Obama might be taking a lot of fire, but his policies are starting to work. Job loss has been going down every month since Obama took over. It’s hard to argue with this data:
Read the full article here.
First Jobs Bill Advances in Senate
Employment stimulus legislation moves forward with bipartisan support, paving the way for further job-related measures
Following yesterday’s test vote on a $15 billion job-creation package proposed by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, the first in a series of bills aimed at lowering the nation’s unemployment rate is poised to pass the Senate later this week. Congressional leaders have indicated that three to five more job bills are in the works, including legislation authorizing the proposed HOME STAR retrofit incentive program.
The current bill creates or extends tax breaks designed to encourage hiring of unemployed workers and retention of existing employees, and allocates funds for various labor-intensive infrastructure projects. Five Republican Senators voted in favor of the legislation, including newly elected Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown. The 62-30 vote blocked a GOP filibuster and virtually assures passage of the bill when a final vote is taken.
Efficiency First continues to be actively engaged in the legislative process, and is working closely with members of the House and Senate to assure inclusion of the HOME STAR language in subsequent legislation.
Drafty House? New Windows May NOT be the Solution.
We hear this question from homeowners all the time:
I think I need to replace my windows because I can always feel a cold draft when I am next to them. Are there any alternatives, since it’s such a pricey upgrade?
Surprising to many, replacement windows are not always the best solution to cold drafts – particularly for homeowners on a tight budget. So before running out to the local window retailer, be sure to consider other possible causes for drafts and their (often times) less expensive solutions.
Typically, the cold feeling you get when standing by a window is caused by a combination of radiant heat loss as your home’s heat is drawn directly through the glass, and air leaks that allow cold outside air to flow through your home. Swapping single-pane windows with double-pane replacements will help with radiant heat loss, but if your house isn’t well sealed and insulated, investing in costly new windows might not solve the problem.
Draftiness is usually the result of warm air rising and escaping into your attic through leaks in walls, ceilings and can lights. As the warm air escapes, it is replaced by cold air that flows in from poorly sealed crawlspaces and other low-lying areas. That’s when you feel the drafts.
Finding and sealing air leaks can have a huge impact on interior comfort. The average home leaks 100 percent of its heated air every hour. At Recurve, we prefer leakage rates closer to 35 percent, which seriously reduces drafts and energy waste.
In most homes, windows only account for a small fraction of the air that leaks out. And because replacement windows are such a big investment, it’s usually more cost-effective to tighten your home first by improving insulation and sealing air leaks– particularly in the attic and crawlspace. Your home will also feel warmer if you close your blinds or drapes at night to reduce the amount of radiant heat loss.
In any case, it’s best to begin with a professional audit of your home’s energy performance. By conducting a thorough inspection of the various elements that contribute to your home’s overall comfort and energy consumption – including insulation, heating and cooling systems, and duct systems – the auditor can help you figure out which improvements will give you the most bang for your buck. You might find that $2,000 worth of insulation and air sealing will have the same impact as a $20,000 window upgrade.
If you have enough money left in your remodeling budget, energy-efficient replacement windows can be a terrific option. We’ve seen impressive results from a line of fiberglass windows manufactured by Sunnyvale-based SeriousWindows. Their top-of-the line windows achieve an insulation rating of R-11, which is better than what many people have in their walls and ceilings.
Finally, no matter what home energy improvements you decide to make, be sure to take advantage of the tax credits and other incentives that are available for this kind of work. An experienced energy retrofit contractor will be able to tell which incentives are available in your area, and even help you with the necessary paperwork.
Bay Area’s Top 25 Movers and Shakers in Cleantech
Recently, RoseRyan compiled a list of 25 Northern California cleantech leaders, based on informal polling at key cleantech events in 2009. Matt Golden, president and founder of Recurve made the illustrious list, along with others such as Steve Westly, Chuck Reed (mayor of San Jose), and Richard Swanson (founder of Sunpower). Check out the rest of the list here.
California Sets Strong Precedent for Utility Data Access
Near-real-time rate and usage information will help Californians manage electricity use and reduce costs
Late last year the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) quietly handed down a set of policy decisions that will have a profound impact on energy management here in California.
The provisions set forth in the document – which was developed in response to regulatory obligations imposed on all states by the federal Energy Information and Security Act (EISA) of 2007 – will guarantee access to electricity rate and usage information for most of the state’s utility customers, and for third parties that have been authorized to receive the information. With the widespread deployment of smart grid and smart meter technology, this data will give utility customers and energy efficiency businesses the tools they need to monitor and control household electricity, leading to lower energy bills for millions of California homeowners.
“Data access is the key to maximizing the effectiveness of smart grid technology,” said CPUC Commissioner Dian Grueneich, who has been a tireless advocate for making energy efficiency a cornerstone of state energy policy. “These rulings will play an important role as we strive to transform the way Californians think about and use energy.”
The CPUC decision is part of an ongoing process that was launched to align state energy policy with EISA requirements, and with federal requirements pertaining to American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding for electricity grid modernization.
The CPUC set a goal for the state’s three largest power companies (Southern California Edison Company, Pacific Gas & Electric and San Diego Gas & Electric Company) to make usage information available to customers and authorized third parties by the end of this year. Ultimately, the three utilities will be required to install smart meters for all customers and make usage and price data available on a near-real-time basis. Four smaller utility companies were excluded from the ruling on the basis that doing so would “both increase the costs and diminish the benefits of the EISA requirements.”
The decision states that next phase of the proceeding will be to “consider rules to provide customers and third parties with access to usage and price data consistent with Energy Information and Security Act of 2007 standards, the general public interest, and state privacy rules.”
San Francisco Introduces Its Own Innovative Financing Plan for Energy Projects
In January, I mentioned how innovative financing is changing energy in America. San Francisco residents can now share bragging rights with other progressive counties such as Berkeley and Sonoma – GreenFinanceSF has officially been signed into law! This innovative program is the nation’s largest PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) program to date, making $150 million in bonding capacity available to private property owners to finance water conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements starting in April. Learn more here: http://greenfinancesf.org/
In 2010, 200 local governments nationwide are expected to have administered programs based on the PACE model. Good ideas are worth spreading!
Berkeley Residents: Get off your Gas!
The City of Berkeley is once again hosting the residential natural gas efficiency contest for Berkeley residents (renters and homeowners). All residents who receive a natural gas bill from PG&E, either directly or through their landlord, are eligible to enter and win. Cooperatives are eligible this year as well.
The contest period covers natural gas use for the month of February, so start conserving now! Last year’s prizes included Whole-House Performance Testing, $100 in BART tickets, Farmer’s Market Gift Certificates and gift baskets, and Berkeley Repertory Theater tickets.
Categories include: Lowest Natural Gas Use Overall, Lowest Natural Gas use Per Person, Greatest Percentage of Natural Gas Reduction, and Most Creative Effective Strategy for reducing natural gas consumption.
Contestants may also be eligible for up to a 20% bill credit from PG&E through their Winter Gas Savings program.
Download a contest application here: http://www.ci.berkeley.ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=34650
For additional information, please contact the Contest manager at Energy@CityofBerkeley.info or call 510-981-7435. PG&E is a co-sponsor of this contest.
An Illuminating Statistic on Fuel
As originally reported by The Thin Green Line, for every unit of fuel burned, only 13 percent of the potential energy is actually converted as useable output to power machines, and illuminate and heat buildings.
That means that 87% of the energy produced by fuel is wasted.
Who thinks it’s time to move to more efficient sources of energy?