New Buildings Face Drastic Changes with Boston Zoning Plans

energynews.us, 1/18/2021. The initiative is among the most aggressive of existing or proposed strategies to cut energy consumption in buildings, which are responsible for 70% of the city’s carbon output. The city of Boston is laying plans to require newly constructed large buildings to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, a move supporters hope will help … Read more

Small Municipalities Take Big Strides Towards Clean Energy

aceee.org, 1/14/21. An analysis of clean energy efforts by 30 small cities finds several leaders taking significant steps to cut energy waste and embrace clean energy—pointing the way for other small municipalities across the country to do the same. The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) examined the cities’ efforts to make homes and … Read more

HFCs Banned in Certain Applications in NY Under New Policy

ammonia21.com, 10/12/2020. New York (U.S.) Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced on September 23 during Climate Week NYC 2020 that new regulations have been finalized to significantly reduce the use of HFCs in the state in the absence of federal regulations of the climate-warming gases. The New York regulations, originally proposed in 2018, will adopt 2015 and 2016 rules … Read more

New Training Program Will Educate 1,000 NY Workers in EE

renewableenergyworld.com, 10/5/2020. New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced yesterday the Career Pathway Training Partnerships program, a new initiative that will train workers in high efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning and electric heat pump technologies. The program will target training over 1,000 workers and prioritize low-income New Yorkers and those residing in environmental justice communities, … Read more

California Set to Phase Out All New Non-EV Car Sales

washingtonpost.com, 9/25/20. California, the world’s fifth-largest economy and the state that created U.S. car culture, will stop selling gasoline-powered automobiles within 15 years, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced Wednesday. Facing a record-breaking wildfire season as well as years of heat waves and droughts exacerbated by climate change, the Golden State is seeking to accelerate the … Read more

New Jersey BPU Sets “Top Tier” Energy Savings Targets

Originally posted on utilitydive.com on June 11, 2020. Dive Brief: The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) on Wednesday approved a framework for Energy Efficiency and Peak Demand Reduction programs, setting five-year savings targets of 2.15% for electric distribution companies and 1.10% for gas distribution companies. According to the BPU and energy efficiency advocates, the targets will result … Read more

Energy Efficiency Industry Sees Potential Path to Restore Jobs

ase.org, June 15, 2020. It’s no secret that COVID-19 upended any expectations for what 2020 might look like, but the impact on the energy efficiency sector has been particularly devastating. At the end of 2019, the efficiency industry celebrated unprecedented growth with potential for an even stronger year ahead. But instead, the industry saw a shocking 413,000 jobs lost … Read more

Utility Customers in New Jersey Face Energy Use Mandate

This article was originally published on njspotlight.com on June 11, 2020. Ambitious energy efficiency restrictions should speed state on road to clean-energy goals, curb emissions contributing to climate change. Utilities in New Jersey will be required to reduce how much gas and electricity their customers use after the state approved a comprehensive program mandating those … Read more

LEDs Could Be Summer Vacation Plans for Maine Schools

This article was originally published on energynews.us on 3.17.2020. Public schools in Maine this month can get extra financial assistance to install LED lighting. Aside from being a cleaner source of energy, efficiency experts say the new technology can save a lot of money in the long term for schools, where lights are one of … Read more

SUNY ESF is First College in the State to Pledge Zero Plastic

This article was originally published on esf.edu on March 3, 2020. The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) is the first college in New York state and the third in the nation to sign the #breakfreefromplastic campus pledge, committing to develop a roadmap to a plastic-free campus by 2025. This pledge was developed … Read more