Efficiency in Action, Markets & Business, Uncategorized
Earth Day 2021 Takes on a New Meaning
Taylor Patterson, 4/22/21. Earth Day has now been celebrated for 51 years. What started as a Minnesota senator’s desperate plea to spotlight climate change has evolved into a worldwide day of recognition and action to protect our struggling planet. Now, over 1 billion people across more than 174 countries participate in Earth Day activities, making […]
Biden, Earth Day, GHG emissions, Nelson Gaylord, pandemic, recycle
Emerging Technology, Uncategorized
Celtic Tradition Brings Back Energy Efficiency Heroes of the Past
Brian McCowan, ERS Halloween has its roots in the Celtic traditional celebration of Samhain, which first took place during the Iron Age (considered to be about 800 BC to 100 AD) in what is now Ireland and Scotland. Samhain began as a collection of rituals that recognized the end of summer, the completion of crop […]
Efficiency in Action, Uncategorized
Jack-O-Lanterns Add to Scary GHG Emission Levels
Alex Schultz, ERS With fall comes cooler weather, apple cider, and Halloween décor: 151.95 million Americans plan to carve a pumpkin this year. Jack-o-lanterns provide a festive look to any front door, but they also represent a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions as they decompose. Talk about spooky! When a pumpkin ends up in […]
carbon dioxide, Compost, GHG emissions, Halloween, jack-o-lanterns, Methane
Efficiency in Action, Uncategorized
Costume Ideas to Make Halloween 2020 Spooky and Sustainable
Kelly O’Connell, ERS Halloween is the time for scary movies, spooky decorations, and horror-inspired costumes. Although many celebrations are going to look a little different this year, we want to share some ideas for costumes that are actually scary and spread climate change awareness simultaneously! What’s better than nonconfrontationally sharing information through a creative costume? […]
Climate Change, costume, global warming, Greta Thunberg, Halloween, Pacific Garbage Patch, Wildfire
Markets & Business, Markets & Trends, Uncategorized
COVID-19 Continuing to Infect the Energy Efficiency Industry
This article was originally published on utilitydive.com on April 6, 2020. In an effort to halt the spread of COVID-19, at least 20 states have stopped retrofits under the federal low-income Weatherization Assistance Program, according to the National Association for State Community Services Programs. Remaining states have left the decision up to local coordinators, some […]
Coronavirus, COVID-19, energy efficiency, pandemic, programs, residential
Clean Grid Technology, Connectivity, Markets & Business, Markets & Trends, Uncategorized
Ask the Expert: What is the Business Model of a VPP? (Part 2)
Written by Jan Aengenvoort, Next Kraftwerke Welcome back to the second part of Zondits’ exploration of virtual power plants! Part 1 of the series provided a brief introduction to VPPs. In part 2, we answer the following question: What is the Business Model of a VPP? For a couple of years now, the role of the virtual […]
distributed energy resources, market, money, renewables, utility business model, VPP
Efficiency in Action, Markets & Business, Uncategorized
Australia Wildfires Expose Severity of Climate Change Impacts
Written by Taylor Patterson, ERS Word of Australia’s catastrophic wildfires has spread across the globe. It is nearly impossible to quantify the damage done to the ecosystems burning in the deadly inferno, which has eliminated critical plants, wildlife, and energy sources across the continent. Many scientists and journalists agree that climate change is partly to […]
Australia, Climate Change, energy supply, natural resources, wildfires
Program Implementation, Programs & Policy, Uncategorized
Project Spotlight: NYSERDA REV Campus Challenge
Shannon Dracup, ERS New York State’s higher education institutions represent a diverse network of two- and four-year, public and private colleges and universities. Institutions across the state are committed to growing their clean energy efforts, engaging their student body, and advancing sustainability on campus. Roughly 55% of NYS institutions are members of NYSERDA’s REV Campus […]
clean energy projects, higher education institutions, New York State, NYSERDA, NYSERDA REV Campus Challenge
Clean Grid Technology, Energy Storage, Markets & Business, Markets & Trends, Uncategorized
EVs 102: What You Need to Know
Taylor Patterson, ERS Pros and Cons of Electric Vehicles As with any technology, electric vehicles (EVs) have their own list of advantages and drawbacks. Pros: Cons: – Elimination of tailpipe emissions– Minimal operational costs– Lower maintenance costs– Convenient at-home charging– Unique driving experience – Range anxiety– Recharge time– Accessibility of charging station– Higher upfront cost […]
charging stations, electric vehicles, EV owners, EV sales, EVs, Fast-Charging, range anxiety
Clean Grid Technology, Energy Storage, Markets & Business, Markets & Trends, Uncategorized
EVs 101: What You Need to Know
Taylor Patterson, ERS Welcome to the world of electric vehicles (EVs) – where cars use electricity and battery storage to get around, replacing gasoline and reducing air pollution in an effort to minimize the human population’s carbon footprint! EVs are a booming trend in the auto industry, particularly as consumers look to make more environmentally […]