Energy Efficiency
What we can learn from Japan's nuclear disaster
Amory Lovins, Chairman and Chief Scientist of Rocky Mountain Institute, highlights why efficiency and renewables such as wind and solar will better meet the world’s energy needs than nuclear power.
Federal Court Rejects Challenge to Washington State Energy Efficiency Rules
A federal court today upheld Washington’s 2009 energy efficiency building code – a code that sets standards that will save Washington residents millions of dollars and reduce harmful global warming pollution. The building code sets energy efficiency requirements for new homes that will reduce energy use, and homeowners’ energy bills, for years to come. The Building Industry Association of Washington had challenged Washington’s code, alleging that it conflicted with federal law, despite that fact that the code gives builders the flexibility to pick from a large range of energy efficiency options.
The Missoulian: Measure looks to deter tiered energy rates for conservation efforts
Coalition staffer Diego Rivas is quoted in this article on a new bill in the Montana legislature that looks to specify that tiered or “inverted block” utility rates meant to promote energy conservation should only be allowed if they reflect the utility’s actual costs.
Isolated green buildings won't save the planet
From CNN: Architect Joshua Prince Ramus talks about how new buildings should be energy efficient but that alone won’t save environment.
The Transformer – August 18, 2010
How green is my electron? Overcoming the smart grid’s color blindness
Energy journals and, increasingly, the popular media now teem with updates and predictions on developing “smart grid” technologies … how they will help smooth power demand, greatly improve efficiency and outage/service response, and reward consumers with lower bills.
This issue of The Transformer tackles the question of why the smart grid isn’t necessarily a green grid and, in fact, could actually foster greater demand for power from coal-fueled or nuclear baseload plants. It also presents one proposed means of dealing with the problem: buying green electrons…
Regulators weigh utilities’ efficiency targets in Washington state
Following a lengthy process, the Washington’s Utilities and Transportation Commission approved PacifiCorp’s and Avista Utilities’ targets for meeting the energy efficiency provisions of the state’s clean energy law. Initiative 937 requires the state’s major electric utilities to capture all of the cost-effective conservation in their service territories beginning in 2010.
Energy and Conservation Groups Seek to Preserve State Energy Efficiency Rules
Energy and conservation groups today filed court papers to defend Washington’s energy efficiency standards – standards that will save consumers millions of dollars and reduce harmful global warming pollution – against a lawsuit that aims to dismantle them.
Efficiency accomplishments win Headwaters award for PSE's Cal Shirley
Cal Shirley, Vice President of Energy Efficiency Services for Washington state-based Puget Sound Energy, recently received the NW Energy Coalition’s 2009 Headwaters award honoring his clean and affordable energy leadership. With Shirley as head of Energy Efficiency Services, PSE has steadily ramped up its efficiency savings achievements and associated budgets. In 2002-2003, PSE spent about…
Wash. Governor delays new building code improvements
The Washington State Building Code Council has acceded to Gov. Chris Gregoire’s request to delay economically beneficial improvements to the state’s energy code.
The actions – Gregoire’s request and the Council’s June 11 acquiescence – send the utterly false message that better energy efficiency is bad for homeowners. In fact, the code improvements now put on hold will save homeowners far more money than the improvements will cost, no matter what the Building Industry Association of Washington says.
NW Energy Coalition honors Rep. Christine Rolfes for energy efficiency leadership and advocacy
State Rep. Christine Rolfes (D-Bainbridge Island) was honored by the NW Energy Coalition on Tuesday with a resolution praising her leadership in passing 2009’s Efficiency First legislative package, SB 5854, which will dramatically improve energy efficiency in buildings throughout Washington state.