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The document examines the intersection of land use and energy efficiency, proposing a framework based on 'how' and 'where' we build to reduce fossil fuel dependence. It advocates for 'energy smart' growth, which combines compact, mixed-use development with green building standards and renewable energy. The author provides recommendations for funders to support this merger through research, integrated planning tools, policy incentives, and innovative financing like location-efficient mortgages.

The document compares the impacts of the SEER 13 and SEER 12 energy efficiency standards for central air conditioning units in the U.S. It asserts that SEER 13 provides significantly greater energy savings, lower carbon emissions, and reduced power plant construction compared to SEER 12, while dismissing claims that the higher standard imposes prohibitive costs or size constraints on consumers and manufacturers.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) calls for a decisive U.S. energy policy to address global warming, urban air pollution, and economic competitiveness. The primary recommendation is to prioritize energy efficiency through tax strategies, such as a carbon dioxide tax and phased-in gasoline taxes, and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies. The report also advocates for stimulating renewable energy sources, halting deforestation, and leading international efforts to limit greenhouse gas emissions, including a total phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs).

Fort Collins Utilities transitioned from the Home Efficiency Loan Program (HELP) to the more comprehensive Epic Homes program in 2018. Epic Homes provides low-interest loans up to $25,000 for energy efficiency retrofits, rooftop solar PV, and water conservation, with repayments integrated into monthly utility bills. The program leverages partnerships with entities like the Colorado Clean Energy Fund and Vectra Bank to secure long-term capital, specifically targeting low- and medium-income households and rental properties to improve health and equity.

The document describes distributed solar as small arrays that power the buildings they are attached to, noting that while PV costs have dropped by over 60 percent in the last decade, high upfront costs still limit adoption. It argues that on-bill financing (OBF) promotes equity by removing barriers like credit and capital access, allowing families and businesses to install solar with no upfront costs and integrate repayments into their utility bills.

On-bill financing allows participants to make monthly repayments for energy upgrades through their existing utility bills. The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) advocates for program designs that prioritize equity and accessibility for households typically excluded from energy efficiency initiatives. Beyond energy efficiency, these programs can be applied to distributed solar, community solar, and battery storage.

The guide outlines capital sources for municipal on-bill financing, including internal utility reserves, public funding, private lending, and bond issuance. It details risk management tools such as Loan Loss Reserves, loan guarantees, and subordinated capital to reduce borrowing costs and protect lenders from borrower defaults.

The document details three community solar initiatives in Colorado, Iowa, and Minnesota. Grand Valley Power Cooperative developed a self-funded 17 kW array and a 24 kW low-income project with Grid Alternatives. Cedar Falls Utilities launched a 1.5 MW 'Simple Solar' program using a power purchasing agreement. Lake Region Electric Cooperative built a 25 kW array. All three utilized on-bill financing—adding lease payments to monthly utility bills—to remove upfront cost barriers, often substituting credit checks with utility payment history to expand eligibility.

EESI identifies systemic barriers, structural racism, and economic inequality as inextricably linked to environmental and energy issues. The organization has adopted a board resolution establishing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion as core values to guide its technical assistance, policy work, and communications.

The City of Holland, Michigan, established the Holland On-Bill Loan Program in 2016 to help residents overcome high initial costs for energy efficiency upgrades. Managed by the Holland Energy Fund, the program allows homeowners to borrow between $5,000 and $30,000, with repayments integrated into their monthly electric utility bills. In its first three years, the program invested over $2 million into 116 homes. Eligible improvements must be based on a whole-home energy audit and documented in the Michigan Energy Measures Database, with renewable energy upgrades permitted only after a home achieves a Home Energy Score of eight.

The Green Energy Money $aver (GEM$) program, launched in April 2019 by the Hawaii Green Infrastructure Authority (HGIA), provides on-bill financing for clean energy upgrades to approximately 95 percent of Hawaii's population via Hawaiian Electric Companies (HECO) customers. The program targets low-to-medium income (LMI) households—specifically those earning less than 140 percent of the area median income—to democratize access to solar PV and energy efficiency measures. By tying repayment to the utility meter rather than the individual, GEM$ allows for repayment terms up to 20 years and enables the transfer of obligations between tenants or owners, overcoming the rental split incentive. In its first nine months, the program funded $6.6 million in solar PV projects, with 78 percent benefiting LMI customers, resulting in 1.6 megawatts of installed capacity and 12,000 metric tons of projected avoided greenhouse gases. The program is funded by the Green Energy Market Securitization (GEMS) program and is the first of its kind operated by a green bank.

