Turning Policy into Performance: Measuring Equity to Achieve Restorative Justice

This article is the second in a series referencing a paper Sue Coakley and I authored for the Electricity Journal. This special edition of the Electricity Journal titled “Energy Optimization is the Key to Affordable, Reliable Decarbonization” was coordinated by the Regulatory Assistance Project (RAP). NEEP’s contribution, Transforming our Buildings for a Low-Carbon Era: Five Key Strategies,…

Much of our thinking about the built environment is focused on individual buildings, which is generally a useful framework. Buildings align with ownership, buildings are regulated by zoning and codes, buildings frequently represent a utility customer, and buildings typically have their own heating and cooling systems. But many of the services that buildings receive are developed as part of a…

We all need principles to guide us in our lives. Principles set forth “a fundamental truth or proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior or for a chain of reasoning [Oxford Dictionaries].” They encompass values to identify what’s important, and can apply to many circumstances, such as cultural, legal or economic.   This is what the National Standard…

Taking the first step to replace your home’s heating and cooling system can be overwhelming. For one, it’s your home – no one wants to feel uncomfortable in their living space and it can be a scary thought to make a wrong decision. For two, no two homes are exactly the same – there are many factors that leave consumers confused when deliberating the “right” type of heating system for them,…

Fall is upon us, though with typical New England weather, we are in the midst of our first fall and second summer of the season. This is the time of year where we dress for fall in the morning and for summer in the afternoon. It can cause lots of planning challenges! We see some similar state policy activity where some states are wrapping up items from the summer and others are in full swing on…

The beginning of September brings not only cooler weather and Patriots football, but also millions of students continuing their education with the first day of school. Many of our country’s teachers will have the same question on their minds: how can I allow my students to succeed? Developing and acquiring new skills is essential for student success. The same is true for professional growth and…

Welcome to the latest REED Rendering issue, a series of blogs where we bring your attention to interesting trends that we see in the data and the stories behind those trends. It is an exciting time for energy efficiency programs. States throughout the NEEP region are prioritizing climate goals and working to decarbonize the economy. States are doing this by integrating zero carbon…

Season after season, communities across the NEEP region continue to lead the charge in terms of reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions in our fight against climate change. On the Buildings and Community Solutions team here at NEEP, we collaborate with stakeholders to develop resources and share best practices that help drive these improvements in communities. In 2017, NEEP began the…

There is no denying that the impacts of global warming have created a sense of urgency to accelerate decarbonization efforts in all sectors – from transport and electricity generation to building and industry. Now more than ever, the implementation of electrification initiatives plays a critical role in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Specifically, electrification is critical, as the…

This blog was written by David Farnsworth and Dr. Jan Rosenow of Regulatory Assistance Project, and represents the organization's work and approach. Building Decarb Central is meant to share different perspectives on the topic of building decarbonization. This blog is part of that dialogue. Despite being an ocean apart, Germany and New England are similar in many respects. More than 75 percent…