The new manufactured home standards would cover: the building thermal envelope; air sealing; installation of insulation; duct sealing; HVAC; service hot water systems; mechanical ventilation fan efficacy; and heating and cooling equipment sizing.
Energy conservation portions of current manufactured housing regulations have not been adjusted since 1994. Roughly 7 million manufactured homes are in the U.S, Manufactured homes use 70 pct more energy per square foot than traditional "stick-built" homes, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
(Source: US DOE, ACEEE, 14 July, 2021) Contact: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, www2.aceee.org;
International Energy Conservation Code, www.iccsafe.org
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The competition included 30 communities from five states. San Luis Obispo received first place. Third place went to St. Louis Park (Minnesota) followed by Manhattan Beach, West Hollywood, West Hartford (Connecticut), Rockville (Maryland), Dublin (California) and Red Wing (Minnesota) (tied), and Rochester (Minnesota).
The ACEEE examined all participating cities' efforts to make homes and buildings more energy efficient, to scale up the use of renewable energy, and to ensure community involvement in developing equitable clean-energy policies. Goleta was recognized for its commitments 100 pct community-wide renewable energy by 2030 and 50 pct renewable energy at municipal facilities by 2025, as well as its green building policies, LED streetlight acquisition, support for building energy code compliance and commitment to
being a green and sustainable community. (Source: City of Goleta, PR, ACEEE, 17 Jan., 2021) Contact: City of Goleta, Sustainability Coordinator, Cindy Moore, www.cityofgoleta.org/projects-programs/sustainability-climate-adaptation; ACEEE, www.aceee.org
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According to the press release, Rhode Island has set aggressive energy savings targets for electric and gas utilities' programs that help residential and commercial customers save energy as part of its energy efficiency resource standard. The State government is also adopting cost-saving efficiency measures that are reducing energy demands and operating costs and has also entered into an innovative Strategic Energy Management Plan (SEMP) with National Grid that is actively supporting the deployment of cost-effective efficiency investments across public sector facilities.
(Source: State of Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families, PR, 8 Jan., 2021)
Contact: State of Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families, www.dcyf.ri.gov; ACEEE, www.aceee.org
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The report examines the energy saving policies and programs each state has adopted through July, scoring states on 32 metrics in five areas: energy-saving targets; vehicle efficiency; building codes; appliance and equipment standards; and state government initiatives. (Source: ACEEE, Dec., 2020)
Contact: ACEEE, Steven Nadel, Exec. Dir., 202-507-4000, www.aceee.org
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The report models the impacts of replacing several types of gas-based heating systems in existing commercial buildings with various electric heat pump systems. In some cases, electrifying heating already pays back for building owners. The report found that about 27 pct of commercial floor space heated with fossil fuel systems can be electrified today with a simple payback of less than 10 years. If policymakers enacted a package of public investments, incentives, and carbon pricing policies, the proportion of commercial building space that can be electrified with this payback would increase to 60 pct, the report notes.
Access the ACEEE Electrifying Heating in Existing Commercial Buildings Could Cut Their Emissions 44pct report HERE. (Source: ACEEE, PR, 28 Oct., 2020) Contact: ACEEE, 202-507-4000, www.aceee.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News ACEEE news, Energy Efficiency news, Carbon Emissions news,
The energy burden is also disproportionate across racial lines. In comparison to White households, Black households spend 43 pct more of their income on energy costs while Hispanic households spend 20 pct more and and Native American households spend 45 pct more. Renters also have about a 13 pct higher energy burden than home owners and depend upon a landlords' willingness to implement energy efficiency measures. (Source: ACEEE, Smart Cities Dive, 10 Sept., 2020)
(Source: ACEEE, Smart Cities Dive, 10 Sept., 2020)
Contact: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Steven Nadel, Exec. Dir., www.aceee.org
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As of 2018, the Helping Home Fund has assisted over 4,300 North Carolinians most burdened by high energy bills. A study from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and EEFA found the median household in Charlotte, for example, spent 4 pct of their income on energy, while the median low-income household spent about twice that much. And the most under-resourced households spent more than 3.5 times as much.
