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This report by RMI examines the role of low-embodied-carbon and carbon-storing materials in deep energy retrofits to reduce total building emissions and transform existing structures into climate assets.

This report by RMI analyzes the economic and technical feasibility of electrifying mid-sized office buildings (approximately 50,000 square feet) that utilize packaged rooftop units (RTUs). The study demonstrates that cost-effective electrification retrofits exist across diverse US cities when tailored to regional climate conditions and gas utility rates, often requiring a combination of heat pumps, efficiency upgrades, and on-site solar.

This briefing discusses how hybrid clean energy systems—combining local renewable resources like solar with baseload resources like geothermal—can address energy and climate injustices in marginalized communities. It highlights the disproportionate impact of extreme heat and aging gas infrastructure on low-income communities of color and evaluates policy interventions and technical models, such as a geothermal pilot in Massachusetts, to improve energy security and resilience.

This document provides detailed appendices for the proposed Estonian Hydrogen Roadmap 2021–2050. It outlines a phased transition toward a hydrogen economy, focusing on decarbonizing transport, industry, buildings, and the energy sector through the adoption of green hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

Ember submitted comments on August 2, 2021, regarding the European Commission's draft 'Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy 2022' (CEEAG). The document argues for a nuanced approach to state aid for coal mine methane (CMM) abatement, distinguishing between active and abandoned mines to ensure environmental benefits are achieved without extending the operational life of coal mines.

This briefing by RMI discusses how improvements in lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cycle life—specifically the pursuit of batteries capable of lasting a million miles—can enable critical energy transition applications beyond electric vehicles (EVs), including vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services, fast charging, and long-duration energy storage using second-life batteries.

This briefing note by the International Institute for Sustainable Development describes the rationale, methodology, and findings of targeted gender analyses conducted in six African countries to inform their National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes. It emphasizes the need to move beyond general statements about women's vulnerability toward a nuanced understanding of gender dynamics to ensure equitable benefits from climate adaptation investments.

This research paper examines the accounting challenges and options for international transfers of mitigation outcomes under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. It focuses on ensuring environmental integrity by preventing double counting and addressing the diversity of nationally determined contributions (NDCs), specifically regarding metrics, time frames, and the nature of internationally transferred mitigation outcomes (ITMOs).

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) examines "M&V 2.0," or advanced measurement and verification of energy efficiency savings. It defines M&V 2.0 as the combination of automated analytics and increased data granularity (such as hourly interval data) to provide near-real-time savings estimates. The document outlines the benefits for various stakeholders, the current landscape of available tools, the challenges regarding data access and standardization, and the necessary steps for the industry to fully realize the potential of these advanced methods.

This RMI briefing discusses the significant electricity demand generated by the legal marijuana industry in the United States and proposes strategies for utilities and regulators to manage this load. It suggests that energy efficiency investments, on-site renewables, and time-varying rates to shift consumption to periods of low net load can help integrate renewable energy and reduce operating costs for growers.

This fact sheet examines the potential for deploying mid-level ethanol blends (E25 to E40) in the United States passenger vehicle fleet to improve fuel efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It discusses the role of ethanol as a renewable octane provider, the compatibility of existing vehicle fleets and retail infrastructure, and the lifecycle GHG reductions associated with different ethanol sources.

This report by Energy Innovation proposes a shift in California's energy policy to meet 2030 and 2050 greenhouse gas targets. It recommends replacing the current Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) and the Efficiency Savings and Performance Incentive (ESPI) with performance-based carbon and energy intensity standards to better align utility incentives with decarbonization and efficiency goals.

This report by Energy Innovation proposes a shift in California's energy policy to accelerate carbon reductions in the electricity sector to meet 2030 and 2050 greenhouse gas targets. The authors recommend replacing the Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) with a performance-based carbon standard and reforming energy efficiency incentives by transitioning to per capita intensity standards for electricity and natural gas.

This research paper examines housing vulnerability to climate extremes, specifically typhoons and floods, in Vietnam with a focus on Central Vietnam and Da Nang. It analyzes how socio-economic status, inadequate construction practices, and a lack of professional technical guidance contribute to structural risks. The document highlights a 'two-fold source of vulnerability' where the adoption of modern materials without safety-related design increases risk. It concludes that while disaster-resistant reinforcement adds initial costs, it significantly reduces long-term repair expenses for low-income households.

This report argues that electric utilities must shift from a traditional model of managing uncontrollable demand with large 'baseload' plants to a new paradigm using a diversified portfolio of smaller, variable resources, including energy efficiency and renewables, to maintain reliability and cost-effectiveness.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) analyzes U.S. energy insecurity, focusing on the risks associated with oil dependence and the potential for energy efficiency to mitigate these threats. Using data primarily from the 2001 EIA Annual Energy Review, the document details the sources and uses of U.S. oil, the economic and security costs of dependence on OPEC and the Persian Gulf, and the technical potential for reducing oil consumption through vehicle efficiency and alternative fuels.

This policy brief argues for the systematic monitoring of sediment transport in Andean-Amazonian river basins as a critical climate change adaptation measure. It details how different types of sediment (wash load, suspended bed load, and bed load) support ecosystem biodiversity and how anthropogenic infrastructure—such as hydroelectric dams and dredging—can disrupt these natural balances, leading to environmental degradation and increased operational costs.

This briefing by RMI outlines the technical, economic, and institutional barriers to the widespread adoption of carbon fiber composites in the U.S. automotive industry. It proposes a collaborative approach to transition from individual part substitution to full composite body-in-white construction to improve fuel efficiency and reduce oil dependence.

This technical appendix from RMI provides a detailed overview of thirteen services that battery energy storage can provide to customers, Independent System Operators (ISOs), Regional Transmission Organizations (RTOs), and utilities. It categorizes these services by stakeholder benefit and time scale, providing definitions, technical backgrounds, and estimated value ranges for each. The document also details the valuation and dispatch methodologies used in four specific use cases across the U.S. and includes a meta-study of six influential energy storage valuation publications from the past decade.

This research paper by Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) argues that the automotive industry's failure to adopt advanced composite materials in the body-in-white (BIW) is due to a reliance on incremental, component-based substitution. The authors propose a "leapfrog" strategy: a whole-system redesign using an all-advanced-composite monocoque BIW integrated with a hybrid-electric "hypercar" concept. This approach aims to overcome cost, manufacturing, and cultural barriers by maximizing mass reduction and simplifying assembly.