If you’re an energy efficiency geek and your refrigerator breaks down, you probably think, “Yes! A chance to buy a new super energy-saving model.”
But you’re the exception. Most consumers consider price tag before ENERGY STAR certification. Human nature being what it is, they choose the cheaper
Despite being in the midst of a financial apocalypse, California continues to find money to support the sale of electric vehicles. The California Air Resources Board just approved an additional $27 million in incentives to spur sales of hybrid and electric cars and trucks. The car rebates ($2,500 per vehicle) will put the price tag of the Leaf and Volt a bit closer to the price
No disrespect to the members of the Polar Bear Club, but those people are crazy. Becoming a human Popsicle® by swimming in a cold body of water in winter? Um, no thanks.
Like most of us, I prefer my showers hot. So, Mythbuster Woman is here today to keep you in hot water. Literally.
Sunny California is prime real estate for solar energy, and a number of California rebates make home solar systems highly affordable for Golden State residents. The only downside to these programs is that some have limited funding. Homeowners interested in solar panels will want to act soon to take full advantage of all the savings.
Although it’s only August, the electric vehicle market has the feeling of coming into the home stretch for the year. We have seen the race for plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) glory boil down to the Leaf and Volt this year, with the Volt sputtering a bit earlier than expected. We have seen numerous delays pushing
Maine, one of the most oil dependent American states, has passed a law that requires the region’s oil consumption to be reduced by 30 per cent by 2030 and 50 per cent by 2050, based on 2009 levels.
While the law does not seem mainly focused on a shift to alternative energy, it does include it, although
Considering switching to solar power in your house? Great, we like the sound of that. In order to make your transition to solar power a happier experience, we asked the folks at Batteries in a Flash for a few tips.
1 – Get Professional Help
This will help you in many ways. First, solar
While the legislation to phase out incandescent bulbs has grabbed headlines and opinions over the past few weeks, there are other lighting changes flying under the radar that will affect thousands of businesses across the country.
As part of the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007, most inefficient T12 fluorescent lighting will
When people learn the facts about energy efficiency and are aware of critical energy issues, such as rising costs, dependence on foreign oil, increasing greenhouse gases and the like, they will change their energy behaviors to help save money and the earth. Sound right? Well, as it turns out it isn’t, and according to Social Psychologist Wesley Schultz, education and awareness
A recent article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune featured a Montevideo, Minn., business owner who upgraded his energy equipment with the help of his local utility. On the surface, it may not seem newsworthy – thousands of businesses in Minnesota and across the country partner with their local utility to take advantage of energy efficiency rebate programs.
Inspired by the signing of SB 1, former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Million Solar Roofs initiative, the state of California managed to add a whopping 3,000 megawatts of solar energy to rooftops since 2006.
It was good news. In fact, it was too good, because now the state is declaring a moratorium on rebates for non-residential
Massachusetts may seem like an unlikely state for solar power. When you look at its solar insolation value of only 4.0 kilowatt-hours (compared to California’s 6.0 and Florida’s 5.0), the New England state seems lacking in sunshine.
In spite of that, Massachusetts has shown a definite fondness for solar energy ever
(Reuters) – Texas has long been home to Big Oil companies that specialize in extracting petroleum from hard-to-reach places. Now the hip college town of Austin is vying to become the epicenter of a potentially giant market for carbon-free electricity generated by the hot Texas sun.
The rest of Texas may follow, if the state
HR 2454 or the Waxman-Markey bill, named after its two major supporters Henry A. Waxman and Edward J. Markey of the Energy and Commerce Committee, was passed in the US House of Representatives on June 27. Its major mandate is a cap and trade system though it does have other green practices scattered throughout. There has been a lot of talk recently, because of this bill, of the viability of a cap and trade system in the US. To evaluate the government’s ability to implement this new system we have to first understand it.
The basics of a cap and trade are fairly simple. It is a way to limit emissions through a credit system. Every business acquires a certain amount of credits; depending on the type of system these credits are either auctioned off or given away by the government. These credits represent the amount of carbon that businesses can emit. If the business cannot adhere to the limit of emissions their credits allow, they must buy credits from companies who are below their cap. Thus the companies who are responsible and limit their emissions are rewarded and those who are not as environmentally friendly are punished.
