Insights Blog
Championing Transparency and Civic Engagement Worldwide
Highlights of successful programs in Africa, Central America, and Eastern Europe The premise of open government is straightforward and impactful: […]
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Insights Blog
LEEDv4 Is Here
When the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) first unveiled LEEDv4 to the public in November 2013, it set a new precedent for rigorous measurement of building performance. LEEDv4 emphasizes product transparency, whole building life-cycle analysis, new energy and ventilation standards, among other changes.
- Topics:
- Energy
Insights Blog
Benchmarking Building Performance
Buildings frequently operate less energy efficiently than they could due to market failures, behavioral anomalies, imperfect or missing information, credit constraints, principal-agent problems, and prioritization of energy issues. Benchmarking programs address these failures.
Insights Blog
LEED Recertification Process Made Easy
Your path to LEED recertification depends on which system your original rating was under. Jenna Lipscomb lays out the basics of recertifying under each system.
Case Study
BRIDGE Housing: Celadon at 9th and Broadway
Providing affordable housing projects requires accommodating a wide range of unique considerations to meet the needs of diverse residents. Cadmus served as the LEED commissioning agent on the Celadon project team that helped BRIDGE Housing achieve the project’s goals.
- Topics:
- Energy
Insights Blog
Change is in the Wind
Utility regulators are questioning whether the regulations of the last hundred years are still appropriate or a new approach is required. The New York Public Service Commission’s Reforming the Energy Vision proceeding is showing how it can be done.
- Topics:
- Energy
Insights Blog
Progress, But Community Solar Still Isn’t Shared
As roof-mounted residential photovoltaic (PV) systems proliferate in American suburbs and highly effective community outreach campaigns raise awareness about the technology, the concept of hosting solar is shifting from a matter of taste to a sound financial decision. Even so, many homeowners soon discover that their roof is not, and may never be, suitable for hosting solar. In fact, an April 2015 report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) estimates that at least 49 percent of houses are unsuitable to host a 1.5 kW PV system because of roof size, orientation, shading, or a combination of these factors. Community shared solar (CSS) provides an attractive alternative in these situations. Through direct ownership, subscription, or micro-lending, CSS can offer comparable economic benefits to that untapped market, effectively doubling the pool of residential solar customers. According to NREL, the CSS market could draw over $10 billion in cumulative investment by 2020.
- Topics:
- Energy
Insights Blog
Decoding Massachusetts’ Latest Net Metering Legislation
On April 11, 2016, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker signed Senate Bill S.1979 into law, reaffirming the Commonwealth’s leadership in the solar market. After more than a year of debate, the Massachusetts legislature raised net metering caps, thereby granting capacity to hundreds of solar projects—some of which have been sitting on roofs, disconnected, awaiting the decision. In contrast to recent rulings elsewhere in the United States, this bill is a compromise resulting from ongoing discussion that began with the Net Metering and Solar Task Force in 2014. The final version of the bill strikes a balance among numerous competing interests, namely utilities, ratepayers, and solar stakeholders, who held differing opinions about the future compensation of solar and the appropriate incentive mechanism.
- Topics:
- Energy
Case Study
NEEP: Measuring Energy Savings from Commercial Refrigeration Retrofits
New empirical evidence from a Cadmus study shows commercial refrigeration measures could be the new low-hanging fruit.
- Topics:
- Energy
Insights Blog
GHG Protocol Scope 2 Guidance
The adage “What gets measured gets managed” is never more true than when applied to greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting. Yet, with ever-evolving technologies and regulations, it is critical that measurement is done consistently and accurately. The GHG Protocol’s Scope 2 Guidance is an indispensable asset on that front.
Insights Blog
Climate Access: Featured Member Questionnaire, Emily Wasley Seyller
Meet Senior Climate Risk & Resilience Specialist, Emily Wasley Seyller.
- Topics:
- Climate
Insights Blog
Science-Based Targets Offer an Effective Commitment to Climate Action
On October 19, 2015, the White House announced the commitment of 81 companies to take action on climate change by signing the American Business Act on Climate Pledge, an initiative that demonstrates “support for action on climate change and the conclusion of a climate change agreement in Paris that takes a strong step forward toward a low-carbon, sustainable future.”
- Topics:
- Climate
Insights Blog
Smart Thermostats: Can You Teach an Old Thermostat New Tricks?
It’s no secret in the energy utility world: energy providers are facing many challenges, at the same time that changing technology and the ever-expanding availability of Big Data alter the playing field permanently. As utilities strive to meet aggressive energy savings targets while also strengthening their relationships with customers, many have considered smart thermostat programs for meeting these goals.
Homeowners in North America have already bought into the idea of smart thermostats, literally, with sales more than doubling in 2014 to 3.2 million, according to research from Berg Insight. Consumer motivations for adopting smart thermostat technology range from energy savings to increased comfort.
- Topics:
- Energy