DOE encourages the growth of these programs nationwide by selecting exemplary programs to receive Green Power Leadership Awards. This year's winners include 3Degrees, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, SolarCity and SunRun – recognized by DOE as the Non-Utility Green Power Suppliers of the Year – and La Plata Electric Association and Portland General Electric – recognized as the Utility Green Power Programs of the Year.

A workshop was held recently by a gas engine research team of the Da Nang University with support of Toyota Motor Vietnam (TMV) through the Go Green Program to assess the results of the implementation of the second stage of the project titled “Small-scaled Electricity Production from Biogas” in some provinces of central Vietnam.

Arizona is one of the four most improved states in terms of energy efficiency, according to a study released today by the American Council for an Energy – Efficient Economy. The state ranked 18th, up 11 spots from 2009, tying Utah for the most movement. Close behind were New Mexico and Alaska, which both leaped eight spots.

California has topped the American Council for an Energy Efficiency Economy (ACEEE)’s state energy efficiency ranking for a fourth year in a row. The State Energy Efficiency Scorecard ranks each region on its energy efficiency policies, programmes, transport policy, building performance codes, combined heat and power and appliance standards.

The consortium, which includes Oak Ridge National Lab, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of California-Davis, The Dow Chemical Company, Honeywell and General Electric, will receive $12.5 million from the US Government, matched by at least $12.5 million from the partners, and $25 million from Chinese counterparts over the next five years.

The schools superintendent dubbed her the Princess of Darkness. Co-workers have nicknamed her the Queen of Green. Just don't call Susan Warren a spendthrift. The Freedom High School art and yoga teacher has an improbable second set of job duties these days: Identify situations in which the school district is wasting energy -- and eliminate them.

A Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle seen here October 7 charging at a solar-powered charging station in Detroit, Michigan. More than 5,300 charging stations will be installed in Michigan as the birthplace of the US auto industry prepares for the introduction of electric cars.

Municipal governments looking to tap into New Jersey’s cost-saving energy audit or “Direct Install” programs can get the assistance they need under a shared services program unveiled by the Burlington County Freeholders in cooperation with the county Bridge Commission.

The city may enter a three-year contract aimed at saving the city an estimated $3 million on electric power acquisition and distribution over 12 years for $1.8 million over three years. The proposed agreement would be made with non-profit American Municipal Power Inc. (AMP) to operate an energy efficiency program called Efficiency Smart Power Plant. Cuyahoga Falls has its own municipal electric system and purchases power through AMP.

China's top economic planner is proposing graduated tariffs on residential electricity use as part of the nation's efforts to save energy, the National Development and Reform Commission said Saturday on its website. "A graduated mechanism will improve China's power tariff structure and spur energy conservation," the economic planning body said.

In these difficult economic times for Island contractors and associated trades, builders have adapted. From grand, expensive, multi-year construction jobs, some have changed pace to accept small-scale renovations or additions. Some who have been the lead builders on big projects have taken work as subcontractors. Some have turned to specialization, including specialization in energy conservation and renewable energy techniques.

In Chau Khe, Dinh Bang (Bac Ninh Province), more than 800 households are involved in iron and steel production. To temper and laminate steel, they consume about 200 million kWh of electricity and 30,000 tonnes of coal, and total expenditure on energy consumption amounts to VND150 billion each year. Such high energy consumption is attributed to the use of outdated technologies and equipment as well as insulated steel furnaces. At some stages of steel production, the rate of energy losses is 20-25 percent.

Dr. Nguyen The Hung from the Institute of Physics under the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology said that many other countries in the world have successfully converted photo energy into electrical and thermal energy.

Hanoi Rubber Joint Stock Company - HARCO (Cau Dien town, Tu Liem district) is an enterprise specialized in manufacturing fabric shoe products and exported floor pads. The technological line system of the company has been put into use for over 30 years, so the productivity as well as energy consumption is quite large.

Britain held its first free eco-car show last month on London's famous royal driveway, The Mall. The event was held as part of HRH Prince Charles's latest sustainability initiative “Start”, which aims to promote positive steps to leading a sustainable lifestyle, and was opened by his “Garden Party to Make a Difference”.

A long list of sustainability measures saved School District 43 more than $1.2 million in the past year. But the district will soon need to fork over extra cash for carbon offsets, since the provincial government requires the public sector be carbon neutral by the end of 2010.

NHS staff are being urged to switch off unnecessary electrical appliances to help make savings of £100,000 a year. Staff at NHS Worcestershire and the Worcestershire Mental Health Partnership NHS Trust are doing their bit as part of Switch It Off Week, which starts today.

Just like a regular medical checkup can help promote good health, a home energy checkup can help promote energy efficiency and reduce energy use. Reliant Energy customers in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex can sign up for a free home checkup to help make sure their homes are in good energy shape for winter and next summer.

Mitsubishi Corp. will conduct a feasibility study to help address global warming by popularizing energy-saving Japanese home appliances in Vietnam, it has been learned. Working in cooperation with five electric appliance makers, including Panasonic Corp. and Sharp Corp., Mitsubishi will verify how much carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced through the end of March 2011.

Lockheed Martin and Rice University scientists have recently discovered how to use the all-abundant silicon to make battery electrodes that could hold up to 10 times more lithium and enhance the battery’s overall capacity from 300 mAh/gram to more than 3,000 mAh/gram. This could lead to an unprecedented rise in storage capacities for electric car batteries, in a crucial moment for their development.