Efficiency First

JOIN US IN WASHINGTON, DC Lobbying Days OCTOBER 7 & 8 Join Efficiency First leadership and other members from across the country as we meet with Members of Congress and the Obama Administration. WHEN: October 7 – 8th We will begin on October, 7th at 1 p.m. and continue through October 8th at 6 p.m. [...]

Today we honor the life and work of Senator Edward M. Kennedy. The issues of healthcare, education and civil rights will continue on, “the dream shall never die.” http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/us/politics/27kennedy.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&hp

Federally funded education, training and employment programs to promote green-collar job development  While investments in clean energy will provide the economic stimulus necessary to create sustainable green-collar jobs for American workers, we also need effective career development programs in place to build a qualified workforce to fill those new jobs. In its June-July Washington Update [...]

Workforce Implications of the Waxman-Markey Energy Bill Economists project a net gain of 1.7 million jobs for American workers In June, the Center for American Progress and the Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst published the results of a joint study analyzing the potential impact of current and proposed energy legislation [...]

Is ‘Cash for Clunkers’ Good for the Planet? California economist reveals the true cost of carbon abatement from Car Allowance Rebates  The University of California Energy Institute has just published a thought-provoking study by UC Davis transportation economist Christopher Knittel focusing the federal Car Allowance Rebate System Knittel modeled potential reductions in fuel consumption under [...]

AUGUST 19, 2009 – The Wall Street Journal Initial costs Long Island, NY and California’s Bay area are leading the way with recently launched programs to help residents finance retrofit and solar. Recent changes to local and state laws allow municipal governments to help residents remove upfront cost as a barrier to be green. By [...]

Current PACE Financing = Business as Usual Local retrofit program reveals the limitations of tax-assessed financing for energy improvements   Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) financing – which allows home and business owners to pay for energy improvements using low-interest loans linked to their property tax bills – has been touted as the secret to [...]

The Cutting Edge of Residential Energy Conservation Extreme makeover of California demonstration home blends historic preservation with net-zero energy use When green building materials entrepreneur Marc Porat embarked on an energy efficiency retrofit of his 2,780-square-foot home in Palo Alto, he decided to aim high: He wanted to achieve net zero energy use The project [...]

Save The Date: DC Lobbying Day Join Efficiency First for a lobbying day Wednesday, September 30 & Thursday, October 1 in Washington, DC. Lobby Members of Congress on REEP Legislation, meet with members of the Administration and network with other Efficiency First members. Details about the specific agenda and hotel reservations will be out next [...]

Rebuilding America: New Non-Partisan Policy Framework Supports Efficiency First’s Mission The Center for American Progress and the Energy Future Coalition have just published the results of a joint non-partisan initiative to develop a comprehensive framework for retrofitting American homes and businesses on a large scale. Here’s a brief excerpt from the introduction to Rebuilding America: [...]