ACEEE

Trump’s Forgotten Funding Freeze More than $760 million from the Inflation Reduction Act’s Green and Resilient Retrofit Program is still caught in legal limbo — but no one seems to have noticed.

"Some 100 low-income housing providers that won more than $760 million in grants and loans from the IRA’s Green and Resilient Retrofit Program to make critical safety and energy upgrades to their buildings are still in limbo."

@emilypont.bsky.social on Trump's green housing funding freeze ⬇️

US aluminum producers need cheap, clean power. That may be tough to… Century Aluminum and Emirates Global Aluminium want to build the nation’s first smelters in decades, but must compete with data centers for a limited…

It’s getting harder to secure clean power. That’s a problem for aluminum producers looking to build two new smelters in the U.S. From @mariagallucci.bsky.social:

EPA Car & Truck Pollution Standards Rollback Would Raise Costs Proposed rule would dramatically increase climate pollution and harms to human health

The EPA's proposal to repeal emissions standards for cars and trucks "isn’t just bad for our health and the climate, it’s going to drive up costs for families and businesses."

More on the proposal⤵️

EPA Car & Truck Pollution Standards Rollback Would Raise Costs Proposed rule would dramatically increase climate pollution and harms to human health

“Gutting vehicle pollution standards isn’t just bad for our health and the climate, it’s going to drive up costs for families and businesses,” said ACEEE's Peter Huether about the EPA proposal to repeal emissions standards for cars and trucks.

Energy Efficiency Day is on October 1st this year!

Energy efficiency helps us save money 💰, cut pollution 🏭, and create jobs 👷‍️.

It's a win-win-win. How will you celebrate EEday this year?
energyefficiencyday.org

Home Energy Ratings Help Avoid Costly Utility Bill Surprises New paper reviews rating programs and makes recommendations to those interested in adopting similar policies

People purchasing a home usually have little information on one of its largest costs: annual energy bills.

Our new paper explores how home energy ratings can help change that! It also includes case studies on three of the most extensive ratings programs.

ACEEE Names 2025 Champions of Energy Efficiency in Industry These individuals are recognized for their accomplishments helping improve energy efficiency in the industrial sector

The 2025 Champions of Energy Efficiency in Industry results are out!

The categories this year are:
🏆Lifetime Achievement
🏭Industrial Leadership
📖Research & Development
⚡Energy Policy
⚙️️Implementation & Deployment
👩‍💼Young Professional

Improving Home Energy Upgrades: Insights from Households and Industry Join us for a webinar on the perspectives of households and the construction industry on energy retrofits

A new analysis finds significant differences in how households and the construction industry view energy upgrades.

Join @beccconference.bsky.social for a webinar on July 29 at 2:30pm ET to learn how understanding their different priorities can help us drive greater benefits for all involved.

Window Heat Pumps Could Change the Game A new report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy has some exciting data for anyone attempting to retrofit a multifamily building.

NYC experimented with new window heat pump models in some public housing units. in winter, "The window unit-heated apartments used a whopping 87% less energy than the rest of the building’s steam-heated apartments did, cutting energy costs per household in half."

heatmap.news/sustainabili...

New Heat Pump: Lowest-Cost Way to Decarbonize Big Apartment Buildings New study analyzes upfront and operating costs over 24 years, finding that these heat pumps are the least expensive

Large multifamily buildings with central heating systems that burn fossil fuels are among the hardest to decarbonize, but a new type of heat pump provides a lower-cost option than any previous technology!

Learn more⤵️
www.aceee.org/press-releas...

Why Aren’t We Repurposing More EV Batteries? Repurposing used EV battery packs can lower costs, but the U.S. lacks battery repurposing standards

When an #EV reaches the end of its life, its battery often still has upwards of 80% of its original capacity.

So why aren't we repurposing these batteries for use in homes and businesses?

Taking away incentives for energy-saving improvements will raise monthly bills for families and businesses. It will only exacerbate the growing strain on the electric grid.

Congress’s Megabill Would Raise Energy Costs, Strain Electric Grid The sweeping tax and domestic policy bill would terminate numerous energy efficiency programs and incentives

“The bill will raise energy costs and make it harder to keep the lights on,” said ACEEE's Steven Nadel about the Senate passing Trump's megabill.

