Energy Efficiency

California Won't Require 50 Percent Reduction In Oil Consumption After All

An ambitious energy-climate bill strongly backed by Gov. Jerry Brown was stripped of one of its three goals—to reduce oil consumption in half by 2030. The other two goals, increasing the renewable portfolio and increasing energy efficiency, remain.

September 12, 2015 - Sacramento Bee

Rotterdam Development Makes Energy Efficiency History

A 72-unit development in Rotterdam—the town in upstate New York, that is, not its namesake in The Netherlands, is one of the first in the United States to be called net-zero: it consumes as much energy as it produces.

August 30, 2015 - News 10 ABC

Doubts Raised About OneNYC's Energy Efficiency Goals

Following the April announcement of Mayor de Blasio's OneNYC plan (an update to the Bloomberg Administration's PlaNYC), critics are poking holes in the energy efficiency goals included in the new plan.

June 4, 2015 - Capital

Rooftop Solar Panels

U.S. Cities Ranked By Energy Efficiency

According to an ACEEE report, Boston currently leads the way, with New York, Washington, DC, and San Francisco not far behind. Los Angeles, Washington, and Chicago show the most improvement since 2013.

June 2, 2015 - American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

Study: Golden State Should Change Name to Greenest State

California's economy is not only the "least carbon-intensive" in the United States, it's the second lowest in the world when measured per economic output, according to a new study that evaluates economics and environment.

May 19, 2015 - San Francisco Chronicle

Gov. Brown Sets Ambitious Agenda for Environment, Infrastructure Goals in Fourth Term

The California governor began an unprecedented fourth term by laying out goals to reduce carbon emissions and oil consumption, address road and bridge maintenance, build high speed rail, and construct two huge water tunnels under the Sacramento Delta

January 8, 2015 - San Francisco Chronicle

Ohio Takes Two Steps Back on Energy

"After a few years of progress, a new national ranking of state energy efficiency policies confirms that Ohio is now falling fast behind competing states," reports David Beach.

November 3, 2014 - Green City Blue Lake

Calling on Urban Designers to Lead the Fight Against Climate Change

Alan G. Brake writes an editorial calling on the architecture and urbanism fields to push even further to reduce carbon emissions by designing (and upgrading) efficient buildings.

October 21, 2014 - The Architect's Newspaper

Commute

U.S. Economy Ranks 13th in Energy Efficiency—Transportation Blamed

Energy is the key to the economy, so it should be used wisely. A new report shows that the United States performs very poorly in making the most of its resources.

July 18, 2014 - The Wall Street Journal

Bi-Partisan Energy Efficiency Bill Stalls while Obama Pushes Initiative

A bi-partisan Senate bill to dramatically reduce carbon emissions by increasing energy efficiency got caught-up in Keystone XL pipeline politics, while President Barak Obama pursued his own energy efficiency agenda at a Walmart in Mtn. View, Calif.

May 12, 2014 - NPR

Amid Battle for Scarce State Dollars, Costly CA Energy Program Gets Scrutinized

In case you haven't noticed, California is big into alternative energy. Just how big? $1.6 billion was spent last year and $15 billion over the last decade as education and public services fought for scraps. The spending is attracting new scrutiny.

October 15, 2013 - Los Angeles Times

Architects of Green Dorm Ban Mini-Fridges, Microwaves

Perkins + Will, the architecture firm behind a new residence hall at Bridgewater State University, have attached an unusual provision to their green design: no mini-fridges or personal microwaves allowed.

October 7, 2013 - Treehugger

Chicago Program a Model for Preserving Affordable Housing and Cutting Pollution

A Chicago-based community development financial institution (CDFI) and efficiency group help apartment building owners tame high utility costs, preserve affordable housing, and cut global warming emissions.

August 23, 2013 - WBEZ FM Chicago

Green Carrot Incentivizes More Efficient Buildings; Will Owners and Utilities Bite?

Felicity Barringer looks at an innovative program being tested in Seattle to incentivize commercial property owners to undertake major energy efficiency retrofits. A partnership between skeptical building owners, investors, and utilities is key.

June 20, 2013 - The New York Times

Oil Independence or Independence from Oil?

With booming shale oil production in North Dakota and Texas and possibly Canada's vast oil sands, there is talk of energy independence as the U.S. reduces its oil imports. But why not be less dependent on oil - domestic or imported?

March 25, 2013 - The New York Times - Sunday Review

Philadelphia Pioneers Energy Efficiency Innovation

In last month's State of the Union address, President Obama described his desire to increasing the efficiency of homes and businesses throughout the country. Philadelphia is already ahead of the game, reports Laurie Actman.

March 1, 2013 - GreenBiz.com

State of the Union Recap: Energy, Economy, Infrastructure and Environment

In an address heavy on President Obama's domestic agenda for the first year of his second term, issues of importance to planners and urbanists got plenty of play, including: the environment, energy, infrastructure, and the economy.

February 13, 2013 - The Washington Post

Peak Oil? 'Far Too Much' Oil to Prevent Severe Climate Change

Confirming an earlier Dept. of Energy report, the International Energy Agency's World Energy Outlook indicates not only that U.S. oil production will surpass Saudi Arabia's by 2020, but that it will be a net exporter by 2030 - thanks to fracking.

November 14, 2012 - Bloomberg News

Retrofitting Buildings in Bulk

Emily Badger looks at how a simple idea in energy retrofitting can be tailored to work for the largely untapped market of small to mid-size commercial properties.

April 18, 2012 - The Atlantic Cities

What Are People Saying About Your Building Online?

Andrew Michler gives an overview of a brand new social networking platform that could reshape how we evaluate and compare buildings.

March 23, 2012 - Inhabitat

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.