Setting the Table for Building Decarbonization

High Hopes for Energy Efficiency In Massachusetts It was a typical gray and cold Western Mass winter morning, but November 20, 2018 was no ordinary day. Great anticipation filled the streets of Northampton as the first recreational cannabis dispensary opened its doors for sales. A line of thousands of people stood for hours to purchase locally-grown cannabis. My mom texted from Florida at 7:00 a…

Welcome to the latest REED Rendering issue, a series of blogs where we bring your attention to interesting trends that we see in the data and the stories behind those trends. This Thanksgiving, before filling up on turkey and pumpkin pie, my two young daughters and I tuned in to the 2018 National Dog Show to watch Whiskey the Whippet dominate the competition and win the title of ‘Best…

As an intern at NEEP—and first-time employee of the energy and efficiency industry—I have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to understanding the current energy landscape. That includes not only how the grid currently functions, but how the latest technology and policy developments are transforming that functionality. My eyes are always peeled for learning opportunities, be they NEEP’s own…

On the menu for this Thanksgiving? A silver platter of midterm election results. Politics always comes up at the dinner table in my family, and I am sure the midterm election results will not be left behind this Thanksgiving. One of the subjects I am curious about is how the midterm election will impact energy and climate. Let’s take a look at what we know so far. Federal Midterm Election…

“Put a price on carbon” is a phrase growing in popularity as policymakers, scientists, economists, and others continue to determine pathways to reduce carbon emissions. But, what does it mean to put a price on carbon and why should we consider this? These are questions we have to answer in order to present the case for pricing carbon to state legislatures. To take a deeper dive on this topic, I…

Recently, I attended two regional events; the first a full-day symposium in Albany, New York titled Adapting Buildings for Climate Change and the second, our own 2018 NEEP Summit by the Sea in Middletown, RI. The two events shared primary messages. The Symposium featured over a dozen resiliency professionals and academics from New York and beyond gathered to address the question: How do we…

On October 5, 2018, energy efficiency advocates from around the country came together with corporations, state and local governments, non-profits, and other groups to celebrate the third annual Energy Efficiency Day. In 2017, over 30 official proclamations were issued by state and local governments spanning the country in support of #EEDay. This year, 57 cities, counties, states, and…

A timer is ticking, and just when you think you know how much time is left until the buzzer rings, you are presented with a new target. An Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report finds that limiting global warming to 1.5°C requires “rapid and far-reaching” transitions in land, energy, industry, buildings, transport, and cities. Global carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions need…

Vienna, Austria is a city steeped in centuries of history, which includes a mix of conservative tradition and cutting-edge innovation. Last June, tourists were wandering through cobblestone streets, museums and castles, eating schnitzel, and watching the World Cup. I was there too, on the grounds of a 19th century palace with over 100 participants for the European Evaluation Conference (formally…

This post was written by Carol Grant, Commissioner of Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources and NEEP Summit Co-Chair. Energy industry experts are challenged with implementing advanced efficiency as a key pathway to building a low-carbon future. But, what exactly does that mean? What is advanced efficiency? What does a low-carbon future look like? Sometimes it feels as if there are more…