Weatherization Blocked by Repair Needs in a Fifth of Eligible Homes New research finds 7,000 homes a year are denied from federally funded weatherization program that cuts energy bills

The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) helps income-eligible households reduce energy costs by improving home energy efficiency.

A new study looking at the program found that nearly ⅕ of homes audited for WAP are deferred because needed repairs. More⬇️

2025 Energy Efficiency as a Resource Join us in Denver, Colorado to explore how we can build the utility system of the future

Registration for the 2025 Energy Efficiency as a Resource conference is open!

Register today and join us in #Denver, #Colorado to explore policies and programs that help reduce energy waste as we build the utility system of the future.

New poll: the public heavily supports providing consumers information about efficient appliances. The ENERGY STAR program -- now at risk of termination -- does exactly that. apnorc.org/projects/dec...

Sigh. @nytwirecutter.bsky.social has a piece up blaming federal efficiency standards for the lower lifetime of today's appliances. They cite no data or studies, notably omit contrary studies, & *aren't even right about the central claim that appliances don't last as long*.

Senate Bid to End Efficiency Tax Credits Would Raise Bills Credits that reduce daily costs for American households and businesses would be terminated.

The Senate's tax plan is out:
▪️terminate energy efficiency tax credits
▪️raise bills for families and businesses

‪@usrepkathycastor.bsky.social cited an @aceee.org analysis on the impacts of the DOE @energygov.bsky.social industrial demonstrations program at a hearing with Energy Secretary Chris Wright this week.

The third gathering of the Women in Energy Efficiency Breakfast is next month at #SummerStudyIndustry25! It’s the place to be for women in industry to meet, discuss their experiences, and network. Join us in Charlotte: www.aceee.org/2025-summer-...

How the little-known ‘dark roof’ lobby may be making US cities hotter As cities heat up, reflective roofs could lower energy bills and help the climate. But dark-roofing manufacturers are waging a quiet campaign to block new rules

Reflective roofs save energy, lower utility bills, and cut pollution. ACEEE is part of the Smart Surfaces Coalition, seeking policies to reduce urban heat. With temperatures rising, we need evidence-based policies, not dark-roof denial.

www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Trump’s DOE Cancels Billions in Funding for Projects in Red States The Department of Energy withdrew more than $3.7 billion in funding for manufacturing projects across the U.S.

The Industrial Demonstrations Program could have been a centerpiece of achieving the administration’s goal to bring manufacturing back to the United States. Locking domestic plants into outdated technology is not a recipe for future competitiveness.

How Trump’s Regulatory Rollbacks Are Increasing Costs on Americans

Axing energy efficiency standards raises costs. -->

Federal Tax Credit Is Spurring Efficient New Homes with Low Costs We heard from three households about how the current tax credits helped them

A key federal tax credit that spurred nearly 350,000 new energy-efficient homes built across the U.S. last year is now under threat in Congress.

We talked to three households about how the New Energy Efficient Home (45L) credit has helped them.

This will increase fuel costs, add pollution, and stifle investment in technological innovation. 🔽

Planning Helps New Affordable Housing Include EV Infrastructure New report identifies obstacles to including charging infrastructure in new multifamily affordable housing developments

Electric vehicle use is expected to rise rapidly in the coming years as prices continue to drop. But how do we ensure new multifamily, affordable housing developments have adequate access to charging infrastructure?

This bill would cancel tax credits for home energy efficiency improvements, new energy-efficient homes, and electric cars and trucks, among others. It would raise monthly costs for American families and businesses.

Energy efficiency rollbacks could cost Americans $43 billion in higher utility bills - https://www.theverge.com/news/671615/energy-efficiency-rollbakcs-electricity-costs-utility-bills-analysis

Lee Zeldin’s Claim that EPA Can Scrap ENERGY STAR Defies the Law Statement from Steven Nadel in response to comments about the future of Energy Star

With ENERGY STAR in its sights, EPA now claims it has the authority to scrap the program altogether.
"Congress needs to step up now & ensure that the government keeps running this remarkably effective & popular program," said ACEEE's Steven Nadel in response.

Proactive Outreach by Utilities Can Help Spark Fleet Electrification New blog explores how utilities running fleet electrification programs can better engage with fleet operators

Companies like Walmart are leading the way with electric fleets, having already deployed hundreds of #ElectricVehicles.

Utilities are well positioned to help more fleets electrify. We took a look at how they can better engage with customers.