Energy efficiency

Carbon-free buildings

California halts building code updates in a blow to electrification

Local jurisdictions may still be able to adopt ambitious codes that help homes ditch gas and promote heat pumps under exceptions in the new law, AB 130.

By Alison F. Takemura . 4 August 2025
Utilities

North Carolina approves Duke Energy plan to let customers access their data

The new program, long in the making, has support from clean energy groups, but critics worry about fees and unattainable cybersecurity standards.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 1 August 2025
Clean energy

Rural North Carolina town forges ahead on clean energy, despite headwinds

Federal lawmakers are throwing a wrench in Enfield’s plans for solar, energy efficiency, and a resilience center. But local leaders refuse to give up.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 11 July 2025
Energy efficiency

Chicago program to light up dark streets is gateway to energy efficiency

MECRO outfits porches with LED lights that automatically turn on at dusk, helping residents feel safer — and showing them how to start lowering their energy bills.

By Audrey Henderson . 5 June 2025
Heat pumps

Electrifying this affordable housing complex made financial sense

In Sacramento, California, property owner BRIDGE Housing moved ahead with a heat-pump-plus retrofit designed to save both itself and its residents money.

By Alison F. Takemura . 30 May 2025
Carbon-free buildings

Why killing home-energy tax credits would be bad for the economy

House Republicans passed a budget bill that would axe consumer tax credits for energy efficiency, solar, and more, a move that could hurt consumers, jobs, and the grid.

By Alison F. Takemura . 22 May 2025
Energy efficiency

Has Maine learned how to make heat pumps lower electricity costs for all?

Heat pump adoption in the state has soared. Now a new state energy-efficiency plan aims to accelerate the trend to cut emissions and control power prices.

By Sarah Shemkus . 14 May 2025
Energy efficiency

Trump’s all-out war on energy efficiency

From targeting Energy Star to pausing more obscure rules, the Trump administration is derailing measures that help save money by reducing energy use.

By Alison F. Takemura . 12 May 2025
Energy efficiency

Louisiana kills energy-efficiency program in eleventh hour

Energy regulators voted along party lines to cancel the program. One official called it “a punch to the face to all Louisianians who are struggling to pay their bills.”

By Pam Radtke, Floodlight . 18 April 2025
Clean energy

The rural N.C. mayor betting big on clean energy to uplift his hometown

In one of the nation’s poorest towns, the mayor and others are planning to build a solar installation, a weatherization resource center, and a gleaming new resilience hub.

By Elizabeth Ouzts . 15 April 2025