David Harary, ERS, for Zondits Catastrophic hurricanes, raging forest fires, flooding and drought. The last two months of summer have shown America glimpses of a new era of climate. The environmental, social, and economic costs of this problem are simply too high to turn a blind eye. Mitigating the adverse effects of climate change starts…
Programs & Policy
Lawmakers Seek to Ban Programs That Allow School Districts to Exceed Revenue Limits
More School Districts Using Energy Efficiency Program To Exceed Revenue Limits Wisconsin Public Radio, August 28, 2017 A growing number of school districts are voting to exceed revenue limits for energy efficiency projects, while state lawmakers seek a ban on the program that lets them do it. The Revenue Limit Exemption for Energy Efficiencies program lets…
Program Implementation
NJ PBU Approves Spending to Expand PSEG’s Energy Efficiency Programs
New Jersey regulators approve $69M in efficiency spending for PSEG Utility Dive, August 24, 2017 Dive Brief: The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities yesterday signed off on a $69 million slate of efficiency programs to be implemented by Public Service Electric and Gas Co. (PSE&G) The decision will extend three energy efficiency programs the…
Program Implementation
Innovation Leads to Accelerated Performance Pilot As a New Construction Program
ComEd Adopts DOE Accelerate Performance Pilot as Official New Construction Program Offering Energy.gov, August 14, 2017 Recent innovations in the procurement approach for new construction buildings developed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) have been shown to deliver deep and persistent energy savings at little or no additional upfront cost to building owners. The…
Law & Policy
Federal Court Rules That the Clean Air Act Cannot Be Used to Ban Hydrofluorocarbons
Federal Court Tosses Obama-Era Ruling on Hydrofluorocarbons Used in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Environmental Leader, August 9, 2017 A federal court handed climate change advocates a narrow loss on Tuesday when it tossed an Obama-era ruling to phase out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) used in refrigeration and air conditioning. The US Court of Appeals for the District…
Law & Policy
Measure Passed to Block Federal Energy Standards for Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
Congress Is Still Fighting Over Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs Bloomberg Politics, July 27, 2017 Congressional Republicans renewed their effort to save the traditional light bulb, passing a measure to block federal energy standards that have come to symbolize government overreach for many consumers but are largely embraced by manufacturers as the cost of the newer bulbs…
Law & Policy
Re-classified Regulations Allow Larger Capacity CO2 Systems
Key Japan CO2 regulation lifted r744.com, July 18, 2017 The High Pressure Safety Institute of Japan (KHK) has re-classified CO2 under Japan’s High Pressure Gas Safety Act, opening the door for larger capacity CO2 systems to enter the Japanese market. On 14 July, the High Pressure Safety Institute of Japan (KHK) announced that, beginning 25 July, CO2 would be…
Program Evaluation
Using M&V Data to Target High-Potential Opportunities and Program Savings
Lucy Neiman, ERS, for Zondits The International Energy Program Evaluation Conference (IEPEC) will be held August 7‒10 in Baltimore, MD, with presentations and workshops focusing on the topic “Making Ambitious Reductions Real: Accurate and Actionable Evaluation.” On Thursday, August 10, Amaury De La Cruz of Con Edison and Lucy Neiman of ERS will present a…