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October 22, 2018 by Marge Anderson
Privilege creates blind spots: the diversity and inclusion imperative in energy efficiency
“To hear is to let the sound wander all the way through the labyrinth of your ear; to listen is to travel the other way to meet it.” – Rebecca Solnit More
October 5, 2018 by Andy Lick and Brett Bridgeland
Vast potential for a clean energy future shown by western states
In honor of Energy Efficiency Day today, Friday, Oct. 5, we reflect on the ways Wisconsin, the home of our headquarters, can learn from our more progressive western neighbors. Many states out west are decades ahead of Wisconsin in terms of energy efficiency and moving toward 100% clean electricity. Two of our experts had the opportunity to live and work in California and Colorado previously. Andy Lick, research analyst, resided in California for several years, and Brett Bridgeland, project manager, lived in Colorado. More
October 5, 2018 by Elizabeth Schroeder
It's #EEDay2018!
Today marks America’s third annual Energy Efficiency Day! Energy Efficiency Day is a collaborative effort between businesses, utilities, government agencies, and individuals working to promote the benefits of energy efficiency! Already, more than 300 organizations have signed on as official supporters. Want to help us extend our reach even further? Read on for five easy ways to celebrate and get involved. More
October 1, 2018 by Claire Cowan
How can the Midwest be better? Energy efficiency insights from the Northeast
As Energy Efficiency Day approaches on Friday, Oct. 5, we reflect on the ways Wisconsin, the home of our headquarters, can learn from our more progressive neighbors who are making energy efficiency a priority. Our expert, Claire Cowan, director of program design and delivery, now resides in the northeastern state of Maine. Claire gives you a look into the energy efficiency potential available to another state with a similar climate to Wisconsin. More
September 15, 2018 by Jeannette LeZaks
How do we engage small businesses in deeper energy savings? Seventhwave research team finds out
Are lighting savings the best we can do for small business customers? Seventhwave research says no. Our research team dug into the Minnesota small business market and found diverse savings opportunities. These savings will help Minnesota programs pilot holistic savings in small buildings. Seventhwave can build these measures into the design of our own small business offerings. More
September 11, 2018 by Scott Hackel
Building systems integration: trends, complications and where we’re headed
A couple of years ago, my team conducted a research project investigating how to reduce the energy use of office plug loads. Among the solutions we tested, one option was a power strip with an occupancy sensor. It shut off your monitors and other gadgets when you were away from your desk. Many buildings we investigated also had occupancy sensors controlling the lighting in the same office space. One of the offices we tested had yet a third occupancy sensor network – and CO2 sensors to control the HVAC system in some spaces. More
September 7, 2018 by Elizabeth Schroeder
Happy National Drive Electric Week!
September 8-16 is National Drive Electric Week! National Drive Electric Week is an annual celebration and outreach campaign, with the goal of increasing awareness of the benefits and widespread availability of electric vehicles (EVs). More
August 23, 2018 by Steve Kihm
Increasing risk can reduce regret-- Implications for energy policy
On the path to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future, we will have to make decisions that have uncertain outcomes. In other words, they involve risk. Newer technologies might not work well—or they might work better than expected. Customers might not embrace home automation—or they might use it in ways we haven’t even imagined. More
August 21, 2018 by Robin Lisowski
Beneficial Electrification: What and Why?
In our 2018 Energy Outlook, we pointed to several emerging trends that are likely to shape our work in the future—including a cleaner grid, local focus, a growing energy storage market, and heat pump technology for space and water heating and cooling. While these developments are exciting on their own, the combination is indicative of a fundamental transformation of the power sector. More
August 9, 2018 by Steve Kihm
Investor value creation, utility stock prices and clean energy policy
If regulators want to steer utility investment toward renewable, sustainable resources, and away from carbon-emitting types, they can apply basic investor value creation concepts when implementing policy. The key consideration is the size of the gap between two rates of return: (1) the profit rate utilities earn, and (2) the minimum threshold return that investors require. More