Investments in energy efficiency can significantly help energy utilities as they face a future of stagnating sales, aging infrastructure, growth in distributed generation and stricter environmental regulations, says a new report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. While utilities are unlikely to face a “death spiral” as some have predicted, they need new...
As consumers exercise choice, and technologies become better and cheaper, distributed energy resources (DER) are proliferating on power grids. However, grids and distribution systems were not designed to accommodate multiple DERs while sustaining reliability and quality. Some DERs are more variable and intermittent than the central generating plants on which the power system is based, according to...
An Institute for Building Efficiency Roundtable Dialogue The private sector can play a major role toward doubling the rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030, as targeted by the United Nations Sustainable Energy for All (SEFA) initiative. State-of-the-art policies and advanced building design and technologies, along with behavior change, could reduce energy demand from buildings by half...
Strong improvements in key indicators signal major commitments to energy efficiency, high-performance buildings, distributed energy systems and smart building technologies. The 2014 Energy Efficiency Indicator (EEI) survey of facility and energy management executives showed nearly across-the-board improvements in key measures that signal increased interest and investment in energy efficiency in...
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing reached a turning point in 2013. Twenty-five programs now make PACE financing available in nearly 500 cities and towns in nine states and Washington, D.C. More than 250 PACE projects worth over $75 million have been completed; programs report a total pipeline of more than $250 million in project applications. “Setting the PACE: Financing...
When beginning a green building project or trying to operate a facility effectively, professionals often wonder:
An extensive set of advanced monitoring, control and information management technologies can be used to increase a building’s Energy Intelligence Quotient (EIQ) – a measure of the degree to which cost-effective intelligence has been deployed. But which intelligent technologies can be applied cost-effectively to a given building? The paper describes how to analyze the economic value of...
Existing power plant carbon performance standards being developed under the Clean Air Act could include supporting or crediting energy efficiency projects which reduce CO2 emissions by reducing electricity use in buildings. Payments for CO2 reductions or incentives and rebates, on top of energy cost savings, could shorten payback on efficiency projects, including energy service performance...
Demand management and distributed generation could transform how consumers interact with the electricity grid and manage energy. Energy consumers may be shifting to view themselves as both consumers and increasingly as suppliers - with renewable energy generation on-site and demand response capability. This new consumer model and the concept of a distributed energy system may be disruptive...
By Clay Nesler In April 2013, with the devastation of Superstorm Sandy still top of mind, the Johnson Controls Institute for Building Efficiency surveyed over 600 energy and facility executives across North America on their current practices and future plans to improve the resiliency of their buildings and energy systems. Many articles in the aftermath of Sandy have offered advice to building...
Cities are the major drivers of economic growth—they account for 70% of the world’s GDP, and in recent years have lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty.
Momentum in pursuing net zero energy in new buildings is growing in the United States. An increasing number of buildings meet this standard, raising confidence that net zero goals are realistic given current building technologies and design approaches. In this environment, the New Buildings Institute (NBI) in February 2014 released an update on the latest market trends and government policies:
Green buildings provide many benefits to owners, developers and occupants that should translate into additional property value during a building’s appraisal. Green Building and Property Value: A Primer for Building Owners and Developers, explains why green buildings deserve higher value, then spells out how to document that value to lenders and appraisers. “The guide will help...
Deep building retrofits are attractive investments, yet they are often not completed because the full value of the retrofit isn’t taken into account. Such retrofits are typically evaluated based on energy savings alone, leaving the non-energy benefits out of the investment decision making process. A new Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) report, “How to Calculate and Present Deep Retrofit...
Demand response will likely play a growing role in reducing peak power demand, balancing intermittent renewable energy, managing power price spikes, supporting grid reliability, and managing transmission congestion. To meet these challenges, demand response programs must find a way to grow and sustain customer participation. “Increasing Opportunities for Demand Response,” a report from...
Organizations increasingly look to their employees to help increase energy efficiency and pursue sustainability goals. Many are building sustainability programs, setting goals and reaching out to employees. Corporate policies and sustainability priorities are often set by a group of highly motivated and committed leaders – but how do employees view the role of the company, and how do they...
Utilities carefully manage the electricity supply to ensure that they can meet customer demand on the grid. Demand response programs can help balance supply and demand by encouraging customers to curtail usage during times of high demand. Demand response began as a way to help utilities and grid operators meet large peaks cost-effectively on a few of the hottest summer and coldest winter days.
How to Sell More Energy Efficient Products in HVAC...
Employees want to work for organizations that enable them to behave sustainably, but they don’t want it to burden them or change their work patterns. Women behave slightly more sustainably than men; support for sustainability increases with age. Organizations that want more sustainable workplaces succeed best by showing strong leadership and a tangible commitment to which employees can...
When investing in sustainability projects, investors need to understand the dollar value behind the project. At the same time, organizations undertaking such projects are looking to create environmental and social benefits, in addition to financial impacts. Creating or communicating a business case, for the projects is often a challenge, as many architects, designers and other industry...