Monthly Archives: December 2009

New Website to Bring Energy Technology Information to the Public

The Department of Energy is launching Open Energy Information (www.openEI.org) – a new open-source web platform that will make DOE resources and energy data widely available to the public. The data and tools contained on the free website will be … Continue reading

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Market for nonresidential green building retrofits will significantly grow

A new report from McGraw Hill Construction predicts the market for nonresidential green building retrofits will significantly grow. The growth represents a better opportunity for designers and builders involved with existing buildings than the new construction market.   The market for … Continue reading

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GSA and BIM

The US General Services Administration (GSA) began using building information modeling (BIM) in 2003.  As of 2007 the GSA was requiring basic models for all of their projects and encouraging models that incorporated energy performance and construction scheduling. Now the … Continue reading

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ASHRAE Certifying Energy Modelers

Beginning in January 2010, building energy modelers will be able to take an exam and become certified. The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), together with the International Building Performance Simulation Association and the Illuminating Engineering Society … Continue reading

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Green building to support 7.9 million US jobs

A US Green Building Council study by Booz Allen Hamilton suggests that green building will support 7.9 million US jobs and create $554 billion into the American economy through 2013.  the study determined that green construction spending currently supports more … Continue reading

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Senators are considering removing the climate legislation

Senator Bingaman, chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and some other Senators are considering removing the climate legislation (ex. Cap and trade language) from the Climate Bill in order to make it a bill related only to energy. … Continue reading

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US establishes target for Greenhouse Gas Emissions

President Obama is offering a US target for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the range of 17% below 2005 levels by 2020.  That target is consistent with legislation that passed in the House of Representatives, but differs from the Senate … Continue reading

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DOE Releases new software

The DOE released an updated version of the EnergyPlus simulation software for modeling HVAC and other building energy flows.   DOE also released OpenStudio plug-in software for Google’s SketchUp program. EnergyPlus 4.0 includes two new application guides: “Energy Management System Application … Continue reading

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Boost in Energy Efficiency Program

Energy Secretary Chu has announced that the DOE is awarding more than $185 million in funding under the ARRA for over 40 industrial energy efficiency projects.  Those awards are for heat and power systems, district energy systems, and grants to … Continue reading

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