Search Climate Insights Directory

A vision statement by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon outlining the goal to achieve sustainable energy for all by 2030 through universal energy access, improved energy efficiency, and an increased share of renewable energy.

This research paper by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the application of CDM Methodology ACM0013 for coal power projects, arguing that systemic flaws in the methodology and its application lead to significant over-crediting of Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) and a failure to ensure project additionality.

This case study describes the energy retrofit of the City-County Building (CCB) in Indianapolis and its role as the cornerstone of the broader SustainIndy sustainability program, which targets energy reductions across 61 city-owned buildings.

The report "TURB CHARGING EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS" by RMI provides a framework for electric utilities to increase energy savings by pursuing both "broader" (increasing participant numbers) and "deeper" (increasing savings per participant) strategies. It identifies systemic barriers, such as the historical monopoly structure of utilities and rigid regulatory frameworks, and offers recommendations to improve marketing, sales execution, transaction costs, and collaboration.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute explains the mechanics, energy sources, and benefits of district energy systems, which provide centralized heating and cooling to multiple buildings via underground pipe networks.

This policy brief discusses the role of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) as drivers of the green economy, highlighting their economic scale, their potential to increase efficiency through smart systems and dematerialization, and the environmental challenges posed by the ICT sector itself.

A research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative San Francisco that uses residential energy use data and regression analysis to measure the actual impact of state building energy codes in the United States, comparing these results to engineering simulation models.

A fact sheet by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) outlining the current state of the United States energy landscape and the potential economic and efficiency gains achievable by 2050 through the 'Reinventing Fire' approach, which emphasizes efficiency and renewables over fossil fuels and nuclear power.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) evaluates the effectiveness of residential building energy codes in the United States from 1986 to 2008. Using econometric analysis of state-level energy consumption data, the study finds that building energy codes are associated with a reduction in primary energy use and greenhouse gas emissions per household, while also influencing fuel choice by shifting consumption toward natural gas and away from other fuels like fuel oil.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the policies and decision-making processes surrounding the thermal efficiency retrofit of residential buildings in Germany. It outlines the government's goal to reduce primary energy demand in buildings by 80% by 2050 and examines the barriers and levers—including information tools, financial incentives, and contractor certification—needed to increase both the rate and depth of retrofits.

This 2011 fact sheet explains district energy systems, which use central plants and underground pipes to provide efficient heating and cooling to clusters of buildings. It highlights the role of combined heat and power (CHP) and renewable energy in these systems, noting that while over 700 such systems exist in the U.S., high upfront costs and policy gaps remain barriers to further expansion.

This briefing proposes the "Deep Energy Efficiency Pays" (DEEP) program, a new demand-side management (DSM) approach designed to encourage whole-building retrofits over single-measure upgrades. By offering additional incentives for projects that meet a specific energy savings threshold, the program aims to align the interests of utilities, building owners, and energy service providers to achieve significant energy reductions and market transformation.

This report, based on a study by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) at DIW Berlin, evaluates the effectiveness of the energy performance certificate (Energieausweis) in influencing home-buying decisions in Germany. Based on a survey of 662 home buyers, the report finds that while the certificate is widely known, it currently has a low impact on purchase decisions due to poor communication of ancillary costs, low availability during the selection process, and the low priority buyers place on energy efficiency compared to other property features.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) maps the policy landscape for thermal energy efficiency in Germany's residential building sector. It categorizes policies into financial instruments, information tools, and performance standards, analyzing how they interact to drive energy demand reductions. The document details specific federal programs, their objectives, and their estimated impacts on building owners and contractors.

The World Resources Institute (WRI) issued a statement mourning the death of Leon "Lee" Schipper on August 16, 2011, highlighting his role as a co-founder of EMBARQ and his contributions to sustainable transportation research.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) reviews information instruments designed to promote energy efficiency retrofits in the residential building stock, with a primary focus on Germany and supporting evidence from international case studies. The document categorizes these tools based on the stage of the homeowner's decision-making process: moving uninterested households toward consideration, assisting those in the planning phase, and training the professionals who implement the retrofits.

A letter dated July 27, 2011, from a coalition of 21 organizations to the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee urging the rejection of funding cuts to Farm Bill energy programs proposed in H.R. 2112 (the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2012).

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the decision-making process of 2,000 German owners of single- and two-family houses regarding thermal efficiency retrofits. The study categorizes households into non-planning, planning, and action stages to identify how motivations, financial barriers, and information sources evolve throughout the process. Key findings highlight that while building appearance is a primary initial trigger, financial concerns and the desire for thermal comfort and energy savings become more prominent as households move toward implementation.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative evaluates the potential for tax incentives to support thermal retrofits in Germany, comparing them with existing KfW loan and grant programs and international experiences from Italy, the Netherlands, and the United States.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute describes the energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and its branches. It details strategic goals for the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force to reduce fossil fuel reliance, improve operational security, and meet federal mandates for greenhouse gas reductions and renewable energy procurement.