Recurve: Formerly Sustainable Spaces. They do energy efficiency retrofits. Recurve is assembling a dynamic software package that will allow contractors large and small around the world cut down the time, cost and errors in conducting retrofits. A lot of the employees come from Google—you can’t say that about other construction companies. In fact, a number of large contractors are testing it out now. Co-founder Matt Golden is also one of the driving forces behind the $6 billion Cash for Caulkers program recently introduced by Obama. Recurve’s next policy initiative: funding retrofits by getting them classified as carbon credits.

Check out the full list here.

Read the full article in the New York Times here.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a statement after President Barack Obama outlined more details of a new Home Star program that encourages American families to invest in energy saving home improvements which will also help create jobs. Said Governor Schwarzenegger:

“I am excited about the Home Star program that the President detailed today. Offering incentives to Americans who make their homes more energy efficient will help create jobs and save homeowners money while also helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This is a promising idea, and Democrats and Republicans should work together to enact it into law.”

Obama has previously said that shifting the U.S. toward cleaner, renewable sources of energy and making homes — particularly older houses — more energy-efficient will help accomplish three goals: reducing America’s dependence on foreign energy sources, creating much-needed jobs and saving consumers money on their utility bills.

Under the first level of energy rebates, Silver Star, consumers would be eligible for rebates between $1,000-$1,500 for a variety of home upgrades, including adding insulation, sealing leaky ducts and replacing water heaters, HVAC units, windows, roofing and doors. There would be a maximum rebate of $3,000 per home.

Under the second level, Gold Star, consumers who get home energy audits and then make changes designed to reduce energy costs by at least 20 percent would be eligible for a $3,000 rebate. Additional rebates would be available for savings above 20 percent.

The administration expects household demand for energy upgrades to be boosted once the program is underway, similar to how Cash for Clunkers boosted demand for fuel-efficient vehicles.

Read the full article from Associated Press here.

Read the full article here.

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.

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.

Check out the full article on Fast Company here.

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.”