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This research paper by RMI analyzes the systemic inefficiencies of the global fossil energy system, quantifying the energy and financial losses occurring from primary extraction to end-use. It argues that these inefficiencies make fossil fuels vulnerable to disruption by cleaner, more efficient alternatives such as renewables, electrification, and localized energy generation.

This briefing from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) describes the Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), which provides zero-interest loans to eligible entities to fund energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electrification improvements for rural households and small businesses. The document includes a side-by-side comparison of current law and a May 2024 House Agriculture Committee discussion draft, highlighting proposed expansions to eligible borrowers, the inclusion of manufactured home replacements, and the introduction of grants for technical assistance and repairs.

The report 'The Big Picture' by Ember analyzes the global electricity transition in 2024, arguing that 2023 likely marked the peak of fossil fuel generation and power sector emissions. It highlights the dominant role of solar energy, the emerging drivers of electricity demand such as data centers and electrification, and provides case studies on the rapid transition strategies of China, Brazil, and the Netherlands.

This briefing by RMI argues that achieving economy-wide decarbonization through the electrification of everything requires a proactive, holistic approach to grid modernization. The author advocates for a combination of "big wires" (high-voltage transmission), "small wires" (distribution system upgrades), and "non-wires" solutions (virtual power plants and demand response) to accommodate growing electricity demand from data centers, manufacturing, and electric vehicle fleets.

This research paper examines the distributional impacts of electrification, digitalization, and automation on workers within the Swedish transport sector, specifically focusing on the subjective and objective quality of working life for taxi and truck drivers.

The 'Electrification Data Methodology 2024 Overview' by Ember describes the technical framework used to quantify the impact of electrification in the road transport and residential heating sectors. The methodology focuses on calculating electricity demand, primary fossil fuel displacement, and emissions displaced, utilizing real-world data on vehicle stocks, heat pump deployment, and energy efficiency factors.

The Buildings Criteria, published by the Climate Bonds Initiative on December 7, 2023, establishes the eligibility requirements for buildings and built environment projects to achieve Climate Bonds Certification. The criteria focus on climate change mitigation, providing pathways for Use-of-Proceeds instruments, Assets, Sustainability-Linked Debt (SLD), and Entities to demonstrate climate integrity through absolute or relative emissions performance improvements.

This case study examines how the Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation (CDC), a nonprofit affordable housing owner in Boston, is implementing deep energy retrofits (DER) across its portfolio to eliminate fossil fuel combustion and reduce energy consumption.

This report by RMI argues for the establishment of comprehensive indoor air quality (IAQ) guidelines in the United States to protect public health and inform building decarbonization. It examines the health risks of indoor pollutants, compares indoor and outdoor air regulation, reviews international and domestic examples of IAQ guidelines, and outlines how such guidelines can be applied to product safety, building codes, and certifications.

This guide provides State Energy Offices (SEOs) with a framework for designing and implementing residential energy rebate programs authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). It emphasizes data-driven design, strategic outreach to underserved communities, and the creation of support systems like 'one-stop-shops' to ensure that energy efficiency and electrification retrofits are economically beneficial and accessible, particularly for low-to-moderate income (LMI) households.

The Buildings Criteria - Background Paper provides the technical rationale and methodology for the Climate Bonds Standard's eligibility criteria for low-carbon buildings. It establishes a framework to align building investments with a 1.5-degree Celsius warming scenario by focusing on emissions intensity trajectories, the electrification of heating and cooling, and the mandatory reporting of Whole Life Carbon Assessments (WLCA) for new constructions to address embodied carbon.

This report examines how Energy Service Agreements (ESAs) and federal incentives, specifically from the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, can be used to scale deep energy efficiency and electrification retrofits for affordable multifamily housing (AMFH) in California.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) criticizes the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) finalized Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2023-2025, arguing that increasing the mandate for crop-based biofuels contradicts electrification goals and harms the climate.

This case study describes the development of the Malawi Integrated Energy Planning (IEP) Tool by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet. The tool provides a data visualization platform and geospatial analytics to help the Malawian government and private sector identify the least-cost solutions for achieving universal energy access by 2030, specifically targeting electricity and clean cooking.

This executive summary outlines a market assessment and roadmap by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) to address energy deficits in Sierra Leone's schools, identifying significant gaps in power access and proposing strategic recommendations for data investment, technical standardization, and sustainable maintenance models.

This briefing by Ember argues that the European Union's Fit-for-55 renewable energy target of 40% for 2030 is outdated due to the rapid acceleration of clean technology deployment. Based on industry forecasts for solar, heat pumps, and electric vehicles, the analysis suggests the EU is currently on course to reach a 45% renewable energy share by 2030, with the potential to reach 50% if policy and financial support are strengthened.

The Rural Energy Savings Program (RESP), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides zero-interest loans to eligible entities—such as electric cooperatives and green banks—to establish energy efficiency programs for rural households and small businesses. These programs offer low-cost financing for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and electrification improvements, which are repaid via utility bills with no upfront cost to the consumer.

RMI has developed the Local Energy Action Framework (LEAF), a step-by-step process designed to help US cities and counties prioritize energy projects and map electricity needs holistically to reach 100 percent clean electricity or carbon-neutrality goals.

This briefing from RMI describes the role of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs)—aggregations of distributed energy resources like batteries and electric vehicles—in enhancing grid reliability, affordability, and decarbonization, while outlining priorities to scale the market.

This briefing by RMI outlines a phased framework for building decarbonization in the United States and argues that financial institutions can accelerate the shift to zero-carbon technologies by using targeted interventions to make green options the cheapest, default choice.