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: […]
I'm interested in:
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
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
Case Study
Indiana: Smart thermostat pilot studies
A Cadmus study helped two Indiana utilities discover how smart thermostats save their customers money and energy
- Topics:
- Energy
Insights Blog
The Guide: “Energy Savings Plus Health”
Authors from Cadmus and the U.S. EPA explain EPA’s new “Energy Savings Plus Health: Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for School Building Upgrades Guide” in School Planning & Management.
- Topics:
- Energy ,
- Public Health
Case Study
City of Portland: Green Investment Fund
How Cadmus helped a leading green city research the impact of innovative sustainable technologies
- Topics:
- Energy
Case Study
California Investor-Owned Utilities: On-Bill Financing Evaluation
Cadmus applies industry expertise and 30 years in energy-efficiency program evaluation to provide guidance to California’s investor-owned utility financing programs
- Topics:
- Energy
Insights Blog
Death Spirals and Other Things That Go Bump in the Night
In this article, written specially for the Association of Energy Services Professionals, Cadmus’ Brian Hedman looks back at the many new initiatives that rocked the energy world in 2014.
- Topics:
- Energy