The common lightbulb is about to get a lot more efficient in the US
The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced this week that it wants to significantly raise the minimum common lightbulb efficiency level from 45 lumens per watt to over 120 lumens per watt.
Expand Expanding CloseHere’s how the US climate act will lower household energy bills
The Democrats passed the big climate bill – the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) – in the US Senate on Sunday, 51-50. It’s expected to pass in the House of Representatives this week, and President Joe Biden says he’ll sign it as soon as it lands on his desk. Here’s how the IRA helps homeowners achieve energy efficiency and lower their energy bills.
Expand Expanding CloseHow smart home energy monitors could avert huge bills
During last week’s power crisis in Texas, prices surged to the market price cap of $9,000 per megawatt-hour for several days, resulting in some huge bills for a lot of homeowners. (To put that in perspective, the state’s seasonal average is $50 per megawatt-hour.) The entire US, not just Texas, has a lot of infrastructure work to do in order to avoid more power crises like this. But in the meantime, how can consumers protect themselves from exorbitant surprise power bills when extreme weather increasingly occurs?
Expand Expanding CloseEGEB: Largest US wind/solar/storage project set for Oklahoma, energy efficiency bill, and more
In today’s EGEB:
- The largest wind/solar/storage project in the US is coming to Oklahoma.
- Senators introduced the American Energy Efficiency Act of 2019.
- A California natural gas company earns astroturfing accusations.
- Guess who’s spent millions lobbying against the Green New Deal?
Clean energy scorecard shows few US cities on pace to meet climate goals — where does your city rank?
A newly released report tracks the progress of American cities when it comes to clean energy efforts, and finds that fewer than a dozen are currently on pace to meet greenhouse gas emission goals.
EGEB: US energy efficiency standards at risk, South Australia’s 100% goal, Pa. solar, and more
In today’s EGEB:
- US energy efficiency standards have reached a state of uncertainty due to the DOE.
- South Australia plans to be “net” 100% renewables by 2030.
- A study shows how much Pennsylvania has to gain from solar.
- Maryland gets a tall meteorological tower before its offshore wind farm.
Energy Management making plays for the SmartHouse, and it might win it all
Much has been made about the coming SmartHome – it started with the Jetsons and their robots, however the reality has been a bit slow coming. Last week, EnergySage+WiseAir+Schneider launched an offer of $300 cash back if you install solar power and a smart thermostat. Back in February, SolarCity+Nest+Tesla introduced the “Smart Energy Home” that combines solar panels, battery storage, smart electric water heaters and the Nest Learning Thermostat. Vermont utilities are renting PowerWalls. It has become clear the home energy generation & management is on the path into powering the SmartHome.