By Erin Cosgrove |
Energy efficiency programs have long operated with a goal of lowering energy use in buildings. But with the right policy, energy efficiency programs can go further and lay the foundation for a more equitable, decarbonized economy. Recent legislation in Massachusetts, S9 - An Act Creating a Next Generation Roadmap for Massachusetts (Climate Act), started this transformation. Since the law has been…
By Erin Cosgrove |
Winter in the Northeast leads to cold temperatures and the most energy intensive months of the year, putting a high stress on our grid and our wallets. But it doesn’t have to be this way. By investing in weatherization and energy efficiency appliance upgrades, we can lower the demand on our grid and our energy bills.
Weatherization + Energy Efficiency Upgrades = Deep Energy Efficiency Retrofits…
By Cecily McChalicher |
Welcome to the first edition of Regional Energy Data Dives, formerly known as REED Renderings. Regional Energy Data Dives will be a series of blogs taking a wider look at data underlying regional demand-side program trends.
After five years and 19 issues of Regional Energy Efficiency Database (REED) Renderings, we are fondly waving goodbye to our REED-based blog series and launching a…
By Erin Cosgrove |
Welcome to the newest installment of a new blog series called Turning Policy into Performance. In this series, we'll take a look at how states can implement decarbonization and climate goals with energy efficiency programs.
History shows that some energy practices can perpetuate inequity and create additional economic hardship for already overburdened communities. Embedding equity metrics in…
By Andrew Winslow |
Strategic Energy Management is a holistic approach to managing the energy use in (but not limited to) commercial and industrial (C&I) facilities, some of the hardest to reach building types. This approach emphasizes increased operational efficiency of the building through three main types of non-capital savings as well as support from staff up and down the chain of command. In the Northeast…
By Chase Macpherson |
Climate change can feel like a really big, daunting, global problem that is too hard to solve on a small scale, but many towns and communities in the Northeast are doing just that. Almost all of the states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic have set goals for reducing their contributions to climate change, and now NEEP has set out to document the towns and cities that have followed suit,…
By Arah Schuur |
In the past 10 days I have talked to several people who referred to the “grief counseling” that they have been doing with friends, family, and colleagues around the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. I was recounting to one of them that when I started my career in energy efficiency – about a dozen years ago – we talked primarily about climate change mitigation, but…
By Kai Palmer-Dunning |
The new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report has reminded us all of the urgent importance to address climate change. We must rapidly ramp up efforts to decarbonize all industry sectors, make them more resilient, and prioritize sustainability.
The Infrastructure Bill that recently passed in the Senate sets aside funding for improving resilience in the energy sector and…
By Andrew Winslow |
Welcome to the August Policy Tracker blog! The Boston area is continuing to dry off after the rainy month of July, and is finally enjoying some summer sun. This blog will cover legislative trends and updates that we have noticed over the past few months. While most of the region’s legislatures are in recess, a few are still in session and making progress on key energy bills.
A few pieces of…
By Chase Macpherson |
When I’m confronted with a big decision in my life, whether it’s about my career, a relationship, housing, or money, I go to my trusted circle for advice. I know that my parents, sisters, friends, and colleagues will all have valuable perspectives and wisdom that can help me make my decision. We invest in relationships to maintain a support network of people we trust and value, who will give us…