Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Web Sites

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?
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