Those looking for signs that the U.S. economy is rebounding can find encouragement in the fourth annual Energy Efficiency Indicator released by Johnson Controls. A survey of more than 1,400 North American executives and managers responsible for making investments and managing energy in commercial buildings found that planned investment in energy efficiency is expected to [...]
Energy + Environment
Energy Center Launches Back-of-the-Envelope Calculator
Energy consumption in buildings is a complicated set of interactions among building components. When it comes to understanding energy efficiency opportunities, it’s useful to see how changing one component affects the whole. Energy engineers at the Energy Center of Wisconsin developed the Back-of-the-Envelope Calculator to provide greater initial insight into the energy usage and environmental [...]
Foundation Offers Up to $350,000 Grants for Energy Efficiency Retrofits for Nonprofit Organizations: Pre-Proposals Due May 24, 2010
The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF) has issued a call for proposals for innovative energy efficiency retrofit programs and policies that can address specific barriers. Individual grants range from $100,000 to $350,000. Projects may be 12 to 24 months in duration. Applicants must be U.S. nonprofit organizations with approved IRS 501(c)(3) status. Pre-proposals are due [...]
1 Million ENERGY STAR Homes Built in U.S.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently reached a milestone for the ENERGY STAR program by passing the 1 millionth ENERGY STAR-qualified home mark. Since the program began labeling new homes in 1995, Americans have saved $1.2 billion on their energy bills, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 22 billion pounds, according to EPA. To earn [...]
Education + Resources, Energy + Environment
ENERGY STAR to Overhaul Its Product Approval Process
Following a scathing report by the GAO on ENERGY STAR earlier this month here, the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy have announced changes to the ENERGY STAR product certification process to ensure that only products meeting the ENERGY STAR requirements can receive an ENERGY STAR label. Effective immediately, manufacturers wishing to qualify their [...]
EPA Announces 25 Cities with Highest Number of ENERGY STAR Buildings in 2009
Los Angeles Washington, D.C. San Francisco Denver Chicago Houston Lakeland, FL Dallas-Fort Worth Atlanta New York City These cities, in order, are the Top 10 cities with the most energy-efficient schools, hospitals, office buildings, courthouses, grocery stores, retail centers and auto assembly plants that have earned the Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR label. Throughout the [...]
Electricity Prices Are Declining
The Department of Energy released the April Electric Power Monthly Report today reflecting January data. Highlights: • In January 2010, total electric power generation in the United States increased 1.4% from January 2009. • Retail sales of electricity increased 3.4% compared to January 2009. • The average U.S. retail price of electricity decreased 3.8% in [...]
Construction + Economy, Energy + Environment
ASHRAE Launches Pilot Building Energy Labeling Program
A new program to inform building owners and operators, tenants and prospective buyers on the energy use of buildings, similar to a nutrition label on food or miles per gallon ratings on cars, has recently been launched to encourage the building industry to find ways to cut energy use and costs. The Building Energy Quotient [...]
Energy + Environment, LED + SSL, Products + Technology
ENERGY STAR Proves Vulnerable to Easy Fraud
Now you can buy that gasoline-powered alarm clock you’ve always wanted. And ENERGY STAR apparently has some major work to do to regain its credibility. Consumers and businesses rely on the EPA/DOE ENERGY STAR program to identify energy-saving products that will perform as well or better than non-energy-saving products. The program is promoted through tax [...]
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