Do window blinds save energy

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt said on Monday that there was still time to save the Iran nuclear deal and that despite the United States being Britain’s closest ally it disagreed on how to handle the Iran crisis. “Iran is still a good year away from developing a nuclear bomb. There is still some closing, but small window to keep the deal alive,” Hunt told reporters on arrival for a foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels. The Brussels meeting will seek to flesh out how to convince Iran and the United States to reduce tensions and initiate a dialogue amid fears that the 2015 deal is close to collapse. U.S.-Iranian tensions have worsened since U.S. President Donald Trump decided last year to abandon the nuclear deal under which Iran agreed to curtail its atomic programme in return for relief from economic sanctions crippling its economy. In reaction to the re-imposition of tough U.S. sanctions, which have notably targeted Iran’s … [Read more...] about Hunt says ‘small window’ to save Iran nuclear deal

Three of Texas’ major metropolitan areas are embracing energy efficiency to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by meeting EPA’s Energy Star requirements. Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston jointly have over 500 buildings with Energy Star certifications—saving a combined $145 million. “Energy Star certified buildings are leading the way by advancing energy efficiency and making cost-saving improvements,” said EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry. “These smart, innovative solutions and commitments to reducing greenhouse gas emissions are ideal business decisions.”More than 25,000 buildings across America have earned EPA’s Energy Star certification since 1999. The buildings have saved nearly $3.4 billion on utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the emissions from the annual electricity use of nearly 2.4 million homes. Energy use in commercial buildings accounts for 17 percent of U.S. … [Read more...] about Austin, DFW and Houston Businesses Saved $145 Million with Energy Efficient buildings

The Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) this week launched the Regional Energy Efficiency Database (REED).  REED currently includes 2011 energy efficiency data from the following jurisdictions: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Maryland, and New York.  However, 2012 energy efficiency data will be added to REED from these states as well as from Delaware and the District of Columbia this fall.  (Seehttp://www.neep-reed.org.)The purpose of REED is to develop transparency and consistency in reporting of energy efficiency impacts across the region; to increase the credibility and understanding of the energy efficiency resource; and to support state and regional energy, economic and environmental policies. (Trends In New England Energy Efficiency Policy, New England Restructuring Roundtable, Sue Coakley, Executive Director Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) (Feb. 15, 2013))Users may access to the following … [Read more...] about Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships Launches Regional Energy Efficiency Database

The first energy bill of the 114th Congress is heading toward the President’s desk for signature.On April 21st, the eve of Earth Day, Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Rob Portman (R-OH) announced that their Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015 overwhelmingly passed the House after passing the Senate earlier in March.Senators Shaheen and Portman have pressed for more comprehensive energy efficiency legislation in one form or another since 2011. Despite broad bipartisan and private sector support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Alliance to Save Energy, the Business Roundtable, and the Environmental Defense Fund, the duo’s efforts have stalled multiple times on non-germane and/or procedural grounds. So for right now, the fact Congress passed any energy legislation is a small victory in and of itself.Senator Shaheen noted in a press release accompanying passage that “on the bill’s merits — creating jobs, saving consumers money … [Read more...] about Modest Energy Efficiency Bill Heads to Obama’s Desk

Energy and Climate DebateThe Senate will debate ExIm Bank reauthorization this week, while the House will focus on Defense authorization over the next five days.President Obama called on Congress May 8 to pass five pieces of legislation that would create jobs and strengthen the middle class. Speaking from the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering’s NanoTech Complex in Albany, New York, the president included on his to do list five proposals that he has previously supported, including tax credits for companies that hire and bring jobs back to the United States, a student loan bill, the pending transportation measure, a Veterans Job Corps, and clean energy credits. With respect to clean energy tax incentives, the president called specifically for an extension of the Production Tax Credit and an extension of the Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credit.Even in the face of partisan gridlock on energy and other legislative issues in Washington and an already contentious … [Read more...] about Energy and Environmental Law and Regulatory Update – May 14, 2012