ACEEE’s July Newsletter

Jay OwenResource Efficiency

 

July Newsletter

Hello Friends—

I hope you enjoyed a relaxing, almost normal July 4th holiday. We’re kicking off this month with some tantalizing questions—namely, how do we decarbonize industry? We’ll be looking to answer that question at next week’s Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry. With a keynote address from DOE’s Kelly Speakes-Backman and discussions with the authors of the more than four dozen papers published for the conference, it’s going to be a great event. If you haven’t already signed up, don’t worry; there’s still time to register!

???Our latest research offers insights into pressing issues. An analysis published earlier this week finds that most energy efficiency programs are not capturing the savings potential of multifamily buildings and profiles four multifamily programs that are doing so. Other new analyses show the economic benefits and emission reductions of certain infrastructure investments and updated energy efficiency standards for new homes bought with federally backed loans.

Our work is having impact. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.J., cited statistics from our 2020 report A Powerful Priority during a Senate Appropriations Committee subcommittee hearing last month (starting at 50:46). The Appliance Standards Awareness Project, based at ACEEE, helped push through state bills that set energy-saving standards for appliances last month in Nevada, Oregon, and Rhode Island.

Please keep us posted on your endeavors.

 

Highlights

High-Impact Programs Targeting Regional Multifamily Energy Savings

Energy efficiency programs are missing out on the untapped savings potential of multifamily buildings. Our new topic brief profiles four multifamily utility efficiency programs and the successful approaches they’ve used to achieve high savings.

 

Analysis: Outdated U.S. Lending Rules Abet Inefficient Homes, High Energy Bills, Climate Change

Each year, new homes purchased with federally backed loans and programs are built to outdated energy efficiency standards, saddling homeowners, many of whom are low- and moderate-income households, with needless energy costs and raising greenhouse gas emissions, according to a new analysis.

 

Energy-Saving Infrastructure Investments Could Boost Jobs by 400,000 for Years

Our new study models the impacts of 10 sets of proposals, several touted by the Biden administration or congressional leaders, that a major infrastructure or other funding bill could include this year.

 

 

 

EPA Can Maximize Fuel Savings of Partially Automated Vehicles

Cars with some computer-controlled driving abilities are becoming commonplace. These vehicles have the potential to improve fuel economy, but whether they actually do so will depend on federal regulators, according to a new ACEEE white paper.

 

 

How Much Can Industry Decarbonize? Summer Study Author Discusses EPA’s New Estimate

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers an estimate in a paper to be presented at next week’s biennial Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry. We discussed the findings with one of the authors.

 

 

As U.S. Decarbonizes, Here’s How to Meet Energy Needs in Seven Challenging Sectors

Electricity can provide energy for most U.S. applications by the 2040s, but it will likely not be able to meet all needs in certain sectors, according to an ACEEE analysis that estimates the need for alternate fuel sources for seven applications.

 

 

As Utilities Plan New Power Plants, Analysis Shows Saving Energy Is a Low-Cost Alternative

A new ACEEE policy brief shows that utilities needing to meet increased electric demand or replace old power plants could often save costs by investing in energy efficiency improvements in the homes and businesses they serve, rather than building new plants.

 

 

Cities, States Can Make Homes Healthier and Cut Energy Bills with COVID Relief Funds

Communities across the United States may soon be able to invest federal relief funds in energy-saving measures to create local jobs, reduce energy costs, and improve home health. These funds offer an important opportunity to invest in people, housing, and the environment.

 

Electric Trucks: Steady Progress in the Past 18 Months

New models are entering the market, and policy efforts to grow vehicle sales and expand charging infrastructure are growing rapidly, according to an updated ACEEE analysis.

 

Is This the Year Congress Funds Low-Carbon, Equitable Transportation?

The INVEST in America Act would make greenhouse gas emissions and equitable transportation access key components of investment decisions.

 

 

 

Climate-Forward Efficiency Efforts for Utility Customers Advance in Three States

Arizona, California, and Minnesota have recently taken climate-forward steps that will use energy efficiency to dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions while saving consumers money on utility bills and improving health and safety.

 

 

IEA: Behavior Change Is Critical for Reaching Net-Zero Energy

The good news: the world can reach net-zero energy by 2050. The not-so-good news: the world has a lot of heavy lifting to do. People will need to change their behavior to deliver two-thirds of the requisite energy reductions.

 

 

ACEEE in the News

A few of our favorite media highlights from the past month:

  • Politico Morning Energy and E&E Daily reported on our analysis of proposed federal energy efficiency investments.
  • Utility Dive covered our topic brief on the cost of saved energy.
  • Governing magazine cited our research on the need for utilities to ensure equity in electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

 

Upcoming Events

2021 Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry VIRTUAL

July 12–15
Our 14th biennial conference will offer a provocative and dynamic discussion of industry on the brink of transformation. Join us as we explore an exciting mix of topics on low-carbon industrial products, processes, and policies.

 

2021 National Conference on Energy Efficiency as a Resource VIRTUAL

October 19–21 and October 26–27
EER is the premier biennial conference on policies and programs to reduce customers’ energy waste and thus help utilities meet the grid’s demand for electricity.

 

 

Community News

 

Climate-Forward Efficiency and Leading with Equity Initiatives
In addition to this newsletter, ACEEE prepares two other newsletters: one for our Climate-Forward Efficiency Initiative and one for our Leading with Equity Initiative. Sign up for either (or both) to receive periodic updates and get involved.

Highlights of Passive House Study
As part of the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program, the Emerging Technologies initiative explores innovative ways to better serve its customers. Recently, in partnership with LUCHA, ComEd studied the energy savings and non-energy benefits of the Passive House Standard in affordable new construction multi-family buildings and compared the standard to the best practices seen in the ENERGY STAR® multifamily building certification.

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) Releases 2020 Annual Report and Celebrates 25 Years of Market Transformation
The report highlights progress made in an unprecedented year and shows that the Alliance remains well positioned in the face of short-term market disruption. Over the past 25 years, NEEA has developed a proven market transformation framework built on data, technical expertise, and reciprocal, long-lasting relationships with regional and national market actors and organizations. Here’s the 25-year timeline.

 

Upcoming Events:

 

 

NEEA Residential Building Stock Assessment (RSBA) 2022 – July 15 | Every five years NEEA conducts an RBSA on behalf of the Northwest to catalogue characteristics and equipment impacting energy use in single-family and multifamily units and buildings in support of the region’s resource and energy efficiency planning. NEEA’s second RSBA 2022 webinar will present the priorities, scope, timeline, design, and anticipated regional coordination associated with the RBSA 2022. Register now!

 

 

 

Midwest Energy Policy Series – August 12–13 Early bird registration is open for the Missouri Energy Initiative’s virtual Midwest Energy Policy Series on Energy Efficiency. Visit the event website to see session topics and speakers.

 

Getting to Zero Forum – October 2729 Early bird registration is now open for the premier event dedicated to zero-energy and zero-carbon buildings. It is an ideal venue for organizing the policy and building communities to achieve zero energy and zero carbon. The 2021 Forum will attract more than 800 leading policymakers, design professionals, building owners, systems manufacturers, and commercial real estate experts.