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This briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) proposes a methodology to track incremental energy efficiency investments in certified green buildings. Using a global database of over 16,000 certifications from 2019-2020, the report argues that current green certifications are often inconsistent indicators of actual energy performance and that energy efficiency investments represent only a small fraction of total building construction costs.

This policy brief by Energy Innovation outlines the building electrification and energy efficiency provisions within the House version of the Build Back Better Act (BBBA). It details $12.5 billion in incentives for residential and commercial building decarbonization, alongside significant investments in affordable housing, workforce training, and the adoption of zero-energy building codes to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and consumer costs.

The Delhi-based Ant Studio developed the 'Beehive', a passive, modular façade cooling system that uses terracotta cones and recycled water to reduce indoor temperatures without electricity or harmful gases.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the barriers facing energy efficiency business models in Indonesia and proposes three improved models to scale up Energy Service Companies (ESCOs). It identifies financial risk, lack of awareness, and regulatory instability as primary hurdles to achieving Indonesia's target of 17% energy savings by 2025.

This SEI briefing, based on a study commissioned by Scania, argues that the European Union's heavy-duty vehicle sector can achieve greater emissions reductions by 2030 than currently planned in the "Fit for 55" package. The analysis suggests that a combined approach of energy efficiency, electrification, and biofuels could reduce emissions by 24% compared to 2019 levels.

The NewClimate Institute criticizes Switzerland's bilateral agreements with Georgia, Peru, Senegal, and Ghana, arguing that by targeting 'low-hanging fruit' mitigation projects to offset its own emissions, Switzerland sets a poor precedent that undermines the ambition-raising goals of the Paris Agreement and restricts the ability of host countries to meet their own climate targets.

This briefing by the Environmental and Energy Study Institute examines the 'digital divide' in the United States, focusing on the disparities in broadband access between urban, rural, and tribal communities. It details the various technologies used for delivery, the socioeconomic and geographic barriers to expansion, and the critical role of high-speed internet in enabling energy efficiency, precision agriculture, and a transition to a clean energy economy. The document also reviews federal funding mechanisms and the efforts of municipal governments and electric cooperatives to bridge the gap.

This policy brief examines the 'digital divide' in the United States, specifically the lack of high-speed internet access in rural and tribal communities. It details the socioeconomic and educational impacts of this divide, the role of broadband in enabling energy-efficiency technologies and precision agriculture, and the various federal, municipal, and cooperative initiatives aimed at expanding access.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines the state of 'climate jobs'—employment focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation—within the United States, detailing sector-specific employment numbers for 2020 and the potential for future growth through policy and investment.

This case study describes the Cooling as a Service (CaaS) model, a pay-per-service approach designed to deploy energy-efficient cooling technologies by removing upfront investment costs for customers and incentivizing providers to maintain high efficiency.

This guide explains that grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs) can reduce utility costs and greenhouse gas emissions by flexing energy loads based on grid price and carbon intensity. It identifies that buildings drive up to 80% of peak demand in the United States and lists low- and no-cost measures for GSA building managers, such as optimizing building operations, thermal mass, and lighting automation.

This fact sheet from the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) examines the state of 'climate jobs'—employment focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation—in the United States. It details employment figures across energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean transportation, and resilience sectors for 2020, noting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and projecting future growth opportunities linked to federal investment and policy changes.

This policy brief by RMI argues for the implementation of a strategic suite of refundable tax credits to decarbonize buildings in the United States. The authors contend that current tax provisions are insufficient to meet President Biden's climate goals and propose six specific tax credit modifications and additions to incentivize zero-carbon new construction, deep energy retrofits for existing buildings, and the scaling of clean heating and cooling manufacturing.

This briefing by the World Resources Institute analyzes the gaps between the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework and the original American Jobs Plan, arguing that the bipartisan deal omits critical climate, energy, and environmental spending necessary for the U.S. to meet its 2030 emissions targets.

This report by the NewClimate Institute examines the potential for Green Public Procurement (GPP) to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in public buildings by replacing conventional air conditioners with Green ACs, while identifying the financial, political, and technical barriers to adoption.

This discussion brief by the Stockholm Environment Institute examines the intersection of air pollution, gender inequality, social equity, and poverty in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). It highlights how socio-economic disadvantages increase exposure to pollutants and energy poverty, while noting that air pollution disproportionately affects vulnerable groups such as the elderly, children, and Roma populations. The document advocates for policy responses that address structural drivers of inequity, improve energy efficiency in social housing, and utilize disaggregated data to protect the most vulnerable.

This briefing by RMI outlines the requirements for the United States to meet its commitment to reduce carbon pollution by at least 50-52 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. It argues that immediate action is necessary to limit cumulative emissions and stay within a remaining "carbon budget" to restrict warming to 1.5°C. The document identifies renewables, electrification, and efficiency as the primary cost-effective levers for this transition, while highlighting co-benefits such as job creation, improved public health, and the redress of historical land-use inequities.

A case study on the economic transition of Wałbrzych, Poland, following the rapid closure of its coal mines in the mid-1990s. The document highlights how a lack of proactive planning led to severe unemployment and poverty, while later efforts through special economic zones and EU investments have provided a path toward recovery and a low-carbon economy.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on energy conservation and efficiency efforts in Indonesia. Based on a survey of 16 respondents, including facility managers and energy efficiency business actors, the study finds that while the pandemic negatively impacted business turnover and led to the postponement of planned efficiency projects, there is general optimism for recovery. The report emphasizes the need for government support through fiscal incentives, reduced loan interest, and the implementation of efficiency measures in state-owned facilities to drive a green economic recovery.

This report presents the results of a survey conducted by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) in collaboration with the Indonesian Energy Conservation and Efficiency Society (MASKEEI) to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on facility owners and energy efficiency service companies (ESCOs) in Indonesia.