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There’s no doubt that building to Passive House standards results in energy consumption that’s about 70 to 80 percent less than what you’d expect from a traditionally built home (or school, or office building, or factory…you get the picture). That’s due in part to the fact that the home is air tight, super-insulated and uses a heat recovery ventilation system that exhausts air (and moisture) and replaces ... [continue reading]
A new NRDC study shows that water heaters that use high efficiency heat pump technology—the same process that keeps your refrigerator cold—can cut the amount of electricity used to heat water by half or more, saving significant amounts of energy and money on your household electricity bills. [continue reading]
Residential PACE (property assessed clean energy), an innovative solution for financing energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, is being led by a set of industry mavens seeking to realize the promise of this public–private partnership. Specifically, industry stakeholders have come together to create a set of consumer protection standards that ensure homeowners reap the full benefits of PACE while safeguarding against predatory behavior in this nascent market. A couple of weeks ago, the ... [continue reading]
There is no question that the recent election results were a shock to the nation. The voters sent a message: we want change. There is no doubt things will change, but when and how much is yet to be determined. [continue reading]
Behavioral recommendations, or tips, are an integral piece of many energy efficiency programs, ranging from marketing materials (e.g., brochures) to in-home audits, to Home and Business Energy Reports (such as the report shown below). Though information is known to be a critical component of effective interventions, it is important to consider human motivations and needs for this to be effective. This article synthesizes findings from a series of empirical research conducted by See Change ... [continue reading]
Fifteen nonprofit community development organizations were recognized this week for their excellence in sustainable business and housing practices that are designed to save people money by NeighborWorks America. To date, 95 network members have earned the NeighborWorks Green Organization designation.This is the fifth year of the NeighborWorks Green Organization program, which recognizes community development nonprofits in its network of more than 240 organizations that demonstrate a comprehensive commitment to sustainable operations – both in their lines ... [continue reading]
There is still much uncertainty about how the new Trump administration will effect your business and the energy efficiency of U.S homes. But over the last eight years many states, local governments, and utilities have begun major initiatives that will continue to support professionals like you who are working to create high-performance homes. [continue reading]
As public utility commissions gathered at the 2016 NARUC Annual Meeting in November to discuss policies and programs that regulate how energy is used and moved in America, HPC released its report, A Policymaker’s Guide to Incorporating Existing Homes into Carbon Reduction Strategies and Clean Power Plan Compliance. This report was written to policymakers, outlining ways in which existing homes are a key aspect to carbon reductions strategies, with details on how they complement ... [continue reading]
The Building Technologies Office (BTO) has announced the availability of $5.5 million for DE-FOA-0001630, “Building America 2017 Industry Partnerships for High Performance Housing Innovation.” [continue reading]
In what was by all accounts a stunning upset, Donald Trump passed 279 electoral votes early Wednesday morning and secured an electoral college victory. Hillary Clinton conceded by a phone call to Trump sometime in the middle of the night. She delivered her concession speech just before noon on Wednesday. [continue reading]
