ReCircle: Avoiding Foreclosure with Energy Efficiency, GE's New Home Energy Monitor, Maine Leading in Weatherization Efforts, and more!

From Energy Circle:

On the Language of Saving Energy: How About... Some.

David Fenton recently gave a speech at the invitation of the DOE in which he lambasted the progressive energy community for poor marketing. While his intentions are all good; and, indeed, some of his claims very well-founded, we think the arc of his argument is counterproductive and, well, maybe just wrong.

Curated Links from the Web:

How Energy Efficiency is Helping Homeowners Avoid Foreclosure.

Yet another reason why the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac blockage of PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing programs across the country is so frustrating. (From Environmental News Network)

Maine Takes Weatherization Quantum Leap.

Energy Circle’s home state is becoming the first to tap into global carbon markets as a finance mechanism for weatherization and home energy efficiency retrofits. Yes, we’re proud of our state. (From Treehugger)

“The Energy Efficiency Cubicle.”

Jeremy Dommu, a business student and Climate Corps Fellow at PHH Arval, discusses the thrill of working in a thriving new industry, and why energy efficiency is “easy money and good business.” (From Reuters)

GE Ramping Up Efforts in Home Energy Monitoring.

The electronics giant announced two new products on Tuesday - a home energy monitoring system for smart metered homes and an electric car charging station - in tandem with an announcement of a $200 million award competition for smart grid ideas. (From CNET)

California’s Buildings Waste up to 80% of their Energy.

Commercial buildings in California account for 37% of the state’s energy consumption, and a new report suggests that as much as 80% of that energy is being wasted. The bright side? A huge opportunity for savings. (From Greener Buildings)

GigaOm’s Summer Reading List.

Summer reading recommendations from the folks at GigaOm, one of the web’s most vibrant blogs for everything clean tech and energy related. Some business stuff, some fun stuff. (From GigaOm)

Offbeat Energy Related Blogs We Love

For this week, two alternative energy related blogs that have an investment focus. Neither of these is "offbeat" within the energy investing community, but we thought they'd be interesting finds for Energy Circle readers.  Don't consider these just for investors--there is much to learn from those whose primary view of energy is oriented towards the financial markets.

John Petersen's Blog on Seeking Alpha

John is an energy storage expert and focuses almost exclusively on the battery market. This is of particular interest in the home energy space given that our sector plays second fiddle in the storage category to electric vehicles. John's perspective is fascinating, and this week's post on resource constraints for key battery raw materials takes some of the luster off of electric car mania.

Chris Nelder's Get Real List

Chris is author of Profit from the Peak and Investing in Renewable Energy, and has been writing about energy and peak oil from a financial perspective for a decade. He also likes the Grateful Dead and has been known to hit the road with Phish.