My brackets were busted before the first point was scored in March Madness 2013. My commissioner failed me and The Hulk Hogan Hair Club for Men (don't judge me by the company I keep) failed to host a pick'em pool. Apparently traveling for work trumped getting the group page up and going, and there were promises up to the 11th hour that there would be a pool, yet here I sit--at my desk late in March with no score feeds downsized on my computer screen for the first time in 12 years. Hell, there are games on right now--AND I'M WORKING! All is not right with the world.

The most exciting thing I have going for me is our friends over at the Alliance to Save Energy came up with the EE Eight, the eight most energy efficiency campuses in the NCAA tournament. I would not have chosen any of these to go to the Big Dance, but it's a nice list all the same.

For the record I would have seated Gonzaga and Louisville--I always send Gonzaga beyond where a reasonable person should and I don't even have good cause for it, but this year--THIS YEAR! they're going in ranked #1 in the West. As for Louisville, well come on now, wouldn't you? Oh wait...you probably did and you're probably loving it.

Photo Credit: Gonzaga University

Last year the nonprofit Alliance to Save Energy (ASE) formed a coalition of energy experts. Now they have unveiled a set of recommendations designed to double U.S. energy productivity by 2030. The ASE's commission on National Energy Efficiency Policy called for expanding the U.S. energy economy through:

investments,
modernization, and
education.

These efforts will target the entire energy structure, including:

buildings,
transportation,
manufacturing,
power generation and
natural gas infrastructure.

The Energy 2030 plan maximizes energy productivity by expanding financing opportunities, reforming taxes and regulations, spurring innovation, strengthening standards, and building consumer awareness. The commission also anticipates that the plan will help the United States establish global leadership in energy efficiency.

If adopted, the plan could help the United States:

add 1.3 million jobs;
cut average household energy costs;
save U.S. businesses $169 billion a year;
increase the gross domestic product by up to 2%;
decrease energy imports by more than $100 billion a year; and
reduce carbon dioxide emissions by one-third.

The Alliance Commission on National Energy Efficiency Policy will collaborate with its 13 Honorary Congressional Vice Chairs to develop legislative proposals at the national level. The Commission was formed in 2012 by ASE, a nonprofit organization that promotes energy efficiency worldwide through research, education, and advocacy.

See the ASE press release and the full report

Photo Credit: Craig Miller Productions

Energy Efficiency in March Madness

Commission Unveils Plan to Double U.S. Energy Productivity