Contribution Analysis for GHG Emission Inventories
Since the mid-1990s, local governments have engaged in periodic inventories of municipal and community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions with the ultimate goal of achieving emission reductions. The field has matured with documented protocols for performing and reporting inventories, and many communities are now conducting inventory updates to establish trends. ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the City of Bellevue Washington, with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Cities Leading through Energy Analysis and Planning (Cities-LEAP) Program, created the contribution analysis to attribute changes between two inventories to the impacts of policies and programs along with other external drivers, such as economic activity and weather. By eliminating as much uncertainty as possible through normalizing for factors like weather and economic activity that isolate out the “noise” of external factors, the impact of actions or programs can be reasonably inferred. This framework will support policy-makers in using data to better communicate about their progress and refine their climate policy approaches. Case studies from communities that have used the contribution analysis will be presented to demonstrate the potential impacts of the analysis.
Speaker
Calyn Hart, Program Officer, ICLEI USA
Calyn Hart joined ICLEI USA in 2018 as a Statewide Energy Efficiency (SEEC) Program Associate and currently serves as a Program Officer. Calyn provides technical assistance to local governments on GHG inventorying and climate action planning using the ClearPath tool. In addition to running training cohorts, Calyn also works to develop energy efficiency resources and incorporate climate equity throughout California. Calyn received her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Business and Biology in 2017 from the University of Redlands in Southern California. Prior to joining ICLEI, Calyn was a CivicSpark fellow with the City of Santa Clara.
Envisioning the Future: Using What-if Scenarios for Sustainability Strategy
How do organizations develop long-term and resilient strategies in the context of uncertain environmental, social, political, or economic factors? To account for the potential effects of such uncertainties, it is important to envision how changes in these factors may evolve or impact your organization over time. Scenario analysis is a crucial step in evaluating climate change-related risks and opportunities. This tool can help organizations assess the uncertain effects of climate change and how these differing trajectories pose risks or present opportunities. In this session, we will introduce scenario-based analysis with a focus on climate-related scenario planning. For example, as cities and counties evaluate their Climate Action Plans, scenario analysis can be used to better assess how changes in policy, technology, markets, and climate might affect the success of the measures set forth in these plans. Assessment of these potential outcomes can inform how to redesign or implement new actions to meet desired goals. We will also discuss how scenario analysis can be used to evaluate the risks and opportunities climate change presents to your organization, including an example of research application.
Speakers
Dr. Sangwon Suh, Professor/Chief Scientist, Corporate Environmental Management, Industrial Ecology, Life Cycle Assessment, Bren School of Environmental Science and Management (UCSB)/ Industrial Ecology Research Services, LLC (IERS, LLC)
Sangwon Suh is professor in industrial ecology and director of the CLiCC Program, an EPA-funded university-industry partnership. He was trained as an environmental engineer and earned his PhD in industrial ecology at Leiden University in the Netherlands. Professor Suh’s research focuses on the sustainability of the human-nature complex through understanding materials and energy exchanges between them. Over the past twenty years, he contributed to the theoretical foundations and practical applications of life cycle assessment (LCA) and industrial ecology. Dr. Suh was appointed as a member of the International Resource Panel (IRP) by the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) and served as the Coordinating Lead Author of the Assessment Report 5 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). He received the McKnight Land-Grant Professorship from the University of Minnesota’s Board of Regents, Leontief Memorial Prize and the Richard Stone Prize from the International Input-Output Association (IIOA), the Robert A. Laudise Medal from the International Society for Industrial Ecology (ISIE), and Distinguished Teaching Award from the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management (UCSB). He was recognized as a Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate Analytics that recognizes scientists with the top 1% citation impacts in the world.
Summer Broeckx-Smith, Lead Analyst & Head of CDP Services, Industrial Ecology Research Services, LLC (IERS, LLC)
Summer leads sustainability impact assessment efforts at IERS, LLC using data analytics and life cycle assessment principles, such as IO-LCA, supply chain emissions quantification, and accounting of carbon and energy footprints. An accredited Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED v4) Green Associate, she has a working knowledge of green buildings; ASHRAE Standards; and ASHRAE Level I and Level II energy audits; as well as experience working on LEED O+M Existing Buildings certification projects. Summer holds a Master of Environmental Science & Management degree from the Bren School at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where she specialized in energy and climate with a focus in eco-entrepreneurship. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Stony Brook University.
Pathway to Zero Net Energy for Public Agencies
The future of Zero Net Energy (ZNE) in California has arrived and is driving comprehensive energy savings and energy resource integration across the state. Unleashing the public sector potential to lead by example and motivate community action will be a key component to achieving ZNE communities throughout our state. Public agencies can take action toward ZNE by implementing energy efficiency (EE) and distributed energy resources (DER) measures in their own facilities and assets. Additionally, many public agencies have indicated interest in going beyond efficiency to obtain deeper energy savings and achieve greater self-reliance through local renewable energy generation, energy storage, energy management systems and water efficiency. The pathway to achieving ZNE goals is not always easy, though, especially for public agencies serving disadvantaged communities, where limited resources and competing priorities have acted as barriers.
In response, the Southern California Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN) has developed a Public Agency Program that helps disadvantaged communities go beyond EE and plan for DER and other sustainability strategies in their communities. Program participants will benefit from a more comprehensive approach for their facilities that optimizes energy and cost savings. This session will highlight the ways in which the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs are helping public agencies move toward a ZNE future through expertise, resources and support.
Speakers
Alex Ricklefs, Project Manager, TEC/SoCalREN
Alex supports program operations and technical analysis for SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. He has been involved in the development and implementation of SoCalREN’s Pathway to Zero program and supports ongoing program improvements. Alex also supports zero net energy related projects at TEC. He has over 3 years of experience working in energy efficiency consulting and energy research. Prior to TEC, Alex worked at UCLA’s Institute of the Environment and Sustainability researching community energy issues. He has a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UCSD.
Lauren Seymour, Project Manager, TEC/SoCalREN
Lauren manages project delivery for public agency energy efficiency projects through the SoCalREN Public Agency Programs. She has been a key project manager for SoCalREN’s Pathway to Zero program. She also reviews energy policy impacts for the program and has focused on zero net energy strategies. Lauren previously worked as an energy industry research specialist and was an Energy Fellow at the DOE. She has a Masters in Public Affairs with a focus on Energy Policy from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. in International Affairs and Spanish Literature from the University of Nevada, Reno.