energy efficiency

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States That Are Lights Out on Energy Efficiency

South Carolina takes last place in WalletHub rankings, while Vermont takes the top spot

(Newser) - Noticed your utility bills rising recently? Vermonters are doing their best to avoid that, according to WalletHub , which deems the Green Mountain State as America's most energy-efficient. The site looked at states throughout the nation across two key dimensions: home energy efficiency, which it calculated by figuring out the...

China Bets on Underwater Data Centers

Ocean cooling expected to significantly cut energy costs

(Newser) - Beneath the waves off Shanghai, China is launching a new era of digital infrastructure—cooling its AI-powered data centers with the chill of the ocean, and potentially reshaping the global approach to sustainable computing. Traditional data centers, both in China and globally, use enormous amounts of electricity, with cooling...

Report: Feds Are Killing Off Energy Star

Program to certify energy-efficient appliances has saved consumers around $500B since 1992

(Newser) - The popular Energy Star program has saved consumers hundreds of billions of dollars since it was introduced in 1992, but sources say the Trump administration is preparing to kill it off. The program, a public-private partnership, certifies energy-efficient appliances, helping consumers reduce energy costs. The program is part of the...

Now Trump Turns to Making 'Showers Great Again'

Though director at advocacy agency predicts few, if any, changes will be made to showerheads

(Newser) - President Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order to immediately reverse water conservation standards, with the White House saying in a press release that the order will "end the Obama-Biden war on water pressure and make America's showers great again." The Obama-era standards restricted water flow...

7 Best, Worst States on Energy Efficiency

From New York to South Carolina

(Newser) - Not all states are created equal when it comes to energy efficiency. WalletHub has a new ranking that crunches data in two broad categories—home energy efficiency and auto energy efficiency—to figure out the best and worst overall. As it turns out, the results put New York at the...

Health Warning Prompts Cities to Rethink LED Street Lights

American Medical Association says high-intensity bulbs emit dangerous levels of blue light

(Newser) - Many US cities have been making the move from sodium street lights to LEDs—the bulbs are not only up to 50% more energy efficient than their predecessors, but they last for as many as 20 years and distribute light more evenly. Unfortunately, numerous studies suggest that the levels of...

Is Samsung Pulling a VW With Its TVs?

Claims of TVs cheating efficiency tests pour in

(Newser) - Claims are coming in from multiple European countries that television manufacturers are pulling a Volkswagen and installing software to cheat energy-efficiency tests, the BBC reports. An EU-funded lab presented findings Tuesday that showed televisions manufactured by Samsung—the largest television manufacturer in the world—cut their energy consumption nearly in...

UK Citizens Hoarding Vacuums

EU ban on high-wattage models causes clean freaks to stockpile

(Newser) - You can ban their e-cigs , you can ban their plastic bags —but do not, under any circumstances, take away the people's high-powered vacuum cleaners. Brits stocked up on supersuction devices before a EU ban went into effect yesterday, with retail sales of models 1,600 watts or higher...

Americans Waste $4B to Run Dryers, Every Year
Americans Waste $4B to
Run Dryers, Every Year
in case you missed it
Jun 15, 2014 1:30 PM CDT

Americans Waste $4B to Run Dryers, Every Year

DOE working on new energy efficiency standards

(Newser) - Get our your clotheslines. Turns out your trusty dryer is one of the most energy-sucking appliances in your house—with a typical electric model using as much energy as an energy-efficient fridge, washing machine, and dishwasher combined, according to a report by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Americans could save...

No, Incandescent Bulbs Aren't 'Banned'

They're just evolving and getting more expensive

(Newser) - By now, you've probably heard that as of yesterday , it's illegal to manufacture 40W and 60W incandescent light bulbs, due to a government ban . Ergo, the incandescent bulb is dead—except it's not, writes Sean Hollister at The Verge . "There is no such thing as an...

