Group items tagged

For many consumers energy deregulation was a long time coming. As far back as 1978, Congress laid the initial groundwork in an attempt to open power markets to independent producers of electricity. It wasn't until 1996 that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission implemented specific orders to usher in a period of deregulation. This allowed independent States to restructure their power industries so that consumers could opt for direct access to generated power.

On Monday, the 18-month old company, Hara debuted their Environmental and Energy Management (EEM) software online. The EEM software identifies how efficient and eco-friendly a business, organization or government's operations are with energy, water and waste.

The building sector is the biggest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the U.S. Energy used in U.S. buildings produces about 43 percent of carbon dioxide emissions. However, buildings certified under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) have less impact on the environment, according to theGreen Building Impact Report 2008. The report assessed non-residential construction because it accounts for 40 percent of the environmental burden from the buildings sector.

John Sterman, head of MIT Sloan's System Dynamics Group, explores how to get people to think for real on sustainability, why the conventional wisdom about energy is just a myth, and how to live as if there's just enough time left to save the world. An interview with John Sterman More »

The operation of buildings in the U.S. accounts for 43 percent of all U.S. carbon emissions, and 76 percent of U.S. electricity use. Every year five billion square feet are built in the U.S., five billion feet are renovated, and 1.75 billion square feet of buildings are demolished. Energy conservation and efficiency improvements in the building sector have the "greatest potential for an effective near-term mitigation wedge for climate change," according to a study cited by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The Senate passed its version of the stimulus package today. Sixty-one voted in favor, with 36 opposed. Three Republicans voted in favor: Senators Susan Collins, Olympia Snowe and Arlen Specter. The Senate's stimulus bill totaled $827 billion. The House bill totaled $820 billion.