The OurEnergyLibrary aggregates and indexes publicly available fact sheets, journal articles, reports, studies, and other publications on U.S. energy topics. It is updated every week to include the most recent energy resources from academia, government, industry, non-profits, think tanks, and trade associations. Suggest a resource by emailing us at info@ourenergypolicy.org.
Resource Library
291 to 300 of 343 item(s) were returned.
This report provides an understanding of why green building is important to our communities, a brief look at the emergence of green building standards, research evidence on the perceived pros and cons of green building, and original research on green building in the Pacifi c Northwest. The original research is an analysis of perspectives voiced in conversations, focus groups and survey with both members of the construction industry and local government on the barriers and incentives to green building in their local communities. As nearly 500 construction industry members and just over 300 local governments participated in the research, this …
View Full ResourceBuilding scientists and energy efficiency experts have a message for homeowners: plenty of cost-effective improvements exist to lower your energy bills, from simple weather stripping and air sealing to appliance upgrades. But many homeowners don’t know where to begin. They might know they have an old furnace, but they have no idea how effective the attic insulation is, where the air leaks in the house are, and which improvements are likely to pay off.
This is where home energy audits come in. A professional can determine where a house is losing energy and how to correct the problem. Yet only …
View Full ResourceThis report covers the long-term performance of mini-split heat pumps (MSHPs) in Massachusetts (zone 5A); it is the culmination of up to 3 years’ worth of monitoring in a set of eight houses. This research examined electricity use of MSHPs, distributions of interior temperatures and humidity when using simplified (two-point) heating systems in high performance housing, and the impact of door open/closed status on temperature distributions. The use of simplified space conditioning distribution (MSHPs) provides significant first cost savings, which are used to offset the increased investment in the building enclosure.…
View Full ResourceBuildings represent the largest single share of global energy use, and a major opportunity for profitable investment by the companies that occupy them. Inspired by CoreNet Global’s 2013 call for companies to strive for net-zero energy in their facilities, this paper provides a set of strategic solutions that present clear evidence for the benefits of taking action and provides the direction corporate real estate professionals need to set and achieve the highest goals practical and profitable for building energy performance. The solutions provide information and real-world examples, informed by extensive third-party research and guided by interviews with 14 key industry …
View Full ResourceBiomass has an auspicious future in the world’s supply of renewable energy. REmap 2030, the global roadmap developed by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), foresees a major role for modern, sustainable biomass technologies in efforts to double the share of renewables in the energy mix. This working paper, Global Bioenergy Supply and Demand Projections for the Year 2030, examines the potential in different regions and with different technologies for rapid and sustainable scale-up of this vital renewable energy resource.
If all the technology options envisaged in the REmap analysis are deployed, biomass use could reach 108 exajoules (EJ) worldwide …
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Envisioning a clear pathway towards meeting long term greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction targets of 80% by 2050 has been a difficult and elusive task. Yet, an exciting convergence of technology advances and success in reducing carbon emissions from electricity generation points towards viable solutions that can be implemented now to be on the right path. It may seem counterintuitive, but the key is to rely more on decarbonized electricity to power transportation and buildings. Consider this hypothetical: if all gasoline powered cars on the road and all buildings heating with fossil fuels immediately switched to modern electric technologies like electric …
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The pursuit of stakeholder benefits and competitive advantage by applying best industry practices and strategic marginal capital investments is the essential market force driving high performance buildings. One of the most common questions posed by real estate professionals is, “What are the benefits of pursuing a LEED rating, and what are the marginal investment requirements necessary to attain these benefits?” This GBIG Insight Research Anthology – High Performance Building Benefits and Investment Costs contains brief summaries of top research articles, academic papers, industry reports, comprehensive textbooks, and resources devoted to informing strategic and tactical business decisions. Each section contains internet …
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Over the past decade, policymakers at the federal and state levels have sharply increased the level and coverage of energy efficiency performance standards, using both legislation and regulation. The requirements to increase the energy efficiency have affected consumer durables, like automobiles, appliances, and buildings, and capital goods used by industry, like heavy-duty trucks, and electric motors.
The Consumer Federation of America (CFA) has conducted economic analyses of many of these energy efficiency performance standards, focusing on the impact upon consumer pocketbooks. CFA has also commissioned public opinion polls about consumer attitudes toward energy efficiency in general and performance standards in …
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