Energy Efficiency Works

Tennessee residents rebuilding after flooding are eligible to receive rebates for weatherization and heating and cooling improvements. They can also get up to $20,000 in low-interest financing through power distributors  for more major retrofits.
The Tennesseean

More than two thirds of companies across the world expect energy prices to rise and are taking steps to cut facility costs by reducing energy use. A survey by Johnson Controls found that other motivators for increasing efficiency were cutting greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing the company’s image, and taking advantage of incentives offered by governmentsRead the full article

The Department of Energy is aiming to make low-emissivity windows the next big thing in energy efficiency and green living. As it is, windows and the heating and cooling energy they let out account for 4 percent of all energy use in the U.S., according to the New York Times. It is with the goalRead the full article

ComEd customers now have access to a new tool that allows them to track how much energy and money they save by making moves to increase energy efficiency at home. The tool is internet-based and allows people to wrack up points, receive rewards, and compete against friends and neighbors.
The Chicago Tribune

USA Today profiles author David Johnston, who asserts that zero-energy homes are the way of the future. Houses designed to waste as little energy as possible are becoming increasingly popular in the United States, according to Johnston.
USA Today

The Associated Press reports that Microsoft is slowly expanding a website that allows people to monitor their home energy use and identify ways to cut costs. Right now the service is  limited, but Microsoft hopes to expand it as efforts to improve energy efficiency grow.
The Los Angeles Times

Experts,  including Cathy Zoi- the assistant secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in the Department of Energy- discussed the need for people to be able to monitor their own energy use at the American Solar Energy Society meeting this May in Phoenix. With the proper tools, people will be more conscious of their energyRead the full article

The Examiner reports on the small business contractors who visited Washington DC with Efficiency First this May to advocate for Home Star legislation and energy efficiency more generally. After noting the massive job-creation potential of energy efficiency measures, reporter Byron DeLear sumed it up, saying: “Efficiency is about jobs, and domestically manufactured products like Read the full article

The Washington Post argues that while the American Power Act has its faults, the Senate needs to act now to fight global warming.  “Contrary to popular wisdom, acting on global warming is not going to get easier after this year’s election. Legislators should seize this moment,” the paper argues. The Washington Post

Companies across many industries are beginning to think seriously about how to reduce energy use and reap the savings of energy efficiency. With the looming potential for federal greenhouse gas emissions regulation, companies are taking the first steps to reduce emissions themselves. Along the way, they are recognizing the massive potential for savings. The NewRead the full article