

To kick off this year’s Program, SCE&G will be conducting a Program Information meeting at their training center in Lexington, SC. Attending this meeting will provide all the information needed to maximize participation in the 2011 Program.

Current and prospective ENERGY STAR home builders and staff are encouraged to attend. Please RSVP at energyteam@sceg.com by February 28th to secure seating. Refreshments will be served.


Friday, March 4
Time: 9:00 am – 11:00 am
Lake Murray Training Center
1888 North Lake Drive
Lexington, SC 29072

Home Performance with Energy Star® Program through SCE&G

SCE&G will begin accepting contractors to participate in its Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program. The rebate program offers SCE&G’s electric customers up to $2,500 for air sealing, insulation, duct sealing, HVAC equipment and improvements and water heating equipment. This program is for EXISTING HOMES, not new construction.

Customer Eligibility

Rebates are available to SCE&G electric customers (see attached service territory map) living in separately metered, single family (attached or detached) residences who hire a program participating contractor to install qualified measures which meet program efficiency level requirements. Rebates are only available to customers who purchase and install energy efficient measures through a participating SCE&G Home Performance with ENERGY STAR contractor.

How to Become a Participating Contractor

To participate in the Program, contractors must complete an online Contractor Participation Agreement and submit documentation including a current South Carolina General Contractors License, BPI BA Certification, and a Certificate of Insurance.

For more details about the program, please register to attend the Program Overview Session by replying to this email with the session that you’d like to attend or email us at energyteam@sceg.com.

Program Overview Sessions

Charleston Area
Wednesday, March 2
Time: 1:30-3:00 pm
Sand Dunes Club
1735 Atlantic Avenue
Sullivan’s Island, SC 29482

Columbia Area
Friday, March 4
Time: 1:30-3:00 pm
Lake Murray Training Center
1888 North Lake Drive
Lexington, SC 29072

Nationally Recognized Solar Training Comes to South Carolina

Greener Product in association with Midwest Renewable Energy (MREA) has opened a solar training facility in Charleston, SC. Please see the attached news release for details. People looking to be training for the coming “green jobs” or others interested in expanding their knowledge in this growing field are welcomed to register.

With the recent announcement that “80% of the energy by 2035 will come from clear/renewable energy” and the new wind research facility in North Charleston, we believe that renewable energy training will be of considerable interest to the people of South Carolina.

We are very fortunate to have Mr. Clay Sterling, Education Director, MREA and one of America’s leading solar educators, lead the sessions. Clay is the only ISPQ-certified instructor in the country to hold certifications in both small wind and photovoltaic. Recently the IREC Institute for Sustainable Power Quality (ISPQ) recognized Clay’s accomplishment and commitment to excellence in renewable energy training by awarding him their prestigious Affiliated Instructor Certification in both small wind and photovoltaic technologies.

MREA, a non-profit established in 1990, is one of the Nation’s oldest and largest providers of solar, solar thermal and wind programs. Through their 38 NABCEP certified instructors they train over 2000 people a year.

The initial program will be presented March 7th and 8th in Charleston and lead to a Certified Solar Assessor accreditation. Click here to learn more and register for the program.