Category Archives: energy efficiency
State of the Union Address Recharges the Green Movement
I was enthused by the 2011 State of the Union Address where President Barack Obama challenged the United States to have 80% of America’s energy to come from clean energy sources by 2035. At first I thought to myself, “Finally … Continue reading
Filed under Energy, energy consumption, energy efficiency, energy usage, Uncategorized
Stirring the Debate on Greenhouse Emissions
I am deeply concerned over the battle in California involving carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. According to an article in the NY Times (California Braces for Showdown on Emissions), Californians will go to the polls on November 2 to vote … Continue reading
Filed under A.B. 32, Energy, energy efficiency, Proposition 23, Retrofit
Roadblocks to Energy Efficiency
What will it take for consumers to understand that the energy they use can be managed more effectively? This summer was one of the hottest on record in the Northeast and as I sit and write this latest blog, the … Continue reading
The Benefits of Demand Response Programs
What have we learned from the latest heat wave in the Northeast? As temperatures rose into the triple digit mark and demand for electricity moved higher, what are we doing to curtail usage? Few commercial buildings have subscribed to a … Continue reading
Filed under Building efficiency, Electrical Distribution, energy efficiency
Smart Grid…What’s the Big Deal?
If Thomas Edison were alive today, he would probably agree that not a whole lot has changed since his design of the electrical distribution system in America. As the pioneer behind electricity and electrical distribution, he would be disappointed that … Continue reading
Wind Farms: Are They Worth it?
A USA Today article reported that thousand of birds are being slaughtered by wind turbines in the Altamont Pass in California. Five thousand four hundred wind turbines were installed and birds that were sadly affected include Golden Eagles, Red Tail … Continue reading
Filed under Building efficiency, energy efficiency, Uncategorized
Building Commissioning for Existing Buildings
Building commissioning is one of the most compelling, and yet least understood, strategies for managing energy consumption, cost and greenhouse gas emissions. According to the DOE, 54% of commercial buildings were built in 1979 or before. Times change quickly and … Continue reading
Filed under Building efficiency, commissioning, energy audit, energy efficiency, Retrofit
Should We Be Energy Efficient Only When it Hurts Our Wallet?
Riding through my hometown, I noticed that the price of gas was starting to creep up again. This week it averaged $2.89/gallon – a far cry from the $4.00+/gallon we were paying last year. When gas was $4.00/gallon, people would … Continue reading
Reflections from a Recent Hotel Stay
Do hotels really care about being green? Continue reading
Filed under Building efficiency, commissioning, energy audit, energy efficiency, Retrofit
BCA Certification for CxAs
How to we make BCA certifications easier to obtain without sacrificing integrity? Continue reading
Filed under Building efficiency, commissioning, energy audit, energy efficiency, Retrofit
