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DOE Completes New Consensus-Based Air Conditioner Standards
Andrew deLaski
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) published new minimum energy efficiency standards for residential central air conditioners and heat pumps today. The new standards, which are based on a negotiated agreement, will reduce air conditioner and heat pump energy use by about 7%, translating into hundreds of dollars in electricity bill savings for consumers over the life of their equipment. [continue reading]
The National Fenestration Rating Council Welcomes Newly-Elected Board Members
Tom Herron
The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) is pleased to announce the four newly-elected members of the 2017 Board of Directors. [continue reading]
Healthy Homes and a Healthy Bottom Line
Jim Gunshinan
There has been a lot of interest of late in the weatherization and broader home performance community in putting a value on the health benefits of weatherization. We’ve come a long way in the last several years and have reached, I think, some strong consensus that the health benefits of weatherization and home performance retrofits are real and valuable. This means that making healthy housing a part of your business plan makes good ... [continue reading]
Side Benefits of a Passive House
Rob Nicely
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]
Very Cool: Heat Pump Water Heaters Save Energy and Money
Pierre Delforge and Christina Swanson
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]
Setting the PACE for Consumer Protection
Kelly Vaughn
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]
What Trump Does Not Know About Energy Efficiency
Charlie Cormany
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]
Tips for Tips
Jason Kaufman
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]
NeighborWorks America Selects New Green-Designated Organizations
Lindsay Moore
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]
Moving Forward with Home Performance—A Letter to Our Readers
Tom White
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]
