A new report released yesterday by E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs), the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE), E4TheFuture, and BW Research Partnership shows that nearly 600,000 clean energy workers have lost their jobs since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is nearly 18 percent of the total industry workforce, according to the group’s press release.
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Posts Categorized: Energy Efficiency
Realtor Sees Uptick in Video Tours
Video home tours are not new in real estate, but the current COVID-19 health crisis is driving an increase in these digital tours, according to Mike Swinney, a Northern Virginia-based realtor. Swinney has more than 12 years’ experience selling homes in one of the hottest housing markets in the nation. Swinney estimates a 50 percent volume increase in digital tours in recent weeks. While the growth may largely be attributed to health concerns, many experts in the housing industry predict the uptick in digital tours will remain when the crisis wanes.
Details »4 Vital Efficiency Actions to Address Climate Change
Energy efficiency is indisputably essential to addressing global climate change. At the forefront of organizations promoting strategies to tackle the climate crisis is the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Insulation Institute spoke with David Goldstein, Co-Director of Climate and Energy at NRDC, about how the building sector in America can more aggressively pursue a comprehensive energy efficiency initiative to address climate change. Goldstein is a heavy hitter in the energy efficiency arena, having worked since the 1970s on energy efficiency and energy policy (and also founded Residential Energy Services Network). Goldstein offers the following four-point blueprint for achieving an active decade of progress on climate goals.
Details »The Top 10 States for LEED Green Building
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world, and the number of LEED-certified buildings in the United States continues to grow. The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) recently released the top 10 states for LEED Green building in 2019, a year in which the total number of certified projects reached 1,181.
Details »Number of HERS-Rated Homes Grows
The number of HERS-related homes in the United States continues to expand, according to new data released by Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET). In 2019 a total of 241,909 homes in the United States were HERS-rated compared with 236,116 in 2018. That is an increase of 5,793 homes in one year. To date, 2.7 million homes have been HERS-rated.
Details »Home Sellers Must Prove Energy Efficiency
Home Sellers Must Prove Energy Efficiency
As we reported in last week’s blog post, “Five Promising Developments for Decarbonization,” a growing number of state and local governments are targeting building emissions to reduce their carbon footprint. This push for decarbonization will only accelerate. In the move toward decarbonization, targeting buildings – both commercial and residential – is low-hanging fruit. It’s not just new construction, but existing construction as well, with home sellers in one jurisdiction now required to measure their home’s energy efficiency before putting it on the market.
Details »5 Promising Developments for Decarbonization
As a new decade begins, there are promising developments on the horizon for building decarbonization and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions in residential and commercial construction. While federal support for decarbonization to address climate impacts is at a standstill, non-governmental organizations, state and local governments, and industry are all focused on sustainability and building decarbonization actions that may ultimately lead to real progress. Here are five promising developments for decarbonization that have the potential to shape an active decade of progress.
Details »Our Top 10 Blog Posts of 2019
Like last year, some of our best-performing blog posts focused on air sealing and proper installation and application of fiberglass and mineral wool insulation, which is no surprise, since we’re the Insulation Institute. However, other topics like energy efficiency design trends and the prioritization of energy efficiency over energy generation ranked highly as well.
Details »The Housing Guy Talks Zero Energy’s Expansion
In the past three months, Sam Rashkin, chief architect of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office, has been traveling non-stop, speaking at meetings and conferences about the expansion of zero energy buildings in the United States. While accustomed to an exacting traveling and speaking schedule, the demands on his time likely accelerated with word that Rashkin will retire from the DOE and his role as chief housing-efficiency advocate at the end of the year. Insulation Institute recently caught up with Rashkin for an assessment on zero energy building today and where it’s headed in the future.
Details »Energy Efficiency Workforce Grows to 2.3 Million
E4TheFuture’s recently released 2019 report, “Energy Efficiency Jobs in America,” demonstrates the impressive growth of the energy efficiency workforce, which now numbers more than 2.3 million people. The annual report is based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and is a comprehensive survey of thousands of businesses, using a methodology developed for the U.S. Department of Energy.
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