The Helping Home Fund is administered by the North Carolina Community Action Association and provides funding for its member agencies that provide energy efficiency weatherization assistance to low-income households. (Source: Duke Energy, NRDC, 31 July, 2020) Contact: Duke Energy Helping Home Fund, www.duke-energy.com/home/products/income-qualified/helping-home-fund;
EFFA, www.eefa.net
More Low-Carbon Energy News Duke Energy news, Energy Efficiency news,
The challenge offers technical assistance, tools and support to assess clean energy and energy efficiency goals and initiatives, and compares related energy achievements across similarly-sized cities, assess future initiatives, and provide project implementation assistance.
The challenge is a partnership of the Sustainable States Network, American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), and five state-level sustainability programs, including Sustainable CT, Green Cities California, Sustainable Maryland, Minnesota GreenStep Cities, and Sustainable Jersey.
Maplewood Township is certified at the silver-level with Sustainable Jersey and has undertaken a number of initiatives to reduce energy use. For example, Maplewood Township: installed public electric vehicle charging stations; implemented an energy aggregation program which reduces costs and increases renewable energy use for residents; completed energy audits of all main buildings; upgraded lighting for energy efficiency in the Municipal Building, the Public Works building and Memorial Library; achieved LEED certification for the police and courts building; replaced old traffic signals with LEDs; participated in a cooperative buying agreement for cheaper and greener energy for buildings and purchased hybrid vehicles when replacing township fleet vehicles. (Source: Maplewood Township, PT, TAPinto.net, July, 2020)
Contact: Sustainable States, www.SustainableStates.us
Maplewood Township, www.twp.maplewood.nj.us
Sustainable States Community Energy Challenge, www.sustainableconnections.org
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This building codes amendment focuses on encouraging the construction of new homes and buildings to be more energy-efficient without any mandates. The adoption of updated model building energy codes, as well as states' review of updated model building energy codes, are voluntary.
The provisions in this amendment were included in the Portman-Shaheen energy efficiency measure that has been approved by the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on a bipartisan basis five separate times and passed the full Senate by a bi-partisan vote of 85-12 in 2016.
A recent economic and environmental impact analysis by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) found that over the lifetime of the legislation through 2050, the Portman-Shaheen building codes provisions will: save consumers $41.4 billion on their energy bills;
Cut CO2 emissions by 1.18 billion metric tons, which is the equivalent of taking 3.1 million cars off the road each year for 30 years; and save 28 quadrillion Btu of energy.
(Source: US Sen. Robb Portman, PR, 5 Mar., 2020) Contact: US Sen. Robb Portman, www.portman.senate.gov
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The scorecard notes that, as a group, the utilities boosted their annual energy savings by 20 pct since 2015, saving almost 20 TWh of electricity in 2018 from programs administered that year -- enough to power 1.8 million homes.
The report highlights the ways in which the utility landscape has transformed since 2015, the baseline for the 2017 scorecard. New technologies are emerging -- states, utilities, and other stakeholders are increasingly focused on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the important role of energy efficiency with more than 900 different efficiency programs in 2018, about 300 more than in 2015. Additionally, 32 utilities piloted new programs that involve smart thermostats, online marketplaces for energy-saving products, commercial energy efficiency financing, and integration of efficiency with other DERs such as demand response and storage.
While overall energy savings increased, this upward trend was not universal, and seven utilities saw their energy savings decrease by more than 20 pct since 2015.
The scorecard also found that, while there is increased focus on changing utility business models nationally, utilities are generally slow to change these models and are often reluctant to give customers access to energy usage data.
The scorecard, which received no utility funding, increases the availability of utility-sector energy efficiency data to enable benchmarking and help utilities strengthen their programs. ACEEE focuses on the 52 largest electric utilities by retail sales volume, including all 51 utilities from its 2017 Scorecard, plus Tampa Electric.
