Notice of Staff Workshop
on
PIER Buildings Energy Research
Grant Program Proposal Solicitation

The California Energy Commission staff will conduct a workshop to provide information and answer questions concerning the Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) Program's team request for grant applications through its Buildings Energy Research Grant (BERG) Program.

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2006
1:30 p.m.
CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION
1516 Ninth Street
First Floor, Hearing Room B
Sacramento, California
(Wheelchair Accessible)

Purpose

The purpose of this workshop is to provide background information on the PIER Buildings End-Use Energy Efficiency Program, the Building Energy Research Grant Program (BERG), and answer questions concerning the request for BERG grant applications.

Background

The BERG Program is a component of the Buildings End-Use Energy Efficiency Program, one of seven major program areas within PIER. The Buildings End-Use Energy Efficiency Program funds applied research that focuses on lowering building energy use in residential and commercial buildings. The research specifically targets the development or improvement of energy efficiency technologies, strategies, tools and building performance evaluation methods.

The BERG Program will fund small-to-medium sized research projects and should enhance the current PIER Buildings End-Use Energy Efficiency Program research portfolio. The BERG Program is designed to tap into the broader research community to help ensure that PIER Buildings End-Use Energy Efficiency Program is open to the full-range of buildings-related research ideas.

Approximately $1 million of PIER funds will be allocated to BERG grants, with the $200,000 as the maximum amount of any individual grant and a maximum of $50,000 available for American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE) co-funded projects.

The BERG Program is administered through the San Diego State University Foundation.

The deadline for applications is December 8, 2006, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

Recommendations

Persons interested in applying for a BERG Grant should consult the Grant Application Manual (GAM) posted on the website at: www.energy.ca.gov/contracts/pier_berg/index.html. The GAM contains important details on the preparation and submission of proposals, including instructions that must be followed, forms that must be used, and research restrictions.

Copies of frequently asked questions resulting from the workshop will be posted on the website.

Public Participation

If you cannot attend in person, you have two choices to participate in the discussion:

1. Participation through WebEx, the Energy Commission's online meeting service

To participate in the meeting using the WebEx onscreen and audio functions, please go to the following URL in your web browser on the date and time of the meeting:

https://energy.webex.com/energy/j.php?ED=89047342&RG=1

(If the link above does not work, go to: https://energy.webex.com/ and enter the meeting number: 921 892 278).

When prompted, enter your information and the following meeting password: BERG@2006

Provide your phone number, when prompted, to receive a call back on your phone for the audio of the workshop. Alternatively, you can call 1-866-469-3239 (toll free in the U.S. and Canada).

If you have difficulty joining the meeting, please call the WebEx technical support number at 1-866-229-3239.

2. Participation by telephone

If you do not have computer access and wish to participate in the meeting by phone, you can call 1-866-469-3239 (toll free in the U.S. and Canada). Respond to the prompts with the information above.

The Energy Commission's Public Adviser, Margret J. Kim, provides the public assistance in participating in Energy Commission activities. If you want information on how to participate in this workshop, please contact the Public Adviser's Office at (916) 654-4489 or toll free at (800) 822-6228, by FAX at (916) 654-4493, or by e-mail at [pao@energy.state.ca.us]. If you have a disability and require assistance to participate, please contact Lou Quiroz at (916) 654-5146 at least five days in advance.

Please direct all news media inquiries to Claudia Chandler, Assistant Executive Director, at (916) 654-4989, or by e-mail at [mediaoffice@energy.state.ca.us].

For technical questions on the subject matter, please call Martha Brook, PIER Buildings Program, (916) 654-4086 or mbrook@energy.state.ca.us.

The workshop's WebEx audio and onscreen activity may be recorded.

Mail Lists: opportunity; researchwg; pierbuilding

Note: California Energy Commission's formal name is State Energy Resources Conservation and Development Commission.