Arizona Regulators Vote to Replace Net Metering with a Wholesale Rate

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Arizona solar industry hinges on imminent grandfathering decision PV Tech, January 10, 2017 The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) will decide either Tuesday or Wednesday whether to amend its recent decision on grandfathering, to alter the timing when consumers will be grandfathered under pre-existing rules. The decision will have a significant impact on the future of … Read more

Efficiency Vermont Invests in Local Breweries

Efficiency Vermont

CRAFT BREWERY ADDS ENERGY EFFICIENCY TO RECIPE FOR SUCCESS VT Digger, December 14, 2016 A craft brewery in St. Albans was recognized by Rep. Peter Welch, Efficiency Vermont and the Vermont Brewers Association for its leadership in embracing energy efficiency, supporting veterans, and hiring local contractors and vendors. Rep. Welch, who has long been a … Read more

Five Efficiency Standards Under the Trump Administration’s Purview

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Fate of Five Final Energy Efficiency Rules Could Be Up to Trump Bloomberg BNA, December 29, 2016 Five final energy efficiency appliance standards issued by the Obama administration Dec. 28 could be undone by the Trump administration due to a new review period. The Energy Department issued final rules increasing energy efficiency requirements for walk-in … Read more

Will Ohio Choose Energy Efficiency?

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Gita Subramony, ERS, for Zondits Zondits has previously written about Ohio’s tumultuous relationship with energy efficiency and renewable energy standards. Over the past few years Ohio has been in a suspended state as these goals remain frozen, putting the future of energy efficiency and renewable energy on hold. Now a new bill (HB 554) has … Read more

California Adopts Efficiency Standards for Computers and Monitors

California Is First State To Set Energy-Efficiency Limits For Computers NPR, December 16, 2016 California is the first state to adopt efficiency standards for computers and monitors, the state’s energy commission announced this week. The commission approved regulations that limit the amount of energy computers and small servers can use when they are idling, asleep … Read more

Amsterdam to Reduce Natural Gas Usage

Gita Subramony, ERS, for Zondits Currently, 90% of the homes in Amsterdam use natural gas to provide heat. City Lab takes a look at how the Netherlands’ capital is planning on moving away from natural gas as a heat source. The city is planning on switching buildings over to a district heating system, starting with … Read more

The Key Benefits of a Residential Direct Install Program

Residential Energy Efficiency Direct Install Programs — Case Study Clean Technica, December 1, 2016 The challenge is that education and behavior can be elastic. Sometimes behaviors become habits. Other times, people regress once they stop seeing visual cues or hearing messages affirming their behaviors. For this reason, hardware improvements are often deemed to be long … Read more

Wisconsin Wants to Use Focus on Energy Funding to Boost Internet Speed

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Advocates’ fears realized as Wisconsin directs energy dollars to internet access Midwest Energy News, December 9, 2016 Wisconsin ranks 49th in the country for internet speed and gets low marks for citizens’ access to broadband internet. The situation is hurting the state’s economy, experts say, and few would argue against investments to improve this situation.  But clean … Read more

Future Energy Jobs Bill – Will it Help Illinois Improve Their ACEEE Scorecard Report?

Ethan Forauer, ERS, for Zondits   A few months ago we reported on the release of the highly anticipated ACEEE 2016 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard report. This annual report provides key insight into the integration of energy efficiency across the United States and offers states a reality check on their progress towards often ambitious goals. … Read more

A Contrarian View of Energy Efficiency for Your Serious Consideration

David Reynolds, ERS, for Zondits Seriously. The point of this article is to challenge those who believe in energy efficiency and all of the benefits it provides to society and to the environment – and to our continued employment in a noble field. It is time to rethink, reevaluate, and restate the benefits of energy … Read more