Download the 2020 Utility Energy Efficiency Scorecard at www.aceee.org/utility-scorecard. (Source: ACEEE, 21 Feb., 2020) Contact: ACEEE,
Steven Nadel, Exec. Dir., www.aceee.org
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According to ACEEE sernior policy advisor Lowell Unger, "The numbers are in: This would be the biggest cut of energy waste from any new federal law in a decade.
By spurring the construction of more energy-efficient buildings and houses, reducing energy waste in industrial plants, and assisting energy improvements in existing buildings, it would cut our energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions, and that's just smart policy." (Source: ACEEE, PR, Feb., 2020) Contact: ACEEE, www.aceee.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, ACEEE, Energy Efficiency,
The study leveraged data from the 100 Resilient Cities program and found that while many cities are taking some steps to increase energy efficiency and renewable power, only 20 pct include energy efficiency initiatives in their resilience plans. Study recommendations to boost energy efficiency and renewables include:
Study information is HERE. (Source: ACEEE, 30 Jan., 2020) Contact: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, www.aceee.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy,
The report, which examines the impacts of energy efficiency investments, policies, and innovation across a variety of sectors, including residential and commercial buildings, industry, and transportation, found that investments in energy efficient measures have prevented a 60 pct increase in energy consumption and carbon emissions. The report identifies fuel economy standards, appliance and equipment energy efficiency standards, ENERGY STAR, utility sector efficiency programs, federal research and development, and building energy codes as the policies and programs saved an estimated 25 quadrillion BTUs -- roughly 23 pct of the total U.S. energy consumption in of energy in 2017. The report identifies the growth in smarter technologies and more responsive energy management as major new energy savings opportunities and notes that technologies alone could deliver more than 40 pct of global carbon reductions necessary to meet Paris Agreement climate targets.
The report uses 54 indicators to quantify energy efficiency impacts. Further, it examines progress in a variety of sectors, including utilities, buildings, industry, and transportation. (Source: ACEEE, Alliance to Save Energy, Dec., 2019)Contact: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Steven Nadel, Exec. Dir., (202) 507-4000, (202) 429-2248 - fax, www.aceee.org; Alliance to Save Energy, 202.857.0666, www.ase.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News Energy Efficiency, ACEEE, Alliance to Save Energy, Alliance to Save Energy,
The scorecard ranks states on 33 metrics in six policy areas including utilities, transportation, building policies, state government-led initiatives, and appliance standards. (Source: ACEEE, Laramie Live, 19 Dec., 2019) Contact: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Steven Nadel, Exec. Dir., (202) 507-4000, (202) 429-2248 - fax, www.aceee.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ,
Massachusetts placed first for the ninth year in a row on the strength of its 2008 Green Communities Act and Global Warming Solutions Act calling for increased energy efficiency and an 80 pct reduction in GHG emissions statewide by 2050. The state also adopted the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code.
The ACEEE report reviews states' efficiency initiatives and policies on utilities, transportation, building codes, appliances, and combined heat and power. (Source: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Nov., 2019)
Contact: American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Steven Nadel, Exec. Dir., (202) 507-4000, (202) 429-2248 - fax, www.aceee.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Energy Efficiency,
The report offers a road map for dramatically reducing energy waste and identifies ambitious but cost-effective and technically possible measures that would avert emissions of nearly 2,500 million metric tons of CO2 -- equivalent to all emissions from cars, trucks, homes, and commercial buildings in 2050.
The ACEEE report identifies 11 opportunities and related policies to achieve the necessary savings. Transportation, which will see a transition to electric vehicles, would deliver nearly half (46 pct) of the emissions reductions while buildings would deliver a third and industry a fifth. For energy savings, buildings would deliver 40 pct of the total, followed by transportation at 32 pct and industry 27 pct. The report also notes that government policies and programs alone would deliver about $700 billion a year in energy savings by 2050.
