Historic Northeast pollution caps take effect

In September, Environment Massachusetts’ National Energy Program Director Rob Sargent attended the nation’s first auction of pollution permits under a global warming emissions cap. The auction process was created by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.

The auction represented a remarkable precedent that will help put the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions on a path to a cleaner and more secure energy future. It also represented the culmination of many years of hard work by elected officials and environmental advocates across the region.

Massachusetts netted $13.3 million from the auction, which will be used to fund the state’s energy efficiency programs.

Making homes more energy efficient

In September, state building code officials from across the country approved the largest improvement in building codes in recent history. The move will increase the energy efficiency of new homes by as much as 20 percent.

Environment Massachusetts called for making building codes 30 percent more efficient—a goal that our research showed was feasible with current technology. To make the case we released a white paper in July titled, “Building an Energy-Efficient America.”

Later that month, one of our allies at Environment Maryland, Brad Heavner, testified before a key congressional committee, urging the federal government to support efforts to improve building efficiency.

“Much work needs to be done to move America toward a future of super-efficient and, better yet, zero-energy buildings,” said our chief energy advocate, Rob Sargent. “But this step signifies progress, and we’re happy to see it.”