In a previous article, Electrical Contractor explored the environmental benefits of green roofs, including reducing energy used for heating and cooling, managing stormwater, improving air and water quality, mitigating the...
In the fight against global warming, new sources of cleaner fuel are constantly emerging. Recently, the main supplier of power to the sprawling metropolis of Los Angeles raised eyebrows with an unprecedented proposal...
As architectural lighting gets more sophisticated and technology options diversify, contractors and their customers can achieve sustainability, in terms of cutting energy use and light pollution. While the potential for...
At one time, an approach called cap and trade was seen as a potential solution for reducing the United States’ greenhouse gas emissions. This process was seen as an open-market alternative to proposed carbon taxes. Of course...
We first started to realize how dependent we were on fossil fuels and imports from other countries when the 1973 oil crisis struck. One barrel of oil contained 42 gallons and cost $3. The crisis increased the price 400% to...
Electric vehicles amount to a fraction of total U.S. auto sales, but they represent a potentially lucrative market for electric utilities. Still, few have developed strategies to ease their adoption; the availability of...
In September, the United Nations Economic Council on Europe (UNECE) and Pittsburgh’s Green Building Alliance (GBA) agreed to establish Pittsburgh’s International Centre of Excellence on High Performance Buildings. Following...
Electric vehicles are so prevalent these days, they hardly seem like news anymore. Perhaps that’s why so many electrical contractors do not seem to recognize the potential that still lies ahead for installing and, better yet...
When it comes to covering advances in renewable energy technologies, the focus has primarily been on new ways—and incremental improvements—for bringing down cost. With prices for electricity from solar and wind now reaching...
On Sept. 18, the San Jose, California city council unanimously passed a proposal to require new construction of detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs), single-family, low-rise and multifamily buildings in the city to be all...
The fight against global warming and the expansion of sustainable energy practices have contributed to a number of growing trends, such as electric vehicles, smart homes and distributed generation. Add zero energy or net zero...
Utilities are used to facing opposition from environmental and consumer groups when they present a new rate-case proposal to their state regulators. However, Dominion Energy in Virginia has been challenged from an unexpected...
As movement on federal greenhouse gas initiatives has basically flatlined during the Trump administration, more states have stepped up to establish targets for reduced use of fossil fuels in their electricity generation...
In an attempt to jump-start its residential solar business, Tesla has lowered the prices of its solar panels and solar equipment so much that they cost 16 percent less than the national average, according to an article in The...
Los Angeles has adopted its own local version of a plan that has generated much media attention on Capitol Hill in recent months. In April, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti released the city’s own Green New Deal. It sets...
In April, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced the launch of LEED v4.1 Residential, an updated rating system that combines the relevant aspects of four existing LEED rating systems (Single Family and Lowrise...
Many creative forms of financing solar power have helped boost the technology and overcome challenges to widespread adoption. In Florida, one of the nation’s largest energy providers is embracing one of those innovative...
According to the newly released “2019 Energy-Efficient Home Design Trends Report," published by Fixr, a remodeling cost information firm, homeowners are becoming more motivated to introduce more energy efficiency technologies...
Solar panels and windmills are powering up homes and businesses at a growing rate. However, they also are making an impact in some unlikely industries. According to a recent study by Navigant Research, the global mining...
According to a new report from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), while power generation, transmission and distribution in the United States tend to be predominantly alternating current (AC), an increasing number of...
