Energy + Environment

The U.S. Department of Energy recently announced that it has relaunched its website, Energy.gov. The new website makes it easier for visitors to get localized information specific to their cities, counties and states on tax credits, rebates, energy saving tips and grant opportunities. The new platform utilizes the latest technologies in information visualization, bringing updated [...]

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently announced that the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) has certified the 10,000th LEED commercial project. Created in 2000, the LEED green building program has become a global symbol of sustainable building certifying more than 1.4 million square feet of new and existing buildings every day. The Live Oak [...]

Lighting Retrofit and Relighting by James R. Benya and Donna J. Leban, published by Wiley (ISBN: 978-0-470-56841-5, hardcover, 312 pages) in March, provides a comprehensive guide to planning and implementing lighting retrofits to increase energy efficiency and improve lighting quality. The book begins by outlining the benefits of retrofitting, then discusses when retrofits make sense, [...]

According to recently unveiled Department of Energy numbers, the May 2011 average commercial sector retail price was 10.26 cents per kWh, increasing 0.2% from May 2010, and 2% higher than in April 2011. The average residential sector retail price increased by 0.5% from May 2010 to 12.03 cents per kWh, and increased by 2% from [...]

The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking your feedback on a proposed voluntary national Asset Rating Program for Commercial Buildings (AR Program). DOE has issued a Request for Information (RFI) to gather public feedback by September 22, 2011 on key issues associated with the development of an AR Program. Through the AR Program, DOE intends [...]

The United States District Court in New York City has dismissed in its entirety the lawsuit brought against the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) by Henry Gifford and others, holding that none of the plaintiffs in the action had alleged or could allege any legal interest to be protected by their lawsuit, according to an [...]

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) recently unveiled a new Lighting Action Plan, which outlines four policy goals for lighting: market transformation, best practices, end user demand, and research, development and demonstration. Lighting is responsible for almost 25% of California’s electric energy use, but the California Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan says that number can be [...]

Recently, LightNOW reported that the Department of Energy botched the 2007 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey, and then postponed work on the 2011 CBECS due to budget cuts. Our take is that you cannot set policy if you cannot measure, and you cannot maximize your building’s savings without benchmarks. The data this survey yields is [...]

Not lighting related, but very cool! Meet the Chevy Volt. The engine design relies on electric power from its battery until it reaches its maximum range, at which point it seamlessly transitions to gasoline combustion. Why is this important for a green car? The experience of driving it meshes with the way we think about [...]