New ISO Standard for Energy Management Introduced

At last: Energy management has reached the big leagues of organizational performance. The new ISO 50001 standard, introduced in June, brings energy efficiency into line with global best practices and standards recognized in other areas of organizational management. The International Standards Organization, or ISO, is a non-governmental body based in Switzerland that is the world’s largest developer and publisher of international standards. By issuing a set of management standards for energy efficiency, ISO acknowledges that “effective energy management is a priority because of the significant potential to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.” The new ISO 50001 standard places energy on par with other ISO management system models used by more than one [more…]

Renters Seek Energy Efficient Buildings

Swimming pools and community rooms, move over. Today’s renters want more energy efficient apartments. According to Finance and Commerce online, the building trades are responding to increasing demand for greener rental units. They are constructing more apartment complexes with features that help tenants save money on energy, have ready access to recycling—including organics—and  reduce water consumption. Building owners also see significant benefits to this approach to construction with reductions in operating costs for energy, trash disposal and water use. Finance and Commerce reports green design and construction has become the rule rather than the exception, according to local apartment developers and architects.  “A lot of green [building] elements are becoming commonplace,” said Dan Pellinen, a [more…]

Opportunity Knocking: GreenStep Cities

Coming to a city near you: A game plan for a greener community and a more competitive business environment. Minnesota GreenStep Cities is an action-oriented voluntary program offering a simple pathway to implementation of sustainable development best practices that focus on cost savings, energy use reduction, and innovation. Thirty-three cities across the state have opted in to the program since 2010, and that number is growing. Participating cities select and implement strategies from a list of 28 best practices in five categories: transportation, buildings and lighting, environmental management, land use, and economic and community development. “Among the best practices we’ve included are approaches for green business development, and creating business synergies in participating cities,” remarked [more…]

Minnesota Twins take the lead in energy efficient design and operations

Less than two years after Target Field was named the “Greenest Ballpark in America,” the Minnesota Twins’ home has earned a second honor for energy efficiency and sustainability. The facility’s LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Silver Certification for New Construction is now paired with a shiny new LEED Silver Certification for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance of the ballpark. The Minnesota Twins and the Target Field are now the first professional sports franchise to attain both certifications from LEED, the nation’s most widely-recognized and accepted green building rating system by the U.S. Green Building Council. Fact is, business and cultural organizations across Minnesota are increasingly placing a priority on energy efficiency and environmental [more…]

A Sexy Thermostat?

Oh, yeah. You’re gonna want one of these. Meet the Nest: a “learning thermostat” that programs itself. Developed by Tony Fadell, a former Apple VP and the whiz who created the sleek hardware for the iPod, the Nest is turning the world of stogy-looking thermostats on its head. The Nest learns and reprograms itself by following your use habits, and can take as much as 20% off your energy bill. You can access Nest online or from your smart phone. It costs $249. And let’s face it: it looks really cool. Why re-imagine home temperature control? Heating and cooling can be as much as 50% of your home (or small office building) energy bill. Programmable [more…]

Saving Energy Pays in Perpetuity

Let’s suppose I asked you to give me a buck, and in two years or less I would give you back your dollar, and I would pay you another dollar every year after that. Yes, I say, the investment is completely legit. Yes, I confirm, it’s an excellent return on investment.  And yes, you can invest more than $1 if you want. It turns out this isn’t a case of “let’s suppose”; this is the typical payback track record for investments in energy efficiency. About 20-30% of energy-saving upgrades that can be done at a typical facility will have a payback of 1-2 years. After the initial investment is paid back, the energy savings are money in the [more…]

Minnesota Innovators Make Waves in Clean Energy Development

Minnesota companies have been leading the development of clean energy products for years. Now, two of them are getting attention for a very high-profile project. New York City’s One World Trade Center (1 WTC), also known as “Freedom Tower,” is being constructed on the site of the World Trade Center buildings that were destroyed in 2001 in a terrorist attack. When the skyscraper is finished in 2013, it will be the highest building in North America, reaching a symbolic height of 1,776 feet in recognition of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. The building will also include products from two energy innovators with ties to Minnesota: Viracon, Inc., and McQuay International. Viracon, [more…]

5 Things to Love about LEDs

Light-emitting diode lamps, or LEDs, are looking ever brighter as the number of businesses installing them is surging. Are you someone who’s not yet sold on them? Well here are five great reasons to love LEDs. 1. Buy light, get light! When you use inefficient incandescent or halogen bulbs, you pay for all the electricity they consume, but receive only a fraction of the light output for your money. LEDs are far more efficient and cost about one tenth as much to run, so you get more of the light you pay for. For example, a 90-watt halogen lamp can be replaced with a 15-watt LED lamp that provides the same 1,200 lumens output as [more…]

See Latest Report on Energy Efficiency Financing at New MNEnergySmart.com Site

While more customers could be taking advantage of energy efficiency loans, nearly all those who do repay them on time—suggesting the return on investment from energy improvements is a win-win for both lenders and borrowers. These findings are in a new report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) called, “What Have We Learned from Energy Efficiency Financing?” Find a PDF of the report on the new MNEnergySmart.com. The ACEEE says the United States could cost-effectively realize a 20-30% reduction in energy consumption in the next 10-15 years, lowering energy bills for consumers by $78 billion a year! One group with great potential to reap these savings is the commercial and residential building [more…]

OPOWER

Minnesota is leading the U.S. in information-based energy efficiency, states a recent article from Business Wire. Ten Minnesota energy utilities are now participating in Opower.   As a “multi-channel customer engagement platform,” Opower delivers energy efficiency gains and other strategic benefits to its utility partners on a sustainable basis. Opower currently works with close to 60 utilities across the United States and in the UK. Since its founding, Opower estimates it has driven more than 420 GWh in energy savings, cumulatively saving consumers more than $37 million in energy bills. “Home Energy Reports are effective because they empower people to make small changes that don’t adversely affect their lifestyle, but make a significant difference in energy [more…]