Cozy Blog: Brown’s win. Look on the bright side
Brown's win could mean a greener jobs bill…the strange paradoxes of politics.
5million retrofits a year will change our paradigms
"The proposed HOME STAR program – popularly known as “Cash for Caulkers” – has the potential to jump-start the Home Performance industry from the current rate of about 250,000 home retrofits per year to 5.5 million retrofits in the next two years. This rapid growth in consumer demand would create hundreds of thousands of new Continue reading
Cozy Home to pursue BPI Accreditation
Congratulations to Gary Gronokowski, Cozy Home's newest BPI Certified Building Analyst, and Heating and Envelope Professional! (that's 3 certifications) Cozy Home Performance is committed to the 'home performance' model of building retrofitting. The Building Performance Institute (BPI) is the leading certification and accrediting organization in the nation. By employing the 'house as a system' model Continue reading
Mayor Higgins understands Green energy issues…does Bardsley?
missed the Northampton Mayoral debate focused on sustainability issues but quotes that I read afterwards has me optimistic about the direction Mayor Higgins is headed, and unconvinced that Michael Bardsley understands the current opportunities that are on the horizon regarding residential energy efficiency. Higgins should be given credit for hiring Chris Mason, Northampton's energy officer, Continue reading
Kerry and Lindsey Graham join efforts behind climate bill
Higher Hopes for Climate Bill- an unlikely duo may usher a bill through the Senate. Perhaps Efficiency First (http://www.efficiencyfirst.org/about/) galavanting around Capital Hill lobbying for a climate bill containing REEP - a federal incentive program to stimulate building retrofits- had something to do with this new exciting development ;) A new 'partnership' between Kerry and Continue reading
Sensical Municipal DER Financing
Finally creative financing for energy retrofits has reached the East coast. Babylon, NY is providing accessible financing for residents to install efficiency measures and renewable energy systems. The best part..... the loan is tied to the house, not the homeowner and is payed back through energy bill savings. “The homeowner then pays the money back Continue reading
Rebuilding America: A policy framework
Center for American Progress released an impressive report that describes how we can possibly meet carbon emission reduction targets in a practicle way. Retrofitting 40million to see 20-40% energy use reductions is possible with technology available today. What is needed are financing tools to help building owners invest in efficiency retrofits. The Climate bill currently Continue reading
The quest for Sustainable zoning changes in Northampton
The Zoning Revisions Committee is charged with recommending to the planning board zoning changes to support the Sustainable Northampton master plan adopted in January 2008. Sustainable Northampton, as a true comprehensive city plan, delicately walks a line as thin and convoluted as the overarching theme itself: Sustainability. In its effort to spell out and guide Continue reading
Is ‘Green’ bunk?
Third-Way, " the leading think tank for the moderate wing of the progressive movement," released a fascinating report about the semantics of the contemporary 'green movement', I mean 'environmental movement', I mean 'sustainability movement', I mean .....ahhhh help. The report based on focus group findings shows that the public is hungry for change in energy Continue reading
Renewables stealing the show?
I am repeatedly impressed with, and grateful to be a part of, the performance contracting industry group- Efficiency First. A recent article posted on the efficiency first blog, asks the important question: why is renewable energy receiving so many more financial incentives than energy efficiency. As Efficiency First president, Matt Golden puts it: "No matter Continue reading
