EnergyPrint strives to educate and share best practices about the value of utility data insights and energy benchmarking. Industry Highlights is a monthly roundup of trending news from our social media feeds related to energy efficiency, utilities, legislative action, savings tips and more. Here’s a quick recap on a few of the most popular industry stories we shared with our readers and followers last month.
Energy efficiency supports 1.9 million US jobs, largest industry in clean energy economy
Energy efficiency is the largest sector within the clean energy economy, and accounts for three in four of its jobs, according to a recent report. E4TheFuture and Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2) released a study showing that energy efficiency currently provides nearly 1.9 million jobs nationwide, and that it employs about twice as many workers as the auto industry. The full report, “Energy Efficiency Jobs in America,” is a comprehensive analysis of energy efficiency employment across all 50 states.
New online tool helps building owners find financing resources for energy savings projects
The U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) recently introduced the Better Buildings Financing Navigator to help building professionals overcome the financial barriers that often interfere with pursuing energy efficiency projects. The new, online tool connects building owners, managers and other key decision-makers with financial resources that fit their specific needs. The Financing Navigator is available to both private and public sector organizations, and covers efficiency projects of all sizes in all non-residential building types.
Minnesota suburbs take the lead on energy efficiency, sustainability efforts
Local communities are currently leading the charge on energy efficiency efforts in EnergyPrint’s home state of Minnesota. Residents, businesses and local governments across Twin Cities’ suburbs are showing a raised awareness around sustainability efforts, which have included everything from replacing streetlights with LED lights to adopting citywide energy action plans. Suburbs tend to be large consumers of energy, and currently make up a major portion of Minnesota’s carbon footprint.