Energy Efficiency Works

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

The Jackson Sun argues that energy efficiency is no longer a choice, it must become a way of life. The paper urges Tennesseans to take advantage of federal rebates to make their homes more efficient and to follow-through by taking steps to reduce energy waste every day.
The Jackson Sun

General Electric announced that it has made a $5 billion investment in energy efficient and environmentally-friendly projects. The investment was made ahead of schedule and, according to the Associated Press, the company plans to pour $10 billion more into similar projects by 2015.
The Associated Press

President Obama drove home the potential for energy efficiency to promote our energy security and independence in his Oval Office speech on June 15. According to a new book by David Goldstein, an energy program co-director for the National Resources Defense Council, bolstering efficiency using existing technology could indeed reduce U.S. energy use byRead the full article

Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) joined the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy to release a report examining the consumer savings and job-creation potential of federal efficiency measures in comprehensive climate and energy legislation. ACEEE’s analysis found that with enhanced efficiency measures, Senate climate legislation could create some 689,000 jobs and saved households $673 perRead the full article

Charlotte, North Carolina, was the recent recipient of a $400,000 grant to develop energy efficiency projects that could win millions in federal backing if they prove successful. The grant came from the DOE’s “Retrofit Ramp-Up” program and was delivered through the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance.
The Charlotte Observer