Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant | Community Climate Change Initiative and Incentives

The Community Climate Change Initiative and Incentives project is one of eleven projects in Orange County being funded by the Department of Energy through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG). This project is in response to the Climate Change Implementation Plan for Orange County Government, and has been divided into two areas of focus: Commercial and Residential. Commercial: An organizational group has been established as the Central Florida Energy Efficiency Alliance (CFEEA) to begin development of programs focused on reducing energy in the commercial sector. The goal is to register 2010 buildings in 2010 for the Killowatt Crackdown Energy Challenge. CFEEA and the Killowatt Crackdown will use the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star program and will be promoted with media advertisements, and web page promotions. CFEEA will offer educational workshops, and webinars on energy efficiency. Residential: The residential portion of the Community Climate Change Initiative and Incentives is composed of several projects targeting energy efficiency and reduction for residents of Orange County. UCF will be conducting an energy survey representative of over 185,000 households in Orange County focused on energy behavior and attitudes. In addition, the county is developing financial incentive programs for county residents to make their homes more energy-efficient. Additionally, this grant will include one planning project promoting smart growth in Pine Hills. We will assist in Pine Hills neighborhood revitalization efforts by developing a Master Plan that focuses on energy efficiency and fossil fuel emission reduction through pedestrian-friendly physical improvements. Watch for coming announcements!