California Launches Plan to Reduce Energy Consumption in Commercial Buildings
Regulators and business leaders have mapped out an action plan for reducing energy use in commercial buildings. Source: SustainableBusiness
Why Energy Bills Should Look Like Your Cell Phone Plan
The cell phone companies bundle their services in terms of minutes. Should the Utilities industry follow suit? Source: GreentechMedia
Making the Most of LEED-EBOM
Here are tips on how to make the most of LEED-EBOM certification and help position your tenants to pursue LEED for Commercial Interiors. Source: Greener Buildings
New Report Highlights Investment Opportunities in Energy Efficiency
The report notes the top 10 U.S. states leading in the creation of energy efficiency-fueled jobs and industries and provides a report card on innovative state energy policies. Source: Sustainable Facility
Prenova Recognized as One of the Fastest Growing Companies in America
For the second straight year, Prenova has been ranked by Inc. magazine as one of the fastest growing companies in the United States.
Photo by woody1778a
Want to Cut Building Energy Costs? Get Out Your Camera
Many of today's buildings suffer from a "leak-guzzle-hide" phenomenon: leaking billions of dollars and hiding actual energy. But there's a way to address this and it starts with a few snapshots. [Greener Buildings]
Fourteen Chicago Buildings to Get Efficiency Tech
As many as fourteen Chicago buildings are about to install new energy efficiency measures as the result of a $25 million investment by South Korea, according to a report in the Chicago Tribune. [Environmental Leader]
Energy Retrofits Could Save $41 Billion a Year
Research analyst calculates how much must be spent to update U.S. commercial real estate versus the resulting savings in energy bills. [cnet]
USGBC Opens Building Performance Partnership to Current LEED-Certified Buildings
USGBC announced that its Building Performance Partnership program will be open to all current whole-building LEED-certified commercial and residential projects starting this summer. [Sustainable Facility]
Energy Ministers Launch Global Clean Energy Initiatives
The first Clean Energy Ministerial meeting took place in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. [Sustainable Business]
DOE Announces $30 Million for Energy-Efficient Housing Partnerships
The U.S. Department of Energy today announced 15 research and deployment partnerships to help dramatically improve the energy efficiency of American homes. [US Dept. of Energy]
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Ten Energy Management PowerPoint Slides That Shook the Earth
While not exactly rivaling the classic Tufte examples, these slides have served as change agents in greentech circles.
Investor Climate Resolutions Climb Nearly 50% in 2010
Investors filed a record 101 climate and energy-related resolutions with 88 U.S. and Canadian companies so far in 2010, nearly 50 percent higher than last year, which indicates a growing concern about the risks and opportunities posed by climate change, according to a report from Ceres.
BOMA Names Outstanding Buildings of the Year
The Building Owners and Managers Association International has named the Jones Lang LaSalle-managed Aon Center in Chicago and Minneapolis' Accenture Tower, overseen by CB Richard Ellis, among the commercial real estate industry group's outstanding buildings of the year.
Freddie, Fannie Reject Energy Retrofit Loans
Federal Housing Finance Agency, which regulates the U.S. mortgage giants, opposes White House-backed PACE loans for green retrofits, threatening the program.
Houston Rockets' Stadium Wins LEED Certification
The Houston Toyota Center, home of the NBA's Houston Rockets, recently earned certification through the US Green Building Council's LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance Program.
Photo by cogdogblog
How to Handle Challenges to LEED Certification
The controversy over the LEED certification of Northland Pines High School case brings the gaps in the policy for handling such challenges into sharp focus. Here are some constructive suggestions on how to improve the process.
PACE Financing for Commercial Buildings Could Reach $2.5B by 2015
Market report explores the potential of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs.
Washington State Delays Building Energy Standards
Washington's governor requested a nine month delay in implementing the state's new energy efficiency guidelines, according to an AP report. Gov. Chris Gregoire cited concerns about the recovering construction sector in her request. The new regulations were set to take effect at the end of the month.
