Articles
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Obama Announces New Energy Standards for Lighting
June 29, 2009FOXNews.com
The president says that 7 percent of all energy consumed in America goes to light people's homes and businesses, and that if the newer, more restrictive energy efficiency standards truly take hold, there could a savings of $4 billion a year by 2022.
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New Web-based tool to Improve Building Energy Efficiency
May 5, 2009U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recently introduced Commercial Lighting Solutions, an interactive Web tool designed to help commercial building owners improve lighting efficiency by at least 30% over ASHRAE 90.1-2004. Developed by DOE in partnership with lighting designers, architects, and commercial end-users, this tool provides energy savings projections based on user input and selections and are designed to meet or exceed energy savings levels needed to qualify for tax incentives established by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Commercial users and designers can also use the tool to document performance against energy goals which can support end-user applications for incentives and rebates from utilities and state or regional energy efficiency programs.
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Broad Coalition Finds Energy Efficiency Provisions Key for Managing Costs of Climate Change Legislation
March 5, 2009American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
Today, a broad coalition of business, professional, energy, and environmental organizations released recommendations on the role of energy efficiency in federal climate change legislation.
Reducing the Cost of Addressing Climate Change Through Energy Efficiency is available here
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PG&E: Solar Is Important, But Not as Important as Energy Efficiency
February 12, 2009Greentech Media
"Even thought solar exists, the peak in the Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) service territory is between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.," noted PG&E's Chuck Hornbrook. "Solar helps but it doesn't meet the peak. And those last few megawatts are really expensive." And that's why energy efficiency is at the top of PG&E's loading order.
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Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative
U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
The Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative provided by the DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Department aims to achieve marketable net-zero energy commercial buildings by 2025. Net-zero energy buildings generate as much energy as they consume through efficiency technologies and on-site power generation. The Initiative encompasses all activities that support this goal including industry partnerships, research, and tool development.
Reports
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Energy Project Financial Analysis: What Have We Been Missing?
ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry
According to the Department of Energy, energy efficiency projects are the most attractive investments in industry with internal rate of returns above 20% and investment risk rivaling the safest opportunities available anywhere. Given this attractive combination, why are energy projects so difficult to sell to management? How do we change this current business dynamic to motivate greater energy project investment, which is just sound business?
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Lighting in Commercial Buildings, DOE EERE
Lighting is a major consumer of electricity in commercial buildings and a target for energy savings. "Lighting in Commercial Buildings" presents information collected by the Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) and includes data on types of lighting equipment, the amount of floor space that is lit, and the percentage of floorspace lit by each type. Detailed data tables for the 1995, 1999, and 2003 surveys contain information on lighting not previously released.
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Assessment of Achievable Potential from Energy Efficiency and Demand Response Programs in the U.S. (2010 - 2030), EPRI, 2009
This report documents the results of an exhaustive study to assess the achievable potential for electricity energy savings and peak demand reduction from energy efficiency and demand response programs through 2030. This “achievable potential” represents an estimated range of savings attainable through programs that encourage adoption of energy-efficient technologies, taking into consideration technical, economic, and market constraints.
Blogs
Links — Federal Lighting Incentives and Resources
- DOE Building Technologies Program
- DOE Energy Information Administration
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Tax Incentives for Energy Efficiency Upgrades:
- Edison Electric Institute – Energy Efficiency
- International Energy Agency – Energy Efficiency
- Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Energy Efficiency
- Lighting Controls Association
- American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, ACEEE
- U.S. Green Building Council
Links — California Lighting Incentives and Resources
Whitepaper
Compare electronic HID to fluorescent lighting options for high-bay applications.