Synapse: This Week's News for LA’s Best Buildings
Scorecard: Leading U.S. Cities Grow Clean Energy Efforts but Many More Lag Far Behind
Leading U.S. cities are expanding their clean energy efforts to tackle climate change, yet many more lag far behind, and only one-fifth have community-wide greenhouse gas reductions goals and are on track to meet them, according to the 2020 City Clean Energy Scorecard released Tuesday.
The scorecard from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) analyzes the efforts of 100 major U.S. cities—home to 19% of the nation’s population—to make buildings and transportation more energy efficient and scale up the use of renewable energy. It provides the most comprehensive national measuring stick for climate progress and a roadmap for future improvements. Over time, the Scorecard has adopted metrics to assess community involvement and equity as part of cities’ clean energy efforts.
Pandemic Makes Technology Essential in Affordable Housing
The pandemic has put more pressure on landlords to install new technologies to create efficiency. This is true across property types, but affordable housing—which has lagged behind in technology adoption—stands to benefit significantly from the usage of new technology. With tenants at home more during the pandemic, utility bills are increasing, but landlords have options. New technologies can help to reduce these costs. This article features LABBC Executive Director David Hodgins.
Top 5 Ways to Get the Most Out of Energy Efficiency
It’s no secret that energy efficiency offers substantial benefits and is the cheapest way to cut energy waste and stave off the climate crisis. It provides people with much-needed energy bill relief, helps us breathe better, keeps our electricity system affordable and reliable, and provides good job opportunities. These benefits and more are worth celebrating on this week’s fifth annual Energy Efficiency Day, especially at time when America faces so many challenges. Fortunately, efficiency can help with some of them, as well.
Why Energy Efficiency is a Crucial Component of Grid Management
For years, building performance contractors have made the case that the benefits of energy efficiency measures go far beyond merely saving energy for the homeowner. Typically, the additional benefits they mention are related to comfort, health, indoor air quality, and durability. But people fail to recognize that the most important energy efficiency benefit is its role in managing loads on the distribution grid.
Webinar: Managing HVAC Systems to Reduce Infections Disease Transmission
Managing our buildings to minimize the risk of infectious disease transmission is of paramount concern today. Every building and climate are different, making it challenging to have one approach work in all situations. In this DOE Better Buildings webinar, Dr. Bahnfleth provides a critical review of guidance published by ASHRAE and other built environment organizations and discussed their relationship to recommendations of science and health-focused organizations like WHO. Dr. Bahnfleth provided expert insight based on the best research for operations to help mitigate risks and what practices to avoid.
