New Energy Cities Blog
Getting to Scale
When you consider long-term, aggressive goals for energy at a city level, it becomes obvious quickly that projects need embrace whole neighborhoods at a time to achieve the scale required for the kind of capital needed to finance clean energy systems requires a certain scale in order to make the effort. Read More »
The Innovation Chronicles
Do current utility models have anything to offer us in solving our energy dilemma – transforming our system by driving radical efficiency improvements, smart infrastructure, and multiple kinds of distributed, renewable energy technologies? Read More »
Let's Sell People What They Want: Solar
While still contributing a small amount of energy, solar has become the new black in the energy world, as investors and customers continue to embrace it. Read More »
The Carbon Price Bogeyman
Why are we so afraid of carbon pricing? Whenever this topic is raised, people get tense, nervous, or outraged out of all proportion to the actual impact that putting a price on carbon would have for most of us. Read More »
Want Low-Cost Power? Bank on Innovation
Letha Tawney of World Resources Institute addresses the benefits of public investment in energy innovation Read More »
May I (Re-)introduce You to District Energy?
Recently, many cities have begun taking another look at district energy to address their energy challenges. Whether they are championing strategies to secure energy supplies, insulate themselves from price instability or reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cities are finding district energy can do all of these simultaneously. Read More »
Forecast for Solar: Don’t Like the Weather, Wait Five Minutes and It’ll Change
The price of installed solar PV has plummeted and is approaching the point at which we no longer should even pretend that solar is a more expensive alternative than other forms of energy. Read More »
America's "Metropolitan Moment"
Local governments are convening key stakeholders to make the clean energy economy real Read More »
Clean Green Jobs: Embracing the New Energy Era
“There’s no doubt about it: We are in a global clean energy race.” The new energy era supports job creation and resource security. Our energy policy should do the same. Read More »
Growing Drumbeat from Rational Republicans to Address Climate Change
What are these rational Republicans saying? That denying climate change is not in rhythm with reality and poses significant risks to our national security and our economy. Read More »
Steps Towards A Clean, Sustainable Energy Future
The New Energy Revolution is underway, and sustainable, efficient, clean energy security should be the bottom line. While U.S. energy policy is adopting “clean energy” terminology, how “clean” and “sustainable” are the new energy technologies we are supporting? Read More »
Fuel Cells: Charging Ahead
While fuel cell technology is still advancing, certain applications are on the market right now, providing jobs at over 630 companies and labs across the United States. Read More »
Social Norms and Energy Efficiency
Are we wrong to always assume households act economically rational when considering efficiency? A growing interest in behavioral frameworks for energy efficiency programs is challenging this assumption and several recent studies support a shift from pure economic incentive to a greater behavioral focus. Read More »
Marketing Energy Efficiency for Local Municipalities
To be successful, energy efficiency programs can employ strategic marketing principles - focusing on audience, strategic messaging and media, and engagement with contractors - to involve residents in retrofitting their homes. Read More »
Extreme Weather and Global Climate Change
This week’s news brought stark evidence that extreme weather likely caused by global climate change is threatening global food supply and destroying communities. Read More »
Integrating Wind Power with Demand Response
Efforts like the recent partnership between BPA and EnerNOC will provide excellent learning opportunities for both utilities and demand response aggregators. Read More »
Certifying Sustainability
New Jersey's "sustainability certification" encourages, incentivizes, and rewards green growth planning and implementation efforts. Read More »
An Unlikely Efficiency Tool: Behavioral Psychology
“Everybody’s doing it.” Harnessing insights from behavioral psychology to encourage participation in energy efficiency programs. Read More »
Biochar: Growing Community Solutions
New studies show biochar can yield local economic and ecological solutions to increase crop yields and combat climate change. Read More »
Passive Houses Spreading Sustainability in the US
“Passive House” comes to New York City, and offers promise for more energy efficient buildings across the United States. Read More »
