Turning Policy into Performance: Measuring Equity to Achieve Restorative Justice

Over the past two months, I have prioritized listening to our partners from Maine down to Maryland. I am energized by our talented staff and committed partners who are rising to the demands of this incredibly busy time in the energy efficiency field. Here are a few takeaways of what I have heard so far: We Must Maximize Federal Funding for Long-Term Efficiency Gains Major new federal funding…

The landscape around heat pump performance specifications and data has evolved in recent years and in the process has raised new questions as to where specifications and performance reporting for heat pumps should go in the future. Let’s break down where we’ve been and look at where and how we can forge new frontiers. NEEP’s regional market transformation initiative for heat pumps was launched…

In this blog post, we'll delve into three new NEEP resources, each dedicated to a specific facet of building performance, energy efficiency, and resilience. These resources uncover the intersection between building performance standards (BPS) and building energy codes, aimed at guiding state energy offices, policymakers, and communities. We'll highlight the crucial importance of boosting energy…

In early November I attended the Building Performance Association’s New England Home Performance Conference, where we discussed program design, common barriers to building decarbonization, and one recurring theme… workforce. I presented with staff from the Maine Governor’s Energy Office and Maine Housing on this very topic. My presentation highlighted the results of the first year of ReMaine, the…

This is my last week as NEEP’s Executive Director. As I turn this page, I am reflecting on how much has changed and how much has stayed the same in the world of energy efficiency, and how organizations like NEEP are more critical than ever in ensuring that we continue to utilize the “first fuel” of energy conservation. The NEEP region – the 12 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and the District…

To implement the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Home Energy Rebate Programs, state energy offices will need to address how to obtain access to consumer energy data and use it to better inform program design and customer outreach. Energy data can provide insight into customer energy use and behaviors. Unlocking this data can enhance energy efficiency programs by identifying new ways to save energy…

Calling all home energy contractors, state energy offices, and related professionals! A new training and certificate opportunity for those interested in managing whole-home retrofit projects is coming soon. Whole-Home Programs Are Evolving The demand for comprehensive energy retrofit projects continues to grow across the country. States in the NEEP region are setting goals, developing…

Just a few weeks ago, we were celebrating the one-year mark of the passage of the IRA. Now, it‘s time to start implementing two of its biggest investments - the Home Owner Managing Energy Savings (HOMES) and the High Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act (HEEHRA). Combined, HOMES and HEEHRA will result in over $8 billion dollars in investment in efficiency and electrification in homes across the…

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) has been a cornerstone in helping low-income households reduce their energy costs and improve their living conditions for over four decades. As the world's focus on sustainability and energy efficiency has grown, so has the WAP. In recent years, significant changes and improvements have been made to the program, leading to greater efficiency and…

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released guidance for $150 million in formula funding for the State-Based Energy Efficiency Contractor Training Grants (Contractor Training Program). The Contractor Training Program provides funding to state energy offices to train, test, and certify energy efficiency and electrification contractors. The funding is not just for IRA programs, but also to…