Electricity
To Get to Net Zero, Think Bigger
Guest author Allison Hibbs was a summer associate at RMI. The World Green Building Council (WGBC) just launched a revolutionary project calling for all buildings to reach net zero by 2050 in an action plan known as Advancing Net Zero. The announcement provides a shot in…
Capturing the Full Benefits of Demand Flexibility
Demand flexibility—allowing household devices like HVAC systems and smart appliances to interact with the electric grid in response to real-time price changes—can save customers money and lower the overall cost of electricity. In our recent paper, The Economics of Demand Flexibility, we analyzed the economics of making…
Report Release: An Integrative Business Model for Net Zero Energy Districts
Net zero energy (NZE) buildings—those that are responsible for the production of as much (or more) clean energy as they use annually—have been gaining momentum around the world. And now, there are even net zero energy districts being contemplated, like Fort Collins’s…
Small Steps and a Giant Leap for DERs in Low-Income Communities
President Obama announced measures on July 19 to increase access to solar energy and energy efficiency by low- and moderate-income customers. Elements of the plan, called the Clean Energy Savings For All Initiative, will bring 1,000 megawatts of solar energy by 2020 to a group that…
EVs Charge Ahead with New Technologies and Business Models
A recent report from RMI’s Electricity Innovation Lab (eLab) describes how the rise of electric vehicles (EVs) could happen much faster than most expect, driven by a host of incentives, targets, and trends. The rapid growth of EVs is driving innovation in numerous areas and has far-reaching implications. For one,…
