Energy Efficiency News - RenewableEnergyWorld.com

Tracking and Analyzing Energy Legislation Across the US

James Montgomery, Associate Editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:02:00 GMT

A new online database created by Colorado State University's (CSU) Center for the New Energy Economy (CNEE) aims to serve anyone interested in clean energy legislation in any state in the U.S., or even those who are crafting policy themselves.

Tesla Motors Repays DOE Loan 9 Years Early

Jeff Postelwait, Associate Editor, Electric Light & Power — Thu, 23 May 2013 11:25:00 GMT

U.S. electric vehicle maker Telsa Motors has paid back its 2010 loan awarded by the Department of Energy. Following payments made in 2012 and earlier in 2013, the May 22 payment of $451.8 million repays the full loan amount with interest.

EVs: Geely Revs Up, BYD Enters Hong Kong

Doug Young — Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Let’s start with a look at the latest news from Geely, which has announced that Liu Jinliang has left his older role as head of the company’s car sales to focus exclusively on developing its EV business. (company announcement) In a bid to ease concerns that the move might represent a demotion, Geely is quick to add that Liu will retain his role as

3 Engagement Strategies for Solar Installers to Be “Liked” on Facebook with Graph Search

Tor 'Solar Fred' Valenza — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Facebook’s new Graph Search is still in a testing phase right now, but it will launch sitewide in the coming months. And when it does, your solar company had better be “liked” by your customers. What is Graph Search? Very simply, it’s an internal Facebook search engine that will allow your potential customers to search Facebook for people, places,

Does Buying Clean Energy Stocks Do Any Good?

Tom Konrad, Contributor — Mon, 20 May 2013 14:50:00 GMT

Volt owners are almost universally happy with their cars, despite the fact that very few will recoup the extra costs of the car in gas savings. Even though the financial savings are small compared to the large upfront payment for the vehicle, the emotional payback more than compensates.

Why Boulder, Colorado Opted for a Clean Energy Takeover

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:35:00 GMT

The process started in 2003 when Boulder resumed studying the option to create a municipal utility. With a climate-action plan already in place, and a local carbon tax already financing conservation and clean energy, the once nascent issue became a serious option in Boulder. Creating a municipal utility would allow for more control over the grid, r

Moniz Unanimously Confirmed As New DOE Chief

James Montgomery, Associate Editor, RenewableEnergyWorld.com — Thu, 16 May 2013 19:55:25 GMT

Ernie Moniz has been unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the next Secretary of Energy, in a 97-0 vote (with three nonvoters). He succeeds Stephen Chu who held the position for four years.

U.K. Delays Smart Meter Rollout by a Year on 'Challenge'

Alex Morales, Bloomberg — Thu, 16 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

The U.K. postponed its mass installation of "smart" energy meters by a year as suppliers struggle with design glitches and testing is delayed.

Efficiency New Brunswick Cuts Geothermal Energy Incentives

Wed, 15 May 2013 14:21:00 GMT

Throughout Canada, energy efficiency retrofit grants have helped stimulate the geothermal industry and have made geothermal heat pumps more popular than ever before. The introduction of these substantial financial incentives on both a provincial and federal level have been a boon for the geothermal industry and the energy efficiency retrofit indust

Electricity Loss and Theft: Who Pays?

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

We fret about turning off the lights to save pennies on energy. Meanwhile, electricity worth billions of dollars gets lost or stolen on the world’s power grids every year. In industry jargon, the problem is known as ‘line loss.’ A certain amount of electricity generated by a power plant never makes it to the consumer — or at least the paying consum

Europe Sinks Its Flagship Carbon Trading Scheme

Paul Hockenos, International Correspondent — Fri, 10 May 2013 13:34:47 GMT

All German Chancellor Angela Merkel had to do was pick up the phone and dial her people in Brussels. Had she done so before the European Parliament's (EP) key vote last month on April 19, her party's representatives could easily have saved the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), Europe's flagship mechanism for reducing carbon emissions. But the woman once hailed as "the climate chancellor," didn't make the call, a consequence of differences of opinion on the ETS within her ruling center-right coalition, she said. The impotent ETS is now withering on the vine, where it may remain until it is dead altogether.

Microgrids: Coming or No?

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

You know that experience, when you buy a new car, and suddenly you see the model everywhere? Since Superstorm Sandy I’ve had the equivalent experience with the term ‘microgrid.’ Policymakers and thought leaders in the U.S. Northeast started talking microgrid in earnest shortly after the October 2012 storm leveled swaths of their region. Lately, the

EU Debate Over Climate Change Policy Could Dampen Renewable Energy Growth

Ewa Krukowska and Alex Morales, Bloomberg — Mon, 06 May 2013 13:39:31 GMT

Europe's program to halt climate change is in disarray with lawmakers in the region expressing concern the drift is undermining the planet's most significant effort to combat global warming.

Distributed Energy Storage Benefits on Both Sides of the Meter

Thu, 02 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Solar and wind are excellent sources of clean, renewable energy, but as they contribute a larger share to the generation fleet, their integration will become increasingly challenging. The reason: solar and wind cannot be dispatched in the same way as other sources of energy, such as nuclear, hydro, and fossil fuels. Because the grid must operate “j

The $40 Billion Hiding in US Buildings

Thu, 02 May 2013 12:00:00 GMT

A pretty big wad of money — $40 billion — is hiding somewhere inside the lights, AC, thermostats, furnaces and fans of our offices, stores, hospitals and schools. That’s the amount of money the federal government estimates we can save annually by reducing energy use in commercial buildings 20 percent by 2020. To achieve the goal, the Obama adminis

Energy Efficiency Stocks Rally on Shaheen-Portman Bill

Tom Konrad, Contributor — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:08:36 GMT

While the chance for broad energy reform to come out of our dysfunctional and divided Congress are slim, there is one area of broad agreement across the aisle: Energy efficiency is good for jobs, and the environment. Much can also be done at modest or no cost to the taxpayer.

Renewable Energy Optimization in the Heart of Coal Country

Eric Mathis, Sustainable Williamson — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 13:32:36 GMT

In the depths of coal country, one would not expect to find a growing diversified energy economy that includes a healthy mix of renewables. But in Williamson, WV, Sustainable Williamson is bullish on making a change, and hopes to inspire other communities throughout central Appalachia, coal country and the nation.

Kenyan Island to Fight Malaria Using Solar Power

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 12:00:00 GMT

Since solar photovoltaic panels were first invented they have been used for many purposes and will no doubt continue to do so over the coming years. It is always good to hear of them being installed for a worthwhile cause over and above the usual benefits that they provide to the environment. A Kenyan island is gradually having solar panels fitted

Energy Efficiency Finds Its Cell Phone, Part II

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:00:00 GMT

If you’re an energy efficiency geek and your refrigerator breaks down, you probably think, “Yes! A chance to buy a new super energy-saving model.” But you’re the exception. Most consumers consider price tag before ENERGY STAR certification. Human nature being what it is, they choose the cheaper model even if it costs them more in utility bills lon

Three Unequal Choices for a Local (Renewable) Energy Future

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:00:00 GMT

Earth Day highlights the need for a sustainable energy future, and experience suggests that there are only three meaningful choices for communities trying to increase local control of a greener energy future. But the three policies – deregulation (“customer choice”), municipal aggregation (“city choice”), and municipal utilities (“city ownership”)