Efficiency First

EPA Mulls Revisions to the Energy Star Program An article in last Friday’s Wall Street Journal by environmental writer Jeffrey Ball offers a thought-provoking preview of how tougher EPA rules could soon make it more difficult for buildings to earn the Energy Star designation. According to Ball, the EPA has determined that current Energy Star [...]

Recovery Act Announcement: Obama Administration Launches New Energy Efficiency Efforts June 29, 2009 Building on the action by the U.S. House of Representatives in passing historic legislation that will pave the way for the transition to a clean energy economy, President Barack Obama and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced aggressive actions to promote [...]

From the New York Times 6/26/09 The House Vote on H.R.2454: American Clean Energy and Security Act Click here to see how your member voted

This evening the U.S. House passed the most comprehensive climate and energy bill in history. For all of those of you who made phone calls today and lobbyed for months we appreciate it. The bill most still go to the U.S. Senate and Conference Committee but this was the first big hurdle. Read more about [...]

URGENT: CALL YOUR MEMBER OF CONGRESS NOW AND ASK FOR A YES VOTE ON THIS IMPORTANT ENERGY LEGISLATION June 26, 2009 – The U.S. House of Representatives is scheduled to vote Friday on the American Clean Energy & Security Act, a landmark energy and climate bill that will drastically reduce carbon emissions from fossil fuel [...]

Question: Prevailing Wages What is Efficiency First’s position on prevailing wages? SpecificallyPresident Obama requires prevailing wage for weatherization jobs. Answer from Matt Golden, President Efficiency First EF  is working with DOL (Department of Labor) and DOE (Department of Energy) to create a new class for weatherization worker and weatherization crew chief. This should help in [...]

DOE Implementation of Stimulus On June 11, Energy Secretary Stephen Chu announced $240 million in DOE funding – including $110 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act – for the development of high-efficiency commercial and passenger vehicles. The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Vehicle Technologies Program will oversee the solicitation, which focuses on efficient [...]

Delivering On Our Promise is the title of a new Efficiency First PowerPoint presentation that lays out the nuts and bolts of Home Performance retrofitting and makes a convincing case for rethinking public funding and incentives for residential energy improvements. The presentation is designed to help all of us better explain the practical benefits of [...]

Recovery Act Announcement: Obama Administration Delivers More than $453 Million for Weatherization Programs in 15 States June 18, 2009 U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the Department of Energy is providing more than $453 million in Recovery Act funding to expand weatherization assistance programs in 15 additional states. These funds, along [...]

“The Third-Way is the leading think tank of the moderate wing of the progressive movement.” The below link will lead you the results of focus groups. These focus groups paid for by the Third-Way a moderate think tank shows the public is hungry for change in energy policy. However, we need to reword our message. [...]