Graziella Siciliano's blog

The Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium has just released the new Draft Performance Specification for LED Roadway Lighting for public comment through May 2, 2011.

American consumers strongly support energy efficient lighting and welcome the transition away from traditional incandescent bulbs, according to the results of a recent survey. In their 10th EcoPinion survey published in March, EcoAlign asked 1,000 American consumers what they thought about the technological changes and higher efficiency standards that are driving the transformation of the residential lighting market.

On December 23, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a two-year timeline for setting standards for greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) from both new and existing power plants and oil refineries.

Are you interested in exploring the development of a demand-side management (DSM) program to target your industrial customers?

The US Department of Energy’s Industrial Technologies Program (DOE/ITP) has just announced the launch of exciting new resources to help you! DOE/ITP’s new Turn-Key DSM Lighting Website and Cost Benefit Analysis Tool provide utilities with a straightforward approach and supporting tools to create a successful lighting DSM program from scratch.

But exactly what do these resources offer?

On Tuesday, July 27th, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) presented a webinar on the direction, key strategies, and legislative developments of Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Financing , with insight provided by policy experts such as the Alliance to Save Energy’s Director of Government Relations, Brad Penney.

Brad discussed the multiple aspects of the program as well as how communities who have their own PACE programs are affected by the Federal Housing Agency (FHFA)’s urge for a freeze in PACE implementation.

“Changes underway in the 21st century electric power sector create a level and complexity of risks that is perhaps unprecedented in the industry’s history.”

That’s the word from Ceres, is a national network of investors, environmental organizations and other public interest groups working with companies and investors to address sustainability challenges such as global climate change.

Effective Action: The Basics of Energy Program Design, Energy Center Wisconsin's fourth webinar in the Community Energy Leadership series is happening Wednesday, July 28th at 1pm! If you can make it, register now!

One thing we keep hearing from power utility experts is that with the volatility of capital markets negatively impacting the availability, terms and cost of capital, there is no better time for utilities to invest in energy efficiency as a resource.

While I was at the American Public Power Association's (APPA) National Conference in Orlando last week, I wanted to find out how public power was using energy efficiency as a first fuel to overcome the challenges of the financial crisis and meet growing demands for power.

No matter what size utility, community outreach is a vital part of what it means to be public power.

How does your state's energy legislation affect your public power community? What climate change mitigation initiatives have public power communities championed? What is public power doing by way of energy efficiency and renewable energy programming?

Find out by visiting our newly launched State Profile pages on CleanEfficientEnergy.org!