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The 2014 Market Intelligence Report: Built Environment by GreenCape provides an overview of the regulatory frameworks, market trends, and opportunities for green building in South Africa, with a specific focus on the Western Cape province. It details the transition toward energy-efficient construction standards, the role of alternative building technologies (ABTs), and the integration of green principles into social and commercial housing.

The Greencape Market Intelligence Report 2014 examines the regulatory frameworks and market dynamics of the green building sector in South Africa, with a specific focus on the Western Cape. It details the transition toward energy-efficient standards, the adoption of alternative building technologies (ABTs), and the opportunities for greening both commercial and social housing sectors.

The Greencape Market Intelligence Report 2014: Energy Efficiency analyzes the state of energy efficiency in South Africa, focusing on legislative standards, financial incentives, and specific technology markets including solar water heaters (SWH), energy-saving lighting, and embedded generation.

This discussion brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute reviews global studies to estimate the international finance required for climate change mitigation, specifically for a warming trajectory of no more than 2°C. It distinguishes between various metrics—such as total, incremental, and net climate-relevant investment—and highlights a significant gap between current funding and the needs of developing (non-OECD) countries.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) proposes a transformative energy strategy for China termed "Reinventing Fire." The authors argue that China can decouple economic growth from fossil fuel dependence by focusing on three "gamechangers": oil-free mobility, integrative design for radical efficiency in buildings and industry, and a redefined, more distributed electric grid.

A support letter from a coalition of national, state, and regional groups urging U.S. congressional conferees to re-authorize the Farm Bill's energy title with $900 million in mandatory funding over five years.

This research paper examines China's approach to the green economy and its interaction with the G-20, specifically following the 2012 Los Cabos Summit in Mexico. The author argues that while China is domestically committed to greening its economic development due to severe environmental degradation, it remains reluctant to accept mandatory international obligations that might hinder its economic growth. The paper highlights a disconnect between China's internal policy terminology and the 'inclusive green growth' framework promoted at the G-20, suggesting that China's organizational structure for G-20 participation further marginalizes environmental policy.

An unpublished letter from RMI to The Economist argues that European electric utilities' financial losses are the result of failed investment strategies and a failure to adapt to disruptive renewable technologies, rather than the fault of renewables themselves. The author contends that renewables provide significant macroeconomic benefits and that grid stability is manageable at high penetration levels, as demonstrated in several European countries.

An open letter from RMI to hard goods retailers arguing that promoting and procuring energy-efficient electronics and appliances can unlock significant financial savings for consumers and reduce overall energy consumption.

This research paper by Ellen Vaughan and Jim Turner argues that mandatory, minimum building codes are the most effective and least expensive method to protect public health, safety, and the environment. The authors advocate for the adoption and enforcement of current model codes—specifically those updated every three years—to reduce energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions, and vulnerability to natural disasters while stimulating economic innovation in the building sector.

This fact sheet by the World Resources Institute (WRI) outlines strategies for North Carolina to reduce power sector carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions to comply with expected U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. WRI analysis suggests the state can reduce emissions 29 percent below 2011 levels by 2020 using existing policies and infrastructure, with the potential for a 69 percent reduction by 2030 through expanded programs.

This briefing note from the International Institute for Sustainable Development outlines institutional and policy processes (IPPs) that can facilitate a transition to a green economy, using case studies from Ontario and Manitoba to illustrate their application and limitations.

This guide by RMI provides building owners and managers with a framework for specifying and procuring building energy modeling (BEM) services for new construction, renovations, and operational improvements. It details the benefits of BEM, the different purposes for modeling (comparison, compliance, and prediction), the role of the modeler, and the contracting process, including a sample Request for Proposal (RFP).

This policy brief by the International Institute for Sustainable Development argues that fossil-fuel subsidy reform is a ready-to-deploy measure that can help UNFCCC Parties increase pre-2020 mitigation ambition to limit global temperature rise to 2°C. It provides specific recommendations for Parties to integrate subsidy reform into UNFCCC workstreams, national actions, and reporting mechanisms.

This briefing is a transcript of an address by Amory B. Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) delivered on July 17, 2013, at Appalachian State University. Lovins advocates for the adoption of 'integrative design' and 'natural capitalism' within university campuses to eliminate energy and material waste. He argues that universities should serve as living laboratories where students use a 'beginner's mind' to redesign buildings, food systems, and infrastructure, while simultaneously breaking down academic silos to foster transdisciplinary learning.

This report details the outcomes of a March 2013 charrette convened by the General Services Administration (GSA), Department of Energy (DOE), Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), and Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). The event focused on improving Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) to achieve 'deep energy retrofits'—defined as projects achieving over 50% reduction in energy use—within the GSA building portfolio.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) provides data on 'green' jobs in the United States, with a specific focus on employment within the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors. It compiles figures from various government agencies, national laboratories, and industry associations to estimate current employment levels and project future job growth.

The Help My House pilot program in South Carolina demonstrated that on-bill financing (OBF) can effectively drive residential energy efficiency, particularly for low-income households. Retrofits in 125 homes reduced average electricity use by 34% (approx. 11,000 kWh/year), with over 80% of participants seeing energy savings that exceeded their loan payments. The program significantly increased member satisfaction with electric cooperatives and led several cooperatives to establish permanent OBF programs. While the pilot showed minimal impact on system load factor, it highlighted the potential for OBF to defer expensive new generation investments and reduce CO2 emissions.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes combined heat and power (CHP) technology, which integrates the production of heat and electric power into a single process to increase energy efficiency and reliability. It details the current state of CHP in the United States, its economic and environmental benefits, its role in disaster resilience, and the policy barriers and goals associated with its expansion.

This briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes how California should allocate an estimated $2.75 billion in Proposition 39 funds to support energy efficiency and clean energy projects in K-12 schools and public buildings. The analysis suggests that funds should target deep energy-saving projects that districts cannot finance independently, rather than economical projects like lighting retrofits, and should be paired with technical assistance to help districts vet proposals and navigate financing options.