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Much like natural gas, solar power is getting easier to store, and at a much lower price. The total solar energy hitting Earth each year is equivalent to 12.2 trillion watt-hours, so why isn’t solar energy used more? Currently, photovoltaic solar panels produce only 0.7 percent of the energy the world uses. The U.S. Department of […]

Despite its growth, green building may still have to present its case to businesses. With the amount of investment and the length of ROI, green building costs may be more than they’re worth. Therefore, it’s worth listening to the U.S. education sector, and what it has learned from its green building efforts. According to the […]

A new study from the National Trust for Historic Preservation found that widespread efficiency efforts among the 4.4 million small buildings across the country could save $30 billion per year in energy costs. The study says small commercial buildings (50,000 square feet and smaller) offer "substantial and immediate energy efficiency opportunities and cost savings. Profitable […]

Energy benchmarking is becoming a must for large cities, with Boston being the latest one. Benchmarking mandates the measurement and disclosure of energy use for large buildings, and is meant to help building owners understand their energy use better, and to take action in poorly performing buildings. In an effort to inspire action, the Lawrence […]

Concentrated solar power (CSP) could unlock a clean energy future - if it clears the regulatory, technological, and financial hurdles in its way. The Center for American Progress recently released a white paper that estimates "CSP could add up to 16 gigawatts of baseload power globally within a few years, with a larger  return on […]

For the tenth year in a row, Ernst & Young released their findings for the top countries that are most attractive for renewable energy. This year the title goes to the United States. The annual Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index ranks 40 of the most active countries for renewables based on several factors including incentives, […]

Natural gas-fueled plants across the country are helping drive down electricity prices said PJM Interconnection. A wholesale power market administrator, PJM found that new natural gas power plants coming on line are reducing capacity prices. This however, does not spell out lower prices for consumers and businesses. But the energy purchased for peak times helps ensure […]

An interesting article from the Clean Energy Authority shows that solar-powered generators are quickly becoming popular since super storm Sandy left thousands without power for weeks in 2012. Several companies have said that mobile solar generators are a great solution. A "trailer of solar panels and batteries offers a solid backup source of power that, […]

According to an official report, energy conservation measures at city facilities have saved the City of Seattle $1.25 million since 2008. The city has a history of monitoring and improving the energy efficiency of its facilities. The report covers 6.2 million square feet of city-owned and operated building space. It found that city-owned downtown buildings […]