By Arah Schuur | Thu, October 12, 2023
This is my last week as NEEP’s Executive Director. As I turn this page, I am reflecting on how much has changed and how much has stayed the same in the world of energy efficiency, and how organizations like NEEP are more critical than ever in ensuring that we continue to utilize the “first fuel” of energy conservation.
The NEEP region – the 12 Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states and the District…
By Luke Miller | Thu, September 21, 2023
To implement the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Home Energy Rebate Programs, state energy offices will need to address how to obtain access to consumer energy data and use it to better inform program design and customer outreach. Energy data can provide insight into customer energy use and behaviors. Unlocking this data can enhance energy efficiency programs by identifying new ways to save energy…
By John Balfe | Thu, September 21, 2023
Calling all home energy contractors, state energy offices, and related professionals!
A new training and certificate opportunity for those interested in managing whole-home retrofit projects is coming soon.
Whole-Home Programs Are Evolving
The demand for comprehensive energy retrofit projects continues to grow across the country. States in the NEEP region are setting goals, developing…
By Erin Cosgrove | Wed, August 30, 2023
Just a few weeks ago, we were celebrating the one-year mark of the passage of the IRA. Now, it‘s time to start implementing two of its biggest investments - the Home Owner Managing Energy Savings (HOMES) and the High Efficiency Electric Home Rebate Act (HEEHRA). Combined, HOMES and HEEHRA will result in over $8 billion dollars in investment in efficiency and electrification in homes across the…
By Nidhi Ravi | Mon, August 28, 2023
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) has been a cornerstone in helping low-income households reduce their energy costs and improve their living conditions for over four decades. As the world's focus on sustainability and energy efficiency has grown, so has the WAP. In recent years, significant changes and improvements have been made to the program, leading to greater efficiency and…
By Erin Cosgrove | Fri, July 28, 2023
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released guidance for $150 million in formula funding for the State-Based Energy Efficiency Contractor Training Grants (Contractor Training Program). The Contractor Training Program provides funding to state energy offices to train, test, and certify energy efficiency and electrification contractors. The funding is not just for IRA programs, but also to…
By Andrew Winslow | Fri, July 28, 2023
In Philadelphia, over 60,000 homeowners are living in poverty. In New York state, two million homes need to electrify to achieve 2030 climate reduction goals. What do these staggering statistics have in common? Comprehensive whole home retrofits can be a solution. Notoriously a confusing and expensive process, whole home retrofits are beginning to take center stage as states and communities see…
By Dragana Thibault | Thu, July 27, 2023
Imagine returning home after a long day, connecting your electric vehicle (EV) to your own charging station, and waking up the next morning with a fully charged car, ready to take you wherever you need to go. EV readiness in both homes and buildings offers this convenience and the ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The automotive industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation…
By Aditi Dalal | Thu, June 29, 2023
Implementing retrofits in low-income homes faces numerous issues, one of which is deferred upgrades because of health and safety issues or tube and wiring issues, that can cause program implementers to walk away from a home before a project even begins.
For example, often a resident cannot participate in energy efficiency programs if their house has lead and mold problems or other…
By Deepti Dutt | Thu, June 29, 2023
Introduction
NEEP’s 2023 Summit was set at the Hotel Marcel, a Brutalist building (think of Boston’s city hall, FBI Headquarters (J. Edgar Hoover Building) or National Museum of the America Indian in Washington D.C.) revived into the nation’s first Passive House Certified hotel. This 165-room boutique hotel included the following features: LEED Platinum certification, all-electric (no…