Comments on: Building Efficiency will be BIGGER than Solar in Mass – Part 2

By: EVENT: Energy Effiency – Why is the Low Hanging Fruit so High? — The Green Light Distrikt

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 12:35:17 +0000

[...] efficiency. Business owners know it, property owners knows it, and the state governments know it. Massachusetts is putting more then $600 million into energy efficiency in the short terms, that more then 3 TIMES the amount that will go into renewable energy [...]

By: Brian Hayden

Brian Hayden — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:18:41 +0000

The Green Guild did a 'tupperware party' style energy audit at my house and I invited all of my friends and neighbors to participate. It was a fun way to bring people together, spread a lot of quality information, and give people a reason to engage in the conversation (plus, I got my audit for free). Churches and other community organizations are built-in networks that represent an existing infrastructure for this kind of thing. They're definitely key players.

I love the conservation corps idea too. Maybe HEET, and other similar groups could be the model for how to roll that out?

By: Brian Hayden

Brian Hayden — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 01:18:41 +0000

I love the conservation corps idea too. Maybe HEET, and other similar groups could be the model for how to roll that out?

By: Chris Williams

Chris Williams — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:21:35 +0000

Chris, you bring up some interesting points. Its funny that you mentioned bring in community organizations. A couple weeks ago I recorded a conversation at Green Drinks of Chuck Levin of New Generation Energy where he talked about what was and was not working in energy efficiency and he mentions using these groups. You can see part 1 here: http://thegreenlightdistrikt.com/2010/01/12/vid... and part two here: http://thegreenlightdistrikt.com/2010/01/18/vid...

I also like the idea of the conservation corps. There is so much work and education that's needed. If the government would pay existing experts MORE to teach others then to perform audits the information would flow much faster. What do you think about this idea?

Alex,

I like the idea, there are many concepts such as Wattzy coming on line. Have you heard of energy savvy? Also there's a local company called Green Guild that is developing an IT product for energy auditors to make their job easier. As your Boston based, I'd love to profile you when you launch?

By: Alex Patriquin

Alex Patriquin — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:28:50 +0000

Hey Brian,

This is something I've been keeping my eye on for a little while. Wattzy (http://www.wattzy.com), my company, will be motivating residential building owners (and renters) to embrace energy efficiency through online collaboration and competition.

We're launching next week. If anyone would like an invitation to Wattzy, please email me at alex at wattzy dot com.

Thanks,

Alex

By: Tweets that mention Building Efficiency will be BIGGER than Solar in Mass – Part 2 — The Green Light Distrikt -- Topsy.com

Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:42:59 +0000

[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by AltEnergy Randy C and Christopher Williams, Chris Williams. Chris Williams said: Building Efficiency will be BIGGER than Solar Industry in Mass Part 2 http://bit.ly/9TD2yp [...]

By: Chris Yates

Chris Yates — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 16:06:54 +0000

Since just reducing long term cost seems to be insufficient motivation in our current economic culture, other incentives would be necessary. A carbon tax seems appropriate but would have no chance to pass all but the most progressive legislature. So tax break incentives are the most immediate motivators for business and home owners.
However, grants for community based groups that assist economically challenged households to retrofit energy efficiency measures could be enabling. Community organizations – like churches, rotary, youth organizations – might also be recruited to begin nurturing energy efficiency awareness and possibly create some peer pressure on more economically able parishioners/members. I can envision an energy audit and implementation merit badge.
Due to the limited number of qualified personnel, these experts might be better utilized if they led community groups, hands-on seminars and gave classes, sowing the experience as broadly as possible, especially targeting the most cost effective strategies.
Another possible scenario would be like the conservation corps of the 1930's. Use the expertise we have on hand to train and lead the conservation corp made up of unemployed and other interested individuals to go out there and upgrade at reduced or no costs. Start with lower income and small businesses, these maybe some of the people most in need and be in buildings with the most need of retrofit.