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A Peach of an Energy Code

gas-furnace-water-heater The state of Georgia is breaking new ground when it comes to building codes. A new set of regulations may not sound too exciting on the surface, but consider the potential impacts: Lower energy bills, less energy used, and less pollution emitted into the environment. Read on, no matter what state you’re in.

The new Georgia energy codes, due to take effect on Jan. 1, 2011, are the result of work done by a group called the Georgia ...

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Energy News: Hybrid Bikes, Green Style, and More

Here’s what’s been happening in the energy realm of late:

LED-lightHome Depot’s Downlights

The world’s largest home improvement retailer has begun selling LED downlights through a partnership with Cree. The bulbs will only consume 10.5 watts, compared to an equivalent incandescent bulb’s 65 watts.

I Want to Ride My [Hybrid] Bike

Old and busted: a regular bicycle. New hotness: adding the Copenhagen Wheel to your bike to convert it to a hybrid. A group of MIT students have invented a ...

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Shoppers increasingly value brand greenness; rank Microsoft in top 10

 

eco-friendly-shopping In the past two years, environmental consciousness shot up from the 9th to 4th most important aspect of a company from the consumer perspective, according to a recent study. (The top three most important corporate priorities are “good value,” “trustworthy,” and “caring about customers.”) Survey respondents also ranked the top 10 green brands in the U.S., with Microsoft making the list for the first time. Makes sense, with energy use being the biggest green issue in the U.S. ...

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Obama Gives Solar Industry $2 Billion Boost

roof-solar-panels Saturday, when you and I were wrestling other shoppers for hot dog buns, Obama announced that two solar energy companies will get $2 billion from the Department of Energy to kick-start the U.S. solar industry:

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The Biggest (Building) Loser: Dieting One Kilowatt at a Time

energy-saving-building-contestant2It’s a bit embarrassing to admit it, but I’m just as susceptible to reality TV as the next gal. I've been known to spend a Saturday watching every episode of America’s Next Top Model season 10 (note to Marvita: the horse mane haircut was a really bad idea). So you have an idea how I felt when I heard about the EPA’s National Building Competition, a Biggest Loser-style contest in which 14 buildings around the country battle it ...

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Energy Star in the Spotlight

Energy Star caught some flack recently when an audit found loopholes in the appliance approval process—enough flack for a post titled "Stop Picking on Energy Star, People" to pop up in the efficiency blogosphere. The post's author, Tom Harrison, points out that in 2009 alone, Energy Star saved consumers over $17 billion on electricity. Harrison writes that Energy Star is extremely successful, and "[a]n agreed-upon, resonant, broadly known brand standard in energy efficiency is worth fighting for, ...

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News: Bloom Box Competitors, Energy-Efficient Gaming, and More

There was a flurry of energy efficiency news this week! Here are some tasty bits.

Fuel-cell mania

The much-hyped Bloom Box gets competition from Panasonic, ClearEdge, and the funky-sounding Oorja Protonics, the latter of which could ostensibly provide customers with heating for free, unlike Bloom.

Energy-efficient gaming?

Leaving an Xbox 360 on all the time is said to have the energy use of about two new refrigerators! A bill being considered in the Senate directs the DOE to consider energy ...

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LED lighting: More saving, less hassle than CFLs

 

Just as we’re all getting used to compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), a new lighting technology based on light emitting diodes (LEDs) is coming to market. Should you care? Yes – they’ll save you even more energy and money -- and LEDs don’t come with some of the drawbacks that drive people crazy about CFLs.

 

 

LEDs may seem like a new technology, but you are already surrounded by them. They are used for the little indicator lights in ...

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Announcing our Welcome Hohm Challenge Winners!

Last November we kicked off the Welcome Hohm Video Challenge and asked you, our Hohm community, to submit a short video and/or photo showing what you've done (or would like to do) to make your home more energy efficient. The creativity and diversity of your ideas and efforts did not disappoint. Thanks to all who participated — we're truly inspired by your passion and commitment.

 

And now, it’s with great pleasure that we announce our winners.

 

First prize ...

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Home Performance: A systems approach to energy efficiency

 

Reducing energy use in the home is an integral part of addressing global climate change, energy security, and green economic growth.  Energy used in the residential sector is a significant contributor to green house gas emissions (GHGs).  In California for example, homes are responsible for 14% of GHGs, 32% of the state’s electricity consumption, and 36% of its natural gas consumption.  In response to this many homeowners are taking action to save both money and energy use through energy efficiency upgrades. 

 

Unfortunately many people ...

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