Energy Efficiency Works

The U.S. Department of Energy announced today that it has earmarked $120 million to be divided among about 120 organizations working to weatherize buildings for greater energy efficiency. The grant money will be distributed under the banner of its Weatherization Assistance Program, which has already retrofitted thousands of homes across the country.
Reuters

San Francisco already has some of the nation’s toughest green building standards for new construction.  On Tuesday, Mayor Gavin Newsom introduced legislation aimed at making existing commercial buildings as ecofriendly as possible.  The legislation submitted to the Board of Supervisors would require the owners of large commercial buildings to conduct an energy-efficiency audit every fiveRead the full article

The Missoula City Council this week unanimously gave a green light to 19 energy conservation upgrades worth some $1.37 million.  Last year, the city of Missoula contracted with Johnson Controls to conduct an energy audit and recommend conservation upgrades. The company identified 43 possible projects costing $7.8 million, according to a city memo.
The Missoulian

By Aug. 12, the Public Utility Commission plans to adopt stricter requirements for energy efficiency in Texas.  The new rules would require that utilities offset 25 percent of growth in electricity demand with efficiency measures by 2012, and 30 percent in 2013. The current requirement is 20 percent.
The Texas Tribune

Arizona regulators adopted a rule requiring the state’s electric utility companies to reduce the amount of power they sell by 22 percent by 2020. The policy is one of the most aggressive in the country and the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project estimates it will save ratepayers who implement energy-efficiency measures about $9 billion over theRead the full article

Fifty-seven businesses, environmental groups, and other clean energy advocates sent a letter to Senate leadership calling for an Energy Efficiency Resource Standard that would reduce energy use by 1 percent-per-year, ramping up  over time. The letter points out that no Senate bills currently come close to this standard, even it though it would save consumersRead the full article

Baltimore Gas and Electric Co. is teaming up with energy efficiency company OPOWER to provide customers with bimonthly reports that show them how their energy use and habits compare to  other ratepayers who live in homes similar to their own. The measure is designed to encourage reduction in energy use and is merely a precursorRead the full article

The Texas Tribune reports that the PACE program, currently undergoing turmoil in Washington, has become quite popular in the Lone Star State. The popularity has been particularly focused in San Antonio, Austin and Houston.
The Texas Tribune

The Empire State Building is undergoing a $13 million renovation to cut energy use by 38 percent and save roughly $4.4 million per year in energy costs. Among many upgrades, the building will be getting new windows and insulation in the effort to be more green.
USA Today

An analysis reveals that energy-efficient homes have significantly lower default and delinquency rates than typical homes–making it even harder to understand why Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac made the move to kill the PACE program, which made efficiency improvements affordable for many who otherwise might not have been able to make the changes.
Grist