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Planning for Renewable-Based Energy Security and Prosperity in Humboldt County
May 1, 2011
The project team will develop and implement an energy‐optimization model to determine a renewable‐based energy portfolio for Humboldt County that reduces greenhouse gas emissions, maximizes local economic benefits and maintains grid stability.
Content type: Fact Sheet | Document ID: CEC-FS-3 | Author: California Energy Commission/Public Interest Energy Research
Life-Cycle Energy Assessment of Smart Growth Strategies
March 1, 2011
This research will develop a life‐cycle assessment methodology that will help stakeholders analyze and evaluate the energy and emission impacts of smart growth projects. This method will include a means to quantify the embedded energy in the infrastructure.
Content type: Fact Sheet | Document ID: CEC-FS-8 | Author: California Energy Commission/Public Interest Energy Research
DSM Program Updates
Fall 2010
October 7, 2010
Check out our quick updates about three DSM programs: a plug loads efficiency program that is expanding into the retail consumer market, an organization that is restructuring its trade ally network, and a gas utility that is investing in local carbon offsets on behalf of its customers.
Content type: Research Brief | Document ID: EDRP-RB-4 | Author: Kim Knox
Environmental Benefits of Smart Grid: Energy Efficiency and Conservation
September 22, 2009
Smart grid technologies have the potential to boost the energy-efficiency and conservation effects of utility programs through enhanced data feedback, customized information and promotion of efficient technologies, and improved measurement and verification.
Content type: Research Brief | Document ID: IGS-RB-1 | Author: Philippe Bouchard
CFL Recycling
August 1, 2007 | Updated: August 25, 2009
What is the safest way to dispose of compact fluorescent lamps, and what are utilities doing to help?
Content type: Ask E Source | Document ID: EDRP-AskES-3a | Author: Dulcey Simpkins
Green Power Programs for Large Commercial and Industrial Customers
August 25, 2009
What types of green power programs are available for large commercial and industrial customers? What are some of the options if utilities lack sufficient renewable resources?
Content type: Ask E Source | Document ID: CAS-AskES-4 | Author: Kim Knox
Solar Thermal Programs Are Hot!
July 28, 2009
Who’s getting into solar thermal energy, and why? What incentives are helping residential customers invest in solar hot water? What are the elements of successful utility programs for solar hot water?
Content type: Ask E Source | Document ID: EDRP-AskES-13 | Author: Dulcey Simpkins
Shopping for Carbon Offsets
How to Acquire Them for Your Utility Program
June 16, 2009
You have decided to develop a program to sell carbon offsets to customers and are now at the stage in the process where you have to decide how to acquire the offsets. What are your options?
Content type: Focus Report | Document ID: CAS-F-7 | Author: Kim Knox and Neil Kolwey
Cap-and-Trade Policies: How Will They Affect RECs and Offsets?
An E Source Roundtable Discussion
March 30, 2009
We discuss regional carbon emissions trading policies in North America and the implications of these on utility green pricing programs, sales of renewable energy certificates (RECs), and carbon offset programs.
Content type: Focus Report | Document ID: CAS-F-3 | Author: Yuki Iida
Implementing PV Rebate Programs
Results from an E Source Roundtable Discussion
January 1, 2009
Considering offering a photovoltaic (PV) rebate program at your utility? Learn the ins and outs from the experts in this report, which presents highlights from an E Source roundtable discussion on PV programs.
Content type: Focus Report | Document ID: EDRP-F-22 | Author: Dan Greenberg
Innovative Carbon-Offset Programs for Utility Customers
Results from an E Source Roundtable Discussion
July 1, 2008
Our panel discusses the rationale behind the utilities’ decisions to create carbon-offset programs, the projects they are investing in, how successful the programs are thus far, and the types of messaging they are using to promote the programs.
Content type: Focus Report | Document ID: RES-F-27 | Author: Kim Knox
Green Buildings
Incorporating LEED into New Construction Programs
July 1, 2008
This report investigates how energy demand-side management programs can maximize the benefits of integrating a voluntary green building certification system into a new construction program while minimizing the headaches.
Content type: Focus Report | Document ID: EDRP-F-18 | Author: Gwen Farnsworth
Industrial "Green" Trends
June 1, 2008
What are some "green" trends in the industrial sector?
Content type: Ask E Source | Document ID: MAS-AskES-11 | Author: Tertia Speiser
White Tags and Carbon Offsets
Results from an E Source Roundtable Discussion
October 29, 2007
Twelve states and three European countries have adopted or are considering energy efficiency portfolio standards. This Roundtable discussion describes white tags, the current state of the markets for white tags, and how the tags may be used in both mandated and voluntary markets.
Content type: Focus Report | Document ID: EDRP-F-16 | Author: Chad Garrett
Think Outside the Big Box: Working with Diverse Retailers to Promote CFLs
October 1, 2007
Many utilities today partner with retail outlets to promote consumer use of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs). Such programs typically provide financial incentives through big-box home-improvement and do-it-yourself stores, such as Home Depot and Lowe’s. Now that CFL sales are increasing, utilities ...
Content type: Focus Report | Document ID: RES-F-22 | Author: Alexandra Behringer
The Rapidly Changing Photovoltaic Landscape
What You Need to Know to Effectively Serve Your SMB Customers
April 24, 2007
Headlines about global warming and energy security abound. After decades of a kind of—forgive the pun—overexposure, the political and regulatory climate for solar power in the U.S. is more conducive to market growth than ever before. On-site photovoltaic (PV) projects are now genuinely ...