The report calls for scaling up energy efficiency measures, including:
The Halfway There: Energy Efficiency Can Cut Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Half by 2050 report is available HERE. (Source: ACEEE, Facility Exec., Sept., 2019) Contact: ACEEE, Steven Nadel, Exec. Dir., (202) 507-4000, (202) 429-2248 - fax, www.aceee.org
More Low-Carbon Energy News American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, ACEEE, Energy Efficiency Climate Chnage,
State-mandated utility energy efficiency programs in the Sunshine State were virtually eliminated several year ago. Consequently, Florida has some of the weakest energy-efficiency standards in the country, according to
the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
(Source: Florida Public Service Commission, Herald-Tribune, Meg Lowman, 25 Aug., 2019) Contact: Florida Public Service Commission, (800) 342-3552, www.psc.state.fl.us: ACEEE, www.aceee.org
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Cities account for two-thirds of the world's energy demand and 70 pct of energy-related emissions, the report said, citing International Energy Agency data.
According to the not-for-profit ACEEE,
"City resources are always tight. The lack of data could also be due to emission-cutting goals having only recently been adopted, or to insufficient political will."
(Source: ACEEE, VOA. July, 2019)
Contact: ACEEE, David Ribeiro, Report Lead Author, Research Manager, www.aceee.org
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"There is strategic importance to diversity in our energy sector and we should not rely solely on natural gas. Pennsylvania has more opportunities to grow energy efficiency and renewable-energy jobs than ever before, and the economic benefits would extend into rural, urban, and suburban communities across the commonwealth.
"Additionally, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy estimates that currently pending bipartisan energy efficiency legislation in Pennsylvania could unlock 30,000 jobs and about $6.4 billion in net savings by removing barriers to energy efficiency investment. These jobs not only put Pennsylvanians to work, but they advance energy-efficiency projects that drive down energy bill costs.
"The commonwealth's energy-efficiency and renewable-energy sectors are strong, poised for important growth, and must be part of the conversation." (Source: Sustainable Pittsburgh Downtown, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 30 May, 2019) Contact: Sustainable Pittsburgh, Joylette Portlock, Exec. Dir., (412) 258-6642, (412) 258-6645 (fax), info@sustainablepittsburgh.org, www.sustainablepittsburgh.org
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"There is strategic importance to diversity in our energy sector and we should not rely solely on natural gas. Pennsylvania has more opportunities to grow energy efficiency and renewable-energy jobs than ever before, and the economic benefits would extend into rural, urban, and suburban communities across the commonwealth.
"Just recently, a bipartisan group of state senators announced legislation that would update Pennsylvania's Alternative Energy Portfolio Standard to include a target of 30 pct energy from Tier 1 renewable sources by 2030. This piece of legislation, Senate Bill 600, is growing in support and has a House companion bill, House Bill 1195.
"Additionally, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy estimates that currently pending bipartisan energy efficiency legislation in Pennsylvania could unlock 30,000 jobs and about $6.4 billion in net savings by removing barriers to energy efficiency investment. These jobs not only put Pennsylvanians to work, but they advance energy-efficiency projects that drive down energy bill costs.
"The commonwealth's energy-efficiency and renewable-energy sectors are strong, poised for important growth, and must be part of the conversation." (Source: Sustainable Pittsburgh
Downtown, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 30 May, 2019)
Contact: Sustainable Pittsburgh, Joylette Portlock, Exec. Dir., (412) 258-6642, (412) 258-6645 (fax), info@sustainablepittsburgh.org, www.sustainablepittsburgh.org
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The coalition, led by the Alliance to Save Energy, includes leading manufacturers of windows, air conditioners, insulation and other components alongside environmental and efficiency advocates such as the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Citizens for Responsible Energy Solutions (CRES), and the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
The proposed tax incentives call for broadly supported improvements to the expired 45L tax incentive for high-efficiency new home construction and the 25C tax incentive for homeowner efficiency improvements -- installing insulation, replacing windows, or purchasing high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment. The improvements include strengthening the efficiency level that must be met to receive the incentives, while also increasing the dollar value of the incentives.
The coalition also called for extending the 179D incentive for efficiency improvements in commercial buildings. (Source: Alliance to Save Energy, PR, May, 2019)
Contact: Alliance to Save Energy, (202) 857-0666, www.ase.org
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