A study conducted by a research team at the University of Washington, titled Targeting 100!, identifies a process for newly constructed hospitals that integrates architectural, mechanical and central plant systems to reduce energy consumption by an average of 62 percent. The biggest breakthrough comes from addressing the reheating of centrally-cooled air, which is the largest …Continue Reading
The Brockton Housing Authority in Brockton, Mass., signed a $5.7 million energy savings performance contract (ESPC) with Ameresco that will provide energy efficiency upgrades to more than 1,200 units in seven developments, and is expected to save the Authority more than $400,000 annually or more than $10.4 million over the 20-year term. With construction expected …Continue Reading
DPR Construction has retrofitted its own Phoenix Regional Office to achieve net-zero energy consumption. DPR was both the owner and contractor for the renovation project, turning a circa-1972 abandoned retail boutique into an office that produces as much or more energy than it consumes. The building has been certified as a Net-Zero Energy Building by …Continue Reading
The Department of Energy has published a new series of protocols for determining savings from energy efficiency upgrades in homes, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities. Developed in collaboration with leading technical experts under the Uniform Methods Project (UMP), these protocols offer a straightforward approach for calculating energy savings made possible from common residential and commercial …Continue Reading
A team of Stanford-trained PhDs is using web site Kickstarter to raise funding for Glowing Plant, a project that aims to create glow in the dark plants for use as sustainable lighting. The project aims to put bioluminescence – the production and emission of light by a living organism, such as a firefly – into …Continue Reading
Cox Enterprises has completed solar projects in Massachusetts and Rhode Island for its Manheim and Cox Communications subsidiaries, respectively. The projects are part of Cox Conserves, the company’s national sustainability program. The Manheim New England project in North Dighton, Mass., includes a 3 MW ground mount installation and 509 kW roof installation. The roof system …Continue Reading
McKinstry is managing an extensive energy-efficiency retrofit of the AFL-CIO headquarters in Washington, DC, that will replace and upgrade the existing windows, deploy a new lighting system, and allow the AFL-CIO to operate the building 20 percent more efficiently, saving more than $125,000 per year in utilities. The AFL-CIO and former President Bill Clinton (pictured with …Continue Reading
Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) will recognize Boston College as a 2013 State Champion and Northeast Business Leader for Energy Efficiency at NEEP’s summit gathering in June. Boston College is being honored for its successful efforts to achieve energy savings through comprehensive changes in major energy systems, continued improvements in energy performance through management level …Continue Reading
The Department of Energy awarded 88 grants to small businesses in 28 states to develop clean energy technologies with a strong potential for commercialization and job creation. These awards, totaling over $16 million in investments, will help small businesses with promising ideas that could improve manufacturing processes, boost the efficiency of buildings and generate electricity …Continue Reading
Richland, Penn., is among several municipalities in the state to have paid money for energy upgrades that were never delivered. In 2009, Richland paid $165,488 upfront to energy consulting company Municipal Energy Managers to help the town secure ownership of its streetlights and to help it install LED bulbs in the lights. But Municipal Energy …Continue Reading
