Press Releases
New Report Shows Region a Leader in Energy Efficiency Policy Details Major Successes and Hurdles in 12 States
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) has released its first Regional Roundup, a new report examining overall trends and which states are leading and lagging in capturing cost-effective energy efficiency to help meet energy demand as cleanly and cheaply as possible.
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) congratulates Massachusetts for climbing to the top of the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy's (ACEEE) 2011 State Efficiency Scorecard. The highly-anticipated report highlights states that are doing the most to harness energy efficiency - the cheapest, cleanest way to meet energy demand.
Massachusetts narrowly outranked California to take this year's top spot, with a host of policies and programs to help customers cut their energy costs. The state's electric and gas utilities are operating under some of the most aggressive savings target in the country, and are in the midst of a three year ramp-up to save 2.4 percent of electricity and 1.15 percent of natural gas sales annually by 2012.
As Summer Rolls On, Region Has New Tools to Value Peak-Saving Energy Efficiency, Cut Costs and EmissionsThe cheapest, cleanest power is the kind we never have to make. And on hot summer days when peak demand causes spot prices to soar, energy efficiency is quietly saving consumers millions in electricity costs. But understanding how more efficient products like air conditioning and lighting can help control overall and peak demand makes energy forecasting tricky. Energy efficiency program administrators, system planners, air quality planners, and other stakeholders now have access to valuable load shape and cost savings data from three studies recently completed by the Regional Evaluation, Measurement and Verification Forum (EM&V Forum). The EM&V Forum is project of NEEP, Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships, a regional non-profit that works to harness the power of efficiency in buildings and products.
International Lighting Group Adds New Product Categories, Updates Current Specifications
Lighting manufacturers, energy efficiency program administrators, and others in the Solid State Lighting (SSL) field now have more options for promoting and incentivizing energy efficient lighting technology thanks to a recent revision to the DesignLights Consortium’s SSL Qualified Products List (QPL). The list, which features cutting edge lighting products that can be considered for incentives by utility efficiency programs in the US and Canada, has added eight new product categories, including Horizontal Refrigerated Case Lighting, Retrofit Kits for Outdoor Decorative Luminaires, and Linear Fluorescent Replacement Lamps.
Consensus Standards Developed by Advocates and Industry Will Save Consumers Billions
A diverse coalition of consumer, manufacturing, and environmental groups, including Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP), praised new energy efficiency standards released last week by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) establishing the first-ever regional standards for oil and gas furnaces and air conditioners, as well as strengthening national standards for heat pumps. The new rules are based on a joint recommendation filed with DOE by the groups in 2009.
Leaders across the region agree to common reporting guidelines for efficiency savings.
Energy utility commissioners and energy efficiency leaders in the Northeast and Mid- Atlantic regions have agreed to implement a common set of statewide guidelines for reporting energy efficiency savings and associated costs, emissions and job impacts. This agreement by the Regional
Evaluation, Measurement, & Verification Forum's (EM&V Forum) Steering Committee marks a significant milestone in laying the groundwork for building greater transparency and credibility of energy efficiency as a reliable, plentiful energy resource in the region and further drives the energy efficiency agenda nationally.
New Report Says 20% Reduction in Electricity Use is Within Reach if States Invest Smartly in Energy Efficiency
New England states have the potential to increase gross state product (GSP) by $54.6 billion and create thousands of jobs in the region by adopting cost-effective energy efficiency policies, according to a new report by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP).
The U.S. Department of Energy has recognized a team from Massachusetts for its innovative leadership in working together to develop, write and ultimately get adopted the first state-level stretch building energy code in the country.
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) has been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy to assist communities that are conducting energy efficiency programs funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The aim of the program is to address long-term energy policy changes, environmental concerns, and the need to strengthen the economy and create jobs.
Pilot Project with National Grid and NStar Makes NEEP's Office a Testing Center for Energy Efficiency
LEXINGTON, MA, May 27, 2010 - Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP), a Lexington-based non-profit, is joining forces with NStar and National Grid in a new pilot project for research into reducing energy use in office settings.
New Guide Helps School Districts Implement Green, Energy Efficient Strategies
A new guide published by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) can help school districts and other building owners save significant money with little to no capital investments by implementing techniques that keep a building operating at peak performance.
Organizations Recognized for Commitment to Achieving Significant Energy Savings
LEXINGTON, MA, March 25, 2010 - Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) is recognizing 13 regional organizations as ‘Business Leaders for Energy Efficiency' for their outstanding efforts to advance energy efficiency at the Northeast Energy Efficiency Summit in Boston, MA on March 31. Together, these organizations have achieved a cumulative annual cost savings of over $4.5 million by investing in energy efficiency measures throughout their organization.
LEXINGTON, MA - March 9, 2010 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Northeast Retail Products Initiative a 2010 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award in recognition of its continued leadership in protecting our environment through energy efficiency. The Initiative's accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 18, 2010.
The Northeast Retail Products Initiative, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2001, will be honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency. For nearly a decade the Initiative, facilitated by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP), has leveraged members' collective resources to build greater market awareness and availability of energy efficient lighting and appliance products.
New report finds policies that disclose a building's energy use can be effective in getting markets to value energy efficiency, create jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
LEXINGTON, MASS -Northeast states could greatly increase the energy efficiency of homes and buildings through a public policy requiring the rating and disclosure of a building's energy performance, according to a new report commissioned by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP).
Premier High Performance School Protocol Meets Demand for Greening Existing Buildings
November 24, 2009 LEXINGTON, MASS - More communities throughout the Northeast planning for school modernization projects can now recognize the health, environmental and economic benefits of a high performance school. In addition to new construction projects, the Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) now incorporates major renovations to existing buildings into its protocol criteria, Northeast-CHPS 2.0.
November 11, 2009 LEXINGTON, Mass. - Lighting Manufacturers now have a vital link for promoting their energy efficient technologies to utilities and other efficiency program administrators across the nation thanks to the launch of a new independent listing of qualified solid state lighting (SSL) products.
The DesignLightsTM Consortium (DLC) Qualified Products List (www.designlights.org) provides a central place for manufacturers to submit product specifications for energy efficiency program administrators to determine whether an LED fixture qualifies for their incentive programs.
At the October 7 meeting of the Board of Directors of the national Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), NEEP's Senior Program Manager for High Performance Schools, Carolyn Sarno, was unanimously elected as the group's next Vice-Chairman.
May 12, 2009: The Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards adopts the first Informative Appendix in the country. The Appendix includes NEEP's stretch code that allows for enhanced energy and carbon savings.
Read analysis about the stretch code from NEEP's Building Energy Codes Project Manager,Isaac Elnecave, in the New York Times, here.