By Natalie Hildt Treat |
Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS) include any hardware and/or software system that can monitor and provide feedback about a home’s energy usage, and/or enable advanced control of energy-using systems and devices in the home. Often marketed through comfort and security lenses, HEMS ultimately have the opportunity to help provide deeper energy savings and harness the energy components of today…
By Natalie Hildt Treat |
The industrial sector represents more than 40 percent of total energy use in the buildings sector, spending more than $20 billion annually in the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic region alone. Industrial efficiency programs have some of the lowest cost of saved energy, meeting demand for as little as 3 ¢/kwh. Yet it is estimated that only 46 percent of industrial facilities engage in energy efficiency…
By Natalie Hildt Treat |
The joint energy efficiency program administrators (PAs) and the stakeholder Energy Efficiency Advisory Council (EEAC) have delivered another landmark statewide plan for Massachusetts. The final plan is being sent to the Department of Public Utilities (DPU) for approval on October 30, passed by the Council with overwhelming support.
While some details remain to be worked out in program…
By Natalie Hildt Treat |
Welcome to Highlights!
December/January 2015
As 2014 draws to a close, we are witnessing an energy policy landscape of many changes, with more to unfold in 2015. The November elections delivered us new governors in Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Maryland, and returned the legislature to Republican control in New Hampshire. There will be new public utility…
By Natalie Hildt Treat |
Welcome to Highlights!
October 2014
As the region girds for what the Farmer’s Almanac predicts to be a cold, snowy winter, states, utilities and consumers alike are concerned about gas and electric bills. While there is no silver bullet, energy efficiency programs can help blunt the impact for utility customers.
With that in mind, NEEP and the National Association…
By Natalie Hildt Treat |
Welcome to Highlights!
August 2014
While late summer offers a much-needed lull for many of us, there is still some very important work being done by policymakers, regulators and program administrators to advance energy efficiency and address major regional energy issues.
One of the biggest of issues: “the winter peak.” States in the heavily natural gas-reliant…
By Natalie Hildt Treat |
We are fortunate to have three bright college interns working with us in Lexington this summer. Trevor, Lauren, and Erika are learning as much as they are contributing to our work, being exposed to an array of topics, joining external meetings and events, participating in NEEP projects and partnership groups, and generally getting a taste of the wide world of energy efficiency programs and…
By Natalie Hildt Treat |
NEEP joined friends in Delaware and fellow supporters of energy efficiency from around the nation in cheering a landmark bill passed in the final hours of the state’s legislative session. Included as an amendment to Senate Bill 150, the legislation set the stage for the state’s ratepayer-funded electric and gas efficiency programs to be administered by utility providers.
Natalie Hildt Treat,…