While rural areas by definition have fewer buildings, their energy use reduction potential at a national level should not be forgotten. For logical reasons, most building energy efficiency improvement initiatives have targeted urban areas where buildings are concentrated. As part of our nation’s commitment to becoming more energy independent, supporting efforts to improve the efficiency of buildings in diverse rural areas represents an opportunity to achieve those goals holistically. The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) supports underserved rural small businesses and agricultural providers seeking to use renewable energy resources and cut energy waste in their operations. This program represents an important step in responding to the energy reduction challenges facing the US.
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Sustainability,
Energy efficiency
We love energy tracking, the key idea behind the US Government's Better Building Challenge. Over the next few weeks there are a number of terrific events focused on reducing energy and saving money by improving the built environment through energy efficiency upgrades.
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Tags:
save energy,
M&V,
better buildings,
save money,
epa portfolio manager,
Benchmark,
better building,
Energy efficiency,
energy star,
Energy Disclosure
Nationwide, approximately 33% of all housing stock is rental units, and in Boulder, CO, rental units represent almost 50% of all housing. With such a significant portion of its housing rented out to tenants, multifamily residential buildings represent a tremendous opportunity for building owners in the city to reduce their energy use and cut down on monthly bills. We’ve written before about the opportunities lying untapped in multifamily energy efficiency, now let’s take a look at what the folks in CO have come up with.
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Sustainability,
News and Policy,
Benchmark,
Energy efficiency,
Case Study,
Energy Disclosure
I’ll admit it, I am a recovering financial engineer. I grew up around high finance, went to Wharton, and believed that financial structures could unlock the potential of energy efficiency. In one sector of the market, it has worked.
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Tags:
Green Property Management,
Energy efficiency
Imagine you walked into a retail clothing store at a shopping mall. There are no articles of clothing in sight, only a table in the middle with a few experts seated around it. You sit down and discuss your needs. After a few minutes, the experts arrive at the perfect solution for you - a pair of denim jeans that is simultaneously comfortable and attractive. And the price is more than compensated by the additional coolness and enjoyment this pair of jeans will introduce into your life. You fork over the money and walk out of the store, thrilled with your new purchase.
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M&V,
Energy efficiency,
Building science,
Water Conservation
Last week, I had my first energy audit experience for my apartment in Cambridge. As an employee of WegoWise, a company focused on helping property managers improve energy efficiency in buildings across the country, I’ve often wondered how I can improve my own apartment aside from my personal energy saving habits. My auditor friend informed me of a free energy audit opportunity called Mass Save for NStar customers. I took her up on the offer and here is how it went:
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Tags:
Energy efficiency,
Building science,
Green living
The United States consumes 20 percent of the world’s energy – 40 percent of this quantity comes from our residential and commercial buildings. As obvious as it sounds, reducing our buildings’ energy use will go a long way in minimizing our carbon output and ensuring a sustainable environment for our homes and workplaces.
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Tags:
Sustainability,
Energy efficiency,
Building science
