GE to Pilot Energy Efficiency Technology in Homes...

General Electric is teaming with utilities for a $5 million program to evaluate whether energy savings in homes is possible using smart appliances and renewable resources to make homes 30% more efficient. The program, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), will be deployed at houses in the western U.S. that will incude a combination of retrofit and new construction. The DOE’s goal is to reduce energy use by...

When Peer Pressure Is A Good Thing...

We’ve arrived at the last key finding in Accenture’s survey (http://bit.ly/9zMTSh) of consumers’ responses to smart metering programs. We’ve looked at the first four findings in recent weeks (http://bit.ly/am8rmy, http://bit.ly/dub9wE, http://bit.ly/b7UpOK, http://bit.ly/bLOjsC). Key Finding #5: Adoption of electricity management programs is influenced by fragmented and non-traditional consumer preferences. When we...

Energy Savings Elude Americans...

In a new study from Columbia University, Ohio State University and Carnegie Mellon University, 505 Craigslist participants were asked to estimate the most effective measures to improve energy efficiency. Most of the responses were found to be similar to the way we generally think about saving money: Reducing use equals reducing cost. But in terms of energy efficiency, it’s a little more complicated. What’s...

Stimulus Green for Energy Efficiency at Standstill...

We’re all feeling the results of the recession, but intended relief was on the way when it came to energy efficiency. Last year Congress implemented a $3.2 billion economic stimulus package to provide jobs and improve the nation’s efficiency standard. According to an audit by the inspector general of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), a mere 8.4 percent of the stimulus funds have been deployed. The program was...

Communicating Energy Efficiency...

In recent years, Accenture has studied smart metering programs and consumers’ responses to these initiatives. Today we’re looking at the fourth key finding in the global consultant’s comprehensive survey, “Understanding Consumer Preferences in Energy Efficiency” (http://bit.ly/9zMTSh). Channels and contact points for utilities/electricity providers to communicate with consumers are diverse.   Here’s where we...