In D.C., All Eyes Turn to Demand Response
Washington's heat melts no one's belief in the inevitability of demand management.
Utilities Try to Get Smarter About Selling Smart Grid
Having seen the backlash around smart meters, utility executives say that for the smart grid to work, consumers need better tools to control their home energy.
Here are the top five energy management stories making headlines this week . . .
What is Your Thermostat Setting?
While the official start of summer is not until June 21, the warm weather has long since settled into the area. The days are growing longer as we approach the summer solstice, meaning the heat is also lingering.
Gulf Oil Spill: The Worst-Case Scenario
It's hard to imagine how the Gulf oil spill could get any worse. In the last 41 days, millions of gallons of oil have spilled into the Gulf and at least 100 miles of Louisiana's coastline has been inundated with crude. Unfortunately, the worst-case scenario is looking a lot more likely.
LEED System Expands to Include Neighborhood-Scale Developments
The U.S. Green Building Council recently released a certification system for green neighborhood development, known as LEED-ND. This expands the well-known LEED system for green buildings to larger-scale projects ranging in size from two buildings to multiple buildings on sites up to 320 acres.
EnergyHub and the Consumer-Facing Smart Grid
EnergyHub's home energy networking products aim to give the residential energy consumer control and insight into their energy usage.
Novel Energy-Saving Ideas for Data Centers
A "follow the moon" philosophy for data centers aimed at shifting workloads to locations where electricity costs are the lowest at any given time is one energy-saving idea presented by Harkeeret Singh, global head of energy and sustainable technology for Thompson Reuters.
Image by mulmatsherm
Four Reasons Why CFOs Need a Plan for Energy Efficiency
Increasing energy prices, the hidden cost of carbon, growing risks from energy supply disruption, and climate-change compliance issues are four key reasons why finance executives need a multi-year energy efficiency strategy.
Federal Buildings Go Green with $4 Billion in Recovery Act Funds
The United States has invested $4 billion in Recovery Act funds for the energy-efficient construction and renovation of federal buildings nationwide. The money is being spent on new construction and upgrades such as high-efficiency heating and cooling, solar panels, and solar water heaters.
LEED-Certified Building Stock Still Small, but Growing
LEED certification is gaining speed, even if only a fraction of U.S. buildings have qualified. The total inventory of LEED-certified buildings is 4,825. "We're at a fraction of a percent of the built environment," said Scot Horst, Green Building Council senior vice president.
Intel Eyes Personal Energy Management
Intel, best known as a computer chip developer, is looking to get into the energy business. In his keynote address at the company's Beijing forum, CEO Justin Rattner said, "We want to be a part of the technology industry that ushers in the era of person energy management."
Target Lights up Savings with LED Retrofit at 500 Stores
Target expects to save nearly 16 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year by upgrading display case lighting to LEDs at about 500 stores. Target has already upgraded displays cases in 150 stores and an additional 350 are projected for 2010.
Sustainable Electricity is the Foundation of Economic Recovery
The Canadian Electricity Association (CEA) released its North American policy paper in Washington DC, entitled "The Integrated Electricity System: Sustainable Electricity as the Foundation for Economic Recovery in North America."
Why Warren Buffett's Possible Successor is Against the Climate Bill
The bill would be damaging to consumers because through a cap and trade system consumers would basically pay twice (once through utilities altering plants for renewables, and once for the carbon offsets).
Data Center Efficiency Standard Could Stifle Innovation
Leading tech companies are protesting a new data center efficiency standard from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The group, which includes Google and Microsoft, says the standard is "too prescriptive" and stifles innovation.
Geothermal Grows 26% in 2009
The US geothermal power industry continued strong growth in 2009, according to a new report by the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA).
Big Oil Does the Math, Proposes a New Tax on Itself
A snowflake may have just fallen in Hell: Several large oil companies, including Shell and BP, have reportedly helped design a new gas tax for the United States that would add a significant cost to fuel for consumers and businesses.
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