Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Websites

• Energy Efficiency Best Practices Workbook for Local Governments
  www.caleep.com/workbook/workbook.htm
  The workbook describes a basic five-step process—initiate, plan, organize, implement, assess—that communities can follow to increase their level of energy efficiency, whether starting from scratch or building on existing energy efficiency activities.
• US DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
  (www.eere.energy.gov)
  Covering renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency for buildings, industry, power and transportation, this site also presents resources specifically for consumers. Information from building codes to case studies is available.
• EERE Network News
  EERE's newsletter, the EERE Network News, covers national and international energy efficiency and renewable energy news and events, as well as new EERE Web sites and energy facts.
• Smart Communities Network
  (www.smartcommunities.ncat.org/)
  Energy efficiency and renewable energy in a community context; as applied to buildings, transportation, community energy systems, business and more.
• Home Energy Saver
  (http://homeenergysaver.lbl.gov)
  A user-friendly, interactive site that helps homeowners identify energy efficiency measures appropriate for their own homes.
• EPA's Green Power site
  (http://www.epa.gov/greeningepa/greenpower.htm)
  Contains a wide variety of useful case studies and reports on how green power initiatives and EERE technologies have been successfully implemented in varying states and communities.
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
  (www.nrel.gov)
  In addition to its research reports and news, NREL offers a key source of information for application of renewable energy technologies at residential and commercial scales.
• ENERGY STAR
  (www.energystar.gov)
  Offers lists of ENERGY STAR certified products for business and construction, as well as information on ENERGY STAR programs for new homes and home improvement. Partner companies and their products can be identified using the site.
• Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE)
  (www.dsireusa.org)
  Site is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and selected federal incentives that promote renewable energy.
• PATH (Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing)
  (www.pathnet.org)
  PATHnet offers news on improved housing technologies, research reports on specific technologies, case studies of applications, and links to resources including the Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor.
• International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives
  (Local Governments for Sustainability)
  (http://www.iclei.org/)
  ICLEI works with communities to make and implement commitments to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. This site has an excellent search engine with plenty of energy efficiency and renewable energy subjects and publications. A broader look at the topics than some other sites.
• American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy
  (http://aceee.org)
  The site offers a useful section of "Consumer Resources" that provide information on improving home energy efficiency, choosing efficient appliances, and identifying fuel efficient vehicles.
• Alliance to Save Energy
  (www.ase.org)
  Information for consumers and educators on ways to save energy, including media campaigns for energy savings and an online Home Energy Checkup tool.
• Affordable Comfort Incorporated
  (http://www.affordablecomfort.org)
  The site holds good, practical information on how energy efficiency can best be incorporated into buildings, construction and remodeling through a systems approach.
• Rocky Mountain Institute
  (www.rmi.org)
  A web section on Home Resource Efficiency offers homeowners information on resource-efficient construction, efficient appliances, lighting, heating and cooling, as well as related information on renewable energy, water conservation and recycling.
• RenewableEnergyAccess.com
  (www.RenewableEnergyAccess.com)
  Promoted as "Renewable Energy News, Information and Marketplace," this site provides current renewable energy news coverage nationwide, as well as listings of coming events and training opportunities.
• Cool Companies
  (www.cool-companies.org)
  Produced by the nonprofit Center for Energy & Climate Solutions, this site focuses on strategies and technologies that save energy, cut costs and reduce pollution, as being adopted by American companies across many sectors.
• Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
  (www.ceere.org)
  CEERE at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, provides technological and economic solutions to environmental problems resulting from energy production, industrial, manufacturing, and commercial activities, and land use practices.
• Energy Ideas Clearinghouse
  (www.energyideas.org)
  Energy efficiency resources for industry, business and government in the Pacific Northwest, addressing motors, appliances, lighting, heating and cooling for agricultural, commercial, industrial and residential users.
• Sustainable Minnesota
  (www.me3.org)
  Minnesotans for an Energy-Efficient Economy sponsors this site featuring information on energy issues, renewable energy and green power.
• Southface Energy Institute
  (www.southface.org)
  Southface promotes sustainable homes, workplaces and communities through education, research, advocacy and technical assistance. Their website offers events listings and a range of online publications on energy-efficient construction.
• Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA)
  (www.nesea.org)
  The NESEA website contains information on diverse programs on clean energy, green buildings, and sustainable transportation.
• North Carolina Solar Center
  (www.ncsc.ncsu.edu)
  A resource for information related to renewable energy and building energy efficiency, as well as transportation. Includes publications, database resources, and links to other sites.
• Florida Solar Energy Center
  (www.fsec.ucf.edu)
  A site rich with technical reports on renewable energy and energy efficiency research, FSEC also offers some information useful to consumers.
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District
  (http://www.smud.org/)
  Website of one of the real leaders in working with customers to reduce the demand for electricity through energy efficiency and application of renewable energy. Contains good links and EERE information.
• Texas Energy Partnership website
  (http://www.texasenergypartnership.org/)
  Created as a result of SB5 - a model law on the use of energy efficiency and renewable energy to help reduce air emissions - this site includes details to help municipalities reduce electricity consumption by 5 percent a year for 5 years, beginning January 1, 2002.
• Air Pollution Prevention Forum website
  (http://www.wrapair.org/forums/ap2/projects/energy_efficiency/)
  This site contains the forum's report to the Western Regional Air Partnership on policies and programs states can adopt to reduce air emissions - in this case, to comply with EPA's regional haze rule.