NASEO Releases Primer Series to Help State Energy Offices Advance Smart Surfaces

The National Association of State Energy Officials, in partnership with the Smart Surfaces Coalition (SSC), has released a series of five primers to help State and Territory Energy Offices integrate Smart Surfaces into energy policy, planning, and program implementation. The publications were developed in support of the Cities for Smart Surfaces initiative, a multi-year effort to accelerate the adoption of Smart Surface technologies, including cool roofs, reflective and permeable pavements, rooftop and canopy solar, green roofs, and expanded tree canopies, in ten major metropolitan areas across the country.

The primers explore how State Energy Offices can advance Smart Surfaces through a variety of policy and programmatic pathways, including state energy planning, transportation, building energy codes, grid reliability and resilience, and integrated solar and cool roof deployment.

As states face increasing challenges from extreme heat and rising electricity demand, the publications highlight how Smart Surfaces can help reduce urban heat island effects, lower peak electricity demand, improve energy affordability, strengthen grid resilience, and improve building comfort. Each primer also features state and local examples alongside practical implementation strategies that State Energy Offices can adapt to their own programs and priorities.

The series consists of the following five primers:

• Advancing Energy Reliability and Resilience with Smart Surfaces
• Integrating Smart Surfaces in Transportation
• Incorporating Smart Surfaces into Building Energy Codes
• Incorporating Smart Surfaces into State Energy Planning
• Integrating Solar with Cool Roof Technologies

For questions about the primers or NASEO's work related to Smart Surfaces, please reach out to Grace Lowe ([email protected]) or Arvand Golbazi ([email protected]).