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This document outlines the methodology used by RMI to estimate the state-level benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), focusing on funding flows from tax credits, rebates, grants, and loans, as well as public health and jobs co-benefits.

This appendix details the methodology and results of a study conducted by OTS R&D, Inc. between August and December 2025 to evaluate the short-term performance of heat pump systems using virgin, reclaimed, and recovered R-410A refrigerants. The study found no statistically significant performance penalty when using reclaimed refrigerant that meets AHRI 700 purity standards.

The Reinventing Fire (RF) transportation analysis outlines a methodology to estimate the techno-economic potential for efficiency gains in the U.S. transportation sector from 2010 to 2050. The report details modeling approaches for four subsectors—autos, heavy trucks, airplanes, and remaining sectors—focusing on 'Improved Design' and 'Improved Use' pathways to reduce fossil fuel consumption. It also includes a model for biofuel supply and cost, and calculates the overall societal net present value of these transitions.

This research paper by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) investigates the relationship between vehicle weight and safety, challenging the perception that lighter vehicles are inherently more dangerous. Using a virtually modeled ultralight concept vehicle (the 'UltraLight') compared against a 2007 Ford Edge, the study demonstrates that while an unoptimized ultralight design may offer less protection to its own driver, it is significantly less aggressive toward other road users and can be improved through iterative design without adding mass.

This research paper by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) analyzes the gap in industrial electric productivity across the United States. It argues that while exogenous factors like electricity prices and state incentives play a role, the primary constraints are internal business barriers. By addressing these barriers through holistic design and policy support, the U.S. industrial sector could save 300,000 GWh annually.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) examines the inefficiencies within the U.S. heavy-duty trucking industry, specifically Class 7 and 8 trucks. It identifies a fragmented value chain and cultural barriers as primary obstacles to efficiency, while asserting that existing technology could double trucking efficiency through improvements in platform, operations, and regulation.

The document, titled "The Origins of the Nuclear Power Fiasco," is a critical analysis of the failure of the U.S. civilian nuclear power industry. It argues that the industry collapsed due to a combination of structural and conceptual errors, including the promotion of economic myths, a failure to account for the real costs of safety and waste management, and a federal energy policy that prioritized hardware development over energy efficiency and market reality.

Amory Lovins responds to a critique by William Tucker regarding the economic viability of nuclear power, asserting that new U.S. reactors lack a business case and are unable to attract private capital despite significant subsidies.

This statement by Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) responds to a Wall Street Journal op-ed by RADM Robert G. James, defending the U.S. Department of Defense's (DoD) pursuit of energy efficiency and renewable energy as a matter of national security and combat effectiveness.

The Reinventing Fire industry model methodology outlines a stock-flow framework used to simulate the financial and energy implications of transitioning the U.S. industrial sector from coal and oil to cleaner alternatives by 2050, utilizing AEO 2010 data and LBNL efficiency metrics.

This pre-read document, authored by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), provides a comprehensive overview of the building energy modeling (BEM) industry in the United States to prepare attendees for the BEM Innovation Summit. It details the history of BEM, identifies systemic barriers to quality and credibility, analyzes the current state of simulation tools and practitioner training, and explores market drivers such as LEED certification and federal energy regulations.

This research paper by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and PG&E examines the challenges and opportunities presented by the rise of zero net energy (ZNE) buildings and distributed energy resources (DERs). It argues that traditional utility business models and volumetric rate structures are poorly adapted to a bidirectional power system, potentially leading to economic inefficiencies and equity issues. The authors propose a framework for solutions based on rigorous impact measurement, the use of price signals to align incentives, and the evolution of utility business models toward either incentive-based regulation or a network utility model.

This briefing by RMI outlines the technical, economic, and institutional barriers to the widespread adoption of carbon fiber composites in the U.S. automotive industry. It proposes a collaborative approach to transition from individual part substitution to full composite body-in-white construction to improve fuel efficiency and reduce oil dependence.

This document is a rebuttal by Amory B. Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) to an article and subsequent response by Charles C. Mann in The Atlantic. Lovins argues that Mann ignores the role of efficiency and technological innovation in reducing oil demand and misrepresents the reliability and economic viability of renewable energy, specifically in Germany.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) examines how traditional building project delivery methods hinder sustainability and proposes that specific contracting stipulations, particularly through Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), can overcome these barriers to improve energy efficiency and project outcomes.

This executive summary reports on a workshop held on April 2, 2014, convened by the General Services Administration (GSA), the Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI). The workshop aimed to review the National Deep Energy Retrofit (NDER) program and collaborate with energy service companies (ESCOs) to increase energy savings in federal buildings through energy saving performance contracts (ESPCs).

This report outlines the risks and needs of low-income (LI) and fixed-income (FI) electricity customers during the transition to a distributed energy resource (DER) and renewable electricity system. It identifies financial and social concerns, maps existing and unmet needs, and examines case studies to determine how these segments can be equitably integrated into a high-DER future.

The document argues that the U.S. transportation sector can move entirely off oil by 2050 through a strategy of 'ultralighting first' followed by electrification. By reducing tractive load (mass and drag), vehicles can achieve order-of-magnitude efficiency gains, making batteries and fuel cells more affordable. This approach, combined with productivity improvements in logistics and urban design, could save trillions of dollars and significantly reduce global carbon emissions.

The research paper "SENSE AND RESPONSE: A BIOCLIMATIC DIALOGUE OF PLACE" by Victor Olgyay explores the evolution of human interaction with the environment, from preindustrial symbiotic relationships to the ecological degradation caused by industrialization. The author advocates for a "performance based" regionalism in architecture that moves beyond reducing negative impacts toward a restorative approach, where buildings function as "ecological utilities" that actively provide ecosystem services and repair degraded landscapes.

In this commentary to Nathan Gardels, Amory Lovins discusses the unintended consequences and existential risks associated with four powerful technologies: nuclear fission, genetic manipulation, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence. Lovins argues that the pursuit of technological possibility without wisdom or feedback mechanisms poses a grave threat to humanity and suggests that safer, more biologically informed alternatives often exist.