Blog

A recent report on intelligent lighting controls can shed a lot of light on their benefits. Lighting control systems involve a variety of new technologies that reduce a building’s energy usage by monitoring lighting, occupancy, heating, and much more. Building owners and managers often use control systems to meet building codes and regulations that are […]

Customers in Kansas and Missouri may soon see an increase in their utility bills soon. The Empire District Electric Company recently filed a rate request with the Missouri Public Service Commission, which approves and regulates increases. Although the company reported $10.7 million in their second quarter earnings, the rate increase will make approximately $30.7 million […]

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a new report highlighting growth in wind energy. Specifically, wind energy was found to have increased the U.S. share of clean energy, and created tens of thousands of jobs. The 2011 Wind Technologies Market Report found that the U.S. was one of the world’s largest and fastest growing […]

Light emitting diodes, or LEDs, are quickly becoming the go-to lighting fixture for energy efficient smart buildings. Smart buildings, as defined by the IDC Energy Insights, use integrated controls and automation to operate equipment to manage costs and improve efficiencies. “Lighting is one of six key smart building technology segments… that enable building systems to […]

For most businesses, energy costs are one of the biggest operating expenses, and with costs rising six to eight percent annually, that’s not an expense you can ignore. But there are ways businesses can maximize their energy savings, including updating to a more energy efficient lighting system. The Department of Energy (DOE) recently banned the […]

Why isn’t energy efficiency routinely at the top of the national energy discussion? This was the question panelists sought to answer during a recent lecture series presentation by New York Times’ senior energy reporter Matt Wald. Part of the discussion was Institute for Building Efficiency (IBE) which recently published a report about the growing private […]

While the U.S. does not rank very high in the global race for green buildings, it doesn’t mean we aren’t. In fact, Lux Research found that venture capitalists have invested more than $4 billion in the race to build greener buildings, and “they are now looking at new innovative technologies to further develop this space,” […]

A new study found that the U.S. does not rank on green building policy. Lux Research recently ranked the countries with the best green building markets including Singapore, South Korea, Germany, Australia, and the U.K. The United States did not make the grade, according to the Boston-based firm that compiled the report. Their findings were based […]

The Missouri Public Service Commission approved one of the most aggressive energy efficiency plans in the state. Under the plan, Ameren, which serves 1.2 million electric and 127,000 natural gas customers in eastern and central Missouri, will invest $147 million over three years. The company will fund several programs that seek to reduce electricity use […]