Participants with a good background on the basic functionality of EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool will learn about some advanced features including: using spreadsheet upload templates to update property data; setting goals and targets to plan energy improvements for properties; creating custom reports; and using the Sustainable Buildings Checklist.

Benchmarking Water: New Approaches and Opportunities for Buildings, This webinar features strategies for innovative water metering and analytical methods that allow more effective management of water. The webinar will explain a new opportunity to gain recognition from the Building Owners and Managers Association for benchmarking buildings’ water and waste data.

Facilities with extensive heating and cooling requirements can still be water-efficient. Participants will learn how to optimize heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system efficiency to help save water, energy, and money. EPA’s WaterSense program will teach participants how to reduce water waste in cooling towers and steam boilers, optimize chilled water systems, and address equipment that uses single-pass cooling water.

Wisconsin Clean Cities and the Renewable Energy Group (REG) will provide a program and a tour of the REG Madison biodiesel plant. Participants will see how biodiesel is made and learn about reasons and strategies for fleets to use biodiesel blends, as well as the environmental and economic benefits of biodiesel.

This technical conference will explore the drivers and benefits of microgrids, as well as the design and technologies of microgrid projects. The event will be held at the Gordon Bubolz Nature Center to feature and tour their innovative microgrid project.

ENERGY STAR holds a live webinar for users to ask questions to EPA Portfolio Manager experts. This is a public forum style webinar with a question and answer format.

Bright Idea: Lighting Toolkit for K-12 School Districts, This webinar reviews the newest lighting technologies and strategies for K-12 classrooms. Presenters will review economic benefits of tunable lighting, controls, and troffer retrofits to assist with decision-making when upgrading lighting.

This self-paced, online course uses a combination of presentations, assignments, quizzes, and webinars to teach the basics of solar electricity. Participants will learn how photovoltaic (PV) systems work, compare and contrast different PV system types, identify necessary components, and understand the best applications for (and limitations of) each system type. Other topics include evaluating the solar window, investigating energy efficiency recommendations, and researching system costs.