A letter dated June 12, 2012, from several members of Congress to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Agriculture, urging the renewal of core energy title programs in the upcoming Farm Bill to support rural economic development and energy security.

The Help My House (HMH) Loan Pilot Program provided on-bill financing (OBF) for energy efficiency upgrades in 125 homes across South Carolina. The program demonstrated that low-interest loans tied to the electric meter could significantly reduce residential electricity use and costs while maintaining high member satisfaction. On average, participating homes reduced electricity use by 34%, with an average annual savings of nearly 11,000 kWh. The pilot's financial model showed that energy savings exceeded loan repayments, providing participants with immediate annual net savings and long-term financial benefits.

The briefing advocates for the co-design of high-octane fuels and vehicle engines to improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. transportation sector. It highlights the role of ethanol as a cost-effective octane source and details infrastructure progress, such as UL certification for E25 and testing for E30 and E40. The document also identifies eight bio-blendstocks from the DOE's Co-Optima initiative for further evaluation and notes engine testing conducted by Oak Ridge National Lab and industry partners.

The briefing highlights the risks associated with the accelerating shutdown of the U.S. civilian nuclear fleet, specifically criticizing the role of private decommissioning companies like Holtec and NorthStar. It argues that these firms prioritize profit by dismantling plants quickly and using inadequate dry storage canisters for spent nuclear fuel. The document warns that the push for consolidated interim storage (CIS) sites in New Mexico and Texas is a dangerous substitute for a permanent geologic repository, potentially leading to thousands of hazardous waste shipments across 43 states and the District of Columbia. It calls for a science-based national plan and stricter NRC regulation to ensure long-term waste stewardship and public safety.

The document describes renewable natural gas (RNG) as a carbon-neutral fuel derived from biomass, landfills, and wastewater treatment. It asserts that RNG is a versatile resource available in every US state, capable of meeting 4-10% of natural gas demand and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by up to 146 million tons of CO2 annually. The briefing emphasizes that RNG is compatible with existing pipeline infrastructure and could create up to 250,000 jobs, while advocating for its inclusion in the federal investment tax credit to ensure a level playing field with other renewables.

The report provides a comprehensive list of public laws from 2017 to 2022 that address climate adaptation, focusing heavily on national security, disaster relief, and infrastructure resilience. Key legislative trends include the integration of climate risk into Department of Defense (DoD) planning, the expansion of pre-disaster mitigation funding through the Disaster Recovery Reform Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and targeted conservation efforts for forests, wetlands, and the Arctic. The document details specific mandates for flood mapping, sea-level rise projections for military installations, and the creation of specialized funds for community resilience and drought management.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) submitted comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding the proposed Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) and model trading rules for greenhouse gas emissions from electric utility generating units. EESI advocates for a more holistic approach that gives equal weight to biomass, combined heat and power (CHP), and demand-side energy efficiency alongside other renewables. The organization also emphasizes the need to protect environmental justice communities from pollution 'hot spots' created by trading schemes and suggests improvements to the Clean Energy Investment Program (CEIP) to better support low-income housing and energy retrofits.

The PREPARE Act seeks to institutionalize government-wide resilience and risk management through the codification of an interagency council and the establishment of regional coordination plans. The legislation is supported by a broad coalition of 23 cosponsors and numerous endorsing organizations spanning environmental, business, and insurance sectors.

The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) highlights the commitment of over 50 state and local leaders and private sector representatives to science-based climate action at COP30, while criticizing the absence of U.S. Congressional delegations due to a government shutdown. EESI notes that only Senator Sheldon Whitehouse attended as a federal official and emphasizes that the Brazil Presidency's Action Agenda successfully linked international decisions to ground-level solutions.