Agriculture & Land Use

U.S.

Is the USDA's spending on 'climate smart' farming actually helping the climate?

A new report from the Environmental Working Group says that more than a dozen of the farming practices that the USDA recently designated as "climate-smart"-- including several of the highest-funded ones -- don't actually have proven climate benefits. That finding is especially important, according to the group, because the USDA is likely to spend more money on the same practices in the years to come: Much of the $20 billion authorized by the Inflation Reduction Act has yet to reach farmers' pockets. Grist

Wisconsin

Anti-conservation group works to influence land use policy in three northern Wisconsin counties

A right-wing anti-conservation group has been working to influence officials in Forest, Langlade and Oneida counties, at the urging of U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, in an effort to prevent conservation efforts and promote extractive industry. The Texas-based group, American Stewards of Liberty, has a record of blocking conservation efforts across the country. In Nebraska, for example, the group helped change state law to give individual counties the ability to halt private conservation easements. Wisconsin Examiner

Building Decarbonization

Colorado

OPINION: Electrify Colorado's buildings faster

An incremental, purely incentive-based approach to reducing building emissions isn't sufficient for Colorado to live up to its agreement to accelerate the transition to zero-emission residential buildings. More ambitious policies are needed, quickly, to protect the health of Colorado's residents and climate, writes Sammy Herdman, an environmental policy and management graduate student at the University of Denver and a program coordinator with the Regional Air Quality Council. Colorado Newsline

U.S.

Building energy code revamps can get another $90M from DOE

The Department of Energy announced March 4 that it is making $90 million available to help states and localities adopt and implement building energy codes, which set energy efficiency standards for new buildings, additions and major renovations. This is the second tranche out of $225 million designated by the 2021 infrastructure law for building energy code modernization. In July 2023, the DOE awarded the first $90 million to 27 projects nationwide, including workforce development programs and a national network to support state and local governments as they develop new codes. Smart Cities Dive

U.S.

She's a clean-energy pro. Electrifying her home was still a slog

In just 15 months, Judy Ko got a heat pump, solar, a home battery, insulation, an EV and more. Here's what was easy about the process -- and what was "just crazy." Canary Media

Energy Efficiency

U.S.

DOE finalizes Congressionally-mandated efficiency improvements for residential washers, dryers

DOE finalizes standards for washers and driers that are projected to save $2.2 billion on consumer utility bills Daily Energy Insider

U.S.

More homeowners are swapping to tankless water heaters for on-demand temperature controls -- and major savings

Consumers switching to new tankless water heaters as they offer significant savings over older models, especially with tax credit The Cool Down

U.S.

Top 3 US energy efficiency policy opportunities in 2024: ACEEE

ACEEE weighs in on the three main policies that would help boost energy efficiency in the United States Yahoo Finance

U.S.

DOE Announces $90 Million to Improve Building Efficiency

The U.S. Department of Energy announced $90 million in funding to support building energy code adoption, training, and technical assistance at the state and local level. CleanTechnica

U.S.

DOE finalizes congressionally mandated efficiency improvements for residential washers, dryers

The DOE worked with stakeholders on a solution that could save up to $39 billion on energy and water bills over the next 30 years, while cutting nearly 71 million metric tons of CO2 emissions. Daily Energy Insider

Washington, D.C.

She built one of the most energy-efficient homes in D.C. Here's how.

Details on the District's first net zero home, an apartment built behind a woman's main house The Washington Post

Space Cooling & Heating

Maine

Many Maine Households Are Installing Climate-Friendly Heat Pumps

The percentage of households burning home heating oil is the highest in the country. Yet no other state is adopting climate-friendly heat pumps as fast. New York Times

Massachusetts

OPINION: High electricity rates undermine heat pump expansion

What will it take to change course? Building more transmission from affordable Canadian hydropower in Quebec? Streamlining permitting for offshore wind? Permit reform for transmission? I'm all for any of those. I'm going to do my best to continue to advocate for consumers when it comes to upfront installation costs, writes Kit Wu, who runs a community-led initiative called Laminar Collective that negotiates bulk discounts on heat pump installations. Commonwealth Beacon