United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and World Bank Group President Jim Yong Kim have announced a concerted effort by governments, international agencies, civil society and private sector to mobilize financing to deliver universal access to modern energy services such as lighting, clean cooking solutions, and power for productive uses in developing countries, as well as scaled-up energy efficiency, especially …
Alliant Energy Cuts Energy Efficiency Goals
The Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) today approved Alliant Energy’s plan to scale back energy efficiency goals at the same time the utility is pursuing a new $920 million plant in Marshalltown, Iowa. According to the Environmental Law & Policy Center Alliant is punting on a chance to lead on energy efficiency and ensuring the utility’s Iowa customers will pay higher …
Energy Access Practioner Network Directory Launched
The United Nations Foundation has launched an Energy Access Practitioner Network’s Directory, “Investing for Energy Access: 2013 Directory of Investment and Funding Opportunities.” This new directory provides an overview of opportunities to invest in more than 140 companies and organizations delivering a range of decentralized energy solutions in developing countries, as a contribution to the Sustainable Energy for All objective …
Enter The Haunted Energy House
The United States celebrated Halloween yesterday and to pay homage to the holiday, ClearlyEnergy created an energy haunted house that unmasks the energy gremlins lurking in your home. Here are some fun tips to banish the gremlins and ghosts from your home (well, at least until Halloween next year). Afraid of the dark? Don’t be: 11 percent of the typical …
Energy-Efficiency Standards Could Save Consumers $$
According to a new report, Energy Efficiency Performance Standards: The Cornerstone of Consumer-Friendly Energy Policy, consumers could save nearly $1,000 on annual household energy costs if energy-efficient performance standards were more prevalent and understood. The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) report also finds a broad consensus among a variety of independent policy evaluations that energy-efficiency performance standards, when effectively implemented, …
WW2 Air Raid Bunker Converted to “Energy Bunker”
A former air raid bunker has been transformed into an “Energy Bunker” in the district of Wilhelmsburg, located in Hamburg, Germany. The project was part of the 2013 International Building Exhibition Hamburg (IBA) that kicked off this week. The massive building had been derelict for several decades but is now the host of a regenerative power plant supplying the surrounding …
Team Austria Wins 2013 Solar Decathlon
Team Austria has won the 2013 Solar Decathlon by building the most energy-efficient solar-powered house at the Orange County Great Park in Irvine, California. Team Austria was made up of students from the Vienna University of Technology, who won top honors in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) event by designing, building and operating the most cost-effective, energy efficient and …
2013 Solar Decathlon Underway in Cali
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Solar Decathlon 2013 has kicked off in Irvine, California and on display are solar houses designed and built by more than 1,000 college students from around the country. The best houses are one that are affordable, energy efficient, attractive and easy to live in. “These inspiring collegiate teams show our onsite visitors and online …
Flex-Plant Opens In California
NRG Energy and Siemens Energy recently dedicated the country’s second Flex-Plant, the El Segundo Energy Center located near Los Angeles, California. The first Flex-Plant is located in Lodi and went into commercial operation last year. Siemens Energy supplied and commissioned the two Flex-Plant 10 combined cycle power islands. In total they have an installed capacity of 550 megawatts (MW) – …
Report Ranks Energy Saving Efforts of Cities
Boston, Massachusetts took top honors for its energy saving efforts according to the 2013 City Energy Efficiency Scorecard, a report released by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE). In addition to city rankings, the report also includes strategies and recommendations for all cities to lower energy use. “We couldn’t be more proud of our progress in creating …