Efficiency First

New EPA Web Site Provides Tools to Cut Energy Costs and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Homes WASHINGTON – Home owners, buyers and renters have a new resource for going green indoors and outdoors. EPA’s new Green Homes Web site will help people make their homes greener with tips on reducing energy consumption, carbon footprints, waste [...]

The New York Times has published an article and related blog post about HOME STAR, a proposed federal program that would provide direct incentives to American homeowners who invest in improving the energy efficiency of their homes. If enacted, the HOME STAR program will have a profound positive impact on our industry, and address America’s [...]

$3.4 billion in ARRA grants will target job creation and lower utility bills through energy grid modernization At a public appearance in Florida on Oct. 27, President Obama announced a package of Smart Grid Investment Grants described by the White House as “the largest single energy grid modernization investment in U.S. history.” The $3.4 billion [...]

Six in 10 Americans favor proposal to limit greenhouse gas emissions A national opinion poll of 1,038 adult Americans conducted last month by CNN/Opinion Research Corporation found that 60 percent of the survey respondents support cap and trade as a means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Read more about the poll results here: www.politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/10/27/cnn-poll-6-in-10-back-cap-and-trade/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 10, 2009 EPA’s Energy Star Program Hits Major Milestone: 1 Million Energy Star Homes Built in the United States Houston, Dallas and Las Vegas top the list for most Energy Star homes WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today reaches a milestone for the Energy Star program by passing the [...]

WAP technicians weatherize a rural New Mexico home. DOE’s Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) has an excellent history of leveraging additional money to help weatherize homes for low income families. Historically, for every $1 invested by DOE, the program leverages $1.54 in other federal, state, utility and private resources. A survey of state weatherization managers shows [...]

Employment outlook for American construction workers remains bleak despite signs of economic recovery Even as the GDP has reversed its downward trend with a 3.5 percent annual growth rate in the third quarter of this year, the latest job figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics highlight the urgent need for federal action to stimulate [...]

Efficiency First is now in all 50 states. Thank you to all 528 members and counting to make us a national organization. Special thanks to Dan Thomsen of The Building Doctors in LA for helping to spearhead the effort that collected members in all 50 states.