US Green Data

Using U.S. Green Data's innovative platform and Green Button data, homeowners and businesses will soon be able to instantly see energy savings and nationwide energy incentives for every building in America. U.S. Green Data, a leading data provider and aggregator of energy incentives across the U.S., announced today that it has joined the White House-inspired, industry-led Green Button Initiative. The technical standard behind Green Button was developed by industry and facilitated by a public-private partnership--the Smart Grid Interoperability Panel (SGIP). Based on existing commitments made by private industry, the Green Button will soon cover 22 utilities and electricity suppliers, 31 million households, and over 20% of U.S. homes.

"By integrating Green Button data into our current platform, we are able to instantly provide homeowners and businesses the exact dollar amount and energy efficiency ratio they can save. Americans can finally feel confident as they weigh their options of going 'Green' by knowing the exact incentives they are entitled to, and as a result they are investing in sustainable improvements more than ever before. Coupled with our proprietary database composed of all U.S. incentives, we can help homeowners and businesses access huge savings immediately—all while going green," said Jonathan Doochin, CEO of U.S. Green Data.

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Bismarck, ND – June 25, 2012 – Renewables

Integrated energy, a policy championed by energy giant North Dakota in the past decade, is proving to be one of the most effective models for energy reform in the country. North Dakota, a state usually known for its large coal and oil reserves, has long anticipated the need for clean tech investments as they sought to continue expanding their economy sustainably while avoiding the market instabilities stemming from fossil fuels. As a result of the state’s integrated energy policy, North Dakota now boasts a diverse range of fuel sources that, among other things, has expanded ethanol production sevenfold and allowed them to reach 9th in wind generation rankings—in addition to its climb to #2 in oil production, behind Texas. Furthermore, Sen. John Hoeven has credited the energy policy for creating an new sector of green jobs that allowed its citizens to retain their jobs and enjoy cheaper utility rates. The programs success has led many experts to consider ND as a model for Federal legislation in the future, and it seems the best way to take advantage of the immense individual potential each state contributes to the collective whole. At a macro level, each geographical region would specialize its power generation in accordance with its specific circumstances increasing overall efficiency and reducing investor risk.

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This morning (June 7th) Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware) introduced a ground-breaking bill which aims at ensuring domestic renewable energy investments long-terms. The innovative approach Sen. Coons is proposing is based on the principle that the solution will not come as an additional burden to either strained budgets or tax payer dollars; and whats most interesting is that the mechanism have already been in use for decades. Under the bills provisions, the same Master Limited Partnership (MLP) scheme that has applied to oil and gas companies would now be extended to all energy sources, regardless of technology or fuel, making it a truly uniform government policy for industry. There are currently over 100 MLP’s with their combined revenues exceeding $350 billion. Sen. Coons has been able to rally bi-partisan support for his initiative from other members of the house, such as Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), making the short 2-page bill all the more appealing when we consider an objective solution to a highly politicized debate.

Today (Mar. 14th), Congress voted against the “Energy Freedom and Economic Prosperity” amendments to the Transportation Bill. The provisions contained in the amendment would have added energy efficiency and retrofitting to the forefront of the bill and legislative efforts, but its critics argued that an “all-encompassing standard” would be ineffective at producing significant consumption cuts. Although the bill’s opponents are right in asserting that fuel sources are inherently different and so they require different legislation, energy efficiency is a field where most experts agree the same strategies and principles apply to most energy-producing technologies in terms of reduction potential. The approach is simple—doing more with less—but legislators have not been able to come to terms with this stark reality amidst the highly politicized debate on Capitol Hill.

We may soon see a surge in small wind turbines powering homes in windy regions of the country. According to the American Wind Energy Association, the number of residential turbine units sold rose from 2,100 units in 2001 to over 10,000 units in 2009 (latest recorded data). Despite a sluggish economic recovery, experts predict a steady rise in demand for residential wind turbines in windy areas.

Residential turbines face challenges with local/state governments and zoning ordinances. There are few laws in most cities that moderate the use of personalized turbines. Cities such as Boston, however, have embraced both large-scale and small-scale turbine development as a source for alternative energy and additional jobs. Portland, Oregon and Kern County, California are aggressively pushing towards a more sustainable city as well.
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