Synapse: This Week's News for LA’s Best Buildings

Report: Integrating Energy Efficiency, Solar, and Battery Storage in Utility Programs

Customers can garner extra energy bill savings from programs that combine efficiency, solar, and storage (EE/Solar+) in a single comprehensive offering. These programs also open new value streams for utilities, increase grid resilience, and curtail greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. So why are they so rare? This report surveys the landscape of existing EE/Solar+ programs and pilots, analyzes the barriers they face, and highlights nine current groundbreaking offerings from utilities and independent service providers. 

Destination: Zero Carbon

In the U.S., transportation is climate enemy number one. America’s transportation system produces more greenhouse gas emissions than any other sector of our economy and, on its own, is responsible for 4 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions. .A report by Environment California Research & Policy Center and Frontier Group outlines three strategies to transform transportation in America - you can even go on a virtual Zero Carbon Road Trip!

Opinion: Why States Need to Ban New Gas Hookups in Buildings (in 5 Charts)

Fossil fuels, primarily gas, are a fixture in millions of American homes and businesses, but the building sector’s climate impact hasn’t received the same scrutiny as coal and gas in the power sector or oil in the transportation sector.

Fortunately, that’s changing.