Energy Efficiency
Light Bulb rider bad for businesses and consumers
The Omnibus spending bill Congress is set to pass today contains a huge lump of coal for our stockings: a rider prohibiting the U.S. Department of Energy from enforcing the lighting efficiency standards. Those who couldn’t muster support for repealing the standards have used the threat of a government shutdown to undercut a law that will save money for consumers and utilities and significantly lower national greenhouse gas emissions…
Report Shows Energy Efficiency Efforts In 2010 Marked Biggest Megawatt Savings Gain In 30 Years
The Columbia Basin Bulletin reports on the annual “Utility Conservation Achievements Report” released this week by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and Regional Technical Forum that shows that increased conservation during 2010 by Pacific Northwest electricity users saved 254 average megawatts, the equivalent annual power use of 153,900 homes.
The status quo vs a cleaner energy future
If things continue as they are now, a new report concludes, by 2050 the Western states will be using a lot more coal-fired power and natural gas than they would if companies invested the same amount of money in renewables, energy conservation and a more flexible grid.
BPA EE Overspend NWEC Comments
The following are NWEC’s comments in response to the BPA draft proposal “Proposed Approach for EEI Budget Adjustments and Scenario Results Due to Energy Efficiency FY2011 Capital Overspend.”
Industrial efficiency program nets national honor for NEEA
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has named The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) as one of its 2011 “Champions of Energy Efficiency in Industry.”
According to ACEEE’s news release, the honor recognizes NEEA’s efforts in designing innovative industrial energy efficiency programs, and for collaborating with Northwest industrial customers in transforming the market for industrial energy efficiency.
Update: US House of Representatives wastes time and energy
After the BULB bill suffered a defeat in the House on Tuesday because proponents could not muster the needed 2/3 majority, the sponsors tried a different tact. Today the House approved an amendment to the Department of Energy’s spending bill, a vote that required only a simple majority vote.
House Refuses to Pull Plug on Energy-Efficient Lighting
In a show of support for energy efficiency, the U.S. House of Representatives voted against a bill that would have turned back time on the way Americans light their homes.
Congress voted down the politically named “Better Use of Light Bulbs” (BULB) Act, which was sponsored by Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), on a 233-193 vote, missing by 40 votes the two-thirds majority needed for passage.
Why the BULB bill is bad for America
Analyses by the American Council for an Energy Efficiency Economy and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project shows that better bulbs equal consumer cost savings in every state.
DVR, cable and satellite boxes waste $2 billion of electricity every year
DVR, cable and satellite boxes waste $2 billion of electricity every year DVRs lead energy vampire pack, consuming more energy annually than typical new flat screen From Coalition member organization National Resource Defense Council Digital video recorders (DVRs), cable and other pay-TV boxes cost American consumers $3 billion a year — $1 billion to operate…
Gone but not forgotten dept. – Efficiency Works! rides off into the sunset
In late 2008, the NW Energy Coalition initiated the Efficiency Works! project to accelerate Northwest businesses’ energy efficiency investments. The project’s two-year run has ended. But the archives of the Efficiency Works! website are collected here.