Energy Efficiency News

The EIA will no longer be using CBEC's commercial building survey due to Congress budget cut of 14%. The last accurate survey was coordinated in 2003 which forces researchers to use 8 year old data. In order to rank and measure energy efficiency, is by testing and surveying current buildings based on progress. Without CBECS measuring progress leaves the nation with marginal error. The budget cut also effects NEMS, a software used by researchers to study energy supply and demand including how energy policies affect the U.S economy.  

April 29, 2011: The White House's Council on Environmental Quality reported that all Federal agencies have recently published sustainability performance scorecards. Now the accomplishments of each agency--in reducing energy use, promoting renewables, cutting GHG emissions, using green buildings, and other areas--are available to the public. See the press release here. See agency scorecards here.

April 28, 2011 Claire Easley wrote about how builders believe there is lack of concentration on new home energy efficiency though government agencies state that private lenders and appraisers are recognizing their efforts.  According to Shaun Donovan the reason for more attention to existing homes is due to the progression in local building codes for new homes. But builders say that neither bank nor appraisers are recognizing their efforts in energy efficiency or utility cost reduction. This is due to the fact that they are not cost in energy efficient upgrades which end up costing the builders. The SAVE Act was introduced becaused it would require lenders to take into account energy cost.