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Archive for 'Energy Use'

Help Cambridge Win the Georgetown Energy Prize

Last month I attended the first meeting for block captains to help get the word out about Cambridge’s efforts to win the Georgetown Energy Prize. The prize is $5 million that Cambridge could win for city energy projects, but we’re in competition with cities all around the country — 49 of them. Each city conducts energy projects […]

Replacing My Refrigerator — With or Without Energy Star

There aren’t a lot more opportunities for making my home more energy efficient, but one thing that stands out is replacing my refrigerator. It’s from 1999, and any fridge that old or older was made before federal efficiency standards were increased, so the energy saved by a new refrigerator makes replacing one that old cost-effective. According to the Energy Star refrigerator […]

What’s the Best LED Light Bulb?

LED bulbs are great. They use a little less energy than CFLs (about 1/6th of what incandescents use) and last longer (around 20 years). And people tend to prefer them to CFLs, because they don’t contain mercury or have a discernible flicker. Earlier this year we put out an RFP for a lighting distributor at work, and while we were […]

Carbon Footprint by Zip Code

Have you seen this great visualization from the Cool Climate Network? It’s household carbon footprint by zip code, based on home energy use, transportation, and consumption of goods and services. It’s really striking how green Boston and its immediate suburbs are, and how red the circle around them is. The companion carbon calculator lets you […]

Local Energy Planning in Medford

I know it’s been forever since I’ve posted anything (see the usual excuses: school, work, buying a house), but I just had to share some videos that I helped create at MAPC. I’ve been interning in the Energy Division of the Metropolitan Area Planning Council for the last nine months, assisting local governments with energy […]