Energy Efficiency

A heat pump is a kind of HVAC appliance that handles both heating and cooling. It doesn’t burn fuel to generate heat. Instead, it uses electricity to move heat around. In the winter, it extracts warmth from outside air, the ground, or water and transfers it indoors. In the summer, it reverses the process to provide cooling. Heat pumps are far more efficient than conventional heaters and air conditioners.

The federal government started promoting energy efficiency in the 1970s in the wake of the Arab oil embargo. Since that time, successive administrations, both Republican and Democratic, instituted regulations about energy efficiency that have transformed the US economy. Energy efficiency has been pretty much the most bipartisan issue in the country. As a result, today’s refrigerators use about one-third the electricity of those from the 70s. Stricter fuel-economy standards for cars have saved Americans about $5 trillion in gasoline costs.

More Vermont homeowners and renters now qualify for energy efficiency improvement rebates.

The city of Springfield, Massachusetts cut its municipal energy use by 26 percent and now wants residents and businesses to follow the example. Over the…

A new scorecard says Massachusetts, Vermont, and New York are among the most energy efficient states in the country.The 13th annual American Council for…

Vermont Governor Phil Scott was in Burlington Thursday to announce a new energy efficiency incentive.The Vermont Agencies of Natural Resources and Human…

For the past three years, Living the Change Berkshires has been a key organizer of an annual climate and sustainability fair, the Berkshire Earth Expo,…

Dutchess County officials have announced the formation of a Climate Smart Communities Task Force.Dutchess County is pursuing certification as part of the…

A leading environmental advocacy organization has released a report outlining measures the country could take to increase renewable energy generation and…

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority has announced $4 million in state funding to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas…