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State Stymies Military on Energy

The Union Tribune recently published an article on power supply for military bases in CA. It was followed by a full page ad promoting a two-tiered rate to raise rates for more efficient users and lowering rates for inefficient users.  The…

Will the U.S. have to find a new national bird?

Imagine you're the captain of a huge jumbo jet with all your family and friends on board.  It's a long flight and you've had it on autopilot.  Now it's dark and foggy outside and the instruments are all you have to fly by.  For awhile now,…
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US EPA sets target to cut power plant emissions by 30% (sort of)

This story originally appeared on Climate Central. US pollution policy is making progress.  Nearly every state in the U.S. now has a greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal to meet under the Obama administration's new Clean Power…
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How to cut your carbon footprint by 30% overnight.

Over 90% of all American adults today have a cell phone, smart phone or tablet.  100% of all those devices use batteries - that need recharging nearly every single day!  Approximately 30% of all building energy use in the U.S. goes to plug…

Where to charge all those laptops and gadgets?

Every student comes to school with at least a laptop, tablet or smart phone in their backpack these days.  Then they need to recharge them a lot!  For many universities, that amounts to tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in electricity…

What we know about waste

What we know about waste... It robs us of valuable time doing meaningful things. It makes us sick, it makes plants, animals and humans sick. It is killing us all. It voids our sustainability and steals resources and joy from future generations. …

USMCB Pendleton

The US Marines needed places for the enlisted bachelors that are safe and green.  The DOD needed durable, long lasting, cost effective green buildings.  The prime contractor needed low cost, beautiful solar canopies to achieve LEED…

US Navy Port Hueneme

The home of the world famous Sea Bees also became home to one of the Navy's first green building training centers thanks to 3FFICIENT.  This project was completed in the 1990s well before the term "green building" was coined. Project Background: Port…

US Navy Point Mugu NAWS

The US Navy is serious about energy efficiency and wanted innovative ideas.  3FFICIENT provided a comprehensive energy audit of the entire Naval Air Weapons Station at Point Mugu which turned out to set the groundwork for many projects to follow. Project…

City of Gresham, OR

The City of Gresham had an old wastewater treatment plant that needed upgrading and a new purpose.  Working in concert with Fred Gast FAIA, 3FFICIENT designed the mechanical systems with energy efficiency upgrades to meet USGBC LEED standards. Project…

State of CA Printing Complex

The State of California was seeking ways to reduce operating and energy costs in light of astronomical energy price increases. The state's printing facility is the nation's largest government printing agency second only to Washington DC. The…

State of CA Personnel Bldg

The State of California was seeking ways to reduce operating and energy costs in light of astronomical energy price increases. 3FFICIENT's Role: 3FFICIENT staff analyzed their energy use and provided an investment grade engineering study that…

State of CA Resources Bldg

The State of California was seeking ways to reduce operating and energy costs in light of astronomical energy price increases. 3FFICIENT's Role: 3FFICIENT staff analyzed their energy use and provided an investment grade engineering study that…

Cathedral City

The city was faced with looming energy price hikes and had already been hit hard with unexpected charges from the State's cost overruns from the Gray Davis administration. They desperately needed to reduce costs and insulate themselves from…