RMI’s Post

Almost every state now has a climate action plan laying out measures to address pollution. We looked at how much climate pollution could be reduced in each part of the economy if all measures in all states’ plans were implemented. Here’s what we found.👇 🔹Louisiana (aiming for a 28.6% pollution reduction by 2030), Massachusetts (21.3%), and Maine (20.6%) are leading the way. 🔹 States like Maine are focusing on transportation, while Louisiana targets industrial emissions, showcasing tailored approaches to climate challenges. 🔹This snapshot of state climate action could drive a 7% reduction in US climate pollution by 2030 if all measures are implemented—the equivalent to taking 30% of gas cars off the road in the US. Get a hold of all the data here: https://bit.ly/3RRCW7f

🌍 #GoodClimateNews: California has achieved what many thought impossible. Beginning in early March of this year, a combination of solar, wind, geothermal, and hydropower has consistently generated more than 100% of the state's electricity demand for part of nearly every day. On some afternoons, solar panels alone have produced more power than the state consumes. At night, large utility-scale batteries installed over the past few years become the grid’s largest power source, redistributing stored energy to consumers. California, boasting the fifth-largest economy in the world, has demonstrated that a thriving modern economy can indeed run on clean energy. However, California's achievement is not an isolated success. According to our most recent insights, the world might reach peak fossil-fuel use this year, driven by a surge in renewable energy. 👏 Learn more: https://bit.ly/45QCYCr

After a rewarding journey of three years under the umbrella of RMI, Canary Media Inc. is spreading its wings to become fully independent. Witnessing their evolution into a leading voice in #CleanEnergy journalism has been nothing short of inspiring. "The world needs fact-based journalism that tells stories from the front lines of the energy transition. Canary’s growth has proved that market need, and we're excited to see them take flight as a fully independent non-profit," said Jon Creyts, CEO of RMI. As they embark on this new chapter, we’re filled with anticipation for the impact they will continue to make. Discover more about their journey and what lies ahead: https://bit.ly/3zBdLj0

The fossil energy system is incredibly inefficient, with nearly two-thirds of the global energy supply wasted during the production, transportation, and end-use processes. While advancements in energy efficiency are already reducing CO2 emissions, there is still a huge opportunity to improve efficiency further and add additional value to the energy system. Cleantech such as wind and solar, heat pumps, and electric vehicles are around three times more efficient than their fossil fuel-using counterparts. These solutions can pair with other efficiency actions to squeeze out fossil fuels, by avoiding demand while shifting supply. Beyond reducing greenhouse gas emissions and costs, energy efficiency reaches everyone with an abundance of benefits: 👷 Millions more jobs 🚑 Millions fewer pollution deaths 🛡️ More energy security 🏘️ More comfort in homes 🌳 More protection of nature for a livable planet Learn more about the incredible power of energy efficiency: https://bit.ly/3XLkWzi #EnergyEfficiency #Cleantech #Climatetech

Space: The final frontier. These are the voyages of two non-profit satellite programs. Their mission: To detect methane; To help society better understand emissions; To address climate change.     A growing ecosystem of space-based technologies — such as Environmental Defense Fund’s MethaneSAT and the Carbon Mapper Coalition satellite program, which includes Planet, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and others — are bringing complementary capabilities that will yield powerful new insights on the location, quantity, and characteristics of methane emissions so that they can be stopped.     Learn more about the unique design characteristics of each satellite and how they work together to provide public data at the different levels of granularity needed to guide critical climate decisions today: https://bit.ly/4ctV3sj #Methane #MethaneEmissions #Emissions

🌴 June marks the beginning of Atlantic hurricane season in the Caribbean, as well as Caribbean Heritage Month. Island nations, despite contributing the least to global emissions, feel the effects of climate change the most. Energy equity is a pathway toward climate justice, acknowledging the varying social, economic, and health impacts on different populations and adjusting energy systems accordingly. Major hurricanes devastate islands' energy systems, causing large-scale outages and jeopardizing community livelihoods. RMI’s David Gumbs, who grew up in the Caribbean and experienced a lack of electricity firsthand, emphasizes the importance of resilient solutions. When electricity is lost due to hurricanes, these solutions become essential for whole communities: https://bit.ly/45LudJB #ClimateJustice #CaribbeanHeritageMonth #HurricaneSeason #EnergyEquity

RMI has championed energy efficiency ever since its founding more than 40 years ago. The need to conserve and do more with the electricity we have has only become more important since then, as we race toward a future powered by clean, renewable power.     This past week, we focused on energy efficiency across our social media accounts and in Spark, our weekly newsletter. The main takeaway: Improving energy efficiency is good, for us and the environment.     It’s a deep force of the energy transition, reducing energy demand growth by a fifth over the past decade — more than any other factor — and working in conjunction with renewable growth and electrification to transform the energy system.    Learn more: https://bit.ly/3RPEiiZ #EnergyEfficiency #EnergyTransition #CleanEnergy #RenewableEnergy

📢 The future of energy efficiency lies in retrofitting our homes! 🏠 To meet climate goals by 2050, we need to retrofit roughly 90% of existing housing. This massive task brings a significant opportunity for advanced building construction techniques, making homes cleaner and construction methods more efficient. Our new report, funded by the DOE's Advanced Building Construction Collaborative, provides a detailed state-by-state analysis and pathways to reduce pollution from US homes by 2050. We found that out of 125 million US homes: 🔹 60% need energy retrofits with envelope improvements + equipment upgrades. 🔹 32% require only high-efficiency, all-electric equipment replacements and minor updates. 🔹 8% are already aligned with climate goals. 🔹 10 million new homes expected by 2023 can benefit from industrialized construction for cost-effective, climate-aligned builds. ⬇ Download the report: https://bit.ly/3RTeYaY Thank you to our partners U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, ADL Ventures, VEIC, AEA, Phius, and key authors from PNNL, LBNL, and National Renewable Energy Laboratory. #ClimateAction #SustainableLiving #Retrofitting #EnergyEfficiency

2024 is shaping up to be the hottest year on record. Meanwhile, many areas worldwide face extreme heat and lack access to air conditioning. How can we keep cool without paying more for electricity? Passive daytime radiative cooling products are affordable and sustainable solutions to cool your roof. At RMI and Third Derivative, we are exploring advanced materials that include highly reflective coatings, thin films, fabrics, and more. These products reflect sunlight and radiate heat away from your home without the need for AC. Once these promising products become widely available, we envision a positive impact on both the future of our global climate and public health: https://bit.ly/4cHEXuM