Green Innovation Index
The Green Innovation Index is a new report by Next 10 that analyzes key economic and environmental indicators to help us better understand the role green innovation plays in reducing greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming while growing our economy.
Brand New Report
California Climate Risk and Response provides for the first time a comprehensive examination of the economic impacts of climate change and adaptation in California. In conducting this multi-sector assessment, we compile the most recent available science on climate damage, assess its economic implications, and examine alternative strategies for adaptation.
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Untapped Potential Of Commercial Buildings: Energy Use and Emissions
July 2010
A new study identifies commercial buildings as a stealth drain on the state's energy resources and economy. The report, UNTAPPED POTENTIAL OF COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS: ENERGY USE AND EMISSIONS, produced by Collaborative Economics for Next 10, finds that the energy efficiency or lack thereof in commercial buildings has a significant impact on California's economy, the state's overall energy use, global warming pollution emissions and jobs.
Highlights of the study :
- Electricity consumed by commercial office buildings represents 37 percent of california's total electricity consumption. Based on the U.S. average, energy efficiency improvements could cut that usage by 80 percent.
- Only 60 percent of all new commercial building construction meets California energy efficiency standards. With a minimal two percent increase in construction costs, new buildings can be designed to use one-third to one-half less energy than they use today.
- Only three percent of all buildings are newly constructed or renovated every year.
- California has no energy efficiency standards for existing building stock, which could yield substantial savings in energy.
- Energy efficient buildings retain higher real estate value, commanding higher rents (6-7 percent) and maintaining higher occupancy rates than less efficient buildings.
- Simple energy efficiency improvements to existing buildings, such as insulating window films, yield three dollars in savings on average for every dollar invested.
- In existing buildings, split incentives, elevated hurdle rates, upfront capital costs, and an information gap diminish large-scale adoption of energy retrofits.
- In new commercial construction, a lack of incentives for developers and ineffective installation and inspection methods are barriers to energy efficiency efforts.
- Much can be achieved through actions taken at the federal, state and local levels that raise efficiency standards, align incentives, and support the broad-based application of high-efficiency products and practices.
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