Setting the Table for Building Decarbonization

Welcome to the first edition of Regional Energy Data Dives, formerly known as REED Renderings. Regional Energy Data Dives will be a series of blogs taking a wider look at data underlying regional demand-side program trends. After five years and 19 issues of Regional Energy Efficiency Database (REED) Renderings, we are fondly waving goodbye to our REED-based blog series and launching a…

Welcome to the newest installment of a new blog series called Turning Policy into Performance. In this series, we'll take a look at how states can implement decarbonization and climate goals with energy efficiency programs. History shows that some energy practices can perpetuate inequity and create additional economic hardship for already overburdened communities. Embedding equity metrics in…

Strategic Energy Management is a holistic approach to managing the energy use in (but not limited to) commercial and industrial (C&I) facilities, some of the hardest to reach building types. This approach emphasizes increased operational efficiency of the building through three main types of non-capital savings as well as support from staff up and down the chain of command. In the Northeast…

Climate change can feel like a really big, daunting, global problem that is too hard to solve on a small scale, but many towns and communities in the Northeast are doing just that. Almost all of the states in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic have set goals for reducing their contributions to climate change, and now NEEP has set out to document the towns and cities that have followed suit,…

In the past 10 days I have talked to several people who referred to the “grief counseling” that they have been doing with friends, family, and colleagues around the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report. I was recounting to one of them that when I started my career in energy efficiency – about a dozen years ago – we talked primarily about climate change mitigation, but…

The new Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report has reminded us all of the urgent importance to address climate change. We must rapidly ramp up efforts to decarbonize all industry sectors, make them more resilient, and prioritize sustainability. The Infrastructure Bill that recently passed in the Senate sets aside funding for improving resilience in the energy sector and…

Welcome to the August Policy Tracker blog! The Boston area is continuing to dry off after the rainy month of July, and is finally enjoying some summer sun. This blog will cover legislative trends and updates that we have noticed over the past few months. While most of the region’s legislatures are in recess, a few are still in session and making progress on key energy bills. A few pieces of…

When I’m confronted with a big decision in my life, whether it’s about my career, a relationship, housing, or money, I go to my trusted circle for advice. I know that my parents, sisters, friends, and colleagues will all have valuable perspectives and wisdom that can help me make my decision. We invest in relationships to maintain a support network of people we trust and value, who will give us…

This is the second installment of a new blog series called Turning Policy into Performance. In this series, we'll take a look at how states can implement decarbonization and climate goals with energy efficiency programs .Achieving carbon goals set by states will require action across all industries. For energy efficiency, this requires a paradigm shift in program planning – away from energy…

It is no secret that the commercial and industrial sectors use a tremendous amount of energy. In 2019, they accounted for seven percent and 23 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions respectively. This high level of energy usage and carbon emissions represents both a challenge and an opportunity for decarbonization. On one hand, these sectors include companies and industries with huge…