Although residential electricity consumption is increasing, a national survey finds Americans blame their utilities or their inefficient homes for their rising energy bills rather than putting the blame on themselves for using more power.

Kings County and Chevron Energy Solutions announced completion of a solar and energy efficiency program expected to reduce energy costs at 23 sites within the county. This work marks the third phase of a sustainability program that Kings County embarked on with Chevron Energy Solutions in 2004.

Siemens Building Technologies announced that it has introduced the Environmental Impact Calculator, a new app available free-of-charge through the Apple Store. Siemens’ new tool allows facility managers and others to estimate a building’s baseline carbon footprint from purchased electricity, natural gas, and heating oil.

The HERO (home energy renovation opportunity) financing program allows homeowners in Western Riverside County to finance home energy and water efficiency improvements through their property taxes. It was announced that $50 million in home energy retrofits have been financed since the program was launched.

The city of Chicago has launched the third phase of Retrofit Chicago — the Residential Partnership. This effort brings together nonprofit groups, utility companies, and city government programs to accelerate the number of retrofits being completed in single-family homes and multi-unit apartment buildings.

Florida A&M University (FAMU) has chosen Siemens to implement a $12.2 million performance contract that is expected to save the university approximately $1.2 million in equivalent guaranteed annual energy savings.

Energy efficiency is gaining momentum in states traditionally ranked near the bottom of the American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE’s) annual State Energy Efficiency Scorecard, according to ACEEE’s new report, Opportunity Knocks: Examining Low-Ranking States in the State Energy Efficiency Scorecard.