Energy Efficiency Works

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

A recent report by Navigant Consulting finds that electric utilities are shifting investments to efficiency measures and renewable energy in order to cut costs. In some cases, these shifts are being driven by state policies but in general, the report found the culture is shifting when it comes to the construction and operation of electricRead the full article

Federal regulators are taking heat over a reuqest to suspend the PACE program, which gives homeowners access to  loans for efficiency retrofits and other energy-saving improvements. Elected officials such as California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, are saying that ending the PACE program threatens to undermine job creation and the message that energy independence is a priority.
TheRead the full article

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s new building in Golden, Colorado, has been designed to use no more energy than it produces from renewable sources on-site. The building has been designed and built to use one-third the amount of energy as a traditional office building.
The Denver Post

A study conducted by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy found that smart meters are not enough to save energy and money on their own. The study, which consisted of a review of some 57 studies conducted over the last three decades, found that consumers could save as much as $35 billion overRead the full article