Utility Tracking and Benchmarking Blog | WegoBlog

An energy audit is an examination of a building for energy efficiency improvement purposes. Through analysis of energy usage, building characteristics, weather data, and the typical usage of the building, an energy audit can recommend energy conservation measures.  The measures are assessed for their savings potential, as well as their ability to maintain or improve the quality of life within the building.

Native plants and grasses in the place of traditional lawns can save resources, cut landscaping costs and significantly reduce pollution.

The Palace of Versailles.

If you'd like to kill some time during your weekend while saving money and shrinking your carbon footprint, try a couple of the projects below.
 

Install a Programmable Thermostat

The Green Drinks Cheat Sheet: Sustainability and Clean Tech talking points for 2012

Here are some goings-on in the world of Green for you to casually drop as you schmooze your way through the next networking event for the environmentally minded.

Climate change is a politically volatile issue, often polarizing the left and right as “believers" and “deniers” respectively. However, recent polls have shown that despite a person’s given stance on the science of climate change, the concept of energy independence through clean energy can line up very well with traditional conservative thought. For instance, there has been a recent explosion of energy saving sentiment in small towns and rural areas of conservative Kansas, including awareness programs for kids, new geothermal and wind energy projects and energy conservation competitions between towns with significant results (up to a 5% decrease). This may be surprising to some, as this trend seems to clash with how conservatives are commonly viewed by liberals, but the phenomenon is real. 

Another North American bicycle sharing success:

Since late July, riders of Boston’s Hubway bicycle sharing program have traveled well over 100,000 miles on the system’s 600 bicycles. This figure has exceeded expectations, and the City’s enthusiasm has been reflected in Hubway’s expansion from 41 to 61 bicycle stations in under three months time.

Are you ready to comply by October 1st?

Starting this October, all owners of commercial and multifamily buildings in Washington D.C. over 200,000 square feet will be required to annually report the energy performance of their properties to the District Department of the Environment. By 2014, any building greater than 50,000 square feet must comply. (See below for the full schedule.)

Whether you want to be a more informed citizen or just want to kill some time before 5 on a Friday afternoon, WegoWise has got you covered. So peruse our best links, give us some feedback and be sure to share some of the info you just gleaned with other interested parties at the parties you are hopefully attending this weekend. Brought to you by Dan, Nate and Lily.

From PR Newswire: