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The report identifies that the Leeds City Region must reduce housing-related CO2e emissions by 38 million tonnes by 2026 to align with national 2050 targets. The most impactful measure is the major retrofit of existing homes, which could provide 53.2% of the required reduction. Other essential measures include behavioural change (22%), low and zero carbon technologies (12.4%), and stricter new build standards (9%). The study concludes that a combination of these measures, supplemented by either external wall insulation, additional LZC installations, or selective demolition and rebuild of inefficient properties, is necessary to meet the target.

The document outlines three primary methods for companies to obtain green power: retail green power programs, renewable energy certificates (RECs), and on-site generation. It provides a business case for the transition, focusing on GHG reduction, stakeholder relations, and cost stability. The guide also details procurement strategies to minimize premiums, such as energy efficiency upgrades and demand aggregation, and explains the methodology for accounting for carbon benefits in corporate GHG inventories using e-GRID emission factors.

The document describes photovoltaic (PV) systems as semiconductor-based technology that converts sunlight into electricity. It highlights that PV is viable across most of the United States, with the potential for a 90-mile square station to meet the country's peak demand. Key benefits include the prevention of greenhouse gas emissions, the creation of high-technology jobs, and increased domestic energy security. While utility-scale costs range from $0.20 to $0.30 per kWh, the document notes that high upfront capital costs and intermittent power remain primary issues, though these can be mitigated by battery storage and utility-scale experimentation projects.

The consultation focused on three primary policy areas: energy and the environment, chemicals management, and tourism and the environment. Participants discussed the role of civil society in engaging with UNEP and worked in parallel groups to draft recommendations for a North American Regional Civil Society Statement. The meeting also served to elect representatives for a global drafting session in Bahrain and the Global Civil Society Forum in Dubai.

The document highlights several green building projects that achieved significant energy savings and financial gains. Examples include the Sydney 2000 Olympic Village with its large-scale integrated photovoltaics, Village Homes in California which reduced household bills by one-half to one-third, and the Condé-Nast Building in New York, the first large-scale speculative green office building in the US. These projects demonstrate that sustainable design—such as passive heating/cooling, ground-source heat pumps, and efficient land use—can lead to higher property values, lower operating costs, and increased market demand.

The report evaluates the use of solar PV, wind, mini-hydro, and biomass for rural electrification in developing countries, concluding that technology choice must be driven by local needs and productive use. It highlights that while solar PV is best for low loads, biomass and mini-hydro support more significant economic activities. The document argues that donor agencies should prioritize projects based on poverty alleviation and productive electricity use, support national energy policies, and accept higher risks for technology adaptation and workforce development.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analyzed the potential effects of Colorado's Amendment 37, which would require the state's largest electric companies to increase renewable energy use to 10 percent of sales by 2015. Under the most likely scenario, the report projects that the initiative would result in $236 million in consumer savings on electricity and natural gas bills, the creation of 2,000 new jobs by 2020, and a reduction of 3 million metric tons of annual CO2 emissions by 2025. The analysis highlights that wind resources would drive most of the development, providing significant capital investment and tax revenues for rural communities.

The document analyzes power sector reforms in East and Southern Africa, arguing that current commercialization and privatization efforts often exclude the poor. Through case studies of Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, it highlights how high connection costs, restrictive lending terms for local entrepreneurs, and a lack of integrated public-benefit policies hinder rural electrification and urban energy access.

The report evaluates a 'Power Switch' scenario for Japan's power sector, which emphasizes renewable energy, natural gas substitution for coal, energy efficiency, and a gradual nuclear phase-out. Compared to a Business As Usual (BAU) scenario, the Power Switch approach could reduce 2020 GHG emissions by 31%, avoiding nearly 2.0 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent between 2000 and 2020. The net cost of this transition is estimated at 1.1 trillion yen over the period, or 850 JPY per tonne of CO2 equivalent, largely offset by reduced fuel import costs.

The report evaluates U.S. state commitments to renewable energy, finding that while technical potential is vast, most states lack binding policies. It grades states based on renewable electricity standards (RES) and funds, noting that a small number of states, led by California and Nevada, drive most projected gains, while 34 states received failing grades. The authors argue for a national renewable electricity standard to ensure equitable and cost-effective growth.

The report examines the significant water demands of fossil fuel power plants in the Interior West, highlighting the environmental risks of cooling systems and the potential for water savings through dry cooling, energy efficiency, and renewables.

The document argues that reducing environmental impact requires a shift from selling products to providing services, alongside a massive transition to renewable energy and energy-efficient technologies. It outlines 'eco-design' principles and specific energy options—such as combined heat and power, hybrid engines, and various renewables—while encouraging science and engineering graduates to seek employers committed to reducing life-cycle impacts.

The report evaluates three energy scenarios for San Francisco: 'Central Generation', 'More Imports', and 'Distributed Resources'. It compares these paths based on capital and operating costs, electricity supply reliability, environmental impacts, and local economic development. The analysis finds that while all scenarios can ensure reliability and allow the closure of the Hunter's Point Power Station, only the 'Distributed Resources' scenario significantly reduces CO2 emissions and promotes environmental equity. The 'Central Generation' path is identified as potentially the least expensive but carries risks related to market power and higher in-city emissions.

The guide defines green building as a holistic approach to design and construction that optimizes the relationship between a building, its site, and the local climate to reduce resource use. It emphasizes that integrated design—where interdisciplinary teams collaborate early in the process—allows for the downsizing of mechanical systems and the reduction of both capital and operating costs. The text highlights the significant environmental impact of the built environment in the U.S. and suggests that existing technologies can drastically improve resource efficiency. Key strategies discussed include optimizing building orientation, improving the building envelope to manage heat transfer, utilizing daylighting and renewable energy, and implementing rigorous waste reduction and third-party commissioning practices.

The Union of Concerned Scientists identifies seven policy tools—Renewables Portfolio Standards, public benefits funding, net metering, fair transmission/distribution rules, fair pollution rules, consumer information, and green customer demand—to transition the US to renewable energy. It argues that deregulation risks favoring fossil fuels unless these mechanisms internalize the public benefits of renewables and remove market barriers.

The report examines a shift in Tanzania's rural electrification strategy from a centralized utility model (TANESCO) to locally managed cooperatives. It focuses on the Urambo Electric Consumers Co-operative Society (UECCO), which took over a diesel-powered system in 1993. Key findings indicate that while local management improved service reliability and financial performance compared to TANESCO's isolated branches, the cooperative struggled with high fuel costs, inadequate bookkeeping, and the need for high tariffs to ensure sustainability. The report also evaluates the use of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) and photovoltaic (PV) systems, concluding that CFLs and fluorescent tubes are more cost-effective than incandescent bulbs, while individual PV systems are generally more expensive than centralized diesel supply unless the latter is severely under-utilized.

The report advocates for a "whole buildings" approach, treating buildings as integrated systems rather than collections of components. It highlights the significant energy and environmental impact of the US buildings sector and argues that federal R&D is currently too fragmented and underfunded to realize the potential benefits of systems integration. The author proposes five policy criteria: establishing the whole building framework as a cornerstone of policy, funding collaborative R&D, supporting verification efforts, embracing education, and stimulating market demand.

The report evaluates local management of rural electrification in Bolivia, India, and Nepal, concluding that it is a feasible approach in developing countries that can lower costs and accelerate load development. Key findings highlight that success depends heavily on local willingness, clear national policies, and initial technical and financial assistance. While some co-operatives in Bolivia failed due to poor management and restrictive profit laws, others, like CRE in Santa Cruz, thrived by serving both urban and rural loads. In India, co-operatives showed higher electrification rates than state-run schemes, though they struggled with top-down control and fixed tariffs. In Nepal, micro-hydro projects managed by local committees or shareholder companies proved effective in remote areas, often supported by international NGOs.

The author outlines twelve fundamental transitions in electricity efficiency, moving from fragmented equipment upgrades to integrated, whole-system optimization. He argues that 'negawatts' (saved electricity) are often cheaper than new generation and that market failures currently penalize efficiency. The paper proposes eight improvements to make efficiency programs more cost-effective and critiques the concept of 'retail wheeling' as a distraction from the more significant shift toward wholesale competition and decentralized generation via fuel cells and superflywheels.

The analysis finds that meeting 1.5°C targets in the EU will require massive quantities of steel, concrete, and glass, with cumulative emissions from material production reaching approximately 1.5 Gt CO2 by 2050. The authors argue that without decarbonising the upstream manufacturing of these materials via carbon capture and low-carbon hydrogen, the climate benefits of renewable energy deployment will be significantly constrained.