Big Light Bulb Phase-Out Begins Jan. 1

Production ends for 60W and 40W incandescent bulbs Wednesday

(Newser) - Next Wednesday—Jan. 1—production will officially end on incandescent light bulbs, and according to a new survey, this likely comes as news to most of you. While 64% of Americans are aware that incandescents are being phased out, only 4 in 10 know that the bell tolls for the...

6 Things You Should Unplug to Cut Your Energy Bill

Weirdest entry on list: digital picture frames

(Newser) - You're probably spending $100 per year on energy costs for devices that are plugged in—even if they're switched off, an EPA spokesperson tells Mother Jones . She lists six of the worst offenders you should consider unplugging first if you want to save energy—and cash:
  • Cable boxes:
...

US Imports 1M Fewer Barrels of Oil Daily
 US Imports 1M Fewer 
 Barrels of Oil Daily 
new report
Mar 12, 2012 9:41 AM CDT

US Imports 1M Fewer Barrels of Oil Daily

White House report says we're closer to achieving energy security goals

(Newser) - The US is well on its way toward achieving President Obama's energy security goals as laid out a year ago, says an administration report out today. The White House is looking to cut oil imports by a third over the next decade, boost domestic oil and natural gas production,...

Gadgets Driving Up America's Electric Bills

Despite efficiency gains, we're using as much power as ever

(Newser) - Heating technology and many major appliances have gotten drastically more efficient since 1978, yet as of 2005, American homes are still using essentially the same amount of power, according to figures from the US Energy Information Administration. Taking a closer look at the numbers it's easy to see why, according...

How Big Government Actually Helps Innovation
How Big Government
Actually Helps Innovation
OPINION
Mar 11, 2011 1:50 PM CST

How Big Government Actually Helps Innovation

Op-ed: Federal standards have helped technology advance

(Newser) - Last week, Michele Bachmann introduced a bill to repeal the energy efficiency standards for lightbulbs, because, as she said, the “government has no business telling an individual what kind of lightbulb to buy.” She’s not the only conservative politician who’s upset (see here and here )....

Thanks to Obama, My Toilet Won't Flush: Rand Paul

Senator slams administration's energy-efficiency rules

(Newser) - Sen. Rand Paul yesterday ripped into the Energy Department's efficiency rules, which he says require Americans to buy poorly-flushing toilets and unwanted light bulbs, reports USA Today . "My toilets don't work in my house. And I blame you and people like you who want to tell me what I...

Honda Plans Electric Cars for 2012

Company trying to regain ground on green vehicles

(Newser) - Honda is looking to make up lost ground in the market for energy-efficient cars and plans to have a plug-in hybrid and a battery-powered electric vehicle on American streets in 2012, reports Reuters . The company announced no specifics on models, other than to say the EV will be a small...

Gov't Will Slash Greenhouse Emissions: Obama

Executive order requires federal agencies to reduce waste, conserve energy

(Newser) - Federal agencies have until 2020 to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions by 28% under an executive order President Obama signed today. The order also calls for improvements in energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste reduction. "As the largest energy consumer in the United States, we have a responsibility to...

LED Traffic Lights Efficient— But Can't Melt Away Snow

Bulbs blamed for bad-weather accidents across US

(Newser) - Cities around the country that have installed energy-efficient traffic lights are discovering a hazardous downside: The bulbs don't burn hot enough to melt snow and can become crusted over in a storm—a problem blamed for dozens of accidents and at least one death. "I've never had to put...

Obama: Insulation Is 'Sexy'
 Obama: Insulation Is 'Sexy' 
cash for caulkers
Dec 15, 2009 12:34 PM CST

Obama: Insulation Is 'Sexy'

President goes to Home Depot to pitch 'cash for caulkers'

(Newser) - President Obama set up his official podium at Home Depot today to pitch what some are calling his “cash for caulkers” program. Obama wants Congress to give consumers cash incentives to make their homes more energy-efficient. “I know the idea may not be very glamorous, although I get...

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