The South Carolina Energy Office, through the Plan for State EnergyPolicy, provides a broad range of resources designed to help citizens, businesses, and public entities save energy – and money – through greater efficiency, better information and enhanced environmental quality. Here
U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Here
US Department of Energy website for information on energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. Here
Energy Star for information on products, home improvement, assessing problems, greenbuilding, and other aspects of energy efficiency. Here
EERE Energy Savers Here
Home Energy Saver Here
ZIP Code Insulation Program Here
Roof Savings Calculator (RSC) Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Here
White Roofs Cool the World, Directly Offset CO2 andDelay Global Warming, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Here
PV Watts: Solar Energy Calculator, The National Renewable Energy Laboratory developed PVWATTS to permit non-experts to quickly obtain performance estimates for grid-connected PV systems within the United States. Here
U.S. Solar Radiation Maps Resource Maps Here
Database of State Incentives for Renewables &Efficiency (DSIRE) Here
Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC) Here
Energy Efficiency for Small Business Here
PACE NOW For information about property assessed clean energy(PACE) legislation. Here
A PACE bond is a bond where the proceeds are lent to commercial and residential property owners to finance energy retrofits (efficiency measures and small renewable energy systems) and who then repay their loans over 20 years via annual assessment on their property tax bill. PACE bonds can be issued by municipal financing districts or finance companies and the proceeds can be typically used to retrofit both commercial and residential properties.
The PACE bond market has the potential to dramatically accelerate the energy retrofitting of America’s building stock.
PACEImpact: Property tax lien oriented financing that dramatically improves the economics of energy retrofits (efficiency measures and micro renewable energy)
Scientific American Magazine for articles on science, including energy and energy issues. Here [search by topic or article title]
‘Tools for doing your own energy audit,’ Scientific American Here
‘Green Buildings May Be Cheapest Way to Slow Global Warming,’ Scientific American Here
U.S. Green Building Council, S.C. Chapter Here
Green Building Council of Greater Columbia Here
The South Carolina Solar Council Here
American Solar Energy Society Here
Build it Solar Here
Find Solar Here
Home Power Magazine Here
North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners Here
Building Green Here
How to “Go Eco”: Your Environmentally Friendly Guide to a Greener Business Here
Nowadays, eco-friendly is not really optional. And, for businesses the “new” obligation can feel inconvenient… Here is a way to help business owners and managers go green with ease, this new guide.
Rocky Mountain Institute Here
Some local governments have web sites that provide information on energy efficiency and renewable energy. See what information your state and local governments provide and what incentives and tax advantages are available in your area. If your local library or government do not provide this kind of information, please suggest that putting it on their web sites would be a low cost way to help many members of the public and the business community. Please encourage energy efficiency and renewable energy for public buildings and facilities to save tax money and as examples for residents and businesses.
A good energy audit of your home, business, or workplace can help you decide how to proceed.
ConsumerAffairs Here
Since 1977, the price of solar panels has dropped approximately 100 times over, and solar power is now cheaper than power from the grid for billions of people. ConsumerAffairs created a guide that helps consumers determine whether or not “going solar” will work for them. Here are a few topics our expert, Zachary Shahan, covers in the guide:
- What are the different types of solar energy companies – and which one will meet your specific needs?
- Going solar can be expensive, so what are your financing options?
- Does the company offer service beyond installation?