Content type: Service Report | Document ID: SMB-28 | Author: Barry Friedman, Sue Wallace
The Bionic Green Pricing Program: We Can Rebuild It (and It Won’t Cost $6 Million)
December 1, 2006
After a decade of voluntary renewable energy purchase programs, many green pricing program managers seem far from satisfied, so the most successful programs relentlessly continue to seek the right mix of tactics that will finally lift their program into the broader cultural conversation. To help inaugurate ...
Content type: Focus Report, Research | Document ID: GE-F-12 | Author: Barry Friedman
Refrigerator Recycling Programs: Rounding Up the Old Dogs for Easy Energy Savings
April 1, 2006
Utility programs aimed at encouraging the retirement and recycling of older, inefficient refrigerators have proven to be very cost-effective and relatively easy to implement. Most of the necessary work can be outsourced to a recycling contractor, and program costs are fairly standard and easy to anticipate. ...
Content type: Focus Report | Document ID: EDRP-F-5 | Author: Neil Kolwey
Greenhouse Gas Regulations Around the World: Risks and Opportunities for Business
January 1, 2006
The electricity sector is the first industry in the United States to face mandatory rules aimed at reducing emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). So far, all of those regulations have been put in place at the state and regional levels. Federal mandates on carbon emissions are at least five years off ...
Content type: Core Report | Document ID: ER-06-03 | Author: Michael Shepard
Green Home Opportunities Abound
September 1, 2005
Green home programs can give new life to existing utility programs. Customers value the enhanced comfort, healthy indoor-air quality, and greater durability that these homes promise, and builders are responding. Two prominent groups, the National Association of Homebuilders and the U.S. Green Building ...
Content type: Focus Report, Research | Document ID: RES-F-15 | Author: Tertia Speiser
Hedging Energy Price Risk with Renewables and Energy Efficiency
September 1, 2004
Recent studies suggest that renewables and energy efficiency can reduce exposure to electricity and natural gas price volatility. In particular, North America’s heavy reliance on gas-fired peaking capacity over the last 10 years means that even a small reduction in electricity demand could significantly ...
Content type: Core Report | Document ID: ER-04-12 | Author: Paul Komor
Buying Green Power: Does It Make Cents for Your Company?
July 1, 2004
Although a green energy purchase should not be expected to pay for itself with a direct economic return, it can have tangible benefits that have been persuasive with decision-makers. The three most compelling arguments are quantifying the “earned” media value of renewables; using renewables to help ...
Content type: ESCD Report, Focus Report, Research | Document ID: GE-F-7 | Author: Barry Friedman
Market Snapshot: Voluntary RECs
May 1, 2004
Following relatively light trading activity in the fourth quarter of 2003, demand for renewable energy credits (RECs) at the wholesale level bounced back in first quarter 2004. But while volumes of traded wholesale RECs increased, average national REC prices decreased. REC supply in most regions exceeded ...
Content type: Research | Document ID: RPS-F-1 | Author: Adam Capage, Marcus Krembs
Renewable Energy Credits: What Can They Do for Utilities?
November 1, 2003
This report updates our 2002 report on renewable energy credits (RECs), also known as tradable renewable certificates or green tags. This time we take a more in-depth look at some of the issues energy market players need to understand. For example: Under what circumstances will RECs be most beneficial ...
Content type: Research, Service Report | Document ID: GE-13 | Author: Paul Komor, Adam Capage
Outsourcing for Green Pricing Programs: Benefits and Caveats
December 1, 2002
In 2002, for the first time, a green energy product was procured and retailed by an outside third party in partnership with a utility green pricing program. Under what circumstances might outsourcing green energy make sense for your utility? This report is designed to help utilities look at whether this ...
Content type: Focus Report, Research | Document ID: GE-F-3 | Author: Barry Friedman
Tradable Renewable Certificates: An Overview
December 1, 2001
This report offers an overview of tradable renewable certificates (TRCs), which are a relatively new product in green energy markets. It also lists TRC marketers, describes TRCs being sold today, and outlines market barriers. If you are unfamiliar with TRCs, one way to understand them is to think of ...
Content type: Research, Service Report | Document ID: GE-9 | Author: Barry Friedman
Across the Green Divide: What Green Energy Marketers Can Learn from Other Green Marketers
March 1, 2001
This report steps outside the electricity business to corral the many lessons from non-energy green products and services, including green building, organic coffee, recycled paper, ecotourism, and socially responsible investing. Many of these green or “values-based” products and services have been ...
Content type: Research, Service Report | Document ID: GE-6 | Author: Barry Friedman, Paul Komor
Making Green Electricity Programs Work: The Experts Speak Out
September 1, 2000
Utilities have been offering green pricing programs in regulated markets for several years. So what works? In-depth case interviews with managers of successful programs uncover what we’ve learned about the costs of customer acquisition, building internal political support, working with environmental ...
Content type: Research, Service Report | Document ID: GE-5 | Author: Paul Komor
It's Not Easy Being Green: Obtaining Renewable Electricity for Resale
September 1, 1999
A surprising number of energy users are willing to pay a premium for electricity produced from what they see as less environmentally harmful generating sources. The robust consumer demand and the possibility of rising above a commodity-only market have enticed a rapidly growing number of energy service ...
Content type: Research, Service Report | Document ID: GE-1 | Author: Paul Komor
