Setting the Table for Building Decarbonization

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. Achieving decarbonization goals will require a paradigm shift in energy efficiency program planning – away from short-term energy savings and towards long-term carbon savings…

 I can remember when my twin and I used to run around our home as children, turn off all the lights, unplug all the appliances, and scream, “saving electricity!” While I do not know the origin of why we started doing this, I am sure my parents enjoyed saving some power. Years later in university, I learned about all the work that goes into “keeping the lights on” and having the grid run…

As energy efficiency leaders embark on the journey to make more equitable decisions, it is critical to understand the landscape of energy inequities in one's jurisdiction before moving to solutions. This blog will outline NEEP's newest resources – a story map, brief, and glossary – on implementing equitable policies. These resources identify the state of energy inequities in the Northeast and Mid…

Building code boards and code officials around the region are tasked with developing and adopting building codes that improve the minimum life-safety standards of buildings. Life safety of buildings refers to the fire, electrical and structural safety of the built environment. As the effects of climate change continue to impact people’s lives, infrastructure, and buildings, building officials…

UPDATE: New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu signed H.B. 549 on Thursday, February 24. Over the past few months, the state of energy efficiency in New Hampshire has taken some dramatic turns. The state’s energy efficiency programs have historically brought significant energy savings and workforce stimulation, yet after the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) order in November of 2021, their…

Let’s get real, do you think about your water heater or even the cost of keeping water hot? If you are like most homeowners, you’re just happy that the water is hot when you want to take a shower or wash the dishes. However, water heaters deserve a little more thought. They account for the second highest source of energy usage in a home, second only to heating and cooling. For 2021, the U.S.…

This post was submitted by Oracle Utilities, a member of the NEEP Allies Network, and authored by Samantha Caputo, Manager of Regulatory Affairs and Market Development. Now that we have settled into the New Year, it seemed like an appropriate time to reflect on one of the major events that closed 2021 and will influence climate action to come in 2022. Global leaders met in November at the 26th…

Back in mid-2020, we found ourselves – like the rest of the country and world – dealing with COVID quarantine, shifting our office space to a virtual platform, and processing the flood of emotions that came in the wake of George Floyd’s murder. Eighteen months later, we are in a world forever altered by both COVID and racial, economic, and social injustice demanding not only our attention but our…

Welcome to the latest 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 a busy fall of data collection and analysis, we’ve added the new round of energy efficiency program data to REED and are happy to share it with the public!…

I’ll be honest – I didn’t think that home insulation would be a holiday party conversation for me just six months into my being at NEEP, but I was wrong. I was having a group of friends over in December, and when someone mentioned that they recently worked with a home energy auditor for free I immediately said “oh my gosh, through the Mass Save program for renters??” So yes, my party had it all!…